If you enjoy washing by hand, no! However modern machines use less water, detergent and power than ever before and wash hotter using really powerful cleaners giving a hygienic wash result. You can save around 500 hours a year so it is worth thinking about. If you have a small kitchen or live alone, choose a slimline model.

These are the best all purpose bowls for a multitude of applications. Choose a wide range of sizes (be sure to get a large bowl for whipping egg whites and whipped cream). In general, the heavier the bowl, the higher quality.

Never use a scouring pad of any sort to remove stubborn stains or soiled areas, since these pads scratch the finish and any future soiled areas won't clean up as well, especially with the self-cleaning models. When the oven is cool to the touch, place a cloth or sponge, dampened with warm to hot tap water, onto the soiled area and allow it to sit, for about ten minutes or so, to help loosen the soil.