What to Consider When Buying a Wine Refrigerator

The alcohol-drinking habits of the American consumer has changed significantly over the past few decades. People are drinking less beer while consuming more wine. What was once an elitist drink can now be commonly found in many households. Many wine enthusiasts are getting more serious about their hobby and want to keep their spirits at the proper temperature. But they don't have the space or financial funds to build a proper wine cellar.

This is not a problem though because fortunately there are many affordable wine refrigerators available on the market. There are a couple things you need to consider before purchasing one.

One of the most important factors that you need to consider is the size of your wine refrigerator. Obviously you need to be aware of the space available in your home to place it. But you should also consider your personal drinking habits? Do you tend to finish a bottle before opening a new one? Or do you like to have a perfect match between your wine and dinner and keep multiple bottles open. This should dictate the size of the refrigerator you should buy. Do remember that larger refrigerators not only cost more but also consumer more electricity. This is something that is commonly overlooked - don't buy a huge refrigerator just because you can afford it.

Another thing to consider is to buy a dual zone wine refrigerator. Different types of wines have different ideal temperatures that they are stored at. If you plan on having both white and red wines in the refrigerator, you should consider getting one with multiple temperature zones. On the other hand, if you only drink red wine this feature will not be much of a selling point.

Autor: Alex Villanueva

A wine refrigerator can be a confusing purchase. Read more about buying an ewave wine refrigerator and a kitchenaid wine refrigerator.

Added: September 30, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Refitting Range Hoods When Remodeling

If you are looking to renovate your kitchen and remodel its old style, one of the obstacles you may come across is how to refit your new kitchen range hood into your old kitchen.

The problem is largest in an old house that may not have any type of exhaust system in the kitchen let alone a modern range hood. Many years ago, range hoods were not common so in an older home you may have more work to renovate.

It's safest to just pull out whatever old system exists and install your modern appliance and range hood. You'll need to know where you want your new range to go in your kitchen. If you have ample space then you may want an island range in which case you'll need to consider the different island range hoods available. The most popular of types for an island are stand alone hoods that are stylish and functional.

If there is already a cabinet above where you want your range to be located then your solution is to either have a carpenter shorten the cabinet or replace it with a shorter cabinet that will give more breathing space to the range underneath it. Wiring is a consideration as well. A ductless range hood would require that you shorten the cabinet and do the required wiring before you install your range. Ducted kitchen range hoods are different and require an opening in the cabinet's bottom to accommodate the ducting. Another hole will be needed for the exhaust.

Autor: D. Taylor

To summarize, when renovating your kitchen some thought needs to go into the different options of range hoods that are suitable for your kitchen. Island ranges are popular today as they are in the center of your kitchen and make cooking very convenient. Standalone island range hoods are perfect for this type of range.

Added: September 29, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Homemade BBQ Grills - The Smart Option

We all love a BBQ, nothing beats it, nice weather (if you're lucky!) and good food (hopefully). While we all love a good BBQ, many of us settle for a basic store bought BBQ, and neglect all the extra enjoyment and satisfaction that can be derived from building your own BBQ grill. If you only occasionally fire up the BBQ, you may not think building your own is worth the effort, so be it. But if you're a BBQ enthusiast and take every opportunity to break out the charcoal, what could be better than enjoying food you've cooked on your own handmade grill?

More people are coming around to this 'do it yourself' mentality, with money being that little bit tighter for most of us these days, building your own and recycling otherwise unused materials makes more and more sense, no matter what it is you're considering buying or making.

Building your own grill, has a lot of benefits, as I mentioned it's obviously cheaper. Don't be put of by thinking it's difficult or that your have to be a skilled tradesman to pull it off, it can be a simple or as complicated as you make it. The other major benefit of building your own grill is that you decide just how you want to build it. Sure you can follow step by step guides, but once you get the basic principle you can build whatever you fancy!

Your standard homemade BBQ grill usually starts of with an old cylindrical vessel of some description, an old beer keg can make for a really nice, smart looking little grill, however for extra grill space and versatility an old 55 gallon oil drum is commonly used.

The 55 gallon oil drum is fantastic, they're easy to get your hands on an have a million and one uses, a recyclers dream! With a few simple tools, the humble oil drum can be easily turned into a large BBQ grill that's both tough and rugged but can clean up very nicely.

Click through for more info on How To Build A Grill Out Of A 55 Gallon Drum, as well as links to free step by step guides and plans.

Autor: Jon Farrell

Jon Farrell is an Engineer by profession, whose real passion lies with the humble BBQ, and in particular the design and construction of homemade BBQ grills, roasters and smokers. For more info on the 55 gallon drum BBQ grill, as well as links to Jon's free guides and plans, check out http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-build-a-grill-out-of-a-55-gallon-drum-101

Added: September 28, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Residential Intercoms - A Popular Trend

Residential intercoms are becoming more commonplace in new construction as people are more concerned about safety and not opening their doors to strangers. Residential intercoms can range from a simple voice intercom wired into the front door area for less than thirty ($30) dollars without labor to units with CD changers, radios, video feed and up to twenty remote stations for over two ($2000) thousand dollars. What you finally decide on for your residential intercoms will depend on what you want the system to do. If all you want to do is to be able to talk to who is on your porch and determine whether to let them in then a simple wired intercom will suffice.

If you are worried about even speaking with someone then you will probably want a unit with video capability. This is especially true for areas where crime may be higher or you have been a victim of stalking or harassment. Being able to see the person at your front door before deciding to even speak is great to have.

The M&S Music System is one of their residential intercoms offered online for a few hundred dollars. By adding a color camera, video receiver, CD changer and multiple remotes you can have music throughout the house and be able to view visitors in any light conditions or weather. The MC302 features twelve watts (12W) of power that can drive up to eight intercom or room speakers and up to three door speakers. It includes a hands free intercom system and the music system has eight presets for both AM and FM and no knobs to turn. All music controls are electronic push buttons for bass, treble and loudness. You can answer the door from any room for added safety. You can purchase an optional hand held remote that will adjust the music source, loudness and channels from any room. There is also an optional remote can speaker that also allows you to control the system from any room.

Other additional options include adding a video camera with color receiver, a CD player or a CD changer for six CDs. By adding the six CD changer, three room speakers and a door speaker your original cost of just over four hundred dollars morphs into a whopping twelve hundred dollars. In this age of electronic music files I find it anachronistic that M&S still offers a cassette player as an optional music source and charges nearly three hundred dollars for it.

Autor: Chris Altesino

Learn more about home intercom trends and find the right intercom system for you.

Added: September 27, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Fridges Are Easy to Find on the Web, Just Make Sure That You Do Some Research Before You Buy

Updating your kitchen is always a fun and exciting task to undertake but have you thought about everything you may need? Fridges are widely available on the web and you should be able to get yourself a great deal if you do some research. Buying online is your best bet for appliances like this so take your time and really have a good look around on today's market.

It can be really exciting to shop online so you'll need to calm down before you make any big decisions. Sometimes it can be all too easy to buy the first thing you see. Research is the key to getting a good deal so you'll need to set aside some time and really take it slow if you want to save money on your purchase.

Buying what you need on the web is a lot easier these days and you should have no problems finding items that are appropriate for your needs. However, you'll need to find a range of products so that you can compare prices and quality in order to get yourself a great deal.

Don't rush into anything because otherwise you could end up missing out on huge deals simply because you didn't see them. Make sure that you're completely comfortable before you make any big decisions and make sure that you're aware of everything available on today's market.

There are a huge range of fridges available these days and you can find a range of other appliances too. Cookers, fridge freezers and even microwaves are widely available, which means you should easily be able to find what you're looking for. However, if you don't do your research properly you may not find what you really need.

Overall, buying fridges on the web is really easy these days. Just make sure that you do your research properly so that you can be sure you're getting a great deal. Don't rush into anything; make sure that you take your time and really look around to find the best possible deals.

Autor: Yasmin K Lawrence

Author Yasmin K Lawrence talks about buying fridges on the web. http://www.buyersandsellersonline.co.uk has a huge range of options available, you should easily find what you're looking for.

Added: September 25, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Outdoor Pizza Oven - Hotter Than Ever!

Since man discovered fire, outdoor cooking has been part of human experience. For years, we have invented various cooking tools for different types of food like ovens and other indirect heat source. Nowadays, it is strange to find a house with no backyard kitchen, outdoor cooking has developed from to a form of culinary art. The newest trend today is the outdoor pizza oven.

Pizza ovens and grills are the newest craze today in outdoor cooking, especially here in America where most people crave for pizzas for family events or house parties. This type of pizza is not very different from the typical oven we have inside our house, it still includes a regular heated chamber and heat source. The advantage of having it is that is gives its user the adequate ventilation and enough space for heat generation he needs in cooking.

For years, pizza lovers go to restaurants that use wood-fired ovens. Several pizza chains use this type of pizza because it gives a distinct and unique effect to every food cooked in it, customers love it. Though ovens like this take quite some time to generate heat inside its heat chamber, it cooks the food very quickly once it reached its right temperature, which is 500- 900 degrees Fahrenheit.

There are various designs available in the market right now. One configuration of this oven is called the black oven which uses fuel, usually wood and shares the baking chamber with the food. Even if the oven's heat source remains or removed from the baking chamber, it is still called a black oven

For house owners who want to host parties and cook food using this type of oven, there are instructional plans available for building traditional ovens.

The best way to build your own oven is buying a complete kit of it. Kits, especially for wood-fired pizza oven vary mostly in the design and manufacturer, but basically, they all contain the same basic elements. Flooring of the oven contains sections and a dome. Vents and doors are also included. The time it takes to finish building the whole thing varies from its size and design. Several manufacturers offer extra technical support and other installations with extra charge.

This type of sophisticated oven can also be used indoor, making it a perfect upgrade for your kitchen. Indoor installations however can be very complicated and needs consultation with professional oven installers to ensure safety and compliance with the local building code.

Autor: Robert A Hull

The Author is an expert in article writing and has done a lot of research online and offline. Come visit his latest websites on Brinkman Gas Grill and Outdoor Pizza Oven

Added: September 24, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How Microwaves Work

Microwave ovens, or microwaves, were accidentally invented during the building of magnetron radar sets. The appliance we know and love today consists of 6 components, all necessary to create the microwave radiation needed to heat food: high voltage transformer, energy path to magnetron, magnetron cavity, control circuit, waveguide, and the cooking chamber. These efficient and safe workings create a very popular kitchen machine.

The transformer sends energy to the magnetron which emits microwave radiation through the cavity (regulated by the control circuit and waveguide) to the cooking chamber. The radiation polarizes the molecules in the food, exciting them to produce heat. This polarization is uniform, leading to simultaneous heating. Despite the urban legend that microwaves cook "inside-out," these ovens cook from the outside-in, just like any other cooking device. The only difference is the penetrative power of the radiation allowing microwaves to cook faster.

It's the efficiency in cooking that makes microwaves so popular. Patented in 1945, the first ovens consumed large amounts of electricity, were quite weighty, and were priced out of the market. The mid 1970s saw a sales volume of about 1 million because costs had come down quite a bit. The technological revolution of the 80's made microwave ovens the common appliance in 90% of US households today.

Microwaves are a staple of many kitchens because they are cost effective and efficient. In fact, these simple 6 components that create microwave radiation are a testament to American technological ingenuity. Where else can an accident result in the most common domestic device next to a stove top range and a refrigerator?

Autor: Elanora T. Kelly

Learn More about Microwave

For FREE Information Tips and Advice visit over the range microwave

For information of all types of microwave oven like the small microwaves come to bestmicrowaves.org

Added: September 22, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Wide Refrigerators Really Fill Out Your Kitchen

Do you want to know about all the different kinds of refrigerators and other kitchen appliances (such as convection toaster ovens) out there? Fridges can come in all sorts of styles and sizes, and there is literally a perfect one for every kitchen out there. This is hard to believe, but it's true. Take, for example, the French door style. This was designed because people like the barn door style but thought it was silly to have the freezer at the top. Think about it, you probably use the fridge portion a lot more often than the freezer portion, so why is the freezer portion right at eye level? That means that the majority of the time you are bending over. Therefore, they moved the freezer to the bottom. The side by side fridge is another type that took advantage of this by making the freezer on one side (the left) and the fridge on the opposite side. Both models are very trendy and stylish, and can be white, black, or stainless steel.

Some manufacturers you may be familiar with are Maytag, Frigidaire, Sub Zero, HotPoint, Avanti, Electrolux, GE, LG, and Samsung. They all have a wide range of offerings, each with different looks and price ranges. The important thing to note, though, is that they all may quality machines.

Most people are finding too that having a counter depth fridge looks the best in relation to the rest of the kitchen. This is because having it jut out past everything else looks unkempt. Of course, if you really want to go all out, you can get a large, wide, glass door fridge that fits neatly in the wall. This is very ostentatious, but it saves energy because you'll never have to open your fridge to see what's in it again.

Then, there are the mini fridges. There are a couple different types, such as the compact portable fridge perfect for college students that need to keep leftovers fresh. There are also outdoor under counter fridges designed to keep cool beverages for you when you're in the hot backyard doing work or swimming. A lot of wine connoisseurs need a small ice box for their favorite alcohol as well.

Autor: Joseph Hash

Joseph Hash writes about finding a wide refrigerator and other kitchen supplies.

Added: September 20, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Large Refrigerators Are Ideal For Huge Appetites

When shopping for kitchen appliances, do you know exactly what you're looking for? Or do you go into the store hoping you'll find the perfect machine? You can probably guess what is more effective and what will lead to a more suitable kitchen. Here's a hint: It's planning before you go looking.

Few people take the time to really envision what they want and need in items like refrigerators and toasters. However, if you take the time to plan carefully, you will be amazed at how much nicer your kitchen will look, how much better it will function, and most importantly, how much money you'll save. For example, think of the types of fridges. You have the common side by side, which has longer thinner sections (of equal proportions), or the French door, which has the bottom freezer. You could get a white or black model, or get stainless steel. Another popular style is the glass door model. Don't forget to think about the space around the fridge. You can get counter depth to match evenly with the rest of the kitchen as well as wide and large models to hold more food (perfect for the mom that can't get enough food to feed her young boys).

If you need refrigeration outdoors, you can get mini, compact, under counter, and portable fridges as well. They also make these specifically for holding wine. Whirlpool, Maytag, Frigidaire, Samsung, LG, and GE all make these.

As for toasters, you have the traditional style, as well as convection toaster ovens and rotisserie style toasters. These are extremely useful when you wish to save time but still want a food to be crisp, a task that most microwaves cannot do. They can be placed on the counter top or mountable, whatever fits in your kitchen. Delonghi, Oster, Kitchenaid, and Cuisinart all make very reliable and good looking toasters.

By keeping these things in mind, all you have to do is decide on your budget. When you know that, you're ready to go shopping, only this time, you know exactly what you want.

Autor: Joseph Hash

Joseph Hash writes about large refrigerators and other kitchen supplies.

Added: September 19, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

A Glass Refrigerator is Classy and Perfect For Any Kitchen

What is it about a kitchen that makes them such an excellent room to congregate in? Is it the fact that they have everything you need, like food and drinks in it? Usually that's the case, but some people have such a well put together cooking area that people just feel comfortable there. Since you now know this, shouldn't you get a refrigerator and other appliances (like a convection toaster oven or possibly even an antique stove) that will be pleasant to look at and even more importantly, useful?

With all the different types of fridges out there, you really can't go wrong (and that's not even including mini, portable, outdoor under counter, or wine fridges). So just think about what would go well with your kitchen. If all your other appliances are stainless steel, then it's really a no brainer that your fridge should be too. If everything in your kitchen is light, you should probably stick with a traditional white fridge. Or you could try a glass door model, which is more expensive but extremely modern. Of course, if everything is darker, get a black fridge (they also go well with granite counter tops).

There are a few main styles, the side by side, which have equal sized fridge and freezer portions in a horizontal orientation, as well as French door models with a bottom freezer. There are also large, wide counter depth fridges for those odd spaces you need to fill. Of course, the old school style with top freezer and single door models are still available from all your favorite brands, like Samsung, GE, LG, Avanti, Frigidaire, Whirlpool, Maytag, and HotPoint.

As for the aforementioned convection toaster ovens, consider that they can be for the counter top or mountable. They do an amazing job of warming and toasting your food, with the precision of a full blown oven, but the speed of a microwave. It's like a compact oven being fast forwarded. It's incredibly useful. You can look for them from Bosch, Cuisinart, Oster, or Kitchenaid.

Autor: Joseph Hash

Joseph Hash writes about finding a great glass refrigerator and other kitchen supplies.

Added: September 18, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Home Air Purifiers Now Come With Whole Room Air Filtration

In the past, home air purifiers would boast of health benefits and dust reduction features, leading to cleaner homes with healthier inhabitants. But what they did not realize was that their air purifiers were too weak to circulate filtered air throughout an entire room. No matter what kind of filters there were and how many of them were used, the result was that the same air was being filtered over and over again in one corner of the room while the rest of the air in the house remained unaffected.

Today, however, air purifiers are being equipped with air circulation technology inspired by jet engines. Now, along with energy consumption, filter type, reliability and style, one also has to consider CADRs, or clean air delivery rates, and the number of air changes per hour. However, this should be a welcome development when compared to the benefits than new home air purifiers with this technology offer.

CADR is usually certified by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), and refers to the number of square feet that can be changed by the air purifier in an eight foot tall room. There's a different number for smoke, dust and pollen for each air purifier. The rule of thumb is to get a purifier at with a number at least two-thirds of the size of the room it will stay in. For example, for a 10-square-foot room, the CADR should be at least 66 each for smoke, dust, air and pollen.

The number of air changes is also measured depending on the size of the room. Six air changes per hour is more than adequate for regular use. Again, the size of the room comes in square feet, and the measuring body assumes that the room's ceiling is eight feet high.

Autor: Jack M Patterson

Vornado Air is a long-time developer and pioneering innovator in air circulation technology. Their website features technical specifications, product descriptions, testimonials and even video demonstrations of their various products and technologies. The products featured include air purifiers, humidifiers, fans, heaters, filters and accessories. For more information, visit http://www.vornado.com or call 1-800-234-0604.

Added: September 14, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Reverse Osmosis Water Treatment System - Find Out the Ugly Truth Now

You may have heard that the reverse osmosis water treatment system is a sound option for your home water purification needs. The truth is that the claims that are being made about these units may be stretching the truth a little bit in this regard. The fact is that these types of filters offer you very little of the protection that you need.

When shopping for the perfect drinking water filter system for your home you have to realize that what you need is something that can take care of all of the literally tens of thousands of hazardous contaminants that are currently present in our water supply. Your system has got to be extremely well rounded in order to accomplish this task.

Reverse osmosis water treatment systems are simply not designed in such a fashion as to be able to protect you from all of the hazards that you face. They are designed for little more than the demineralization of your drinking water, although they do typically come with a chemical filter made of activated granular carbon. This filter is a good defense against most chemicals, but not enough protection to make your water safe.

The removal of chemicals from your drinking water is imperative if you want you and your family to remain healthy. Of all of the chemicals present in our groundwater systems there are 2100 that have been positively identified as causing the development of cancer. You cannot afford to use a system that will allow any of these carcinogenic chemicals to slip through.

That is why I would not advise anyone to use a reverse osmosis water treatment system in their home. You need additional filtering in order not only to remove the remaining chemicals in your water, but to also eliminate parasites and cysts that have made it through the chlorine disinfection process, and traces of toxic heavy metals in your water that could prove damaging.

What you need to have in order to make sure that you are fully protected is invest in a home water purification system that utilizes a variety of different filters designed to remove any potential threat. The highest rated system on the market uses four filters in order to cover all of the contaminant categories.

Let's look at what it has that that the R.O. system doesn't.

The reverse osmosis water treatment systems typically offer you just an activated granular carbon filter, but a multi media block is necessary as well if you want to be able to eliminate all of the chemicals from your water. Your unit then needs to contain a sub micron filter in order to remove the parasites and cysts in your water. Then you simply need to worry about heavy metals.

Metals can be removed by an ion exchange, which traps the metal traces and then replaces them with electrolytes. This is the kind of security that a reverse osmosis water treatment system simply cannot give you, and you would be wise to get this sort of filter system in your home as soon as you can.

An R.O. unit simply cannot compete.

Autor: Dana Lakes

You can learn more details about the best water filtration system I personally use in my home and why it's much better than a reverse osmosis water purification unit by visiting my website today.

Dana Lakes is a dedicated advocate and passionate researcher of water purity issues that affect our health and well-being. Visit Dana's site at clean safe water and start enjoying the natural goodness of water.

Added: September 10, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Why Aren't You Using a Gas Grill For Preparing Your Food?

A gas grill is mean for providing you the best experience when it comes to preparing food. There are portable ones available for you to bring with you during picnics and other outdoor activities. If you are searching for convenience when it comes to preparing your food indoors or outdoors, this is one cooking equipment that you should have.

Portable grills are easier to carry, you don't have to worry about how much they would weigh, because they are definitely built for you to carry around, anywhere you want to go and prepare delicious food. If you are then concerned the space that it's going to take, this portable gas grill can fit almost anywhere in your car. It doesn't take up a lot of space and that is the reason why its one of the most convenient thing to bring in outdoor parties or any other celebration.

Now, let's say that you haven't had any chance to own one yourself, then you should try shopping for one now. If you love to cook and you would like to show this to your friends or even your family members, you can start using a portable grill to show your cooking talent. You'll just have to find the right one that would be very convenient for you, and at the same time would be perfect for transporting.

To know if what you are purchasing is a portable gas grill, you have to be familiar on how it looks like and what is its standard weight. The propane tank usually gives the grill more weigh than any other devices attached to it. The tank when full would be for about 20 pounds, so approximately, portable grilles would be for about 40 to 50 pounds in weight. If the grille that you are looking at is more that 50 pounds, then most probably that is not a portable one. If it is heavy enough to carry around, then it wouldn't be convenient enough for you to use outdoors.

Another thing that you should look into when purchasing your own gas grill is that it should be safe enough to transport and safe enough to use. To make sure that you'll be getting safe portable grills, you must buy it from a reputable company which provides high quality cooking equipment that you can handily use.

Autor: Cindy Hansen Cindy Hansen
Level: Platinum
Chef Cindy Hansen is the founder of CindyKitchen dot com, a Chef, Restaurant And Kitchen Specialist, as well as Sole Distributor of Several Leading manufacturer ... ...

For more information on Brinkman Gas Grill, please visit http://www.BrinkmanGasGrillShop.com/ which is an educational website devoted to helping people understand how to make a good selection when ordering Gas Grill.

Added: September 9, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Which Bread Machine Should I Buy?

Deciding which bread machine to buy can be a daunting task. The costs can vary wildly and the most expensive ones aren't always the best solutions, while the many of the inexpensive ones ones can break down more frequently. This creates a false economy as you end up replacing the machine year after year, costing you more in the long run.

What's a fresh bread fanatic to do?

The following three bread makers are considered by many experts and owners to be the best in their class:

• Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme
• Panasonic SD-YD250
• Sunbeam 2-pound programmable.

They've been selected for inclusion here by features and price point, but I have noticed some overlap in pricing for the bottom two models. In all, you can expect to pay as little as $70.00 for the Sunbeam, and as much as $250.00 for the Zojirushi. That's quite a bit of difference in price, but there's a huge difference in features and durability, as well.

Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme Bread maker

The Zojirushi Home Bakery Supreme Breadmaker is the Rolls Royce of bread makers, and is considered by many to be the best overall bread maker machine on the market.

It makes horizontal loaves, between one and two pounds, valued by most bread machine owners as being the most pretty, and most like those oven-baked in a conventional bread loaf pan or available from bakeries. To handle the mixing challenges a horizontal loaf brings, the Zojirushi bread maker uses two mixing / kneading paddles. Experts agree that this is a serious advantage over the more usual single-paddle machines. More thorough kneading leads to a more consistent rise and crumb.

The Zojirushi has more useful cycles and options than any other bread maker I've come across, including a sourdough starter cycle. I've never seen that in any other bread maker. As a fan of sourdough breads, this is a real plus to me. Owners say that the Zojirushi bread machine is very flexible and can do more than just make bread. There are cycles for jam, cakes and even meatloaf. There are three custom-memory settings and a long, 13-hour delay timer.

The Zojirushi gets solid reviews from owners, with over 300 written reviews at Amazon.com and anthoer 200 or so at Cooking.com. I did find a small number of complaints about durability, but nothing that seemed any different from other high-end bread makers. Some others complained about how large and heavy the machine was, but I think that's to be expected with a bread maker of this quality and capability. If you want nothing but the best in your kitchen, you'll want to pay the extra cash to get the amazing Zojirushi bread maker.

Panasonic SD-YD250

If you don't care about custom cycles, the Panasonic SD-YD250 may be a better option for you. According to reviewers, the Panasonic SD-YD250 Automatic Bread Maker is the best mid-range bread machine on the market. It's a sturdy, easy to use bread maker that makes regularly shaped horizontal loaves, which most people prefer over the more common, vertical ones. I did find it odd that this breadmaker lacks a viewing window, a pretty standard feature on other bread makers. Given how little you can see through the prots of other models, however, I doubt you'll miss it.

Owner's love how durable the Panasonic breadmaker is. Of the more than 350 owner reviewers have rated the Panasonic SD-YD250 breadmaker at Amazon.com, more than 70% give it a top, 5-start rating. It consistently makes good bread. The only cons than reviewers at Epinions.com mention is that now they're eating more bread than ever before.

Many write that say they've used their machines for years. There are only a handful of complaints about breakage problems. While it's not the cheapest model of home bread maker, we often get what we pay for. I've had to replace more than one bread maker simply because I'd worn them out. In such cases, "inexpensive now" creates a false economy as you keep having to replace them. Given the Panasonic's record of durability, however, I'd say it's great choice.

Sunbeam 5891 2-Pound Bread Maker

If the Panasonic is a bit more than you need, or want to pay, the Sunbeam 5891 2-Pound Programmable Breadmaker may be your best option. It's a solid performer at a low price. Home cooks have praised it's ease of use and overall performance, as well as it's affordable price.

The Sunbeam 5891 is packed with all the basics you'd expect from a great bread maker: crust-color selector, regular baking and dough only cycles, you name it. Like most bread makers in it's price range, it makes a vertical loaf, rather than the horizontal one available in more expensive machines. It sports a good, no-frills approach with 12 preprogrammed cycles and, surprisingly, a jam cycle.

To be fair, I found a few complaints about its durability and many owners say the recipes in the manual could be better. A few reviewers have also complained about the LCD screen, saying it can be hard to read. In spite of these complaints, owners of the Sunbeam 5891, posting at Cooking.com and Amazon.com, awarded the Sunbeam bread maker a good over-all rating. It is considered by many to be the best available bread machine in it's price range.

So, whether you're looking for a basic workhorse bread machine on a budget, or you're ready to step up to the best home bread machine available, it will be hard to go wrong with any of these three bread makers.

Autor: John L. Newman John L. Newman
Level: Basic
Living in the west deserts of Utah, John Newman is a blogger, freelance writer, musician, and internet marketing consultant. He's been cooking since he was ... ...

John L. Newman - Food Writer

More bread maker recipes and tips at Bread Maker Secrets

Other free recipes from John at Confessions of a Mormon Foodie

Added: September 7, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Benefits of a Humidifier

Many people probably never give a second thought to the multiple benefits of running a humidifier in their homes. They know their energy bill is lower but, they seem to take everything else for granted. If, however, the humidifier broke or ceased to function correctly for some reason, they would soon become aware of the numerous health benefits of a humidifier in their homes

They can't imagine why, each and every morning, they wake up with a scratchy sore throat. They tossed and turned all night because of this persistent, bothersome sore throat. Once more, their nasal membranes are always severely dry and cracking. Sometimes it occurs so often that they just accept it as normal. However, one of the benefits of a humidifier operating in their home is the almost total elimination of that constant sore throat and dry nose.

Another irritating thing, and I really mean irritating in the literal sense of the word, is the dry, chapped skin condition that develops as a result of the arid atmosphere of their home. It is bad enough when the plaster cracks or when the paint chips, but having your skin develops large, painful cracks is totally unacceptable. This is especially true because all of the above symptoms can be relieved by simply adding a humidifier to your home. Even the unseen benefits of a humidifier are numerous. All wood based items like your dinning room furniture, kitchen cabinets, doors and door frames have a common enemy; dry air. The benefits of a humidifier can not be overstated.

Consider the loss in value because your expensive furniture has dried out and you will understand the benefits of a humidifier more clearly. Before your wooden chairs start to squeak and wobble when anyone sits in them, make sure your humidifier is working properly.

Autor: Jonathan R Richards

John is the author of Flat Fee MLS articles for Flat Fee Listing. You can find more information at Flat Fee MLS Listing.

Added: September 6, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Auger Juicer - The Best Type of Juicer

For those that really want to incorporate juicing into their lifestyles, then the best type of juicer you should get is an auger juicer. It is one powerful machine - it can juice all types of produce, and can also do some non- juicing tasks like grinding coffee beans and milling grains. While they are expensive, auger juicers are a great addition to the kitchen.

An auger juicer can juice just about anything. Not only fruits and vegetables, but they can also juice leafy greens and wheatgrass. Wheatgrass is a young grass of a wheat plant, that has become a popular juicing ingredient because of its chlorophyll content and detoxification properties. Centrifugal juicers cannot juice wheatgrass, and while they can also juice leafy greens, they cannot do it as efficiently as an auger juicer, and they will also destroy some of the vital nutrients in the process as well.

The reason an auger juicer can extract so much juice is because it uses an auger rotating at a very low speed of about 80 RPM that will force produce through the juicer and literally press the juice out. The low RPM of the auger allows for little noise and will not generate much heat (if any at all) and prevent any of the nutrients and enzymes to denature. The only precaution is to not try to juice "soft" produce like avocados and bananas. They have little juice that is very difficult to extract, and will create a mess if you juice it.

The auger juicer I use and love is the Omega 8005. This quality juicer works great and is easy to clean up. It will cost around $250, but it is well worth the price. There are other juicers as well, but good auger juicers will probably cost the same thing. In the end, you get what you pay for, and for me, the Omega 8005 has really proved itself.

Because juicing your fruits and vegetables is incredibly beneficial for the body, I highly recommend you get an auger juicer if you want to start creating some great juicer recipes.

Autor: Anthony Rigatoni

Juicing offers so many benefits that there is no reason to not own one. Learn more about juicers and juicer recipes at easy juicer recipes!

Added: September 4, 2009
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Whole Fruit Citrus Juicer

The juicer is not what it used to be. Remember that little cone shaped utensil that your parents used to use to squeeze orange juice from an orange back in the day? It was almost more hassle then the glass of juice you got out of the exercise. Things are different these days and it is now easier then ever to get multiple glasses of fresh squeezed juice using a whole fruit citrus juicer.

There are a number of juicer brands available on the market today all with the ability to do the juicing job you need. Which one you choose will depend on personal preference, but it is good to know that no matter which one you choose you'll be well served.

Let's take a look at some of the options you will find as you try to find the perfect citrus juicer for your needs. Juicers have many useful options that can help you customize the juice to your taste.

Many juicers allow you to adjust the amount of pulp that is put into the juice. This is a great feature for those who like pulp-less juice or those you enjoy having more pulp in their juice. You can also find juicer that will allow you to add ice which allows you to create a cool juice icy drink. Perfect on a hot summer day. Smoothies and shakes are another option that you will find on many citrus juicers. That's the beauty of a whole fruit citrus juicer, the ability to make a multitude of healthy drinks that the whole family will love.

You may be wondering why you should buy a juicer when you can buy just about any type and combination of juice/juices at the local grocery store. The fact of the matter is that you can't beat freshly squeezed juice for taste and the health benefits far outweigh the pre-package offerings at the store. Many store bought juices have addictives and in most cases they have lost some of their nutrient value through their processing and storage over time. This does not mean that store bought juice is bad for you but freshly squeezed juice from a juicer retains all the nutrient value of the fruits and/or vegetables you are using.

There are plenty of whole fruit citrus juicers out there to choose from. Be sure to do a little up front research to find the one that best fits your needs. Doing this will ensure that your juicing experience is a good one.

Autor: Andrew Bicknell

A Cuisinart Juicer is a good choice for daily fresh squeezed juice. To learn more about the Cuisinart Juicer please Click Here.

Added: September 3, 2009
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The Latest Kitchen 'Must Haves'

The top three home appliances on the market are a must have for any modern kitchen.

Soup Making Heaven

One of the most innovative, useful and user friendly home appliances on the market is the rapid heating Soup Maker. This superb cook's companion looks very much like a standard juicer or blender, with a heavy duty glass jug sitting atop a base which incorporates control switches.

The difference between this and a standard blender is that you can make soups from scratch, starting by heating up the base element. This allows you to fry the base ingredients such as garlic or onions and tomatoes, gradually adding other elements to make a delicious soup. The jug will simmer the soup for the requisite amount of time.

A flip of a switch will whiz the contents of the jug into a cream style soup and you can pour it directly into a bowl. This is a great appliance for someone who loves hot drinks and soups or for those who appreciate the nutritional value of soup but dread cleaning up the mess of cooking pans and hob splashes.

Food Warming Sophistication

Warming drawers have been on the market before but the newest appliance to make an appearance is a food drawer that keeps food at an exact temperature. This is a fantastic gadget that allows the cook to set the temperature of the drawer not only at the desired temperature but in advance and for a certain amount of time.

Temperature options range from 30 C to 70 C and the drawer will hold onto this temperature for up to four hours before switching off. The drawer can be fitted beneath a standard 60cm oven and comes in a great stainless steel finish. It can be used simply as a plate warmer too.

Steam Dream

The very best and most sought after appliance has to be the steam oven. Orientals have been experts at producing delicious steamed foods for centuries but their ancient methods of steaming involved piling food into a bamboo container and placing it over a pan of bubbling water until the food had sufficiently cooked: not exactly the most convenient way to prepare a family meal and certainly not high tech!

The latest steam ovens offer rapid cooking times and a maximum retention of nutritional value in the food. It is impossible to overcook steamed food and of course it never dries out, it is low fat and therefore a healthier way of eating for those seeking a healthier lifestyle.

Steam ovens are wiped over easily and do not require abrasive cleaners to render them squeaky clean and ready to use, unlike conventional ovens which bake on food spills and require several hours of hard work to get them clean. You can cook anything in a steam oven but of course browning is something that be achieved in a normal oven. Although some steam ovens are now available as a combination with a conventional appliance to provide a two for one home appliance.

Autor: Jan Gamm Jan Gamm
Level: Platinum
Jan Gamm's writings are read the world over by people looking for an author with an honest slant on the way things are run, the ... ...

If you are considering a healthier lifestyle, start with a single gear juicer. I recommend the Green Star Juicer from Purely Juicers. If you prefer a twin gear juicer try the Samson GB 9001 Juicer

Added: September 2, 2009
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/