Beko

<p><img alt="aerial view of various kitchen gadgets laid out on a white surface" height="280" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/k0044-kitchen-gadgets_blog-tn01.jpg?w=640" title="kitchen-gadgets" width="420" /></p>
<p>Gadgets have a way of taking over your kitchen. But some are definite time savers and many make your life much easier. So, what are super cool kitchen helpers and what are just plain nonsense and a waste of space?</p>
<h3>I WANT THAT! I NEED THAT!</h3>
<p>When a recent recipe called for two teaspoons of thyme, I let out a distinctive ugh because I hate peeling the leaves from the stems. After finally doing it, I realized my kitchen was lacking a smart little device I should have bought a long time ago. An <strong>herb stripping tool</strong>. I wouldn&rsquo;t stop what you&rsquo;re doing, since you&rsquo;re reading this article, but as soon as you can, jump in the car and go to a kitchen supply store and get one for yourself. Feel free to send your hugs and kisses to me.</p>
<p>Knives are dangerous things, especially when they&rsquo;re not sharp. Contrary to what many people think, a dull knife is much more of a hazard than a sharp one. It may take you a few tries to get the hang of a <strong>sharpening steel</strong>, but once you do, you&rsquo;ll be on your way to chopping and slicing like a true chef. Having said that, here&rsquo;s advice to live by (well, at least cook by): invest in good quality knives. They work better and last longer than the cheap stuff.</p>
<p>Do the edges of your pie crusts brown before the rest of the crust? No? Well, you know a secret I don&rsquo;t. But if you share my crust edge problem, the solution is a <strong>pie crust shield</strong>. It easily slips over the top of the pie plate, so that your lattice crust looks pretty as a picture.</p>
<p>Chefs have an innate sense that tells them when meat is cooked to perfection. For the rest of us, a <strong>meat thermometer</strong> is crucial. No more underdone, no more overdone. All done just like you want.</p>
<p>Whether you&rsquo;re making a sauce, a dessert or just adding a bit of flavor to whatever you&rsquo;re whipping up, squeezing lemons isn&rsquo;t much fun. And you usually end up with seeds in the juice. A <strong>citrus juicer</strong> is quick and easy, giving you juice without the seeds.</p>
<p>Spuds can be down right dirty. Scrubbing them is a pain. Unless you have a <strong>potato brush</strong>. Not rocket science, to be sure, but it&rsquo;s sure a handy helper.</p>
<p>The person who invited the <strong>microplane grater</strong> comes close to the top of all-time-great inventors. Use it for zesting oranges, grating cheese, almost anything you would usually let the box grater do.</p>
<p>When a recipe, especially for baking, calls for an ingredient in ounces, it&rsquo;s best not to guess. Too little or too much could ruin the recipe. A <strong>digital food scale</strong> takes the guess work out of measuring. You&rsquo;ll use it more often than you think you would.</p>
<p>Wrap your fish herbs in <strong>cheese cloth</strong> and tie it with <strong>kitchen twine</strong> and you&rsquo;ll have a bouquet garni all ready to flavor lots of dishes. (Or, buy the small cheesecloth packets that come with their own tie.) When you&rsquo;re finished cooking, you won&rsquo;t have to poke around to remove the herb stems. Just pluck out the little packet and voila!</p>
<p><strong>Whisks</strong> are utilitarian not only for whisking eggs but for many things for which you might normally use a spoon. And, the very act of whisking makes you feel like you&rsquo;re in Julia Child&rsquo;s kitchen!</p>
<h3>THINGS TO THROW AWAY, GIVE AWAY OR DON&rsquo;T BUY IN THE FIRST PLACE</h3>
<p>Count the number of people who like to chop or slice garlic and you won&rsquo;t get far. If you&rsquo;re not one of them, the answer is not a garlic press. It&rsquo;s not very efficient. Garlic gets stuck to it and it can be hard to clean. And there&rsquo;s something about hand chopped or sliced garlic that just tastes better!</p>
<p><strong>Avocado, egg and apple slicers</strong> take up drawer space. Are you really so busy you don&rsquo;t have time to slice an egg or avocado? Probably not. And apple wedges have a way of sticking in the slicer. Get out a good knife and slice away.</p>
<p>We&rsquo;re including the <strong>fish turner</strong> because we think it&rsquo;s just so silly. Other than being able to say, &ldquo;Oh, let me get the fish turner for that salmon&rdquo; to someone you want to impress with your gadget collection, the turner is a waste of money. A versatile silicone turner is better and makes more sense.</p>
<p>Fancy <strong>ceramic measuring spoons</strong> are rarely accurate and they break. Stainless steel is your friend.</p>
<h3>BEST ADVICE EVER</h3>
<p>It may not be a gadget or an appliance, but the smartest of smart cooks know that the best thing they can have in the kitchen is someone to clean up the mess!</p>
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Gadgets Galore: Some You Gotta Have and Some You Can Forget

<p><img alt="front view of a modern kitchen with grey cabinetry and stainless steel appliances" height="280" src="https://d6y5eqdcxq8w3.cloudfront.net/assets/blog/kitchen-designs-blog-k0044.jpg?w=640" title="kitchen-design" width="420" /></p>
<p>We love to talk about kitchens because there&rsquo;s so much to say. They can be just utilitarian or can have wow factors. Some people definitely want a multitude of wow factors while others just want a kitchen that works for them (which may mean having plenty of space for take-out!) Whether you go over the top or prefer understated, chances are family and friends will make it a gathering place. That&rsquo;s why kitchen design is important.</p>
<p>There&rsquo;s no one style that&rsquo;s right for everyone. Maybe your tastes run toward modern or contemporary or maybe you fall somewhere between traditional and transitional. There&rsquo;s nothing wrong with mixing and matching, but be careful. When Old-World meets New World, the result may be a hodgepodge you&rsquo;ll hate. Or, don&rsquo;t get too trendy and end up saying, &ldquo;What was I thinking?&rdquo;</p>
<p>A large kitchen doesn&rsquo;t automatically equate with a good kitchen. Not if everything is too spread out or there isn&rsquo;t efficient flow. Of course, a large kitchen can have the advantages of separate areas for prep, cooking, baking, clean-up and entertaining. But, don&rsquo;t despair if space isn&rsquo;t on your side. You can still have a wonderful kitchen. Trust us, and read on!</p>
<p>_________________________________________________________________________</p>
<h3>PERIMETER CABINETRY AND ISLAND</h3>
<ul>
<li>Simpler styles are usually timeless.</li>
<li>Lighter colors create an open, airy feel. Sure, you may love navy blue, but you may not love blue cabinets in two years. You really can&rsquo;t go wrong with white or cream.</li>
<li>As much as we like white cabinets, natural wood cabinets such as mahogany, alder, cherry, maple, and walnut can be stunning. Keep in mind that some woods may have environmental/sustainability issues. To minimize those, consider the option of using a veneer in those woods.</li>
<li>Cabinets used to always have a soffit. Not so much anymore. Soffits gather dust and are often accented with baskets and artificial plants that can look tired and dated. Newer cabinets often extend to the ceiling, although can be difficult with very tall ceilings.</li>
<li>Staggered heights and depths of cabinets can add visual interest but don&rsquo;t go crazy with the staggering.</li>
<li>Clear or frosted glass cabinet doors and open shelving can open up the space but they&rsquo;re not for you if you aren&rsquo;t neat and tidy.</li>
<li>An island or peninsula looks great but may not work in every kitchen. Ideally, there should be 48 inches between the island and the refrigerator, and 42 inches between base cabinets and island. Keep in mind that bar stools in front of the island will reduce the remainder of the usable space.</li>
<li>A different finish on the island and cabinets can bring in that wow factor we were talking about. Or, use a different countertop on the island than what is on the perimeter cabinets.</li>
<li>A second sink, located in an island, can be very handy.</li>
<li>Even if your kitchen leans toward the contemporary, using carved legs or other furniture details on the island can provide an interesting mix.</li>
<li>A mini fridge in the island may become your best kitchen friend.</li>
</ul>
<p>__________________________________________________________________________</p>
<h3>COUNTERTOPS AND BACKSPLASHES</h3>
<ul>
<li>There&rsquo;s a dizzying array of countertops from which to choose: granite, quartz, marble, soapstone, copper and zinc. And, believe it when we tell you laminates have improved because of their high-definition photography.</li>
<li>Granite or quartz? Quartz is extremely strong, doesn&rsquo;t need to be sealed and won&rsquo;t stain. Granite can develop fissures, is porous and may chip. Another differentiating point between quartz and granite is how much movement you want to see in the pattern.</li>
<li>Don&rsquo;t use a busy design countertop with cabinets that are carved or glazed. Way too much going on.</li>
<li>For simply designed cabinets, you may like a squared edge countertop. A detailed edge would complement more ornate cabinet styles.</li>
<li>The right backsplash can add a designer&rsquo;s touch. Get ready to be amazed at the selections of subway and other tile, glass mosaics, stone and mirrors.</li>
<li>Install electrical outlets that pop up from the countertop or are concealed under wall cabinets so that the backsplash pattern isn&rsquo;t interrupted.</li>
</ul>
<p>__________________________________________________________________________</p>
<h3>APPLIANCES</h3>
<ul>
<li>The size and placement of appliances should influence the layout of the kitchen. Choosing the right appliances for your kitchen is essential to its design and functionality. Appliances are the new frontier for kitchens and modern living. We should know, right? Yes, we do!</li>
<li>A range or cooktop and wall oven, which is best for you? We can help you decide based on the look you want to achieve in your kitchen and how you use each of the appliances.</li>
<li>Gas ranges include free standing, slide-in and dual fuel. Electric ranges are available in coil, smooth top, induction, free standing, slide-in and drop-in.</li>
<li>Gas cooktops are available in sealed burner, open burner, continuous grate and downdraft ventilation.</li>
<li>If you prefer electric, you have choices such coil, smooth top, freestanding, slide-in or drop-in ranges. Among electric cooktops are coil, smooth top, induction and downdraft ventilation.</li>
</ul>
<p>__________________________________________________________________________</p>
<h3>SINKS, HARDWARE AND ACCESSORIES</h3>
<ul>
<li>A sink is a sink, right? Not really if you consider the options!</li>
<li>Sinks are offered in an array of materials and sizes, including apron front, drop-in and undermount.</li>
<li>Be sure the sink is deep enough to hold pots and pans without being too crowded.</li>
<li>A divided sink may be convenient at times but has less space in each section.</li>
<li>Some sinks have dividers that are half the height of those in conventional doublebowl sinks.</li>
<li>Stainless steel sinks pair well with stainless appliances, so that may make your decision easier.</li>
<li>Copper sinks are both historical and modern. Just know that copper needs to be specially cleaned and it changes color over time.</li>
<li>Wait. There&rsquo;s more! Some sinks have trays, cutting boards, rinsing baskets, colanders and choices of grids.</li>
<li>Faucets include pull-out faucets, pull-down faucets, bridge faucets, filter faucets, pot fillers and bar/prep faucets. Oh my, the choices!</li>
</ul>
<p>__________________________________________________________________________</p>
<h3>FLOORING AND LIGHTING</h3>
<p>What&rsquo;s underfoot is important in any kitchen, regardless of the style of the space.</p>
<ul>
<li>Hardwood floors can set the scene for any kitchen and can be chosen to enhance the cabinets of your choice. If you use a dark hardwood floor, go for lighter cabinets, or vice versa. Otherwise, your kitchen will look crowded and one dimensional. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s what we want,&rdquo; said no one ever.</li>
<li>Luxury vinyl tile (don&rsquo;t say no so quickly) is not the vinyl tile you knew years ago. Some of the selections are quite impressive and may be perfect for a busy family with children, pets and lots going on. It&rsquo;s also more resilient and easier on your legs than tile.</li>
<li>For something a little different, think about cork or bamboo but discuss the pros and cons of each with a flooring professional.</li>
<li>Lighting should be layered, perhaps mixing a couple of types, such as a statement piece, recessed, undercabinet, pendants over an island or peninsula, interior-cabinet and at the toe kick.</li>
</ul>
<p>__________________________________________________________________________</p>
<h3>UNIVERSAL DESIGN, ORGANIZATION AND ACCESSORIES</h3>
<p>If you have members of the family or friends who have disability, mobility and accessibility issues, Universal Design should be central to your kitchen. The concept previously was called &ldquo;aging-in-place design&rdquo; because it makes sense for all of us. Wide aisles, slip-resistant flooring and increased lighting are fundamental components. More drawers than cabinet shelves and doors make lives so much easier. If someone may need a wheel chair now or in the future, be ensure there&rsquo;s enough space to angle around. Creating a kitchen that reflects Universal Design could be a selling point if you decide to sell your home.</p>
<p>Good design is predicated on abundant storage and thoughtful organization. You can never have too much of either. It doesn&rsquo;t mean you&rsquo;re a hoarder, just a smart cookie. Wide, deep drawers are a must. Recycle bins, space-saving, flip-down door fronts to hide small cleaning products, roll-out shelves, pull-out columns for spices and cans, and even a bread drawer are plusses you will wonder how you ever managed without.</p>
<p>__________________________________________________________________________</p>
<h3>LET&rsquo;S GET COOKING!</h3>
<p>We&rsquo;ve provided sensible solutions to common problems and suggested ways to make your kitchen beautiful and functional. Now, it&rsquo;s up to you to turn on the oven, stir the pot, and start cooking like a pro. We know you can do it and are just waiting for you to invite us to dinner!</p>
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Kitchen Designs

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