Essence of Home Improvement

Posts Tagged ‘Appliances’

When it comes to cooking rice, nothing beats the quality and authenticity of a high quality, standalone rice cooker. Especially one from Zojirushi or another Japanese brand. But for some of us, gourmet perfection has to come second to timing and convenience, as well as price. In all of those areas, a microwave rice cooker definitely gives an electric one a run for its money.

Microwave rice cookers require no electric parts since the microwave is used to produce and emit the heat required for cooking. The cooker itself is a simple pot. This eliminates redundancy for people who already own a microwave oven, and saves you from spending some unnecessary cash. They are commonly available in the price range of under ten dollars.

Microwaves are known for their speed in cooking food, and this is no exception. The average microwave rice cooker cooks white rice in around 12 minutes. Of course there are different kinds of rice such as brown rice which require a longer cooking time. And there are different methods of preparation depending on how you like your rice, but for simple white rice to accompany your main dish, about 12 minutes will suffice. Compare that to say 30 minutes for an average electric unit.

They are also known for being non-stick and easy to clean. The rice doesn’t burn and harden at the bottom of the pot like it often does in electric cookers. The convenience and ease of cleaning them adds to their time efficiency. Another convenient aspect of them is that they don’t take up any extra space in your kitchen. All you homemakers out there know that counter space is at a premium, and that it’s a pain in the neck to dig a heavy appliance out of a kitchen cupboard. But a simple light pot and lid is easy to store and retrieve.

If you are a rice connoisseur and really need a lot of fancy functions as well as gourmet subtlety of flavor, then an electric cooker might be better for you. But if you already have a microwave and time, convenience, and price are your priorities, then a microwave rice cooker is a great option.

Washing machine is an appliance that is indispensable in every modern household. However, most people dread the task of choosing a new washer. But compared to manually washing your laundry, choosing a washer is practically a breeze.

To make your work easier, you need to deliberate on the things that make up an ideal washing machine. Here are some buying tips for you:

1. Mull over the pros and cons of using top loading washer and front loading washer
Most people nowadays would probably go for front loaders since they are generally more efficient in water and energy but you would be surprised to find out that there are now top load washers that can give front loaders a run for their money. The efficiency of some top load brands today has improved vastly and they can now compete in the larger market of more energy and water efficient brands. Find out which type of machine you will most likely benefit from.

2. Know your budget and stick to it
If you have already specified a certain amount of money for this appliance, you can limit and narrow down your choices. Also when you have a specific budget for this, you won’t be swayed by sales agents into purchasing a more expensive brand. You can immediately tell them to show you the machines that are within your budget.

3. Research well before you go to the appliance store
You need to be armed with the right information on how to choose. In this case, you should do your own research on which brands are competent enough to last for long years. Use that as your guide in buying. Not all stores carry the brand and the model you fancy so you should have many options. Otherwise, you can stick to a reputable brand and just ask the sales agent to introduce the various features of the machine you are going to purchase.

4. Get an extended warranty
This is your best friend when it comes to washers. Many customers are now wiser and they have purchased extended warranty. More often than not, washer problems start to show a year after purchasing it. But most warranties only last for a year. In order to save much money on repair costs, purchase an extended warranty.