General - Power To The Kitchen

Kitchen Essentials: How to Stock 8 Best Foods in your Pantry

A complete Kitchen Essentials checklist of all basic but frequently used foods that you should keep in your freezer, fridge and pantry (cupboard) all the time.

What are the essential foods you should always have in the kitchen?

Eating the right foods can be difficult when you have such a busy life. That’s why knowing the best foods to always have in the kitchen is so important.

If you’re life is anything like mine, you won’t always have time to make the perfect food. Sometimes simply getting any food is good enough, never mind the right food. This is especially difficult towards the end of the week when last week’s grocery shopping has all but run out.

This is where having the right types of food to make preparing nutritious meals or quick snacks is so important. With the right foods in the cupboard, fridge and freezer you’ll give yourself the chance of always being able to get your body what it needs.

Having 3 children under 3 including twins under 1 as well as a demanding career, I’m always trying to find hacks around the home.

Cupboard Essentials: What essential foods should you always have in the cupboard?

Tuna: Canned tuna has become one of our secret weapons in the kitchen over the last year or so. It’s great as you can buy packs of cans to suit your needs and meal sizes then simply forget about them. Their shelf-life means it can go in the cupboard for months until you find you really need it.

When the time comes however, you’ll be glad you have them. We use tuna:

To mix into quick pasta dishes (usually combined with an easy milk, cheese, paprika and pepper sauce)
For making sandwiches mixed with mayonnaise and whatever vegetables are readily available eg tomatoes and avocado
As a topping for grilled garlic bread finished with mozzarella or cheddar, our favourite Truff Gourmet hot sauce and any vegetables going e.g sweet corns.

Pasta: This is often our go-to solution when we don’t quite have enough time for anything more elaborate than a simple pasta dish. Depending on how you like your pasta done, it can be ready to go inside 10 minutes. It’s versatile and you can switch it up between white and whole grain varieties to make sure you get all the nutrition you need.

The great thing with a batch of pasta is that you can eat hot or cold so whatever you have left in the fridge, cupboard or freezer can be tossed in.

Bread: This may seem obvious but it can be easy to forget. Bread gives you a lot of choice for quick snacks and meals. From simple sandwiches like a classic tuna mayo, to the humble toast and further still, with a reliable loaf of bread around you’ll never be short of sustenance. If you’re worried you may not get through the bread before it expires you can always freeze (something we do in our house). This is particularly handy if you have a toaster with a defrost function.

Fridge Essentials: What essential foods should you always have in the fridge?

Eggs: When you are armed with eggs in the fridge, you can tackle any hunger attack. Eggs are versatile and can be a meal in their own right or combined with other quick foods for a hearty and filling meal. Full of protein and easy to blend in with spices (try scrambled eggs with black pepper and smoked paprika to see what we mean), eggs can keep hunger at bay when the chips are down.

Hard Cheese: A hard cheese with a strong taste and long-shelf life is always a good idea. Mixed in a with a bit of milk and pasta you’ll have yourself a tasty meal. Alternatively a hard cheese like cheddar works nicely mixed in with eggs or simply as a filling for a quick toasted sandwich. Whatever you do with it, having a nice block of cheese in the fridge means you’re only ever one step away from turning an ordinary quick snack into a great one.

Fruit: We all know eating fruits is an essential part of the diet but that’s not always easy to do. That’s why making sure you always have some fruit readily available is so important. Apples tend to make excellent fridge essentials as they can keep for a number of weeks without degrading in taste or quality. They are also great for juicing, making smoothies or just eaten on their own.

Freezer Essentials: What essential foods should you always have in the freezer?

What foods should you always have in the freezer?

Frozen Vegetables: Frozen vegetables such as sweetcorn, peas and carrots can come in handy with a variety of dishes so it always makes sense to have them available. They can easily help you add an extra layer of taste to otherwise simple meals as well as making sure you’re getting vital vitamins and nutrients.

Pre-Cooked Dishes: Wherever possible try to cook more than you will need for a particular meal and freeze the rest. A particularly good option for this is minced meat in a bolognese sauce like lamb or turkey. In our house we like to make large batches (e.g. 1kg) of turkey mince in a bolognse sauce that can be easily frozen and then used alongside pasta or jacket potatoes.

Another good option in this area is pre-cooked soup. We particularly like making butternut and sweet potato soup and then freezing it. Often times you can find that as the flavours have had time to settle, the soup tastes even better out of the freezer.

Following is a comprehensive list of frequently used foods to be stored;

Kitchen Essentials: In the Pantry

Breakfast & Cereals

Cereal (consider whole grain varieties)
Butter (keep it in the fridge)
Bread / Rusk / Bagles / Muffins
Oatmeal
Pancake mix
Canned, Jarred, & Pouched Foods
Weetbix for kids or Adults
PeanNut butter
Jams / Spreads (Nutella)
Honey
Desi ghee

Tip: Add 1tsp desi ghee in bowl of weetbix with honey and warm milk for extra immunity. Use Pure Jaggery instead of Sugar (if honey isn’t available), its helps in blood purification and a good alternate to refined sugar. Honey has low GI than both Jaggery and sugar.

Fruits and Vegetables

Choose raw and fresh fruits, avoid frozen fruits and vegetables as much as possible. The only frozen vegetables we recommend are;

diced tomatoes,
chopped spinach,
sliced yam or colacassia
ladyfingers
as they all cost generally less from fresh veggies and comes very handy.

Meat, poultry, & seafood

Beans (kidney, black eyed, black, garbanzo)
Fish, Chicken, Mutton or other meats.
Soups (look for lower sodium varieties)
Nuts (almonds, walnut, pistachio, pine nuts, macadamia. Avoid salted or smoked, and always go for natural unsalted nuts)
Sauces (tomato, soya, chili, oyster)
Diced tomatoes
Chickpeas (canned)
Kidney beans (canned)
Broth or stock (chicken, beef or vegetable)

Grains, Pasta & Sides

Bread (consider whole grain varieties)
Tortillas or taco shells
Pasta (consider whole grain varieties)
Rice (include some whole grain rice, such as brown rice)
Oats (old fashioned or rolled, quick, or steel cut)

Produce

Onions
Potatoes
Tomatoes
Garlic heads
Green Chilies
Pepper Mint
Coriander

Snack

Crackers (consider whole grain varieties)
Popcorn
Fresh Sweet Corn Cobs
Nuts (almonds, walnuts, etc.)

Baking & Cooking supplies

Instant nonfat dry milk
Flour (consider whole grain)
Sugar (white granulated, brown)
Seasonings & spices (salt, black pepper, garlic, minced onion)
Oil for cooking (such as olive, canola, vegetable)
Vinegar

Condiments & Salad Dressings

Ketchup
Mustard
Mayonnaise (choose a lower fat option)
Salad dressing

Kitchen Essentials: In the Refrigerator

Milk (fat-free or low-fat)
Cheese (block, shredded, sliced, or string and consider lower fat options)
Yogurt (fat-free or low-fat and choose options with fewer or no added sugars)
Eggs
Fruits
Vegetables
Butter or margarine

Kitchen Essentials: In the Freezer

Fruit
Vegetables
Meat & seafood (chicken breast, minced fat-free beef, turkey, lamb chops, salmon, shrimp)
100% fruit juice concentrate (better to extract juice yourself or even better to eat raw fruit)
Breads (consider whole grain varieties)

3 Best Electric Pressure Cookers Of 2022: Under Budget

Best Electric Pressure Cookers of 2022 that are Multipurpose is what we’ll discuss in this article and provide detailed review of 3 Best Electric Pressure Cookers of 2022, that can make your life in Kitchen easier. In this age, Electric Pressure Cookers are arguably the most useful and versatile cooking tool today that can help you cook stew, broth, all kind of meats, yogurt and curries. So basically all-in-one and one-in-all machine that you should have in kitchen regardless of if you’re used to cook 2 to 3 times a day or only few times a week.

The Electric pressure cookers make cooking time light and stress-free. It takes out most of the work on its shoulder i.e. tenderizing meat and save ton of time. Which in general, take atleast an hour or two in some cases if you’re cooking beef or pork or even mutton, using normal cookpot.

Multi-purpose Best Electric Pressure Cookers of 2022

When it comes to effortless cooking and using cookware that makes cooking quick and easy in this busy life, Electric Pressure Cooker is a cookware that comes first in mind that save you loads of time and energy. Not only you don’t need to use meat tenderizers with them but they are designed to make short work of slow cook dishes. Which in result reduce cooking times by up to 50% and retain nutrients well, making them a healthy cooking tool and produce delectably tender meals. Just add ingredients to the pot and cover it with the locking lid, and meal is ready within minutes. They are economical in both ways that is more energy efficient than other cooking methods because it uses the contained steam for cooking instead other methods which loses steam in the air. You’ll end up using less energy with shorter cooking time too. Money and time savings intelligently.

How do Electric Pressure Cookers work?

Unlike stovetop pressure cookers, electric pressure cookers are equipped with a heating element that heats the contents of the seal container when powered. An electric pressure cooker requires almost no manual adjustments. It is capable of automatically regulating temperature and pressure with the help of sensors and installed timer. When the desired temperature and pressure is reached, the heating elements activates a standby mode. When heated, the pressure raises the boiling point of water and traps steam inside, which is how it decreases cook time by up to 70%. When cooking’s finished, the electric pressure cooker will beep a few times and then will switch to the keep warm mode and the display will begin to count up minutes instead of down. you can then release the steam inside quickly via the electric pressure release valve.

What’s the difference between Stovetop and Electric Pressure Cookers?

So if they both run on same principle, what differentiates them?

Though Electric pressure cookers are more complex than regular stovetop pressure cookers in terms of their design but much more convenient to operate and safe. The Electric pressure cookers are all about automation and require very little attendance and maintenance as well. When pressure or temperature levels falls off, the electric pressure cooker makes automatic adjustments until optimal levels are reached once again. Being able to run the heating element periodically equals less energy consumption. With built-in sensors that regulate levels back and forth, the electric pressure cooker seems more safe and futuristic in comparison to the stovetop pressure cooker. Where as in stovetop pressure cookers the levels must be adjusted manually by the user. It comes with a gauge that indicates the temperature and the pressure levels. When levels aren’t balanced, the temperature on the stove must be adjusted manually.

Because the electric pressure cooker is as automated as it is, the process of operating it is easier than that of traditional stovetop pressure cooker.

Are Electric pressure cookers safe?

Even though in today’s world pressure cookers are extremely safe to use these days but the worries associated with pressure cooking still exist. The thought of containing pressure inside a heated vessel seems dangerous but manufacturers have spent plenty of time and money in developing safety measures to make sure no one is injured or get harmed using their product. Modern electric pressure cookers come with different types of safety systems. The back-up vents and overpressure valves in the electric pots are design to release excess pressure easily. Usually the pressure levels should be stable, but if the pressure cooker for some reason doesn’t stop heating once full pressure is achieved, it is extremely convenient to have a release for excess pressure. The overpressure plug can also be used if the regular release valve clogs up during the cooking process.

Lastly, to avoid the lid from shooting through the roof when opened, the sealing ring inside the lid prevents the user from opening the lid until all the pressure has dropped.

With all these features functioning properly, one can feel very safe and comfortable when using an electric pressure cooker. Though, it is important to keep a check on the features and components to ensure that they are working accordingly.

Are Electric pressure cooker better than stovetop pressure cooker?

Well both versions of pressure cookers are being praised for their ability to prepare meals quickly, but it is true that cooker tests comparison have shown that traditional stovetop cooker is a little bit faster than the electric pressure cooker. Although Best Electric Pressure Cookers of 2022 definitely have edge over stovetop or conventional cookers. Even though some Combination microwaves can also offer you great level of cooking needs. You can also check our reviews on some of the best flatbed microwaves here.

The stovetop produces heat more effectively than the heating element in electric pressure cookers. However, the downside of using the stove as a heat source requires much more supervision. The user must reduce or increase the temperature to keep the pressure levels maintain. Having to attend the pot so frequently makes it less convenient than the electric version. Whereas the best electric pressure cookers of 2022 can be left unattended for a while.

Another huge advantage of using electric pressure cooker is the versatility that it provides. Oftentimes, you’ll see an electric pressure cooker with a bunch of buttons- these buttons offer different methods of cooking.

Top 3 Most Popular Pressure Cookers:

Pressure cooking has become increasingly popular over the past decades and for a small working family, it can gets a meal on the table within 15 minutes, start to finish. Here’s the list of top 3 hand-picked fully automatic and multi-purpose pressure cookers available in the market, these brands are a major upgrade from what your grandmother used:

Philips All-in-One Multi Cooker
Instant Pot – Duo Nova
Tefal – Home Chef

Comprehensive Review of above-mentioned pressure cookers

1.1. Philips All-in-One Multi Cooker:

All in one Philips electric pressure cooker

Model: HD2237/72
Power: 1300W
Total Capacity: 6L
Pressure : Unknown
Accessories : Measuring cup, soup spoon, steaming tray/basket,
- Recipe booklet.
Warranty: 2 years
Personal Note : Highly recommended. Very powerful, cooks and
- Pressures up the fastest.

Check Price

1.2. Instant Pot – Duo Nova:

Model: B07Y1XNXMB
Power: 1000W
Total Capacity: 7L
Pressure: Low(5.8psi-7.2psi); High(10.2psi-11.6psi)
Accessories: Extra sealing ring, steaming tray, access to
- Instant pot app.
Warranty: 1year
Personal Note: Easiest to use. Steel pot on saute mode
- doesn’t work very effectively.
Best Suitable for: Stews, Stocks and Currys

Check price

1.3. Tefal – Home Chef:

Model: CY601
Power: 1000W
Total Capacity: 6L
Pressure: 15psi
Accessories: Measuring cup, Rice spatula, Soup spoon,
- Steaming trivet, Recipe booklet.
Warranty: 1 year
Editor’s Note: Temperature control extremely handy but
- difficult to use and takes the longest to cook
Best suitable for: Beef, Mutton cooking and tenderizing
Energy efficient rating:
Cooking-Time: 1hr

check price

Conclusion: Best Electric Pressure Cookers of 2022

Today we have some of the Best electric pressure cookers available in the market that fulfil most or all of your cooking needs. They are straightforward, simple and easy to use. Most importantly, does the job and save ton of your previous time. We should benefit with them.

8 Signs That You Need A New Fridge Freezer or Refrigerator

In this blog post we’ll discuss;

8 Signs That You Need A New Fridge Freezer: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Steps to Finding the Perfect Signs That You Need A New Fridge Freezer
Reasons you may need to stop stressing that you need a new fridge freezer
How to quikly fix small issues with your freezer and save money

Here are 8 signs that you need a new fridge freezer or Refrigerator…

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This does not affect how much you pay for the product.

1 – Food Is Going Bad Before The Expiration Date

This may be one of the first obvious signs; if you keep finding that food is going off well before the use before date this may be a sure sign that there’s a problem.

It usually means that the unit struggling to keep the temperature low enough to chill your food sufficiently.

This may be due to issues with the condenser coils or perhaps an overworked motor.

In any case, this may be a good time to call in a qualified engineer to have a look at your machine or consider buying a new model.

2 – You’re Hearing A Lot of Noise

If you’re suddenly hearing a lot more noise than usual from your fridge then it may be a sign that there’s a problem, potentially with the motor.

All fridge freezers will emit some sound as their various parts are working but if you are hearing louder noises than ever before, you may have a problem.

In the first instance you can try unplugging the machine from the wall and re-plugging it.

If that doesn’t work, you may need to consult an engineer or get searching for that shiny new fridge freezer.

3 – The Electricity Bill Keeps Spiking

If your electricity bill keeps going up with no real changes in your habits then it may be a sign that there is a problem with your fridge freezer.

Remember that your fridge is one of the only items in the kitchen and indeed the whole house, that is on 24/7. That makes it a pretty likely culprit if your utility bill suddenly jumps up.

A high electric bill may mean that your machine is struggling to regulate its temperature and is no longer as energy efficient as it once was.

Paying for a new fridge may be painful in the short-term but it is likely that you will save yourself far more in electricity costs through a more energy efficient fridge.

4 – You Need A Jacket To Open It

8 signs that you need a new fridge freezer - its too cold

If you feel like you are getting a blast of cold air every time you open your fridge door then you may have an issue. Your fridge should be cool enough to keep your food safe and it can sometimes have a little bit of ice or water at the back.

But if you’ve noticed that it is unusually cold or you need to chip away at ice to retrieve your mixed vegetables then this may indicate a bigger problem.

5 – Your’e Noticing Excessive Condensation

Have you noticed water trickling inside the fridge? If this is happening you may also notice a pool of water at the back of the fridge which tends to be the coldest part of the refrigerator and where the moisture builds.

Some moisture may be normal for your machine especially if the door is frequently opened.

However, excessive condensation may mean that your fridge is struggling to keep cool.

This may be due to a worn out or damaged door seal (gasket). A simple replacement may well fix the issue.

If it doesn’t, then you may well have to consider your options.

6 – It’s Getting Hot In Here

Sometimes your fridge may get a little hotter than usual if it’s working hard to keep cool especially in the warmer summer months with frequent door opening.

However, if you’ve noticed that it is running hot more often than usual or over 24 hours then you may need to get it seen to.

It may be that your motor fan is not working as it should.

Replacing it may well be an option you want to consider however, if the cost is high it may be time to look at a new fridge freezer instead.

7 – Your Fridge Is Over 10 Years Old

A fridge can typically last 10 to 15 years though generally once it gets to 10 years plus it’s a good point to start planning for a replacement.

If you notice that you are having to pay for repairs more frequently then it may be worth considering if it would be more cost effective in the long-run to replace it.

Even if you have not had excessive repair bills, you may find that it is no longer as energy efficient and could be costing you more to run than a newer model.

8 – Your Fridge Has Gone Silent

You may be used to the gentle hum from your fridge as it works through the motions but if you suddenly don’t hear anything it may be a sign of trouble.

If it goes silent and the light is also out it may be a sign that there’s no power, so check the rest of your kitchen to make sure there has been no trips.

If however, it’s silent but the light is still on when you open the door then it could mean there is a problem with the compressor.

You may be able to restart it by turning the fridge off for a while before switching it back on.

Alternatively setting the thermostat to its lowest setting may also trigger a restart.

If that doesn’t work try to defrost the fridge freezer.

If not perhaps call in an engineer to take a look. If that results in a potentially large repair bill or doesn’t work, then it may be time to start looking for a potential replacement.

CHECKOUT OUR REVIEWS FOR BEST FRIDGE FREEZERS HERE

Best Microwaves of 2022: Our Expert Guide to Combination Microwaves

1 – Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ – Best Flatbed Combination Microwave

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If you’re after a truly excellent Combination Microwaves, our review is just for you to find out Best Microwaves of 2022: Our Expert Guide to Combination Microwaves!

There are microwaves and then there are Panasonic microwaves. Within that latter category there are some truly excellent Panasonic microwaves and the Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ Slimline Combination Microwave Oven is one of those.

The Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQcombines ample cooking space with a microwave, oven and grill. In addition you also get a well thought out design that saves you lots of counter-space. This makes the Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ the perfect option if you need lots of cooking capacity but are tight for space.

It’s why it’s our pick for the best microwave for a family of 5 with a small kitchen.

If you’re simply looking for a quick and easy way to heat up your food then this machine is overqualified for your needs. However, if you want to be able to do just about everything from defrosting bacon, to perfectly reheating leftover rice, baking cakes and roasting lamb then this model could be just what your looking for.

This is a 3-in-1 combination microwave, oven and grill – giving you everything you need for cooking for your family all in one great appliance. The combination is a great space saver as well as money saver.

One of the best things about the Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ is the inverter technology. Most conventional microwave ovens use a method of cooking which means the power is at 100% all the time and simply alternates between on and off during a cycle.

With Panasonic’s inverter technology on the other hand, the power is steady. For example if you set it to 50%, the power will be maintained at that level for the whole time.

This precise power controls results in foods cooked exactly how you want them and much more evenly.

The technology also means you do not have to deal with cold spots when heating food and defrosting is done a lot more efficiently.

It also cooks and heats foods much more quickly than a conventional microwave oven. These benefits are all evident with the Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ.

At 1000Watts you will also have a very powerful microwave oven that can have your food cooked quickly.

In conventional microwave ovens the cooling fan is located at the back of the machine. In the Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ, the fan has been moved to the top of the oven resulting in a much smaller footprint (39.5cm depth). This leaves you with far more countertop space perfect for smaller kitchens.

Internally Panasonic have found a way to give you more space as well with a 34cm turntable meaning you can get even the biggest of dishes into the oven.

Overall you get 27Litre cooking capacity which is great if you have a large family or tend to cook big meals.

The machine comes equipped with plenty of pre-set cooking programmes including a kids menu to encourage healthy eating. You simply enter the weight of the food and the oven does the rest.

Quite helpfully the control panel is wipe clean meaning even if it does get smudged or grubby whilst using, its an easy job to wipe it down.

In all we think the Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ would definitely rank in top 3 among Best Microwaves of 2022 and would make a great addition to your kitchen especially if you have a large family but are tight on space. It has lots of features that are well executed and it looks fantastic.

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Key Features

Inverter cooking technology for precise and evenly cooked food
Large capacity (27L) for meeting your family needs
Small footprint – great for small kitchens or tight spaces
1000W of power for quick and easy meals
Dimensions: D39.5cm x W52cm x H31cm

2 – Sharp R959SLMAA

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If you’re looking for a high capacity microwave with excellent features that’s easy to use then the brilliant Sharp R959SLMAA is a great bet. Our experts ranked this microwaves in top 3 among Best Microwaves of 2022 (among best combination microwaves) hence here we’re with the detailed review of this combination microwave.

Microwaves don’t really come much bigger in terms of cooking capacity than what the Sharp R959SLMAA offers. Its extra large 40 litre capacity means you can easily cater to the needs of your household and make large dishes with no trouble.

In addition the large size means it can take large dinner plates with no problem. It’s easy to see why it’s been chosen as our best microwave for family of 5, which is another review in series of our reviews “Best Microwaves of 2022”.

This awesome machine is a combination microwave, oven and grill all in one brillaint device. This will give you lots of versatility in your cooking.

This 900W machine comes with 5 power levels giving you lots of options when cooking. At the same time you also have access to 8 preset cooking modes taking the guesswork out of getting your food exactly how you want it. These include options for cooking pizza, ready meals, rice/pasta and cake.

The 900W grill is equipped with quartz technology. The quartz heating elements get hot very quickly making them perfect for cooking and browning foods such as grilled cheese sandwiches, sausages and pizzas.

If that wasn’t enough, it also comes with a convection oven. These ovens are different to traditional models. They work by circulating heated air evenly around the interior of the oven. Unlike conventional ovens where you need to rely on the air rising, by passing hot air over the food it cooks more evenly and in a much faster time frame. It’s for these reason that they tend to consume less energy.

The convection oven can reach temperatures up to 250°C. With ten different temperature settings ranging between 40°C and 250°C, you’ll have plenty of options for making the perfect meal for your family of 5.

To help you get the most out of your various functions the Sharp R959SLMAA also has a combination (“COMBI”) mode allowing you to combine the microwave with either the grill or convection oven. This reduces cooking time and also means your food can come out with a crispy brown finish.

Quite helpfully instructions pop up on the control panel screen prompting you take action as it’s needed.

The silver trim finish gives this unit a real smart feel.

The Sharp R959SLMAA is designed for use on counter-tops or for built-in installation, rare versatility.

Due to its large capacity and size, it does mean that it takes up a lot of space.

So if you are tight for space in your kitchen then you may need to look elsewhere like the Panasonic NN-CT57JMBPQ Slimline or (checkout our picks of the best flatbed microwaves for another option).

Quite helpfully thought the minimum clearance above the oven unit is 13cm which compares well to a lot of other microwaves which need at least 30cm. This should give you some more flexibility if you are tight for space in your kitchen.

There is also an installation kit available from Sharp that allows the oven to be fitted within a kitchen unit. The oven also has an energy save mode allowing you to save on electricity when the oven is not in use.

Overall the Sharp R959SLMAA microwave offers a number of excellent features as well as a clean look and awesome cooking power that’s why one of the Best Microwaves of 2022. It’s extra large 40litre cooking capacity makes it a standout option if you need ample space for your cooking needs.

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Key Features

Extra large 40 litre capacity microwave
Microwave, convection oven, grill and combination
Quick and convenient cooking with 900W of power
Modern and stylish silver finish with a stainless steel finish
Dimensions: Outside dimension-W55cm x H36.8cm x D53.7cm – Inside dimension W37.5cm x H27.2cm x D39.5.

4 Steps Recipe: How to cook scrambled eggs in Microwave (Right way!)

Learning to cook scrambled eggs in microwave will make your life easy! One of the best things about eggs aside from the fact they’re so delicious is the fact that they can be very convenient to cook. This is even more so the case when it comes to microwave cooking eggs.

By cooking your eggs in the microwave, you can make them even more straightforward but still retain the great flavours.

Below we’ll take a look:

Advantages of cooking eggs in Microwave
Disdavantages of cookings eggs in Microwave
How to cook scrambled eggs in the microwave
Some Tips
Possible accessories

Advantages of Cooking Eggs in Microwave

Let’s take a quick look at why you may want to consider using your microwave to cook scrambled eggs.

Convenience

We’ve alluded to it already but making eggs in the microwave can be very convenient as it keeps everything minimal and takes care of the cooking for you. Typically you can use one microwave suitable dish to crack the eggs, mix them and then cook them making it super easy to get the job done. Because of this convenience it means you can make your eggs at home or in the office – anywhere there’s a microwave.

Save Time On Cleaning

As you can get away with only using one dish and a fork to crack, mix and make your eggs, you end up saving time that you would otherwise spend on washing dishes. Cooking eggs on the stove means you need a mixing bowl as well as a frying pan.

Results Can Be More Precise

Another benefit of using the microwave rather than the stove for microwave cooking eggs (scrambled and omelette) is that you are likely to have less variation in your results. As long as you have the right amount of milk for example in your scrambled eggs and choose the right power settings and time, you’re likely to find very similar results every time you cook. This is not always the case with cooking on the stove.

Disadvantages of Cooking Eggs in Microwave

Let’s have a brief look at some disadvantages of microwave cooking eggs

Browning Your Eggs

If you like your eggs (scrambled or omelette) to have a nice tinge of brown after they’ve been gently fried with some olive oil then microwave cooking will not be for you. When microwaved, scrambled eggs and omelettes will come out distinctly yellow, so if that golden brown tinge and taste is important to you then it’s not the way for you.

Soggy Eggs

Another issue with microwave cooking eggs is that it can be very easy to end up with soggy eggs. This is especially true with scrambled eggs if you end up putting a little too much milk into the mix. It can be difficult to dry out the liquid without spoiling the taste of the eggs.

Note: You’ll notice we only mention microwave cooking either scrambled eggs or omelette – we would not recommend any other type of eggs in the microwave. Any eggs made in the microwave should ideally be cracked and mixed to avoid any build up of pressure inside the eggs.

How to Cook Scrambled Eggs in Microwave

Ingredients

2 x Eggs
2 tbsp Milk
Pinch of Salt and Pepper
Oil Spray
Microwave safe-container (We recommend Pyrex Simply Store Meal Prep Glass container or LocknLock Purely Better Glass Food container)

Step 1: Use Cooking Oil Spray to spray microwave-safe container. If you dont have Oil spray then just drop 2 tbsp oil in the container and spread on the surface with the spoon or heat-resistant Silicone Spatula.

Step 2: Whisk egg, milk, salth and pepper in a container and place in microwave.

Step 3: Microwave on Medium-High heat for 1 minute 30 seconds to 1 minute 45 seconds. Stop microwave, Stir multiple times during cooking and resume until cooked.

Step 4: Once cooked. Stop microwave. Take out container and let it stand for 30 seconds to 60 seconds before serving it. Sprinkle additional salt or pepper Eggs according to your taste. Eat with sausages or slice of bread.

Serve scrambled eggs with sausage or slice of bread and coffee! — Serve scrambled eggs with sausage or slice of bread and coffee

Some Tips

Choose a good quality flatbed microwave. Checkout our detailed article on flatbed combination microwaves.

Choosing a rounded-container will give a good shape to your eggs. Dont forget to check our recommendations.

Since eggs overcook easily, or can become rubbery if slightly overcooked in microwave. To avoid, undercook eggs slightly and give some standing time outside microwave to complete cooking.

You can add cheese, slice of cooked sauges or chopped fresh herbs in the scrambled eggs mixture before cooking.

If you are making an egg omelette, and has added some vegetables like onion or chilies and tomatoes, cooking time will increase, we’ll share a separate recipe for that, so stay tuned!

Possible Accessories

Don’t worry if you don’t have all these tools in the kitchen. You can cook eggs in a deep plate or bowl (ceramic or glass). However, these things come handy if you have them and can be very useful in daily cooking.

Here’s the list of items we recommend to use;

Heat-Resistant Silicone Spatula
- KUFUNG Silicone Spatula
Microwave-safe Container (we’ll recommend buying a glass container as they are 100% safe and avoid buying a plastic container).
- Pyrex Simply Store Meal Prep Glass container
- LocknLock Purely Better Glass Food container
Oil Sprayer
- Multi-purpose PUZMUG Oil Spray for Baking, Roasting, Grilling

14 Kitchen Appliances Christmas Gifts for people who love cooking

Best Kitchen Appliances For Christmas Gifts - Main Image — Best Kitchen Appliances For Christmas Gifts

You might be thinking to buy Kitchen appliances Christmas Gifts for someone who love cooking. In this blog, we’re going to look at list of 14 best kitchen appliances that possess great value for money and available online.

The right kitchen appliances can absolutely transform your experience of certain tasks in the kitchen and this is why they can make perfect Christmas gifts. In this list we take a look at the best kitchen appliances for Christmas gifts to help you come up with the gifts that could make someone’s day and have them thinking of you everytime they reach for their new favourite kitchen buddy.

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This does not affect how much you pay for the product.

Best Kitchen Appliances For Christmas Gifts

Here’s our rundown of the best kitchen appliances for Christmas gifts.

Breville VST072 DuraCeramic Waffle Maker – Waffle Maker

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There’s no better time to mix up someone’s breakfast or brunch menu then during Christmas and with a waffle maker they’ll be thinking of you the whole year round as they tuck into freshly baked waffles.

Another excellently rated Kitchen appliance “Breville VST072 DuraCeramic Waffle Maker” is a great option if you want to give a loved one the gift of freshly baked waffle delight time and again. Breville know a thing or two about toasting doughy delights with over 40 years experience in making sandwich toasters and the like.

The Breville VST072 can have two waffles ready in a matter of minutes and give the lucky owner a great option whether they’re served for breakfast, lunch or dessert.

Nespresso Inissia – Pod Coffee Machine

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In the likely chance the person you’re trying to find a Christmas gift for is a coffee lover, why not indulge their tastes with this excellent Nespresso Inissia pod coffee machine. With pod coffee machines you get a very simple way to make great quality coffee and with this Nespresso machine you also have the choice of using other brands of pods as well as Nespresso’s own.

This Nespresso machine is available on its own as well as with a sleek looking capsule stand that could really help to jazz up your loved one’s home office or kitchen. As well as making great coffee quickly, the Nespresso Inissia pod coffee machine looks stylish and is compact.

Delonghi Eletta – Bean To Cup Coffee Machine

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If you’re lucky someone is a coffee lover that must have nothing but the freshest coffee possible at home then perhaps the De’Longhi Eletta bean to cup coffee machine is the way to go. Bean to cup coffee machines have the advantage of making coffee by grinding whole beans only at the point you need them meaning you end up with fresh coffee with great aromas.

The De’Longhi Eletta bean to cup gives you the benefits of fresh coffee as well as a range of automatic menu options meaning whoever gets this lovely gift would be able to make some of their favourite coffee drinks at the touch of a button.

You can check our detaled review of another great bean to cup coffee machine Delonghi Magnifica.

COSORI Smart WiFi Air Fryer

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If you’re after a gift for someone’s kitchen that not only makes life easier but also features some cool tech then the Corsori Smart WiFi Air Fryer might be just the ticket. Corsori already offer some of the most highly rated air fryers around and this one adds WiFi connectivity into the mix to make it a perfect Christmas gift for those who love to integrate tech into their kitchen. The WiFi and app based control will allow the user to control their air fryer remotely including scheduling of meals up to 4 hours in advance. With the Cosori air fryer your lucky recipient can cook up their favourite foods with less fat than traditional fryers and do so in a non-stick and dishwasher safe design.

Instant Pot – Multi Pressure Cooker

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Help declutter your special someone’s kitchen with this brilliant 7-in-1 electric cooker combination. The Instant Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker gives you (1) pressure cooker, (2) slow cooker, (3) rice cooker, (4) saute/browning, (5) yoghurt maker, (6) steamer & (7) warmer. There are not too many appliances that can combine so many functions in one and still end up with such brilliant and widespread customer reviews but the Instant Duo 7-In-1 manages to do so.

You can find a cheaper alternate in shape of a Rice cooker which also comes very handy and saves time. Check our post on Microwave Rice Cooker to find what it is and if it suits you. Click here to find our recommended Rice Cooker & Steamer available on Amazon.

The Smart Oven Air Fryer by Sage

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Christmas gifts can be a great way to introduce a loved one to a completely new way of doing things or the latest tech. The Smart Oven Air Fryer by Sage is a potentially great way to that for someone you care about and give them a whole new way of cooking in their kitchen.

This Smart Oven from Sage is equipped with an algorithm backed system (“Element IQ”) that delivers power to when and where it’s needed helping to create the best conditions for the type of programme selected.

This highly rated smart oven has 10 different cooking functions to give the user lots of flexibility when it comes to making their food. These include airfry, grill, bake, roast, slow cook, reheat as well as a program for pizza and toasting up to 6 slices.

To help speed up cooking time compared to conventional ovens, the Smart Oven Air Fryer by Sage is equipped with convection heating helping to deliver faster and more even cooking.

Breville Sandwich/Panini Press

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If there’s one thing that Breville seem to know well it’s how to make excellent appliances to make the perfect sandwich. The Breville VST025 Sandwich/Panini Press is no different and could make an excellent gift for someone who loves their bread based snacks toasted. Whether it’s a classic Panini, ciabatta or hearty grilled cheese the Breville VST025 can handle it. With large flat that plates that can take up to 3 sandwiches your receipient will be able to not only serve themselves but others quickly. The floating top allows for various shapes and sizes in terms of toasted bread giving the lucky recipient a range of options.

Amazon Echo Show 8

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Need to remind yourself of that recipe you’ve been thinking about all week? Why not ask your own personal kitchen assistant to bring it up on its 8inch screen? The Amazon Echo Show 8 could make a great kitchen gift. As well as allowing the lucky recipient to play recipe videos to follow along to as they cook, it can also set a timer, play their favourite music to help them make tidying up more fun as well as being able to make video calls. Available in both charcoal as well as sandstone, the Echo Show 8 could make a wonderful Christmas gift for someone’s kitchen.

Panasonic SD-ZB2502BXC- Bread Maker

Panasonic SD-ZB2502BXC Fully Automated Breadmaker

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There’s something about the smell of freshly baked bread in the morning that just brings comfort to the senses. That’s why the gift of a breadmaker could be so welcomed especially if the person you have in mind is fan of making their own bread. The highly user rated Panasonic SD-ZB2502BXC Breadmaker is a great choice from a brand with a stellar reputation for making best kitchen appliances. The Panasonic SD-ZB2502BXC comes with 17 different types of bread programmes as well as 3 loaf sizes and crust colour. Whether they’ll be baking bread for themselves or their whole family, they’ll have a machine that can cater to their needs. An extra added benefit of the Panasonic SD-ZB2502BXC breadmaker is that it comes with a automatic fruit and nut dispenser that will automatically distribute nuts, raisins, cereals and the like evenly throughout your choice of load. To top things off this breadmaker can also be used to make jam and fruit compote.

NUTRiBULLET 600 Series – Smoothier Maker

Nutribullet NB-101B 600 Series Smoothie Maker

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What better way to help a loved one start their new year with a healthy kick then a NUTRiBULLET 600 Series blender that can whip up nutrient filled smoothies in a matter of seconds? The NUTRiBULLET 600 Series is claimed to be one of the best selling personal blenders around by it manufacturers and user reviews seem to support its reputation. What seems to appeal to many and also your recipient is its simplicity and ease of use. Simply fill the cup (you get a choice of two) with your choice of fruit and veg from your favourite recipe, place the lid with a blade on it and get it started. The cup can then be used to store and carry the smoothie making it super-convenient.

Breville VST041 Deep Fill Sandwich Toaster

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What better gift to give than the gift of kitchen appliance (toasties) for Christmas? Okay perhaps there are some but do they taste as good! The Breville VST041 Deep Fill Sandwich Toaster is simply a delight; it does a simple job but it does it very well. It has a cut and seal system to make perfectly triangular sandwiches that come out nicely toasted. What’s more the VST041 allows you to pack your toastie full of the things you enjoy as it can accommodate thin and thick slices alike with deep fill pockets. It also has a handy ready to cook indicator at the top meaning your sandwiches will be cooked through at the right temperature. The Breville VST041 also comes with a removable set of plates making them very easy to clean. An added bonus is that you can buy removable waffle plates as an extra.

Crockpot Slow Cooker

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If it’s the simple but succulent life your gift recipient is after then why not get them this excellent Crockpot Slow Cooker (CSC052). There’s something uniquely satisfying about taking the time to slow good a meal that we believe cannot be matched. If you’ve ever tried a 4 hour slow cooked joint of lamb as part of a Sunday roast or overnight cooked pork ribs you may agree. A slow cooker is a great way to bring lots of different ingredients into one pot for a simple but well cooked meal. With the Crockpot CSC052 Slow Cooker you get an easy to use slow cooker that comes with a dishwasher safe pot.

Samsung RS52N3313SL Freestanding American Fridge Freezer with Digital Inverter Technology

Samsung Freestanding 520 Litre American Style Fridge

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There are fridge freezers and then there are Samsung fridge freezers which are a whole different ball game. The Samsung Freestanding Fridge take this to a new level and the RS52N3313SL Freestanding American Fridge is no different.

The Digital Inverter Compressor technology smartly change the fridge’s power and running speed to how much cooling is needed. Hence the temperature is constantly perfect, making it more efficient, as well as less noisy and longer-lasting.

Samsung RF27T5501SR 765 Litres 3 Door French Door Refrigerator

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With built in cameras you can see what’s inside your fridge allowing you to check what’s left over when you pop out for the weekly shop. You have the option of downloading the Smart Home App to help you track the expiry date of your food. If that wasn’t enough tech how about being able to do the weekly shop from the touchscreen on the front door?

The large touchscreen on the front door works like a regular tablet allowing you to put on your favourite music as you cook or perhaps get some inspiration for dinner with your favourite cooking show. The possibilities seem endless.

The Meater Plus – Meat Thermometer

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If the person you’re gifting has a passion for cooking dishes to perfection then they’ll likely appreciate the excellent Meater Plus smart wireless meat thermometer. With bluetooth and WiFi connectivity the Meater Plus can provide you with the exact temperature of the meat you are cooking and allow you to monitor your dish from the comfort of your phone or other connected device.

Even better with dual temperature sensors it can tell you the internal temperature of the meat you’re cooking as well as the external environment its cooking in.

It also comes with a great feature that will recommend an optimum cooking and resting time based on the food you are cooking. You can also set it up to ping you a notification when your food is ready.

The Meater Plus can be used indoors as well as outside with your bbq.

Best Kitchen Appliances For Christmas Gifts: Tell Us Your Thoughts

What Kitchen Appliances Do You Really Need? Top 10 Most Important Appliances!

When it comes to kitchen appliances the choice can seem virtually endless. But what kitchen appliances do you really need? In this article we’re going to take a look at just that and see which of the myriad of appliances could help make a real difference in your kitchen.

From fridge freezers to blenders and food processors, it could be quite easy to fill your kitchen with an appliance for every single job but there are some that are more impactful then others. And then there are some that you could simply do with out.

What Kitchen Appliances Do You Really Need?

Let’s now take a detailed look at what kitchne appliances could be deemed essential if you were planning out your kitchen from scratch.

Pressure Cooker

What Kitchen Appliances Do You Really Need?

It probably goes without saying that you need a pressure cooker of some description in the kitchen. There are 2 kind of pressure cookers available in the market;

Stove-top (Gas) Pressure cooker
Electric Pressure Cooker (Multi-purpose)

With a cooker you actually potentially remove the need for a whole load of other kitchen appliances for example a rice cooking, slow cooking, cooking beans, lentils, vegetables if you really wanted to but most important purpose is to quickly cook all kind of meat especially Red meat. Pressure cooker work as a replacement for meat Tenderiser and comes very handy when it comes to cooking Red meat and save hell lot of time.

Whether it’s making something from scratch or warming up premade food, a cooker does neatly fall into the essential kitchen appliance category as your kitchen’s main job is to keep you fed and it would be difficult, though not impossible of course, to do so without a cooker.

There’s huge difference between cook-top pressure cooker and electric pressure cooker in terms of usability. Electric pressure is definitely more safe, intuitive, user friendly and offers variety of cooking options with single-button. Electric pressure cooker is sometimes quicker than gass cooktop cooker.

We recommend Instant Pot 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker which makes cooking as simple as just plug-n-play:

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Fridge Freezer

At the top of the list surely it has to be a fridge freezer. There’s not much you would be able to preserve for a substantial period of time in the kitchen without a fridge freezer unit in there. In fact a number of other kitchen appliances on this list rely heavily on items from your fridge freezer for them to fully do their job.

It would be difficult to do much in the kitchen without it.

Microwave

This may be a slightly contentious appliance do add to the list because as long as you have a cooker, you can get away without a microwave. But if you have a cooker but no oven then a microwave may well be something you do really need.

The majority of microwave users have them for reheating food. Using a microwave rather than the stove or oven to reheat your food can save you a lot of time. If you’ve ever had to wait for the oven to heat up to warm up some leftover lasgna then you’ll know exactly why.

Blender

If you like to make nice and smooth soup or have a taste for smoothies then a blender is a must for your kitchen.

Having a blender is a great way to mix lots of vegetables into one bowl of soup for example or tons of fruit into a hearty smoothie.

You can definitely survive without a blender but once you get one you may quickly find it’s something you cannot live without.

Kettle

A kettle is another appliance that exists to illustrate just how useful kitchen appliances are. The way we see kitchen appliances is that they should make your life noticeably easier either by saving you time or effort or both whilst enhancing your experience. A kettle most definitely saves you time and arguably effort.

For example we spent a few weeks without a kettle when our old one broke and we certainly noticed it. Whether it’s a cup of tea or water to get your pasta boiling, it’s easier and quicker with a kettle then without.

Strictly speaking you can more than survive without a kettle but if you value your time then it’s definitely worth considering.

Something to consider when it comes to kettles is the fact they help avoid having large volumes of hot water sitting boiling on the stove.

Toaster

This is a simple one; if you or anyone in your home likes toast then a toaster is clearly a must. Can you survive without one? Most definitely but if you like to eat bread and make it more interesting then toasting it is one of the best ways.

Whether it’s straight toast with butter or a toasted sandwich of some kind, a toaster offers you excellent versatility.

What Kitchen Appliances Do You Really Need?: Honourable Mentions

In this section we’ve included a few appliances that are due worthy consideration even if they don’t make the list of essentials.

Dishwasher

Do you really need a dishwasher? The short answer is no, you do not. You could easily survive without one and simply handwash all of your dishes. However, having one in the kitchen is really a game-changer. A dishwasher helps to save you oodles of time and can also help keep your kitchen tidy when you don’t have the time to wash up; you can place dirty dishes directly into the machine until it is full keeping your counters clear.

Rice Cooker

Rice cookers make it onto the honourable mentions list as you can definitely survive without one. But when you do have one they can make life a lot easier when it comes to making rice.

Though they may not necessarily save you any more time than cooking rice on the stove (or microwave) they will more than likely mean you recover more of your rice grains as they won’t stick to the pan as much.

If you are also like some of us, you may struggle with producing rice that’s too soft or maybe not soft enough. A rice cooker can typically help you with this issue as, so long as you get the water amount right, it will help make near perfect rice every time.

Slow Cooker

We are deep into “is this really necessary” territory here but we’re big fans of slow cookers here . It may be the fact that you can simply chuck a whole bunch of ingredients into a slow cooker and come back hours later to find it’s magically softened into a delicious meal. Or perhaps the way it can help to elevate a roasted meat dish. Whatever it is, a slow cooker is definitely an appliance to consider if you like variety in the way your meals are made.

Conclusion: What Kitchen Appliances Do You Really Need?

So, what kitchen appliances do you really need? Once you’ve got a cooker and fridge freezer out of the way, everything else is pretty much debateable as to whether you really need it or not. Often it comes down to how much time and effort it can save you relative to the costs. The great thing today is that with pretty much any job in the kitchen, you can find an appliance to make it easier.

What Kitchen Appliances Do You Really Need?: Tell Us What You Think

Do I Really Need A Microwave?

You’re thinking about getting a microwave or perhaps replacing one but every so often you catch yourself thinking “do I really need a microwave?”.

It’s a fair question and one that deserves to be asked before spending money on what is essentially a luxury. Microwaves seem to have been around for so long that you might start to think its an automatic choice to have one.

Below we’re going take a look at our own view as to whether or not you really need a microwave by looking at a few critical reasons on both sides of the argument as we see it.

Do I Really Need A Microwave? – Yes

DO I Really Need A Microwave? Photo — Do I Really Need A Microwave?

Here’s why we think you might need a microwave.

#1 – It Will Be Quicker To Warm Up Meals

Perhaps the main benefit of having a microwave is the fact that it will be quicker to warm up your meals when you need to.

Rather than having to rely on the stove heating up or conventional oven coming on, you can just whack your food straight into the microwave and a minute later (depending on the food), it will be piping hot and ready to eat.

When you have a busy life, this convenience can be quite helpful when you are trying to squeeze in as much as you can.

#2 – It May Save More of Your Leftovers From the Bin

Another potential bonus of having a microwave is that it may result in more of your leftover food actually being consumed rather than being thrown away.

It is estimated that 70% of the 9.5 million tonnes of food wasted each could have been eaten. Part of the issue with food being thrown away at least in our own household is that leftovers aren’t always quick and easy to warm up. For example a lasgna ideally needs to be warmed up in the oven if you want it to maintain its feel from the night before. However, this is where having a microwave can prove to be useful as it can potentially help save more of this leftover food waste.

#3 – It Gives You A Quick Way To Make Food If You’re Tied For Time

As well as saving you time with reheating leftover or cold food, a microwave can also help you make food quickly and conveniently when you need to.

This can be particularly useful if you’ve forgetten something e.g. peas with your dinner.

It can also serve as an extra cooking appliance when you’re stove is fully loaded. Some foods such as jacket potatoes and rice are particularly straightforward to cook in the microwave.

Do I Really Need A Microwave? – No

Here’s why we think you may be just fine without a microwave.

#1 – It’s Ultimately A Luxury

Let’s get it straight – a microwave is a luxury good. It might not seem that way but from our perspective a microwave is most certainly an appliance you can certainly live without and not feel it.

Perhaps if you’ve had one before and no longer have one you may miss the convenience but there are plenty of people around the world who’ve never used one and get on just fine.

If you have a conventional cooker and oven you’ll be able to cook and reheat your food. Perphaps where you’ll miss a microwave is when you need to quckly reheat your food as you’ll need to more than likely pan heat your leftovers but the point is it is possible.

#2 – Saves You Money

If you don’t already have one, choosing not to buy a microwave can save you some money.

Rather than spending that cash on another appliance using what you already have in place at home can save you money.

The trade-off you may need to consider is how much money are you saving vs the additional time you’ll spend reheating food in a different way but the point is there may be an opportunity for you to savecash.

Conclusion: Do I Really Need A Microwave?

So, in our view there’s plenty of good reasons on both sides of the debate if you are asking yourself the question ‘do I really need a microwave?’.

A microwave can offer you convenience and the potential to save you time when it comes to reheating food however, it is certainly not an essential item.

There are plenty of people who get on just fine without one and if you decide it’s not for you it’s money that you are not having to spend.

Do I Really Need A Microwave? Tell Us What You Think.

What Is The Best 2 Slice Toaster To Buy?

There are not many better things in life than 2 perfectly cooked slices of toast. No matter what style you need to fit into your kitchen there’s probably a brand and model out there for you. But what is the best 2 slice toaster to buy?

We’ve worked to compile our list of the contenders for the best 2 slice toaster to help you decide on which machine would be best for you.

What Is The Best 2 Slice Toaster To Buy?

Let’s take a look at what is the best 2 slice toaster to buy.

1 – Dualit Classic 2 Slot Toaster

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As well as getting an excellent toaster with the Dualit Classic 2 Slot toaster you are also adding a beautifully hand-crafted piece of design to enhance your kitchen.

Each Dualit Classic is hand made in the UK (you can find the name of the engineer at the bottom) and it really shows in the quality and sophistication of the finish.

This model combines excellent functionality and high-end design to give you perfectly crisp toast on the outside but fluffiness on the inside with every use.

Dualit have over 60 years of experience in making high quality toasters and it definitely shows with the Classic. Your toast will come out evenly cooked especially once you’ve figured out how long you like yours done. To toast your bread you turn the mechanical dial to the time you want and wait for it to rotate.

Unlike many other toasters on the market, this model has a manual lever which allows you to lift the toast and check its progress without interrupting the process.

Quite usefully the toaster also has bagel setting in a addition to reheat and defrost functions.

To save you on energy, you can opt to only have one slot on.

We like the copper finish on this model but it also comes in silver, black, white, red and cream.

Adding to the unique characteristics of this toaster is the fact it is specifically designed for easy self-maintenance. The screws are located in easy to reach areas meaning DIY repair is relatively straightforward. Quite helpfully Dualit also sell spare parts on their website should you need them. The idea being that your machine should last a several years without you needing to replace it entirely.

At £126 (on Amazon at the time of writing) it is certainly not the cheapest option on the market however, if you’re budget can stretch that far then you’ll be getting a highly durable machine that should last you many years.

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Key Features

Manual lever allow you to check progress without interrupting cycle
Bagel setting
Defrost setting meaning you can toast from frozen
Reheat function allowing you to warm up toast if needed
Dimensions: 26 x 25.5 x 25 cm

2 – Morphy Richards Dimensions 2 Slice Toaster

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We love this Morphy Richard Dimensions 2 slice toaster as it combines an excellent product that looks expensive at a great affordable price.

The controls are nice and easy with a 1 -7 setting meaning you can easily get your toast to the perfect level of brown for your needs.

The defrost function makes a great addition to this model meaning you can make your toast straight from frozen. This is particularly useful as it means you can afford to freeze your bread when you buy it – handy if your bread tends to go off before you finish it.

This model is also equipped with a reheat function, great if you ever need to warm up your bread quickly if you didn’t get a chance to eat it whilst it was hot.

Usefully the Dimensions Black 2 also comes with a cancel button allowing you to interrupt a program part-way through; this is really useful when you want to get your bread to specific shade of brown.

To make your life as easy as possible, this toaster has a crumb collector at the bottom making clean up as stress free as can be.

As well as being easy to clean, the Dimensions 2 slice toaster comes with cord storage leaving the machine with a real clutter free look on your counter.

This excellent Morphy Richards appliance is available in black, white, grey and cream. It can also be partnered with a matching kettle.

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Key Features

Defrost bread straight from the freezer with the defrost function
Reheat toast whenever you need to
Cancel button for interrupting cycles
Variable browning control to cook your bread just right
Dimensions: 25 x 22 x 18.5 cm

3 – Breville VTT529 Impressions 2-Slice

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The Breville VTT529 Impressions 2 slice toaster delivers quite a punch for the price you pay.

The high gloss finish with chrome detailing gives this toaster a real high-end feel to it. To make things even better you can pair this up with a matching kettle to complete the look and upgrade in your kitchen.

The VTT529’s looks are easily matched by the functions it offers. With settings between 1 to 9, you will always be able to find the perfect browning level for your toast.

A cancel button which is always a must is included with this model giving you the opportunity to easily abort your cycle whenever you need to.

Another feature you would expect to find is its reheat button which is quite handy if you ever forget your toast and need to warm it up quickly.

What makes this toaster an extra edge over many at this price range is its Lift and Look lever allowing you to raise the slices to monitor progress without having to cancel the cycle.

In addition, its high lift facility means smaller slices of bread can be pushed out without having to risk burning your fingers.

It also comes equipped with a defrost button allowing you to take slices straight from the freezer and keep your bread for longer saving you money along the way.

To make cleaning a hassle-free affair, this toaster comes with a pull-out crumb tray.

Another nice bonus with this model is the variable width bread slots for both thick and thin slices.

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Key Features

Lift and Look lever to check progress without cancelling
High lift facility for taking smaller bread out without burning your fingers
Easy pull-out crumb tray to make cleaning easy

4 – Dualit 26205 2-Slot Lite Toaster

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Dualit toasters are nothing short of iconic in the world of toasters. It is not just the superior nature of their designs but also the durability of their machines which is so admired.

The Dualit 26205 is no exception. Its sleek chrome gloss finish gives it a sleek look. The classic look is combined with several modern features meaning you get a lot of value for what you pay.

The peep and pop function means you can easily check up on the progress of your toast without stopping the cycle.

One of the features that really sets this toaster apart is its patented browning technology. This will essentially ensure your toast is perfectly golden brown every time by calculating cooking time by checking the temperature of the toast and its surroundings. This removes the trial and error involved with a lot of toasters whilst you try find your perfect cycle.

As well as bread, this model also has a bagel setting. In addition due to its extra wide slots it can also toast thicker slices and great toasties in a Sandwich Cage (sold separately). This extra capability is a real bonus and means you potentially do not have to spend extra for a toastie maker.

The removable bread crumb tray makes it really easy to clean the machine whenever you need to.

A high lift lever means you can avoid burning your fingers when you want to take out smaller items like crumpets. Whilst the defrost function allows you to defrost items straight from the freezer which is great for keeping your bread fresher for longer.

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Key Features

Peek and pop function means you can check up on your toast without stopping your cycle
Extra wide slots meaning you can toast thicker slices
Bagel setting for the perfect bagels
Dimensions:17(w) x 27(d) x 20(h) cm

What Features Should I Look Out For?

Keep Warm: A useful button to keep your toast at a warm temperature and ready for your butter when you are. This is usually a 30 second or one minute cycle to heat your cold bread.

Defrost: A great feature if you like to keep your bread fresh for longer by freezing it. This feature will defrost your bread and depending on the model get the process of toasting started.

Reheat: This is handy when you get distracted and come back to cold toast.

Cancel: A fairly standard setting that will allow you to cancel a cycle mid-way, quite helpful if you need to add just a little bit of brown after a first run.

Bagel: This will typically toast your bread on one-side, useful for bagels, English muffins, crumpets and the like.

High Lift: This can be particularly useful if you’re not toasting full length bread as it will bring the bread well above the rim of the toaster saving your from burning your fingers.

Crumb Tray: A crumb tray will catch the bits of bread that fall off during the process. They can prove to keep very useful when it comes to cleaning the toaster.

How Much Should I Pay?

Spending in the range of £25 – £60 should comfortably get you a functional as well as sleek looking toaster. Of course if you are able and willing to spend more there are lots of options on the market for high-end toasters that would your house look great.

What Is The Best 2 Slice Toaster To Buy?: Tell Us Your Thoughts.

Samsung MS23F301TAK/EU Microwave Review

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★★★★★

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Pros	Cons
+ Unique deodorising features + ECO mode to save energy and money + Eliminate cold spots with the Triple Distribution System + Looks great	– Difficult to clearly see food as it cooks

Samsung MS23F301TAK/EU Microwave Review

The Samsung MS23F301TAK offers you brilliant value for money, cooks food brilliantly, looks very stylish, is easy to use and comes very highly rated and offers some unique features. Rarely do you find that many attributes coming together in a microwave, though Samsung seem to know how to knock them out.

You won’t quite believe the value your getting with the Samsung MS23F301TAK for the money you pay and your disbelief will start from the unboxing.

As far as kitchen appliances go, the Samsung MS23F301TAK is a marvel to behold. Simply put it just looks so slick. It has an all black exterior aside from the door handle and selection knob which complement it with a silver finish. The crystal blue LED display adds a real crispness to the front.

The delight doesn’t stop there because when you open the door, which has a real quality feel about it with none of the flimsyness you sometimes get with poor models, your greeted with a enamal ceramic interior. This has many benefits aside from looking cool; it’s anti-bacterial, highly scratch resistant as well as being super smooth for easy cleaning.

To make the job of keeping your microwave fresh over time it comes equipped with a deodorising feature that will help eliminate smells after a cycle.

No matter what you use your microwave for, with the Samsung MS23F301TAK your food will get cooked quickly but more importantly evenly. This thanks to Samsung’s Triple Distribution System which cooks your food from 3 different sources rather than emitting microwaves from just one spot as you would find in ordinary microwaves.

The Triple Distribution System allied with 800W of cooking power means you’ll be eating your food in good time without the need to go back to the kitchen as you’ve found a random cold spot in the middle of your leftovers.

You’ll quickly notice how easy it is to use this microwave as the controls are kept free from complications. This makes sense when you consider around 98% of microwave users only make use of them for heating and defrosting food.

You’ll have 6 power levels to get the full range of use of the 800W as well as a multitude (20) of auto-cook programmes.

To help keep your family safe in the kitchen, there’s a useful child lock feature.

Whilst the ECO mode will help you to save some money off your energy bills as it conserves power when not in use.

One thing to bare in mind that some users mention is the fact it can be hard to see through the door unless you are up close due to the black tint. However, this does not seem to be a universal complaint and is a small niggle when you consider what your getting for the price and all the features.

Whether you have a family or are a couple the Samsung MS23F301TAK has plenty of cooking space with an overall capacity of 23 litres.

Verdict

In summary, the Samsung MS23F301TAK is a real classy option for your kitchen as well as your wallet. It offers best-in-class design features from Samsung as you would expect but even more importantly does the job of heating, defrosting and cooking your food very well. If you like the design and functionality of the Samsung MS23F301TAS but would prefer something similar in all black then the Samsung MS23F301TAK might be the solution for you.