How to Get the Most Out of Your Kitchen Appliances

One of the most loaded parts of your home in terms of number of appliances is your kitchen. You’ve got choppers, dicers, juicers, blenders, dishwashers, mixers, stoves, microwave ovens and other watchamacallits. But haven’t you had the experience of just using one for a few times and then poof! It’s dead, leaving you wondering what the heck did I do and that’s another $100 down the drain.

Here are some tips in getting the most out of your kitchen appliances:

• Invest on a good brand
  There are so many brands out there. Some may come cheap, and some may come expensive, so which one will you invest on? It has been my personal rule to invest on heavy-duty appliances for the ones I use most of the time. Like if I like smoothies and shakes, I’d invest in a heavy-duty blender since I’d be using that most of the time. Better ask around for those “built-to-last” brands from relatives and friends.
• Mind that lifespan
  Let’s face it. Any machine takes wear and tear. So sooner or later, your 12 year-old microwave will give. Here are some of the most common appliances and their average lifespan in years:
  Cooking range: 12-15
  Garbage disposal: 10-12
  Microwave: 10-12
  Refrigerator: 10-14
  Dishwasher: 8-10
• Read those instructional booklets/manuals
  I’ve been stressing this for every tip I give regarding appliances - read the manual! It basically contains your basic how-tos, precautions, and basic troubleshooting. Operating and storing them properly ensures that you get the most number of years and optimal operation from your appliance.
  A good tip is to collate these manuals in a clearbook or have them bound together in an all-in-one kitchen manual for an easy grab.
• Eventually it will go bye-bye
  If your appliance reaches the end of its lifespan, it is quite wiser to buy a new one than having it repaired. Refrigerators, for example, are now built to consume less electricity than your old 10 year-old model. So in terms of overall expense, it’d be more economical to buy that new one. Repairs won’t guarantee you another decade anyway.