The fun you can have renovating your kitchen is almost beyond imagination these days. Design options and colours from which to choose are head-spinning and full of potential to help create a loving, warm home.
And if you love a touch of tech, then the latest appliances and gadgets will blow your mind.
The humble kitchen isn’t so humble anymore but it remains the place where everyone gathers – where we nourish ourselves and where memories are created.
If you’ve bought a new home, you may want to set aside funds in your mortgage to update the kitchen or consider refinancing your home loan to do a much needed upgrade.
Here’s a round-up of innovations in cookers and ovens by companies such as Miele, Asko, and Smeg to give you a taste of the latest in kitchen appliances. You don’t have to choose any of these manufacturers, but let the idea of owning the world’s best cooking technology stir your imagination.
- Open sesame – New high-tech oven doors automatically open at the end of a cooking cycle. If you forget about the food or become distracted, the oven will allow heat to escape but keep the food warm as it rests.
- Say cheese – A camera in the oven monitors the food, and you can watch it cook and even alter the settings with an app from anywhere in the world! (although hopefully just from upstairs or the next room)
- Cool doors – Literally, the doors are cool. High-spec ovens have fans that force cool air between the double-panes of thermal glass in the door. This forms a veil of cool air that makes the door safe to touch. If you have small children, it’s a helpful safety feature.
- Smart cooking – Let your oven automatically select the right temperature, cooking time and oven function. Some models will even suggest the shelf height for optimal results.
- Climate change – Several manufacturers offer ovens with a sealed environment to ensure roasts retain nutrients, flavour and natural juices. They promise cakes will rise evenly, and pastry will be crisp perfectly.
- Stretch-out – That awkward maneuver of pulling a hot tray from the oven to check the food is history. Shelves now have telescopic arms, so trays slide out easily.
- Need for speed – Top of the range ovens now promise to heat twice as quickly as those designed less than five years ago.
- Get steamed up – Settings offer a mix of steam and heat designed to avoid drying out fish and meat, while crisping skins and fat.
This article is provided for general information only and does not take into account the specific needs, objectives or circumstances of the reader. Before acting on any information, you should consider whether it is appropriate for your personal circumstances, carry out your own research and seek professional advice.