by Milcarsky's Staff | Oct 1, 2019 | Appliances
No longer merely a utilitarian space where food is prepared, the kitchen countertop has become an important part of the overall decor of the room. For some homeowners, the countertop is so important that they design the rest of the kitchen around it. Here are three common kitchen countertop materials that make any kitchen look amazing.
Granite
While granite is often chosen for its beauty, it is as hard and durable as it is attractive. Though it comes in the familiar salt-and-pepper design, granite also comes in many colors, shades, and patterns. Granite is easy to maintain and needs to be dusted once or twice every week and wiped down with a damp cloth at the end of the day. One con of granite is that it is hard on dishware, and it can crack. As it’s a natural stone, a chip or crack can be hard to repair. Granite also needs to be sealed every other year or so because it’s porous.
Quartz
When people refer to a quartz countertop, they’re most often thinking of engineered stone. This material is made from powdered quartz that’s mixed with resin and a pigment. The great thing about these countertops is that they do not need to be sealed, and they’re easier to repair if they are chipped as long as the homeowner knows the batch number. Quartz countertops require less maintenance than granite countertops, needing little aside from wiping the surface of spills to keep it clean. As for the drawbacks, some homeowners don’t think that engineered quartz countertops look as raw and organic as natural stone.
Marble
Marble is unsurpassed in its beauty. White marble seems to sparkle and reflect light, and the stone often features beautiful veins and clouds. Marble is cool to the touch, which makes it a great choice for making pastries. Marble is extremely durable, but at the same time, it’s also softer than granite or quartz and it needs to be sealed every so often to protect it from stains. People should be aware that marble can be expensive, and it’s so soft that it etches and scratches more readily than other types of stone.
Granite, quartz, and marble are only three of the materials that can add beauty to any kitchen countertop. Not only are they beautiful, but they are also long-lasting and easy to care for. A homeowner can’t go wrong choosing any of them.
by Milcarsky's Staff | Oct 1, 2019 | Appliances
In a home, the kitchen is a very popular place to congregate. This is where you gather with family for dinner each day, you host your extended family during the holidays, and you have friends over for a fun time. A kitchen is a happy place, but the kitchen is a much better gathering spot when it’s clean. You’ve likely invested a lot of money in your appliances. That’s why you should learn how you can properly maintain these items and keep them clean. When it comes to your oven, this is an area that can get dirty quickly. All it takes is one messy meal to spill over and you’ll be stuck with a pretty stubborn mess. So let’s talk more about ways to keep your oven clean.
Why You Need to Clean Your Oven
When you have an extremely messy oven, this can end up being a danger for your home. About 1 in 10 homes is estimated to have a kitchen fire, so it’s important to regularly clean your oven to avoid causing a fire. Not to mention, you could be affecting the flavor and quality of your food when you have too big of a mess going on in there. You’ll be protecting your investment by keeping your oven clean.
Cleaning Your Oven
There are several products that you can purchase in a grocery store or other retail store, that are designed for cleaning a very messy oven. Once you have heated up your oven with food residue in the bottom, you’re essentially baking on that mess. You’ll need some heavy-duty products to cut that grease and grime. Some ovens have a self-cleaning function. You set the function to start. It will heat the oven up to a very high temperature, which should loosen up and clear off some of the mess in the oven. You must be careful with this process. It can produce quite a smell, so make sure you have all your windows open while your oven is being cleaned.
However, if you have exotic pets like birds, it’s best not to use the self-cleaning function at all, as the fumes will kill them!
Keeping Your Oven Clean
You can keep your oven clean in the future by using a few simple tips. Regardless of what you’re cooking, you’ll want to place a cookie sheet underneath the baking dish that you’re using. If you have any kind of spill-over occur, you can simply clean off the cookie sheet. This will be much easier than trying to clean out the bottom of your oven.
Look for a stove that has a steam clean function. You pour a small glass of water into the bottom of your stove. Set the steam clean cycle. The oven will heat up, causing the water to turn to steam. The concept revolves around the oven cleaning itself.
Also, if you’re looking for new appliances for your kitchen, pay attention to the type of oven that you’re selecting. Some oven interiors are designed to be easier to clean. There are also a variety of cleaning functions you may or may not get with your choice. Remember, it’s easier to keep an oven clean than it is to clean an already messy one.
Looking to buy a new oven? Check out our selection here!
by Milcarsky's Staff | Jul 30, 2019 | Appliances
For many families, the kitchen is the heart of their home. It’s where food is cooked and enjoyed and where family and friends hang out. But the unfortunate fact remains that the kitchen is also one of the most dangerous places in the house. Here are three common kitchen hazards:
Sharp Objects
The number of sharp objects found in the kitchen seems endless.They include not only knives; forks; and kitchen shears; but also mandolines; pantry cutters; pizza wheels; the blades of blenders, garbage disposals, and food processors; skewers; and those corn-shaped picks that hold corn on the cob. The shards of dropped plates and glasses are a serious danger to bare feet. A lid from a freshly opened can could deliver a nasty cut. Even the edges of a counter can be sharp.
Mitigate the risk of injury by putting sharp things back in their place when they’re not in use and never letting younger children handle them without supervision. Children and adults should know the proper way to handle sharp objects, according to Plan to Eat. You should also make sure that broken glass or ceramics should be swept up and never handled.
Hot Surfaces
Injuries caused by heat aren’t just limited to putting a hand on a hot stove burner, a hot oven grill or a hot pot or pan. Grease fires can shoot up in an instant. In some homes, the water that comes from the hot water faucet can cause injuries. According to GBW.Law, coffee makers contain scalding hot liquids that can result in life-altering injuries if spilled.
To lower the risk of injuries caused by heat, turn the handles of pots and pans inward so they aren’t bumped into or grabbed by curious children. If a pot or pan comes out of the oven, leave a dish towel on the handle or the lid to indicate that it’s hot. Don’t allow anything flammable near a heat source.
Hazardous Materials
Some cleansers kept in the kitchen are especially dangerous because they smell good to children and pets. One way to lower the risk of hazardous materials according to My Rolling Hills Farm is to keep them in a separate cabinet away from any food or cooking equipment and to put a lock on the cabinet doors where they’re kept. They must always be kept in their original container or in a container that’s clearly marked.
The kitchen can be a scary place, but it shouldn’t be. Things that cut and slice, poison, and burn are everywhere. But a few simple precautions can make sure the kitchen remains the warm and welcoming place it was meant to be.
A great part of an inviting kitchen is new appliances. Check out our selection of cooking appliances today!
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by Milcarsky's Staff | Jun 17, 2019 | Appliances
Ask anyone who has ever gone through a kitchen fire, and they do will tell you that it is an extremely traumatic experience. Moreover, they will also tell you that it was completely unexpected. Indeed, no one starts cooking for their family thinking, “I’m about to have a kitchen fire that will destroy my wall or most of my kitchen.” However, it does happen. Thankfully, with a little bit of advance planning and some organization, there are a number of things you can do in order to guard against this happening to you.
Watch Out for Grease
Grease is very flammable, and it is a fire that can happen fairly quickly. The good news is that grease fires can be smothered fairly quickly as long as you know what you are doing. Obviously, throwing water on a grease fire is a big no-no. Instead, you should immediately turn off the heat source, and then quell the fire with a large lid.
Invest in Fire-Retardant Materials
One of the best ways to avoid or to minimize a fire would be through surrounding yourself with fire-retardant materials. One example of a substance that resists burning is the roof of your home. For example, homes with metal roofs tend to fare better against fires than homes with more conventional roofs. Moreover, simply using fire-resistant cookware will go a long way to keeping flames from spreading throughout your kitchen and then your home.
Don’t Leave Your Heat Source
When you begin cooking your meal, it can be tempting to go and briefly check your ball game or to watch the last part of your favorite television show. Don’t do it! About 10% of homes were estimated to have experienced kitchen fires. Leaving your stove unattended for even five minutes can easily have a fire on your hands that could spark travel literally anywhere.
Keep Certain Items Away From the Stove
You might be surprised at just what is considered flammable, so you should do your best to make sure that everything is kept away from the burners on the stove. Items like paper towels, dish towels, potholders, and other combustibles could easily cause a house fire. Kitchen fires are an unfortunate incident in many households. However, if you follow these tips, you will significantly decrease your chances of falling prone to these terrible kitchen fires. Safety counts in the kitchen!
Many people who are worried about kitchen fires choose to use electric range tops, but if you want something different, Milcarsky’s Appliance Center has many other options as well!
