Setting up a new home means an endless list of decisions to be made – and you certainly could do without the confusion of similar-sounding or similar-looking household appliances. Here’s a list of the top 10 most common appliances needed for any new home – and the basic differences between similar items – to help you decide what’s best for you
The main difference between the two is the existence of a fan in the latter. Sometimes known as a “fan-forced” or “fan-assisted” oven, it was invented to help circulate heat in the oven – so meats are roasted more evenly and food is cooked more quickly, compared to conventional ovens where the heating coils are at the bottom of the oven and cook with heat from bottom up.
Most electric ovens on the market now come with fans – just take a peek into the oven cavity and you’ll see a fan installed at the far back – but also have a function where you can operate the oven like a conventional one, without the circulation of a fan, like the Electrolux 72L Built-in Oven with Grill Function.
What’s the difference, and does it matter?
Serious bakers will usually prefer to use a conventional oven, where heat rises from the bottom to bake cakes, cookies and breads without browning the tops too quickly. Fan-forced convection baking can sometimes cause the tops of your cakes or muffins to take on a slanted look when the batter rises above the edge of the tin. But when it comes to cooking – roasting, grilling or placing a Dutch oven into your oven – the even heat circulation of a fan-forced oven would be more ideal.
Bottomline:
Look for a convection oven that has a function showing it can be used without a fan; this is usually indicated by the image of two top-bottom lines without a fan in the middle. If you prefer a countertop model, we recommend the Cornell Air Fryer Oven with Turbo Convection Function CAFE25L.
At first glance, both look very similar as most brands in the market are still designed as black glass tops and both use electricity. The main difference between the two is the way they transfer heat to your cookware – and hence the type of cookware you have to use with each will be key. If you’re thinking of switching from a gas stove to the sleek design of an induction or electric stove in your new home, first have a look at all the cookware you own – or be prepared to buy new ones.
Induction stoves make use of magnetic induction, essentially sending electromagnetic waves to your cookware so they become the burners that directly (and much more quickly) cook your food. Simply put, it requires the use of cookware to which a magnet can stick.
Electric stoves use thermal conduction; coils under the glass surface heat up and in turn transfer heat onto your cookware. The glass surface will be hot to the touch, much like the open flames of a gas stove and hence, most cookware that can be used on a gas stove will be suitable for electric stoves, with the exception of glass cookware.
As both induction and electric stoves are flat glass cooktops, you have to bid goodbye to any woks or round-based cookware that worked on a gas hob. Check out brands like Scanpan which have new-style woks with a flat base that work on induction or electric stoves.
What’s the difference, and does it matter?
Induction will cook faster than electric, but both require different cookware – and that’s the main difference.
Bottomline:
Consider your cookware, cooking time and comfort level of using either type when making your purchase decision.
When Phillips launched the first air fryer on the market in 2010, it was touted as the healthier way to deep-fry, because no oil was necessary. It works using close-range radiation and airflow to cook with crisp results. Frozen fare such as French fries, chicken nuggets, gyozas and so on could go straight from the freezer into the air fryer basket and be ready to munch in a matter of minutes. Then creative bloggers and chefs devised air fryer recipes that could turn out everything from cheesecake to corn on the cob to steak, and the appliance found a permanent spot in today’s kitchens.
Steam air fryers are the next generation, with new technology that doesn’t just harden or dry out food, but produces the “crisp on the outside, moist on the inside” texture in just as little time.
What’s the difference, and does it matter?
Manufacturers are always developing new functions for that one appliance that has become a staple, and the steam air fryer is just one of them. If you’re not just looking for an appliance that crisps food but one that also renders them moist on the inside, pick the steam air fryer. Otherwise, you’ll find the Phillips Air Fryer XXL HD9660/61 a foolproof choice for your kitchen.
Bottomline:
The Steam Air Fryer can be considered as an upgrade from the first-generation air fryer – but as with any appliance, consider if you’d need and use all its functions before buying.
Most of us already know that front load machines clean better as gravity plays a part in spinning the laundry more thoroughly. So why do some people still buy top load machines? Size, ease of use and maintenance are usually the main concerns.
Front load machines tend to be bulkier, and you’d need space in front of it to load your laundry. But you’d also need to bend over to do so, which may be an issue for the physically-challenged. Front loaders also require a bit more maintenance; you’d need to keep the rubber gaskets dry to prevent mould; top loaders don’t have this issue as water is sucked and drained downwards and out.
What’s the difference, and does it matter?
Consider water efficiency, size of the drum and washing functions available. If you’re going to be washing a small daily load and also laundering your bedsheets and curtains weekly, your machine should be able to adjust water amount for different loads, and have a drum that’s large enough for those heavy loads.
Bottomline:
The space you have in your new home for your laundry/yard area and also what you’d need to launder most often, will help you decide which type to buy.
The former sucks up dirt with air suction and filters it into a bag or compartment, while the latter filters the dirt into water. So what, you say? Well if you’ve ever stood behind a conventional vacuum cleaner in operation, you’d notice an outflow of air. Generally, water filtration vacuum cleaners will release much cleaner air back into the environment as the debris will be trapped in the water. To match this, many air filtration vacuum cleaners now boast HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters.
What’s the difference, and does it matter?
Water filtration vacuums like the Karcher 13482300 WD5 Premium Multi-purpose Wet & Dry Vacuum can handle wet messes too. Other brands have models that can even function as an air purifier and have attachments that help you clean mattresses, curtains and the sofa as well.
Bottomline:
If you have family members who are hyper-sensitive to allergens, a water filtration vacuum would offer more functions and use, but do consider that they are heavier and bulkier to move around (and store).
Both types generally have some sort of filter that cleans tap water. The simplest type of water filter can be directly attached to your kitchen tap. There are also water filter jugs which you simply fill with tap water and pour out for consumption. Both these types of filters obviously do not offer hot water, and once the filters are dirty, replacing them is also easy. Then there are water filters which you can install under your kitchen sink, so that drinking water runs from your taps without a bulky tap attachment.
At the next level are counter-top water dispensers which have a tank, and are plugged into a power supply as they can dispense hot water at pre-set temperatures – such as the Novita Instant Hot Water Dispenser W11. The filters in the tank need only to be changed every few months or even annually, and because there are no pipes involved, you can place these dispensers anywhere in the home.
What’s the difference, and does it matter?
The main difference is in maintenance, whether the dispenser or filter has a hot water function, and where you wish to install it.
Bottomline:
The benefit of a new home is that you get to decide where to place your appliances instead of working with an existing layout. If you don’t like the idea of having to top up the tank in your countertop water dispenser every day, work with your contractor to run the pipes for a dispenser under your kitchen counter, and go with a tankless dispenser like the Hydroflux H2300 Water Purifier.
The first generation of microwaves was intended to heat up food quickly; especially frozen or fast foods like pizzas or overnight food in the fridge. A few generations later, the microwave is almost a veritable countertop oven, with added functions like grilling or steaming – but all with reduced cooking time compared to a traditional oven.
What’s the difference, and does it matter?
You would pick a grill microwave over a conventional one if you don’t have space for an oven at home but would like to experiment with a roast recipe at times. A grill microwave has a radiation plate that can help brown or crisp your food, in addition to the usual microwave functions of heating your food quickly.
Bottomline:
A multi-function appliance like the grill microwave is a great space and time saver in small kitchens, and for occasional cooks.
Both appliances have a water tank, convert water to steam, and serve the purpose of straightening out your clothes. Beyond that, they’re quite different.
A garment steamer uses only steam to remove wrinkles; an iron has the benefit of pressure and a hot plate to do this more efficiently on heavier fabrics such as denim. A garment steamer works by hanging your outfit and moving the steam vent over the fabric; a steam iron still requires a flat surface onto which you can press your clothes. New designs like the Xiaomi Lofans YD-012D are even cordless, so you can use it anywhere.
What’s the difference, and does it matter?
Garment steamers are great for delicate clothing such as silks, but if you’re after crisp pleats or seams on shirts and pants, you’d need the work of a regular iron. A garment steamer like Phillips’ GC552/48 can also be used to steam-clean hanging curtains; something a regular iron can’t do.
Bottomline: If you have the luxury of space at home, having both appliances would help in your overall household chores.
Both may look similar in size and shape, and both promise the same attention-free cooking capabilities and keep-warm functions. But in fact, slow cookers and pressure cookers work in a very different way.
A slow cooker, like the Toyomi High Heat Crockery Pot HH5500A, usually features a thick ceramic pot – necessary because it cooks food at lower temperatures over several hours. You can place all the raw ingredients for a stew or soup into a slow cooker, head out for work, and come back to a hot dinner. A pressure cooker like the WMF Perfect Pressure Cooker, on the other hand, usually has an aluminium inner pot and seals in high temperatures to cook food in a much shorter time. Once you’re home from work, place all ingredients into the pressure cooker, use a preset timer for stew or vegetables or even fried rice, then go take a shower and come back to a hot meal in just 30 minutes.
What’s the difference, and does it matter?
Taste test results have arguably been negligible between the two, so it boils down to what your preferred cooking style is if you’re thinking of buying one of these.
Bottomline:
For time-strapped working women, this is one appliance that helps you whip up a dish or two without having to stand over the stove or monitor the cooking.
At the outset, it is all about aesthetics – a ducted air conditioner usually has individual units mounted on the walls of your rooms, while the ductless system can set the air conditioner unit flush into the ceiling, or hide it into a false ceiling.
Beyond that, they both offer different benefits. Ducted units allow you to control temperatures in different rooms individually, while ductless units set the same uniform temperature for the entire house so you move more comfortably from room to room. Installing both types also requires different work with your contractor for piping and drainage. Most importantly, ducted units are generally more energy-efficient as not all rooms need to be cooled at the same time.
What’s the difference, and does it matter? Aesthetics, electricity bills and purpose of air conditioning mark the main differences between these two types of air conditioner. Do ask your provider about the cost and regularity of servicing both systems too.
Bottomline: Can you have both types in one home? Absolutely. Start from the aesthetics if you’re building a new home, and consider electricity bills and ongoing maintenance when making your decision.