Choosing and Buying a Dishwasher

I’m about to start construction on some renovations to our house that includes some work in the kitchen, of course, and replacing some major appliances including our dishwasher. So before running out there and replacing it with the same model, I thought it would make sense to do a little research to determine what model is best for me. This post describes some of what I have learned.

When buying a dishwasher, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the number of choices available. From small, wheeled models that hook directly up to your faucet to state-of-the-art dishwashers that make almost no noise, there is a type and price range for every consumer.

Before you make your dishwasher purchase, however, it’s important to determine what types of features are essential for your lifestyle, and which ones might be expensive extras you will never actually use.

What are your size considerations?

If you’re working with an existing kitchen layout, you’ll need to determine how much (if any) space you have for a dishwasher. If you are simply replacing an older model, you should be able to fit any of the newest dishwashers into the space; the standard 24 inches of below-counter space has been in place for decades, and most kitchens are able to accommodate this.

However, if you’ve never had a dishwasher before or if you’re remodeling a kitchen, you may have to think about where the dishwasher will go – especially since it needs access to:

• Hot water pipe
• Drain
• Electrical line

It’s also best to have a dishwasher be flush with with the edge of the cabinets and to ensure the kitchen counter completely covers the top. This will not only make the dishwasher look like a natural part of your décor, but it is also the only way to ensure safety (from sharp edges or exposed electronics).

If there is simply no way to fit a dishwasher into your existing space, and you don’t want to remodel the cabinets in order to make one fit, you may want to consider a portable dishwasher. These models, which run slightly higher in price than installed dishwashers, wheel over to  your sink and attach to the faucet in order to access the hot water and drain they need to function properly.

Why do you want a new dishwasher?

The best way to choose the right dishwasher for your family is to determine why you want a new one in the first place. There are many reasons to get a new dishwasher, including:

• Replacing an older, outdated model
• Getting a dishwasher for the first time
• Saving energy
• Saving water
• Getting a quieter/faster/better dishwasher
• Matching the other appliances

All of these are valid reasons, and will lead you to make different choices. For example, if saving water is your goal, you may want to consider a dishwasher with the Energy Star label. However, it’s important to note that although these dishwashers tend to use less water, they may also take longer to get the dishes clean. This may mean you end up using more electricity, and you’ll be faced with a higher annual energy bill (although you should notice a smaller water bill).

In the same way, the quieter dishwashers and the ones with hidden control panels usually come with a higher price tag. Your dishes may not get any cleaner, but if these perks are important to you, it might be worth paying a few hundred dollars to get the machine that will last you and your family through all your dishwashing needs.

If aesthetics are your goal, you’ll also find that there are many new models that look and function more like a streamlined part of your kitchen than every before. Stainless steel or matched-cabinet fronts are popular and can go a long way in fitting your décor.

What dishwasher features are the most important to you?

Today’s dishwasher feature a number of amenities that dishwashers even five years ago didn’t have. Although most of the features do raise the price of the appliance, many consumers find them well worth the investment.

• Dual-drawers: These models look great and offer you the chance to use only one drawer at a time, thereby reducing water and electricity costs.
• Adjustable racks: Being able to move your racks and silverware or stemware holders means you can usually fit more dishes into a single load. This is great for those who do a lot of cooking or who use large or unwieldy items that may not fit into a standard dishwasher.
• Sensors: Sensors that detect dirt can automatically adjust the length of the dishwashing cycle to make sure your dishes get all the way clean. While beneficial for those who don’t want to program the dishwasher themselves, this can increase energy costs.
• Specialty cycles: Like a washing machine, you should be able to adjust your dishwasher for the type of materials you have loaded in there. Most dishwashers offer basic options (light, normal, heavy), but some of the higher-end models also offer cycles for specific types of dishes (pots, china, crystal) or even just for sanitizing (great for baby bottles and dishes).

How much are you willing to pay?

Most consumers will be able to buy a standard dishwasher for as little as $300, which may or may not include installation, depending on where it is purchased. From there, the prices vary and go up to as much as $2,000 for some of the deluxe models.

As with any type of kitchen appliance, it’s important to weigh the up-front cost with the savings you will get on annual energy bills. Because your dishwasher will last you for several years, an annual energy savings of $100 can quickly make that higher-end model worth every penny.

Buying a refrigerator is much like buying a car; it is a big-ticket item expected to see you and your family through several years of wear and tear, and it’s one of the most central items you’ll rely on to go about your daily business. Like buying a car, your fridge purchase will also depend primarily on your specific needs, budget, and lifestyle.

Overall, most of the things to know before buying a refrigerator have to do with size: the size of your kitchen, the size of your family, and the size of your budget.

Photo of LG Electronic’s New 4-Door French Door Refrigerator

Size of Your Kitchen

Unless you’re remodeling your kitchen around a specific refrigerator you have your heart set on, chances are you need to work around your existing layout. This can be especially challenging for older homes, since the average refrigerator size twenty years ago was almost half what you can expect to find today.

There are also more choices in refrigerator style than ever before. Traditionally, fridges have offered one style: the main cooling area on the bottom and the freezer on top. However, new technologies and personal tastes mean that you can find anything from a French-door fridge with the freezer on the bottom to a four-door fridge with two separate freezers.

If you’re working with limited space, you might want to consider a compact refrigerator, a bottom freezer fridge, or a top freezer fridge. These options typically come in widths ranging from 30 inches to 40 inches, and the depth varies depending on the model and make. In most cases, these smaller fridges will be less expensive than their over sized relatives, and offer more energy-efficient models, since the cubic area inside the fridge is smaller and therefore requires less work to keep cool.

If you have more room to play with, you can try some of the more popular options in French door refrigerators and the side-by-side fridges. Another new model is the four-door option, which provides two freezer doors and the French door style on top. Because all of these models maximize fridge space by allowing for two-door entry, they also tend to take up more width and depth, oftentimes reaching up to 48 inches wide. Many of these styles also offer counter-depth refrigerators, which means you can streamline your kitchen by making your appliance flush with the counter.

Size of Your Family

The size of your family is also a good indication of what type and size of refrigerator you need. The reasons are pretty self-explanatory: the more people you have at home, the more food it takes to keep them going!

Most appliance stores selling refrigerators will discuss storage space in terms of cubic feet, which lets you know exactly how much interior room you have to work with. Today’s manufactured refrigerators typically offer between 18 and 26 cubic feet of space (in both the freezer and the refrigerator), and estimates suggest that a family of four requires around 19 to 22 cubic feet.

While these numbers can help you as you shop for your new fridge, the reality is that space is relative. Depending on the layout of the refrigerator and how you plan to use it, there are a number of considerations that come into play:

• How much width do you need? The side-by-side style doesn’t always allow for large pizzas or party platters to fit easily on the shelves. If you do a lot of entertaining, you may need to search for a traditional fridge or a French door style.
• How do you store things? If you keep your freezer well-organized, you might be able to take advantage of the bottom-drawer freezer style. However, this can make for less space overall if you don’t store things with care, and it can be a hassle to “dig out” items that are at the bottom.
• What types of things do you store? Most of the two-door style refrigerators offer door shelves large enough for several gallons of milk, two-liter bottles, and other “tall” items. This can be an invaluable way to free up space in the rest of the fridge for your other items. Adjustable shelving can also translate to more room, since you can add or remove shelves as you need them.

Size of Your Budget

Perhaps the most important consideration when selecting a refrigerator is the price. Fridges range in prices from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars, and come with a variety of options. It’s best to determine in advance which features are essential for you and which ones might just be perks – especially if you’re looking to remain under a certain dollar amount.

Of the options to consider, there are:

• Ice Makers, which may or may not dispense the ice and water through an exterior water dispenser (note: this will require you to hook up your fridge to a water source).
• Changeable Doors, which allow you to choose whether your fridge opens from the left or the right. This can make a difference in kitchen layout and ease of use.
• Specialty Drawers, which allow you to control the humidity of the compartments. For deli meats, cheese, vegetables, and fruits, this can extend the life and quality of your food.
• Energy Efficient Models, which are most often designated by the Energy Star or Energy Saver label. These models not only save you money in electric bills, but many electric companies offer rebates on the purchase of these models and/or will come take away your old refrigerator for free.
• High Moisture Switches, which allow you to prevent condensation in your fridge if you live in an area that is humid during certain months of the year. (Turning off the switch can save money during drier months.)
• Defrost Functions or Automatic Defrost Features, which mean you won’t have to manually defrost your freezer the recommend two times annually.
• Warranties, which may or may not be optional. Most new refrigerators come with a standard manufacturer’s one-year warranty for protection against factory defects. However, if you’re paying more than $1,000 for a fridge, you might want to consider additional coverage for up to five or ten years. In most cases, even having a repair professional come to your home to look at the problem can cost several hundred dollars.

When it comes to cost, the most important thing is matching your needs to your budget. You don’t have to spend $2,000 to get a top-quality fridge, but the appliance may end up lasting you 10 or even 20 years, which makes it well worth the investment.

Energy Efficiency

You’ll also want to consider the energy costs over the lifetime of your refrigerator. Fridges older than 1986 or newer models without the Energy Star label can cost over three times as much to run annually. In most cases, the switch to an Energy Star fridge can save between $80 to $100 every year. While this may not seem like much at first, it can actually pay for the entire cost of the fridge over time – which just might make that SubZero refrigeration system worth every penny.

Everything You Need To Know About Making Espresso

The Coffee Couple

Recently I posted an interview on ReluctantGourmet.com with a couple from Québec, Canada about their favorite subject - Espresso. Luc and Andreanne, The Coffee Couple shared their expertise about making a great cup of espresso including what kind of beans you should use and  the various options you have when choosing an espresso maker.

See the entire interview called All About Espresso here.

The Coffee Couple met in 2004 and realized they wanted to start their own business and work from home so they started their online business, TheCoffeeCouple.com. On their site you can find some of their favorite home and commercial espresso machines as well as coffee tips and videos.

Some of the questioned I asked them in the interview are:

• How much does the equipment you use to make coffee affect the overall taste?
• Are there some coffee makers better than others?
• How much does the coffee bean itself factor in the overall flavor?
• How should we be buying our coffee?
• Should we grind it at the store or is buying a grinder a better option?
• How important is the grind?
• What is the difference between a blade grinder and a burr grinder and is one more advantageous?
• And how should we be storing our coffee?
• Can you freeze ground coffee or coffee beans?
• What about flavored coffees? How do they get the hazelnut flavor into the coffee bean?
• What are we trying to achieve when we are making a good cup of espresso?How important is it to keep your coffee/espresso maker clean?

How to Choose the Right Espresso and Cappuccino Machine

The second part of my interview was on buying the right machine for making espresso or cappuccino to fit our needs. Do we need a big commercial brand or just a drip model?  Luc and Andreanne  describe the different types of espresso making models and explained the advantages and disadvantages for them.

You can read that part of the interview at Espresso & Cappuccino Machines.