Americas Home Improvement Coach asked:


Technological Changes in the Kitchen

 

The type of equipment a person utilizes in their kitchen is a matter of experience, cooking preference and style. While some people like gas ranges, others like electric. Many people prefer gas cook-tops and ranges. They find it easier to adjust a flame when cooking rather than counting on a knob that reads low, medium and high.

 

Technology in the kitchen has progressed dramatically. Who thought microwave ovens would have taken off the way they did. I can remember when they first where introduced to the market. My mother, being a busy working mother and involved in the church, as well as, several other organizations, had to have one. She loved it! This was going to free her time up! So, she cooked everything in it. Roasts, chicken, fish, you name and she cooked it in the microwave. Believe me, it wasn’t a good thing. Everything looked horrible and tasted like rubber. But times have changed, and technology now allows us to cook a variety of foods in a microwave due to the addition of the convection process that was added to these units. Now we find heating food with electro-magnets (induction cooking) can be an alternative to open flames and red hot electric elements.

 

So how does induction cooking differ from conventional methods?

Technology and science is now introducing a new type of cook-top. Induction cooking, this is where a high frequency circulating current is created; heating an iron pot or pan which intern heats the food. Nothing outside the cooking utensil is affected by this current. The only thing heated is the food.

 

How long have they been around?

            Induction units have just begun to take hold in residential markets. Controlling a unit like this is much easier today than it was years ago. Although they have been in existence for 15 or so years, commercially, it just really never took off. Standalone units where used while a commercial kitchen was being revamped or for a quick temporary kitchen set up, but not for regular use or as a permanent appliance.

 

How efficient are they?

Although I did not find the efficiency difference between conventional electric cook-tops and induction types, according to The United States Department of Energy, induction type cooking is 84% efficient compared to gas cooking which is 39.9%.

 

How do they differ from conventional electric and gas cook-tops?

Induction cook-tops are smooth with designated areas for placing your cookware. There are no elements or gas jets to clean. These induction appliances are as precise and instantaneous as gas to turn on and off but do not burn you and are said to be much better to cook with than your standard electrical element variety.

 

How expensive and safe are these systems?

            Now, due to technology, these units are much more affordable and are not for just commercial use, but as permanent residential major appliances. They are said to be more efficient and safer to use than conventional gas and electric cook-tops. Safety is a large factor in homes that have gas ranges and electric element cook-tops. Being able to control an induction cook-top like a gas unit without the worry of a gas leak, a troubled pilot and the possibility of getting burned makes induction systems very attractive to the modern homeowner. Another reason that people are making the move to this method of cooking is the decrease in the possibility of a fire occurring and the possibility of being burned. The fact that they do not have an open flame or red-hot electric element makes them safer for children and the homeowner. Once the power to these appliances is turned off they stop cooking immediately and allow for a quick and easy to clean cooking surface. In fact, you can turn the cook-top on and place your hand directly on it without the slightest burn, even if you are wearing jewelry.

 

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Jane Worthington asked:


If you are tackling that important kitchen home improvement project, you may have decided on installing a custom kitchen island. Kitchen islands are being put in one out of every two homes being built now, because they are extremely practical and luxurious additions for any home. Of course, if you are like most people you live on a budget and probably don’t have thousands and thousands to spend on a new kitchen island or butcher block work station. This is where smart shopping comes into play! You can find some great bargains if you know exactly what you want and where to find it.

Try shopping online. That’s right, the internet is definitely your friend when it comes to bargain hunting, especially for these large items. Online retailers know that it’s harder to get you to buy such a large item without seeing it in person, so they will often give you the best deals. A reliable online merchant can provide you with multiple images of the island, give you exact measurements and specifications, and if you really play your cards right they may even offer “free shipping”.  You can find great discount kitchen islands for your home improvement project, and no one will be able to tell the difference that you found one for a discount price as  opposed to a full price model.

Look at an overstock or liquidation warehouse. Many stores will sell the overstocked furniture such as kitchen islands, from larger corporate chains when they need to liquidate a certain item. You can find these overstock liquidators for great bargains, but you may need to do your homework. They usually have warehouses or showrooms a little off the beaten path, but a quick browse through the yellow pages or even an online search can tell you where the nearest seller is in your neighborhood. You may want to call first to find out if they have the overstock item you are looking for, such as kitchen prep centers or islands. If they aren’t carrying them that week, maybe they can tell you when they expect a shipment and you can save yourself the drive.

These are just two options available to you in your home improvement project shopping, but these are the most popular options for saving money on larger items such as kitchen islands. Happy hunting and good luck!

Gary Nealon asked:


think it is any surprise that a major home improvement project will not only take time and money, but it also takes proper planning to get the job done right. When it comes to planning, probably the most important aspect of the project is buying the materials for the job. By doing a little research you can, not only find the materials you need, but cut some cost and time out of your budget as well.

Comparison shopping is the single most important part of your planning for the job. This takes time and effort, but you will quickly find out about the wide variety of prices and quality in the market place. The old adage “you get what you pay for” is very true in the remodeling world. Super stores or big box supply stores have great prices, but a good amount of their product is manufactured for their own private label, therefore the super store dictates the quality of the product. You might see some good prices, but the quality may very well be lacking.

Don’t be afraid to shop online. There are a ton of websites out there that specialize in various categories that can save you a ton of money since they don’t have the high overhead that is associated with the retail environment. When it comes to lumber (2×4’s, plywood, etc..) you won’t find much of a difference, but for the fixtures, cabinets, lighting, and items like these, you can save as much as 50-60% by doing a little bit of research. There are literally thousands of websites for construction materials. By searching for closeout deals and alternative products to the name brand items, you can easily trim down your budget.

I touched on this earlier, but it is important to take a moment to talk about quality. The big name brand companies that supply the mega home improvement stores do a very good job of convincing you that they have a name you can trust (and that the quality will be there). While there are a lot of categories in which they do offer high quality products, there are some that you are better off getting from a specialty store. One example is paint. If you’re buying paint, don’t go with the big box retail brand. These stores tell you it is quality paint, but if you go to a real paint store like MAB or Sherwin-Williams; you will get a much better product and they will be more knowledgeable about the product.

The same is true for countertops and flooring. Once again, you can find all of these items in the mega stores, but the quality is just not there. Ironically, Home Depot and Lowes have very little to do with the flooring and countertops other than brokering the sale. They outsource the installation and most of it they don’t even stock in the store, especially the countertops. If you were to run into a problem with the product or how it was installed, it just becomes of battle of who is at fault. By working with a specialty countertop or flooring place, you can usually find a better deal on some closeouts and you know exactly who you are dealing with when you are signing the contract (it all comes back to the perception that the big stores have created about having the best price on everything, which is nearly impossible in the real world).

The other advantage of dealing with the smaller businesses has to do with the installation. Scheduling deliveries and installs can throw off your entire project time line if just one of the components isn’t completed when you need it to be. Time is money, so having an installer that you can rely on is just as important as what you are paying for the work to be done. By working with a local company, they are more likely to work around your schedule than the bigger outfits that will force you to work around theirs.