How to Select the Perfect Kitchen Appliances

Kitchen appliances are the backbone of your culinary space. Together, they typically make up about nine percent of your overall kitchen budget. Surprisingly, this is a modest figure given the technological advancements and energy-saving features available today. While performance and features are key factors in selecting appliances, their appearance in your kitchen likely plays an important role as well.

Gallery of Kitchen Appliances

White remains the timeless classic, closely followed by black. Stainless steel, with its sleek, professional appeal, continues to rise in popularity. However, if you prefer a minimalist Shaker-style design or a sophisticated Italian villa atmosphere, you might opt to conceal your fridge and dishwasher. For this, many cabinet makers offer custom cabinet fronts that seamlessly integrate with your kitchen’s style. For a more traditional, understated look, consider small appliance storage in countertop-height cabinets or an under-counter oven. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at various kitchen appliances, including:

How to Pick the Perfect Oven

The classic range or stove, with a cooktop above and an oven below, remains an affordable, space-saving option still favored by most homeowners. However, it's only one of the many cooking choices available today.

Serious home chefs may opt for commercial-style stoves that feature six or eight burners instead of the standard four, as well as basting and grilling functions and built-in warming ovens. (Genuine commercial stoves can be tricky for home use, requiring special ventilation systems and fireproof walls and floors, so commercial-style units are usually a more practical choice.) Some people prefer modular cooktops, which allow you to add burners, downdrafts, griddles, deep fryers, steamers, woks, rotisseries, and grills. These are just a few of the many options available today!

A modular approach to kitchen design is increasingly popular. Wall ovens, separate from cooktops, allow you to create multiple cooking stations instead of just one. A double wall oven stacks two ovens, saving space while providing double the baking and roasting capacity—ideal for special occasions. Alternatively, you can still find two-oven stoves, with one oven positioned beneath the cooktop and the other at cabinet height for convenience.

When shopping for a range, the first decision is typically gas versus electric. Many passionate cooks prefer gas for its instant heat response, precise control, and long-term lower operating costs. On the other hand, others appreciate the consistent heat distribution of electric stoves and the lower initial cost of the appliance.

Today, you can get the best of both worlds with 'dual fuel' ranges that combine gas and electric heating sources. For example, you might have a gas cooktop with an electric convection oven or broiler. Convection ovens, which are usually electric, circulate hot air to cook food up to twice as quickly as traditional ovens that rely on radiant heat. Some models even combine microwave and convection ovens into one.

Electric coils are the most common and affordable type of electric burner. Smooth-top stoves come with one of three heat sources: electric coils beneath the glass, halogen burners, or magnetic induction elements. All of these require thick, flat-bottom cookware. If you prefer gas, sealed burners are easiest to clean, and a pilotless ignition system eliminates the hot spot when burners are off. Commercial-style glass stoves deliver high BTUs (British thermal units) and sleek style, though they require heavy-duty ventilation systems.

What about controls? The most common and convenient control locations are at the front or side of the appliance. However, universal access means just that: While someone in a wheelchair can easily reach controls in the front, so can a curious toddler. Families with young children may prefer controls placed on the backsplash, out of reach of little hands. No matter where they're located, the controls should be user-friendly. High-end ovens may include electronic temperature readouts and touch-pad controls, replacing the traditional knobs and dials.

While many people prefer to blend refrigerators and dishwashers into the cabinetry with matching fronts, the latest trend is to keep ranges in full view. However, if you’d like to minimize the prominence of your oven, an under-counter model is the way to go. (Just make sure the oven you select is designed for under-counter use, as not all models are.) You can install a cooktop above the oven or place it elsewhere in the kitchen. A cooktop placed directly above an under-counter oven works similarly to a conventional range, but without the backsplash and with the control knobs on the countertop, it creates a more streamlined, integrated look.

Cleaning baked-on messes from the cooktop can be a challenge, but several modern solutions make it much easier. For the simplest cooktop cleanup, look for ranges with ceramic glass cooktops that house electric or halogen burners, along with simplified knobs and handles. A top and backsplash made from a single piece of metal will also help, as there are no seams for spills to gather. Self-cleaning ovens come in two versions: one that uses a high-heat cycle to turn baked-on spills into ash that can be wiped away, and another with a continuous-clean function.

Range Hoods

If you don't already have a ventilation fan above your cooktop that vents to the attic or outside, you'll need a range hood with a built-in ventilation fan. Why? Even if you don’t mind some cooking odors, vaporized grease can damage your kitchen surfaces, and moisture can affect your home's insulation. An updraft range hood captures grease and smoke, directing them into one area so the fan can draw them through a duct to the outside.

Filters help capture additional grease and odors. Look for range hoods made of attractive, easy-to-care-for materials like copper or stainless steel, or customize a standard hood with ceramic tile to create a striking focal point that complements your kitchen’s decor. Alternatively, down-draft ventilation, often integrated into a cooktop or grill, uses a fan and duct system. Units that rise above the cooktop level are generally the most efficient at venting.

On the next page, we'll shift gears from hot to cool and dive into the process of choosing a refrigerator.

How to Choose a Refrigerator

Since the energy standards set in 1993 and 1998, refrigerators' energy efficiency has greatly improved. Today’s refrigerator-freezer models also offer much more convenience. You can still find the basic 18-cubic-foot model with a top-mounted freezer and wire shelves, but the most common style now provides 20 cubic feet of storage with features like adjustable glass shelves, a temperature-controlled meat keeper, a humidity-controlled vegetable crisper, an ice maker, and door bins for extra storage.

For a step up in both cost and convenience, there are models with the freezer located below the refrigerator—ideal for those with back issues—and a 22-cubic-foot capacity. Side-by-side configurations, along with water and ice dispensers built directly into the door, add to the appeal. High-end options include built-in refrigerator-freezers and commercial-style stainless steel models, which offer both luxurious looks and ample storage for those needing high-volume space.

How much refrigerator space do you really need? A common guideline suggests 12 cubic feet for two people, plus an extra 2 cubic feet for each additional household member. However, other factors play a role as well. If you tend to stock up during sales or frequently cook for large groups, more space will be necessary. Side-by-side refrigerators are typically easier to organize, but the smaller versions often come with narrower freezers. Be sure the model you choose can accommodate a frozen turkey or pizza! For all sections, opt for pull-out bins and baskets to make items more visible without the need to dig around, saving both energy and time.

If you have the space, consider adding an under-counter refrigerator specifically for soft drinks, or a wine cooler for added convenience when entertaining. For those who host often, an ice maker that fits in the space of a trash compactor and produces large quantities of ice each day might be worth looking into.

In the following section, we'll explore sinks and the various accessories available, such as disposals, water purifiers, and faucets.

How to Choose a Sink

On average, you'll allocate about eight percent of your kitchen budget to fixtures and fittings, with the bulk of that spent on sinks and faucets. The size and shape of your sink are key factors, but don’t overlook its depth. Lower-end sinks might be just six or seven inches deep, while eight inches is the standard. For those who often clean large pots or roasting pans, a ten-inch deep sink is ideal.

There are a variety of sink configurations to choose from: the standard single, large rectangular basin; a double-basin design with two equal-sized bowls for hand-washing and rinsing; or a double-basin sink with one side significantly smaller, perfect for the garbage disposer. You can also find three-basin sinks, with two large bowls and a smaller center bowl, often equipped with a removable cutting board for added convenience.

In smaller kitchens, two matching "corner-square" sinks are a clever way to utilize an awkward corner and open up counter space for work areas. Alternatively, "corner circle" sinks offer a more modern design while serving the same purpose. For even more versatility, a small square or round sink can be installed as a vegetable prep sink in an island or as a bar sink in your entertainment area. Some kitchens also feature a shallow, kidney-shaped sink as a secondary sink.

After selecting the ideal size and shape based on your needs, the next step is choosing from the wide variety of materials available. Your options include shiny stainless steel, colorful enamel on cast iron, solid-surfacing, or quartz composite sinks.

Garbage Disposals Food waste disposers are a common feature in many kitchen remodels. You can choose between continuous-feed models, which are activated with an on/off switch under the sink or on the wall, or batch-feed models, which only operate when the stopper is securely in place and turned. While continuous-feed models are more widely available and cheaper to install, batch-feed versions tend to be more expensive but offer a more controlled way to dispose of waste. Ultimately, choosing one over the other comes down to personal preference. In our final section, we will learn how to select a dishwasher.

How to Choose a Dishwasher

Today’s dishwashers, especially the high-end European models made of stainless steel, are incredibly quiet due to extra insulation. They are also more energy-efficient than ever, requiring fewer kilowatt-hours, less water, and offering an air-dry feature that doesn’t rely on heat. To save even more on energy, look for a model with internal water heating; this feature raises the water temperature to grease-dissolving levels, reducing the strain on your home’s hot water heater.

While portable dishwashers are available, most models are designed to be built into the cabinetry, and they can be hidden behind panels that match the rest of your kitchen. The most advanced dishwashers come with touch-pad controls, stainless-steel interiors, and specialized cycles for delicate items like crystal and china, as well as heavy-duty cycles for pots and pans. More affordable models tend to feature push buttons or a combination of buttons and dials, offering three basic cycles: light, normal, and heavy.

Kitchen appliances can be more complex than many other household items. For example, a refrigerator is one of the few appliances that runs continuously, making it crucial to carefully select the right model before making a purchase to ensure it suits your needs and energy usage.

Publications International, Ltd.

About the Contributor:

Mary Wynn Ryan is a well-established author of several books on interior design, including *The Ultimate Kitchen*, *The Ultimate Bath*, *Cottage Style*, *Fresh Country Style*, and *Garden Style*. She has contributed to various magazines on topics related to home furnishings and interior design, and previously served as the Midwest editor for *Design Times* magazine. Additionally, she held the position of director of consumer and trade marketing at the Chicago Merchandise Mart's residential design center. Currently, she is the president of Winning Ways Marketing, a consulting firm specializing in editorial and marketing services for home design and decoration.