 Appliance Trends
Steam Ovens Whenever I discuss steam ovens with a client, they immediately mention that they don’t use steam to cook vegetables or fish so they don’t need one. First, vegetables are delicious and healthy (eat more veggies). Second, a steam is much more than a vegetable or fish oven. Known as combi-steam ovens, these appliances can act as a small convection oven, a steam oven, or combine both technologies for fast cooking times. How fast is fast? How about a 13-pound turkey in 90 minutes! Since moisture is a key ingredient with a steam oven, it’s almost impossible to dry out foods. Plus it’s perfect for reheating foods as it reconstitutes dishes. Rice never quite bounces back in a microwave, right? Use a steam oven instead.
Connected Appliances It was only a matter of time until appliances became part of the internet. Many appliances connect to your mobile devices, like a tablet or a smart phone. Want to preheat your oven so it’s ready by the time you get home from work? No problem. Want to see how much energy an appliance is using? Check your phone. It’s only a matter of time until your refrigerator takes inventory of what’s inside and develops recipes based on its contents or reminds you to pick up more eggs. Imagine your refrigerator asking you if you REALLY want to eat that pint of Ben and Jerry’s at midnight…
Bigger Is Not Better Big wheels. Better car. Big knobs. Better range. For some reason, as Americans, we are trained to think that bigger is better. Manufacturers know this and are making laundry with larger capacity options. Be careful. Just because you can fit a llama and a buffalo in your washer doesn’t mean it’s the best. Larger laundry means larger exterior dimensions which mean that a big washer and dryer could be too deep or too wide for your space. Always measure the area where you want your laundry to go before you purchase. This same rule applies to refrigerators.
A Splash of Color White, black, and stainless steel are the most popular colors in appliances, but manufacturers are thinking outside those hues and coming up with some eye-catching colors. GE, for example, has a new color called slate, but the newest color to hit the block is black stainless steel. Companies like Kichenaid, Sharp, and Samsung offer options in black stainless steel. This will be the new color trend over the next few years as more and more manufacturers create black stainless steel options
 XO Ventilation- How Beautiful Kitchens Breathe
A slide-out model, or as XO refers to them, glide-out model, is a good option for a clean modern look, but still allows for superior ventilation. They offer a variety of CFM ratings and widths in these hoods. A best-seller in the 30″ category, the XOC30SMUA, 395 CFM glide-out hood virtually vanishes when not in use, but unlike similar models, allows both the lights and blower to operate when the lid is in both the open and closed positions. It has a variety of venting options, including ductless, and features three-speed illuminated electronic controls and two 50W halogen lights. One important note is that the operational components go to the cabinetry, effectively eliminating the use of that cabinet.
Perhaps you are working on a kitchen that needs an island hood; the XOMI36G is a best seller in the 36-inch island category. This model has a 600 CFM high velocity blower and operates in a sound range of 1.8 to 6.5 sones. It has four 20W Halogen lights for great illumination and is constructed of high quality stainless steel and glass. It is designed to fit ceilings up to nine feet tall and should be mounted 27 – 32 inches off the cooking surface. When installed to vent to the exterior, a 6-inch duct is required. It can also be onfigured for a ductless operation. This model features aluminum mesh filters and three-speed electronic illuminated controls. XO also offers a similar 42 inch model, the XOMI42G. These beautiful pieces can really set the kitchen apart and are the perfect accessory to an island cook top.
XO is manufactured in Fabriano, Italy, and are the second largest independent ventilation manufacturers in Europe. Ventilation, in general, can be confusing—this is why you have a dedicated trade account manager at Kieffer’s Appliances available to talk you through any of these buying decisions
Thermador launches Freedom Columns October 2017
The Culinary Preservation line has over 23 customizable columns, allowing for hundreds of unique combinations of bottom freezers, refrigerator columns, freezer and wine preservation columns – all of which can accommodate stainless or custom panels. A new 36″ refrigerator and freezer are now available, and a 23 1/2″ refrigerator can fit into a pre-existing 42″ or 48″ cut-out when matched with a 18″ or 24″ freezer or wine column.
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