Kitchen & Home Appliance Buying Guide

How to Choose a Blender?

A blender is an essential appliance which sits pretty on your kitchen counter. It’s handy for making shakes, smoothies and malts, as well as for chopping, pureeing and ice-crushing purpose.

1. Choose a metal or plastic base. Remember, a metal base is durable and provides stability during usage but is costlier than a plastic one.
2. Pick on a jar – Glass or Plastic. Do note, glass jars are more stable, heavy and expensive than the plastic ones.
3. Depending on your needs, check the various setting options available. Tip: A pulsing function comes handy.
4. Ensure warranty and servicing options are readily available.
5. Do a final check if the blender has all your required features before purchase.

How to Choose a Rice Cooker?

A rice cooker is a handy appliance which helps you avoid the frequent problem of undercooking or overcooking the rice. It need not necessarily cook the rice in a short span of time but it simplifies the entire cooking process.

It’s widely used across the world, but mostly found in Asian kitchens.

1. Always opt for a rice cooker which has a non-stick pan.
2. It’s also advisable that your rice cooker has measuring lines in the pan.
3. A plastic lid should be preferred over a glass lid since it’s light and safe.
4. Ensure the inner lid of the rice cooker (If there is one) is easily removable for cleaning purpose.
5. A ‘warm’ setting in the rice cooker comes handy, especially if it’s used multiple times during the day.
6. Always opt for a rice cooker which has a timer feature.

How to Choose a Toaster?

The most important thing to consider while choosing a toaster is the number of slots in the toaster and the width of the slots.

1. Decide beforehand where you want to place the toaster on your kitchen counter. Toasters come in various sizes so make a note of how much space you have.
2. Choose a toaster which lets you toast the ideal number of bread slices at once. Most toasters have 2 or 4 slots.
3. Always opt for toasters which have side-by-side, parallel slots or end-to-end, longer slots.
4. Special features like ‘Defrost’ or ‘Reheat’ should be considered. Check if the toaster has separate toasting controls for every slot. A toaster with an extender to pop the toasts higher is ideal enough.
5. Warranty clauses and servicing options should be thoroughly checked and compared.

1. Toasters which have longer slots will take more space on the kitchen counter while toasters with side-by-side slots are much narrower in size. Choose one which fits your needs.

How to Choose an Electric Kettle?

Electric are safe and boil water quickly. So, brewing a cup of joe or your daily dose of chai, becomes extremely simple and quick. Typically, a jug kettle is taller in shape, has a handle on the side and uses less power than any other variant of electric kettles. Also, when buying an electric kettle, look out for features like 360 connector, filter, water level indicator, concealed heating, auto shutoff and spill-free utility while choosing a kettle depending on your frequency of usage.

Corded or Cordless:

Depending on your frequency of usage, opt for a corded or cordless electric kettle. If you have to move around with the kettle, opt for a cordless kettle. Make sure there is a ‘keep warm’ feature which keeps the contents warm when detached from the base. Remember, a cordless electric kettle provides the significant benefit of convenience over a corded one.

Metal or Plastic:

Metal electric kettles are more sturdy as well as expensive than plastic ones. They also have features like dry boil safe, overheat protection and added insulation for easy handling. If you have to frequently move around your kettle, opt for a plastic one. Otherwise, a metal electric kettle with a cordless function is the ideal choice.

How to Choose an Iron?

1. Always opt for an iron which makes it easier for you: the easier an iron moves over the cloth, the less tiresome is the process. A ‘Non-stick’ iron will easily slide over damp fabrics. However, ‘Stainless steel’ sole plates are preferred if you mostly iron dry garments. Keep this in mind and pick the right model.
2. Choose an iron which gives you optimum grip and handling. Make sure there is enough clearance for your fingers and palm. Also consider the weight of the iron. Heavier irons give crisper results while lighter irons move across easily.
3. Opt for a ‘steam’ function if you mostly iron natural fabrics like cotton and linen. If your clothes are usually synthetic fabrics, you don’t necessarily require a steam iron.
4. Make sure all controls are available on the iron and all the basic fabric settings are visible and easily read.
5. Opt for a cordless model only if you iron occasionally. Though they are easy to use and light in weight, they aren’t as powerful as regular irons. Also, they are needed to be reheated frequently so consider this if you iron a large number of garments.

How to choose a Food processsor?

A food processor is a real time saver when it comes to preparing a meal for yourself or for the family. If you are a working individual who doesn’t have enough time to cook, a food processor is your best buddy in the kitchen. It performs multiple functions that would otherwise need multiple appliances and helps you save on time and effort.

A food processor is equally essential and helpful whether you cook food for a family gathering or make a quick meal to carry to work. Depending on your necessity, and in case you are a working professional who runs a busy schedule, a food processor may just be the kitchen appliance you need.

1. Consider the capacity of the appliance. A 2-c. or 7-c. bowl is more than enough for everyday food preparation.
2. Figure out if you need additional slicing or shredding discs. Most food processors have sufficient number of blades but you may add more, should you feel the need for it.
3. Keep a check on the number of special features such as mini bowls, feed chutes, number of speeds, pulsing function and whether blades are reversible or not.
4. Consider a juicing function if you are a fan of vegetable or fruit juices.
5. Check if the parts are dishwasher-safe. This can help in saving cleaning time.
6. Read the warranty details carefully and check the after sales service options and replaceable parts.

1. Honestly, if you aren't likely to bring out a huge appliance only to grate cheese or shred carrots, because it's easier to do it manually, you probably don't need a food processor.
2. A food processor with a heavy base is less likely to move around when it is being used.
3. A processor equipped with a larger bowl is likely to be sold at a higher cost.
4. Make plenty storage space for a food processor as it can be bulky, especially if is loaded with extra discs and bowls.

How to choose a Mixer-grinder?

Decide on a mixer grinder depending on your needs. A mixer-grinder can be enough for mixing and chopping purposes.

1. Choose a mixer which has lower wattage and speed settings. Lower the wattage, more the energy you save while operating the mixer. Also, 3 speed settings are usually enough for regular cooking.
2. Give more emphasis on size, weight and capacity. Mixer-grinders are stable and hefty, and good for tough grinding and mixing jobs.
3. Consider the type of beater style and the motion of the mixer while choosing one.
4. Finally, keep in mind the amount of space you have. Depending on the capacity, a mixer-grinder may take more space on the kitchen counter.