Convert to Gas or Induction? The Choice Is Yours

Many people come into the store wanting and dreaming of converting to gas.  A lot of times this involves a big kitchen remodel project and can come with hefty costs.  There is a great alternative to the time, money, and effort that this takes to switch to gas.  Welcome to the world of induction ranges!

Take a look at the pros and cons of both and it will help you determine which option is best for you.

Gas Ranges

Most professional chefs prefer cooking on gas. Once ignited, the burners respond faster and you do not have to wait for the burners to warm up with conventional electric cooktops or ranges. They are also a little bit easier to clean and maintain. With electric, there seems to be a huge mess after cooking and you have to clean it with a special product and elbow grease. With gas, you just have to remove the steel grate and wipe the crumbs and food way more easily, but not as easily as induction. Gas allows you to use different types of cookware and have your food cook pretty evenly and keeps your pans flat-bottomed.

Benefits of Gas

• Better control
• Fast boiling
• Can use different types of cookware

Drawbacks of Gas

• Tougher cleanup than induction
• High cost of conversion
• At altitude the effectiveness is reduced
• Can have a gas leak

Top Gas Choices

Ranges

• Viking VGR5606GQSS
• Samsung  NX58H5600SS
• GE JGB660SEJSS

Cooktops

• Thermador SGSX365FS
• Bosch NGM5624UC
• Maytag MGC9536DS

Induction Ranges

An induction range uses electromagnetic field to heat pots instead of radiant heat that standard electric ranges have. You have to make sure that you have the correct cookware for it to work properly which is magnetic or induction-capable. With induction, your cooking time can be reduced dramatically. The technology allows you to boil water 2 to 4 minutes faster with 6 quarts of water. The surface of induction cooktop stays cooler than the standard smooth top. This will make cleaning easier. Don’t get me wrong, your pot will still get very hot, but with the heat transfer technology, the surface below and around the pot won’t get as hot. Once you take the pot off the heat element, the heat stops and the surface won’t be super hot making it a very safe option, especially if you have kids.

Benefits of Induction

• Boils water in less than 90 seconds
  
• Better control than gas
• Easy clean up
• Safe option
• No conversion or remodeling needed

Drawbacks of Induction

• It just doesn’t have the flame
• You need specific cookware
• There is a buzz sound

Induction Choices

Ranges

• LG LSE4617ST
• Samsung NE58K9560WS
• Frigidaire FIF3054TS 

Cooktops

• GE Monogram ZHU30RSJSS
• Jenn-Air JIC4536XS
• ElectroluxEW36IC60LB

How to Install a Range Safely & Properly!

Dustin is here to show you how to install a range in these 5 simple steps.

This is a great video to DIY installing your own range. Please be careful when doing this yourself. Use gloves and have a friend help you.




1. Install the 4-prong cord. We recommend using the 4-prong rather than a 3-prong so that you have a ground wire. Match the different cords with the same cords on the range.

2. Install the anti tip brackets. This is a required safety feature that keeps the range from tipping over. This is helpful if someone leans on the range. These brackets would help them from having the range fall on them.

3. Place the range in the location. We recommend using straps so that you do not scratch the floor and to give you support. Once it is in the spot, make sure that someone helps you plug it in before sliding the range completely into the spot.

4. Level the range to the countertop. Pull the warming drawer out and adjust the back feet first so that the range is at the same height level as the countertops.

5. Place the warming drawer back into the range. You should be all set for using your range.

If you have any questions or need help, please let us know.

A Great Cooking Option for the Holidays- Samsung Range Review

 It’s that time of year again where we all move our cooking back indoors and cooking for tons of people.  With the Holidays coming up, you might be considering a new oven for your kitchen.

 Today I would like to introduce to you the Samsung NX58H9500WS.

 Thinking out the cooktop this is a game changer for very big meals. This unit features a Hi-Performance 5-Burner Cook-top. This allows you to cook your food on top with flexibility with how fast you would like to cook things and the convenience of cooking over-sized pots and pans with the oval burner. With 18,000 BTUs you can get a rapid boil. This range also includes a cast-iron griddle, Wok Ring, and a 22k BTU Tri-Ring burner.   There are also grate indicator marks to help you place your pots and pans in the perfect spot to get the best cooking performance.

The oven provides more features that can help with cooking for the holidays. The True-Convection oven offers the most consistent oven temperatures throughout which helps make your food cook more evenly and makes every bite tastier. The internal meat probe helps ensure the proper internal temperature for your Holiday Roast or Turkey.  The oven is brightly lit with halogen lighting so it is always easy to monitor the status of your baked goods. The guiding light controls have a digital display that makes it easy to follow step-by-step instructions on how to cook certain foods and program your favorite recipes. The oven’s size is 5.8 cu ft which is large enough to handle that bigger turkey at the store or cook multiple big dishes at once. At the bottom, this range has a warming drawer. You can keep some foods in here until everything is ready to eat at dinner time.

Come see us today at one of our 17 locations, we can show you this convection range and many more like it to compliment your Holiday Cooking Season.

We hope to see you soon.

Recipe- Chicken Fajitas

Turn an ordinary day into a fiesta with these healthy, delicious chicken fajitas!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• Salt
• 2 Tbsp canola, safflower, peanut or grapeseed oil (a high smoke point oil)
• 1 large onion, sliced lengthwise (root to tip) into 1/4-inch strips
• 3 bell peppers of various colors, sliced into 1/4-inch strips

Marinade

• 2 Tbsp lime juice
• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 jalapeno, seeded and minced
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Extras

• 8-12 flour tortillas
• Salsa
• Sliced avocado
• Sour cream
• Thinly sliced iceberg lettuce dressed lightly with salt and cider vinegar

Directions:

1 Cut thick chicken breasts in half, horizontally: If chicken breasts are more than half a pound, slice horizontally so that each slice is between ½-inch and ¾-inch thickness. (Note: Don’t pound chicken breasts with a meat tenderizer, as this adversely affects the texture of the meat.)

2 Marinate chicken: Mix marinade ingredients together in a glass or plastic container. Add chicken, mix thoroughly, cover and let marinate at room temperature for at least 1 hour or up to 8 hours in the fridge.

3 Wipe off most marinade, sprinkle chicken with salt: Remove the chicken from the marinade. Wipe off most of the marinade and sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt.

4 Sear chicken on high heat: Heat a large cast iron frying pan on high heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Add a tablespoon of canola oil to the pan.

As soon as the oil begins to smoke, place chicken breast pieces in the pan. Depending on the size of the pan, you may have to work in several batches.

Let chicken cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes, until you have a good sear. Once seared well on one side, turn pieces over and cook for another 2-3 minutes until well seared on the second side.

5 Stack seared breasts, cover with foil and let rest: Once seared on the second side, remove to a cutting board and cover with aluminum foil to rest for 5 minutes.

Tip: Stack the seared chicken breasts and then cover them in foil. Together they will retain heat better as you cook the peppers and onions.

If you want to test for doneness, cut into one piece with the tip of a sharp knife. It should be just done, if not, you can put it back in the hot pan for a minute or two.

6 Sauté peppers and onions: While the chicken is resting, cook the onions and peppers. Add another tablespoon of oil to the frying pan. Heat on high. As soon as the oil is hot, add the onions and peppers to the pan.

Use a metal spatula to scrape up some of the browned bits from the chicken and stir to coat the onions and peppers with the oil and brown bits. Spread the onions and peppers in an even layer in the pan. Let them cook undisturbed for 2 minutes. You want them to sear with some blackening. Stir the vegetables and continue to cook for another 2 minutes.

7 Slice the chicken and serve: Slice the chicken across the grain into strips. Serve at once with the peppers and onions, some warm tortillas, and sides of shredded cheese, salsa, guacamole, and/or thinly sliced iceberg lettuce dressed with vinegar and salt.

Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes  Cook Time: 10 minutes  Serves 4

Recipe- Coconut Chicken Green Curry

With the temperature dropping and cold nights ahead of us, I wanted to share one of my favorite recipes, Coconut Curry Chicken. The sweetness from the coconut milk coupled with the robust curry flavors and spicy seasons make it a great meal when you need to warm up.

Prep: 5 minutes

Cooking: 15 – 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 6-8 Skinless boneless chicken thighs cut into bite size pieces. (You can substitute with chicken breast but I believe the thighs hold the flavor better with such a robust curry sauce.)
• 12 oz can of Coconut Milk
• Medium white onion
• 1/2 chopped red pepper
• 1 Sliced Thai eggplant
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 1 tablespoons of fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
• ½ to 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper
• 1 bushel of minced cilantro
• 3 tablespoons of green curry paste
• 1 table spoon of vegetable oil

Step 1

Bring a large skillet to medium high heat. Add minced garlic and diced chicken thighs. Cook until chicken is browned on the outside. Add chopped white onion, red pepper, and Thai eggplant. Stirring regularly cook until onions have slightly brown ends and are soft.

Step 2

Add in all of the remaining ingredients, mix well and reduce heat to medium. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. When sauce has reduced and chicken is cooked thoroughly. Remove from heat and serve over white rice or toasted French bread.

Your Guide to Smart Home Devices- Part 3

This is the third installment of our 3-part series about smart home devices and appliances. Today we focus on appliances that are changing the meaning of the word “efficiency,” one technological breakthrough at a time. Check out parts 1 and 2 for more recommendations on the most brilliant smart home innovations of 2016!

Samsung Family Hub Refrigerator, starts at $5,599 - Samsung, leading pioneer of smart home appliance integration, has done it again with its beautifully-designed Family Hub refrigerator. Unlike previous iterations of Samsung smart fridges, this one is fully compatible with Alexa, Amazon’s voice assistant, and will work in conjunction with your smartphones and even stream TV! (Oh, yeah, and it does a great job of keeping food cold too.) Marvel at the 21.5-inch touchscreen that allows you to send and receive messages from your family and friends’ smartphones, share your calendars so your appointments are always handy for viewing, and display family photos (you can take snapshots of your kids’ artwork for a futuristic spin on the old refrigerator magnet!) Dazzle your friends with the efficiency of ordering groceries right from your fridge, courtesy of Alexa. If you have dreamed of talking to your refrigerator (oh, is that just me? Awkward.) this is the refrigerator for you. Of course, all this technology and innovation doesn’t come cheap- the Samsung Family Hub starts at $5,599 for the standard depth stainless steel model, and a counter-depth black stainless model will cost you in the neighborhood of $5,999. You can find one here for a better deal.

LG Smart ThinQ Washer and Dryer, from $1,599.99 each-Wouldn’t it be nice if you could check the status of your wash or dry cycle from your smartphone? With the LG Smart ThinQ washer and dryer combo, to the energy-efficient capabilities designed to optimize your usage of power, Smart ThinQ washers and dryers are a game-changer for the way we will do laundry in years to come. The gorgeous stainless steel construction and sleek design make this a washer/dryer combo you’ll want to show off, and the WaveForce washing technology and TrueStream drying technology help to make each load come out perfectly every time, with no hassle. Best of all, it was recently announced that the entire line of LG Smart ThinQ appliances will soon be adding Alexa (via a Smart ThinQ hub, sold separately), which means your washer and dryer will be able to seamlessly integrate with the rest of your smart home in the very near future. Here is one that we recommend.

GE WiFi Connect Free-Standing Convection Range, starts at $2,099- Turn your smartphone into a remote control for your stovetop and oven with a WiFi Connect range from GE! The appliance giant has gotten into the smart home arena in a big way with a line of free-standing ranges as well as cooktops and wall ovens that can be turned on, off, preheated and more via a smartphone app! Using an IFTTT (If This Then That) “recipe,” Alexa can even be used to trigger on/off verbal commands. Best of all, none of the cooking efficiency is sacrificed in the name of technology- the GE free-standing convection range boasts the largest integrated griddle on the market, as well as a gas convection oven that circulates heat for maximum cooking results every time. Check out all the details here. 

Looking for appliances to help you upgrade your smart home? Check out part 1 in the smart appliance series. Appliance Factory has a wide range of smart appliances at unbeatable prices. Check out one of our 16 locations today or visit our website. We look forward to helping you create your home of the future!