Kitchen Deals -> Small Appliances

The importance of high quality knives can't be stressed enough! Buy the best you can and expect to spend some serious money. It is better to buy a couple of excellent knives and slowly add to your collection rather than buying an entire set of low quality knives. Start with a chef knife and paring knife. You will also want to buy a sharpening steel.

If you enjoy eastern cuisine, you can buy a speciality hob with a wok burner. Similarly if you are a BBQ fan, choose a BBQ grill. If you are left handed, go for front rather than right hand side controls as this eliminates the risk of reaching across the heat. If you cook for a large family, more than four rings may be useful, and if you have young children it may be worth considering paying a little extra for a hob guard or in the case of gas, choosing an automatic re-ignition or cut off device should the flame blow out.

Energy efficiency is of paramount importance, not only to save money on electricity bills but also to help reduce power station emissions that contribute to global warming. Look for brands with low energy consumption (energy efficiency ratings will be displayed in the showroom). Levels are now as low as 1.3kW/hr on some slimline models largely because of reduced water consumption. A delay timer can help take advantage of cheap overnight electricity.