Kitchen Deals -> Cookware

The EnergyGuide label on new refrigerators will tell you how much electricity in kilowatt-hours (kWh) a particular model uses in one year. The smaller the number, the less energy the refrigerator uses and the less it will cost you to operate. In addition to the EnergyGuide label, don't forget to look for the Energy Star label. A new refrigerator with an Energy Star label will save you between $35 and $70 a year compared to the models designed 15 years ago. This adds up to between $525 and $1,050 during the average 15-year life of the unit.

When shopping for a new washer, look for a front loading (horizontal-axis) machine. This machine may cost more to buy but uses about a third of the energy and less water than a top-loading machine. With a front loader, you'll also save more on clothes drying, because they remove more water from your clothes during the spin cycle. Look for the Energy Star label.

Is the top or bottom element going to perform the self-cleaning cycle? Some ovens only use the top element and others only use the bottom one. Better designed ovens use the bottom element. The reason for this is that most grease spills and splatters (soil) will accumulate on the sides and the floor of the cavity - not on the ceiling (where the broiler is located) and therefore, the element that is the closest to these soiled areas should be the one to work the strongest in order to bake off the soil.