{ Posts Tagged ‘kitchen appliances’ }

krups giveaway

krups2 krups giveaway
‘Tis the season of giving and we’re taking that very seriously over here! We’ve got lots of great contests on the go and this Krups giveaway is the latest – I think you’ll be intrigued. Having just completed my condo makeover, I would be thrilled to win this suite of small appliances for my kitchen but alas, I’m not eligible. But you are! Leave a comment below and share your best tip for keeping your kitchen countertop clean and organized. I’ll choose a winner on December 20.

The total prize is valued at approximately $800. Here’s what’s up for grabs:

Precision Kettle, $119,99
KRUPS beautifully designed Precision kettle keeps water pure and fresh thanks to anti- dust cover and anti-scale filter. With its 1.7L capacity, its flat concealed element provides maximum heat transfer so water boils in minutes. Removable 360-degree rotational base and auto-off kettle with on/off button indicates when water is boiled.

Precision 2 slice toaster, $99,99
KRUPS multifunction, brushed stainless-steel toaster has contoured control panel with LED indicator and offers precise customized toasting with 6 settings; plus intermediate settings for 15 positions of browning control. The high-lift function provides easy removal of breads. Also offers bagel function, cancel and reheat function and easy to clean removable crumb tray.

Precision Dahlström 12 cup coffee maker, $179,99
Combining precision brewing technology and elegant European design, the KRUPS Dahlström keeps coffee hot for hours. It has high-contrast LCD screen, dual auto-on functions and one-touch button for lid opening and auto-lift brew basket. Exclusive water gauge allows easy measuring. Oversized showerhead for uniform extraction and KRUPS Duo Filter provide optimal flavour.

Coffee Grinder, $99,99
The GVX2’s expert burr milling system ensures grind consistency for best coffee flavour. Its large capacity bean hopper has safety lid and removable ground container and burr for easy cleaning. 17 grind settings for all brew methods and precise cup selector for the needed amount of grounds between 2 to 12 cups.

Precise Tamp espresso-cappuccino machine, $299,99
The patented KRUPS precise tamp system offers progressive tamping depending on the quantity of coffee resulting in optimal extraction and professional results for each cup. Features twice as fast pre-heating and optimal temperature control. New universal single filter-holder is compatible with grounds and pods and has cake ejection system for clean usage.

Contest closes December 20, 2010 at 12pm EST. Open to all residents of Canada, except those in Quebec. Not open to any Transcontinental Media employees, their families, or any other persons with whom they reside.

Good luck!

Update: Congratulations to our winner Heather. And thanks to everyone for entering!

shopping for a stove

whirlpool stove shopping for a stove

I’m still on the hunt for new appliances. I’ve decided on my fridge – a bottom mount refrigerator since I don’t use the freezer very much and it’s more important to me to have easy access to the refrigerator. Next up: Looking for a stove. I’m so excited to update my very old, very tired appliances, but I want to make sure I make the right choices to suit my lifestyle and of course, I want them to look fab in my kitchen.

Sophie Boudreau, product trainer from Whirlpool, helps to make the decision easier for me by answering some questions about my needs.

Q: I’ve never shopped for a stove before – what are some of the most important things I need to take into consideration?
A: Most ranges are 30” wide, therefore replacing an existing range is relatively easy. The first decision to make is: Do you want a freestanding range or a slide in range? Next, decide if you want a gas range or an electric range. Once those two decisions are made, you can decide on which features such as convection cooking, warming drawer, steam clean, suit your lifestyle.

Q: I admit, I don’t cook a whole lot but I love to bake. Is this an important factor?
A: Since you love to bake, I would recommend a range with convection. In our Whirlpool line-up, we have several models that have this great feature. Some of our models offer Time Savor Plus True Convection while others offer Time Savor convection (also known as fan convection).

Q: Is a convection oven important for me since I do a lot of baking?
A: Yes, convection cooking is great for baking. Our TimeSavor Plus True Convection Cooking System uses a rear fan and third heating element to circulate preheated air over, under and around food. It keeps oven temperatures consistent to provide uniform browning and even baking to bake the perfect cookies! Another great benefit to this feature is that it cooks food 30% faster on settings such as convection roast.

Q: Gas? Electric? What are the pros and cons?
A: There are pros and cons to both types. Some prefer a gas range because they can adjust from boil to simmer very quickly and depending on the cost of electricity where they live, a gas range can be less expensive to run in the long term. As for electric ranges, consumers who bake a lot seem to prefer the even heat distribution of an electric oven while others prefer the easy clean up of the electric cooktop. It really comes down to consumer preference.

Q: When it comes to style – what’s on-trend?
A: Stainless steel remains the trendiest finish followed by black and white. We are seeing a growing number of consumers who are considering built-in appliances such as a wall oven and cooktop, but of course this depends on the size of their kitchen.

searching for a new fridge

whirlpool fridge searching for a new fridge
As I mentioned last week, I’m in need of a new refrigerator. I’d already started the search for new appliances because once I updated my kitchen, my old appliances (circa 1988!) just looked tired and out of place. And then, when my fridge breathed its last breath, I knew I had no choice but to replace them all.

But where to start? I’ve never had to shop for appliances before and a new fridge is a pretty significant item for my home. I want something that looks great and works efficiently. But I’m also looking for something that works within the context of both my style and my lifestyle. To learn more about my options, I checked in with Sophie Boudreau, product trainer from Whirlpool, to find out a little bit more about buying a refrigerator.

Q: I live in a small space and I need a new fridge. I tend to have a lot of fresh, perishable foods in my fridge (fruits, veggies, yogurt, milk, cheese, etc.) and I don’t use my freezer very much. What kinds of features should I be looking for when shopping for a new refrigerator?
A: Most refrigerators offer humidity controlled crispers that help preserve the freshness of fruits and vegetables. Increase the humidity for leafy vegetables and lower it for fruits. Given that you tend to have a lot of fresh, perishable food in your refrigerator, this is definitely a feature you should look for. Since you don’t use your refrigerator very much, I would recommend a bottom mount refrigerator. This is a great feature for those who don’t access the freezer much.

Q: Will my small kitchen significantly limit the number of choices I have in refrigerators?
A: The size of the kitchen has an impact on the choice however the cutout dimension of the area that will house your refrigerator is the most important factor when considering a refrigerator.

Q: Given the different fridge/freezer configurations, which is best?
A: Top mount refrigerators is when the freezer is located above the refrigerator. A side-by-side refrigerator is when the freezer is located on the left side and the refrigerated area is located on the right side. The bottom mount refrigerator is great for people who don’t access the freezer a lot and who prefer having access to the entire refrigerator area without having to bend down.

This is helpful information for me. Looks like it’s a bottom mount refrigerator I’m looking for. And of course, I’ll be looking for stainless steel to complement the new look of my kitchen. Stay tuned as I continue the search!

Mmm… turkey

wireless thermometer1 Mmm... turkeyWith Thanksgiving coming up, I’ve got turkey on the brain. And I sure could use this wireless thermometer and timer when I — ok, my husband cooks up a bird this weekend.

The thermometer has two parts: a base with a heat sensor cable and probe that you insert into the bird, and a remote that you can carry around with you (it has a belt clip if you want to go for geek fashion, or use the stand if you’re just chillin’ in the living room). Wander up to 100 feet away and you’ll still get the alert that your meat is done. A 10-degree pre-alert tells you when food is almost ready, and audio and visual alerts let you know when the desired temperature is reached.

More handy features include a backlit display that shows current and target temperatures in either Celcius or Fahrenheit, preprogrammed settings of different meats according to USDA safety specifications, and a custom program to set your own desired temperatures.

Wireless Probe Thermometer and Timer by CDN. Price: $74.99 Available at: Kitchen stores across Canada. Call Browne & Co. at 866-306-3672 for retailers.

rainbow tech

rainbow tech rainbow techThe recent release of the new bright iPod Nanos inspired me to pull together a few products that come in a bunch of different colours. Because a girl should have a choice.

1. iPod Nano, comes in 7 colours, plus black and silver. Price: $169 (8 GB), $219 16 GB. Available at: Apple.

2. Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse 3000 in Milk Chocolate, Aloe and Pomegranate (also comes in Strawberry Sorbet and Blue Sno Cone). Price: $39.95 each. Available at: Best Buy, Office Depot. Microsoft for info.

3. Dell Studio 15 laptop in Jet Black, Tangerine Orange, Flamingo Pink, Midnight Blue, Ruby Red, Spring Green, Plum Purple and (in centre) Graphite Grey with colour trim. Price: From $799 each. Available at: Dell.

4. (From left) Dyson DC20 Stowaway, $549.99. Limited edition Issey Miyake Dyson DC16, $179.99. Dyson DC25 Ball $599.99. Available at: Future Shop, Sears, Home Outfitters, The Bay. Dyson for info.

5. KitchenAid Artisan Series 5 quart 325-watt tilt-head stand mixer. Price: $469.99 each. Available at: Home Outfitters, The Bay, KitchenAid.