Getting your appliances ready for entertaining
Sitting in my office watching the autumn leaves fall got me thinking about my holiday recipes and getting ready for holiday entertaining. Whether your holiday food fare involves elaborate entertaining or meals on the run, the last thing you need is an appliance that’s not doing its job properly. I have gathered some easy-to-implement ways to keep your appliances in a holly jolly mood.
Dishwasher Care:
Miele is my dishwasher of choice. See more at mieleusa.com The last thing you need post party is to wash dishes by hand. Dishwashers benefit from a routine interior wash with special scale-reducing solutions sold for this purpose. It keeps all parts working properly.
Periodically inspect the door seal to make sure it is clean and in good condition. When water or dirt builds up on the seal, it can cause mold which is difficult to get rid of. A loose or broken seal should be replaced, as it can lead to unwanted leaks.
Some dishwasher manufacturers, such as Miele have a built-in soft food grinder that breaks down food particles left on the dishes. For dishwashers that don’t have this feature, it’s easier on the appliances if food scraps are removed before loading.
Refrigeration:
Built-in Sub Zero Refrigerators Sub Zero Wolf Maintenance Tips
With family and friends home or visiting for the holidays, any refrigerator will be getting extra use. You should check the temperature in both refrigerator and freezer to make sure they are cooling properly.
The condenser should be vacuumed every 3 – 6 months, sooner if you have pets. A dirty condenser can lead to warm temperatures in the refrigerator and freezer, contributing to condensation or frost inside the compartments, or even cause premature failure of the mechanical components.
Be sure to replace the air purification cartridge and the water filter cartridge as soon as the indicator for each is flashing on the control center display.
Ovens and Cooktops:
Here are some tips from our friends at Karl’s Karl’s Appliances
It’s important to clean your cooktop burner rings and caps regularly. When they are cool, use a mild detergent or spray de-greaser. Then rinse and towel dry. Don’t forget to blow out the holes to remove debris or excess detergent. This will keep your burners lighting smoothly.
Don’t let food with high sugar or acid content sit on any porcelain enamel surface, be it oven interior or cooktop. This can result in a permanent dull spot. To avoid chipping or crazing (hairline cracks), wait until the surface is cool to wipe up spills.
Stubborn, burnt-on spills can create smokey conditions. To avoid this, remove any baked on foods by gently lifting them off with a razor blade. As an alternative, clean the interior with mild dish detergent and water, using a soft cloth or no-scratch pad. Run your oven’s self clean cycle, and then wipe away any residue once it’s cooled.
Ventilation Hood Filters:
Filters should be cleaned once a month. To remove them from the hood, push towards the back of the hood and rotate downward. Filters can be put in the dishwasher or hand cleaned using mild detergent or a spray de-greaser. Wait until the filters are dry before replacing them in the hood. Always operate the hood with the filters in place.
I hope these tips will help you get your appliances ready for all your holiday recipes. When you are ready to cook check out holiday recipes for some of my favorite recipes.
