Convection cooking, by definition, is the circulation of heated air in the cooking cavity. Most convection ovens accomplish this by using a fan that is mounted at the rear of the oven. This fan, when enabled, rapidly cycles the air in the oven allowing foods to cook quicker and more evenly than using a traditional “bake” mode. A good rule to keep in mind is that foods on convection mode usually cook faster than those cooked using a traditional bake mode. A recipe that calls for the dish to bake for 20 minutes might be done in 15 minutes if cooked with convection.

What about the ovens from manufacturers that boast “true convection” settings versus “traditional convection” settings? True convection occurs when heated air is blown into the oven cavity. This is accomplished by using a third heating element that is often located near or around the fan at the rear of the oven. This provides the best and most efficient method of convection as items won’t prematurely brown by their exposure to the top or bottom heating elements.

Traditional convection ovens rely on the top and bottom heating elements to heat the air while the fan circulates that heated air. Not having a third heating element cuts down on the available efficiency.
Most manufacturers offer convection ovens in some form or another, with most offering oven models that have the third heating element in the rear of the unit. These brands include Miele, Viking, Dacor, Jenn-Air, Kenmore, KitchenAid, Gaggenau, and Thermador. There are plenty of others as well. Each of these brands has additional functions and options that allow you to control when you use convection and how.

Here are a few helpful tips when using convection:

•   Be prepared for foods to be done in less time, up to 25% less in some instances.
•   If using a recipe for a conventional oven, try lowering the temperature by 25 degrees when using convection. E.g. dishes that call for a temperature setting of 400 degrees should be set to 375 degrees.
•   Use baking pans that have little or no sides to them. Some of our manufacturers have trays that are completely flat, thus maximizing the effectiveness of the convected air. This is especially helpful when baking cookies.
•   Many of the newer ovens offer advanced filtering systems where odors are trapped and replaced with fresh air. Dacor encourages its customers to “go ahead and cook salmon and pies at the same time.” They have a “unique multi-ply filtration system that filters the circulating air to prevent the flavors of one rack transferring to another.”

Convection capabilities in the newer ovens often intimidate the users. To experience the benefits of convection, one must not be afraid of experimenting with the convection modes. Our experienced sales associates would be more than happy to demonstrate how the convection feature works and can answer any questions you have about the ovens that possess this technology.

Buy one piece or a whole kitchen at savings of up to 50% off.

March 19-20, 2010 at the Pompano Beach location only.

Hours: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Friday and 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Saturday

Select models only, including: display models, builder surplus, and discontinued items. No rain checks, substitutions, or holds. Limited quantities available. Must take delivery within 10 days. All sales final. Product sold as is.

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The winter brings us the opportunity to gather the family around the hearth and to break bread at a meal prepared in a gorgeous kitchen featuring the latest in high-end appliances. Meanwhile, the spring and summer months afford us the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and to break the same bread, over a delicious meal that is prepared in an outdoor kitchen.

What is an “outdoor kitchen” you say? Many homeowners having enjoyed an upgraded indoor kitchen have also long desired to be able to cook culinary delights outdoors. With recent advances in technology, and companies such as Wolf, Viking, Dacor, KitchenAid, and others embracing the evolution of the traditional kitchen, many fine outdoor kitchen components are available to help you create the outdoor kitchen of your dreams.

What does an outdoor kitchen need? The most important component of any outdoor kitchen is the grill since the purpose of an outdoor kitchen is to cook. Grills come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes and have a wide array of features. Most grills have the ability to be plumbed directly to a gas line. Others require a standard, widely available, propane tank. Some have built in traditional burners while others may have a rotisserie. How about a grill that has a “sear zone” where it gets so hot any meat placed on this special section instantly seals in the delicious juices. Some grills also have built-in smokers so even the most novice of barbecue users can try their hand at creating delicious smoked delicacies.

It’s always good to have a warming drawer and an outdoor refrigerator. No sense running inside to grab the materials necessary for the meal – keep them nearby. When foods are done cooking, they can easily be added to warming drawer until the rest of the meal is complete.

You can also add outdoor storage cabinets that are resistant to the elements. How about having a bar complete with an icemaker? Yes, you can have that too. Moreover, should you want to use the outdoor kitchen when it’s colder, you can even buy outdoor heaters. And don’t forget the utility drawers and garbage bins.

There are many accessories and options available for your perfect outdoor kitchen. All of our showrooms have outdoor vignettes that will allow you to visualize what your outdoor kitchen might look like. The weather will start to get warmer soon and if you haven’t thought about building your very own outdoor kitchen, now is the time to start planning. Visit any one of our showrooms and one of our expert associates will help guide you through choosing the perfect outdoor appliances for your dream outdoor kitchen.

Know your budget.

This is the most important part of a remodel — knowing your budget. Consider all of the areas you’ll be improving and divide your overall budget into several categories; cabinets, flooring, countertops, plumbing, electricity/wiring, lighting, appliances and decorative accessories. When dealing with appliances, don’t forget about adding on costs for delivery, installation, and extra cords/attachments/trim that you may need.

Consider your needs.

You’ve most likely used a refrigerator, dishwasher, cooktop and oven before. What did you like about each? Did your refrigerator have enough storage? Did you have an electric cooking surface and want to try gas? Was your dishwasher hard to load? Talk to an expert about what you like and don’t like about your current appliances before walking the miles of showroom floors. They will help you narrow down what will work for you. Also, talk to your local appliance dealer to see if they offer cooking demonstrations or have working kitchens so you can test the appliances before you buy them.

Choose your style.

There’s no doubt that you want everything to blend and match your home’s décor. Choose the overall look you want to achieve and then consider the many looks of appliances. You can choose from a myriad of colors including the standard black and stainless steel, but consider using custom panels for a blended look. You’ll have to talk to your cabinet maker once you get the specifications on the panel size from the appliances you choose!

REMODEL: TAMPA BAY JUNE 2009

Flexible. Hardworking. Stylish. Distinctive. Major appliances are essential building blocks of any kitchen design and today’s models are often big showoffs.

Step into an appliance showroom these days and you’ll be dazzled by appliances that are saturated with bold new colors and full of clever ideas—some of them amazingly high-tech and some of them surprisingly simple—that can make your life easier.

Consider, for example, the Amana Jot refrigerator. It features a dry-erase surface that allows you to write notes directly on the door. Not exactly a space-age innovation but a clever idea nonetheless.

Other refrigerators offer “smart” temperature controls as well as water- and air-filtration to reduce chemical contaminants and minimize the transfer of odors. Brainy ovens take some of the pressure off novice cooks by suggesting which settings to use for cooking, say, a Thanksgiving turkey.

In addition, many of today’s dishwashers and washing machines, thankfully, have incorporated better design and improved insulation that make them quieter, which is oh-so-important in homes with open floorplans.

Manufacturers are responding to the needs of the modern consumer by offering everything from space-saving, counter-depth refrigerators to 60-inch-wide, professional-grade ranges with grill and burner combinations. Appliances also are more accommodating, energy-efficient and time-saving than ever before.

“I love the design flexibility that the latest appliances offer, like refrigerator drawers that can be installed in islands and freezer and refrigerator columns that can be installed apart from each other,” says Tampa designer Jamie Goldberg of Kitchen and Bath Design. “I’m also bullish on induction cooktops that save energy and give non-gas households professional cooking capability.”
For example, electric induction cooktops use electromagnetic energy, which can provide faster heating times.

“It’s an expensive technology,” says Jason Horst, business development manager for Famous Tate. “But it’s safer and more energy-efficient than gas and conventional electric cooktops.”
The surface surrounding the burners doesn’t get hot, Horst notes, because the heat is transferred directly to the cooking pan and food.

Double duty
Consumers and industry professionals are embracing appliances that do double duty, such as the Insight and Insight Pro ranges from Sharp Electronics. They combine glass ceramic cooktops, convection ovens and microwave oven drawers in one space-saving appliance.

In larger homes, there’s a trend toward installing two or more of the same appliances. There may be a dishwasher in the butler’s pantry as well as in the kitchen or there may be a second microwave in the master bedroom’s “morning bar.”

“Also, it’s kind of a new trend to bring washers and dryers into different areas of the house, maybe in the laundry room and the master bedroom closet,” says Staci Ziccardi, marketing manager for Florida Builder Appliances, which has a showroom in Tampa. “It’s mainly for convenience.”

Warming drawers, which are becoming a staple in high-end kitchens, are popular in the master bath as are towel warmers, says Cathy Bame of the Westye Group.

Not all models are suitable for bathroom use, of course, but Wolf has a warming drawer that works in either room, and the unit has hidden electronic controls so it can be integrated with surrounding cabinetry.

Appliance drawers of any kind are a big trend right now, Horst adds. That may be, in part, because manufacturers also are considering the needs of the aging Baby Boomers.

Accessible design
“Aging-in-place is something that manufacturers acknowledge and are designing toward,” Horst says.

Dishwasher drawers, for ex-ample, are more accessible than a typical dishwasher because you won’t have to bend down to load and unload dishes. Fisher & Paykel has 14 DishDrawer models that can be installed in single- or double-drawer configurations.

Microwave oven drawers also can be installed under the counter for ease of access. Dacor’s Millennia Microwave In-A-Drawer comes in 24- and 30-inch versions with drawers that glide open at the push of a button and a control lock for safety.

Refrigerator drawers, too, are more convenient for homeowners with limited mobility as well as for children.

Convenient and smart
Convenience is an important consideration when buying appliances, which is why refrigerators with external door water dispensers are so much in demand. The problem is space.

However, the Fisher and Paykel Active Smart French door refrigerator with freezer drawer boasts an integrated indoor water dispenser that takes up far less room yet still provides cold, filtered water at the touch of a button.

Refrigerators with bottom-mount freezers are still hot sellers, ?especially the French-door models, some of which now have not one but two freezer drawers. GE offers models with one freezer drawer for everyday convenience and another for oversize items or longer-term storage.

There’s definitely been a trend toward more high-end, commercial-grade kitchen appliances, experts say. They’re hard-working and attention-grabbing and serve as—dare we say it—status symbols.

But there are also practical reasons for sinking your money into SuperCool functions that sense the presence of warm food and automatically drop the interior temperature to the lowest-possible setting until the food has chilled.

Now that’s smart. Also intelligent is the Miele MasterChef oven. Just tell it what you want to cook and the program will automatically select the optimal cooking mode and temperature. Plus, you can store recipes in its computer brain.

Function is key in any kitchen design, of course, but why stop there when you can invest in pieces that also transform your cooking space into a showcase of style.

High style
“Everybody wants these eco-friendly cabinets now and they want a clean-lined contemporary look instead of all these corbels and roped molding,” says Exclusa. “It seems like they want the same things in appliances. Something with clean-lined, modern appeal. Bosch and Miele are good choices.”

For years, stainless steel was the fashionable finish—and it’s still popular—but many homeowners now prefer their appliances to be cleverly concealed behind kitchen cabinetry, Exclusa adds. Others want to add excitement with bold enamel and tinted-glass finishes.

Manufacturers are eager to please these fearless homeowners by offering major appliances in striking hues. TurboChef Technologies, for example, recently introduced more than 200 color options—including Thermal Red and Evening Blue—for its chic speed cook ovens. Viking Range Corp. recently expanded its range of finishes from 14 to 24 color choices including Sage and Golden Mist.

“Color has been coming back in more,” Horst says. “In kitchens, there’s white, black and stainless and now we see color. People want something that makes a statement. Red has been popular.”
The sassy new colors can freshen up a space, Horst adds. Buy a range or other major appliance in tangerine or eggplant and you’ve just created a focal point.

Electrolux offers a front-loading washer and dryer set in an eye-catching turquoise sky blue, which is just one of several finishes. Go classic with silver or white. Or go bold with red, green or Mediterranean blue.

“The trend is definitely front-loading washing machines, which save water,” Horst says. “And you can design a laundry room around these colors.”