Homes Extra: Christmas-ready Kitchens

Getting your home appliances in order before the festive season kicks off will give you a running start in the kitchen, says Sara Whatley 

Along with the growing festive cheer, dark nights and cosy fires, have your thoughts turned to the Christmas kitchen yet? This is the perfect time of year to consider your appliances and see if they need upgrading, servicing or deep cleaning.

As the engine room to keep everyone festively plump and happy, our kitchens get a thorough work out during this season – so make sure everything is in tip top condition and raring to go. 

Let’s start with the big essential white goods, then move our way down to the smaller gadgets. Refrigerator and freezer first! If it’s time for an upgrade then lucky you, a beautiful new cold box awaits, or it might be an extra fridge or freezer you need for more storage. Otherwise give your fridge and freezer some love – cleaning is a good place to start. 

Empty out, wash down thoroughly and consider replacing any broken drawers or shelves. This is a good opportunity to reorganise and make room for Christmas fayre too.

Also check the temperature and make sure everything is working as it should. This is a great time of year to invest in a wine cooler as well, it will allow extra space in the fridge for the festive food while keeping your wine organised, cool and inviting. 

Make sure your dishwasher is functioning well and get it servicedif necessary. Regular maintenance at home will prolong the life of your dishwasher: clean the filter, wipe the door seals, check and clean spray arms, run an empty hot or cleaning cycle, and make sure the rinse aid and salt are topped up. Every few months you could descale the machine and generally don’t overload it and keep the door ajar when not in use. 

Now to cooking. You might have an integrated cooker and separate hob; an all-in-one cooker oven or perhaps an aga style arrangement. Whatever your cooking set up and whatever fuel you use (mainly gas or electric) this is a great time of year to make sure it is all in good working order and if necessary, invest in an upgrade. 

Making sure your hob and cooker are clean and well cared for will not only prolong their life but also make them more attractive to use. Professional oven cleaning services will get the dirty job done foryou, but donning a pair of Marigolds and getting stuck in with a baking soda paste can bring a gleam to your machine as well. 

Another vital appliance in the home is the washing machine. We all know how disruptive it can be when it breaks! Having an efficient reliable model will ensure your washing is fresh and clean every time and will save you money too.

A washing machine with an energy rating of A+ costs on average 21p per cycle, whereas an F rated machine will cost you 35p per load. With modern machines offering silent cycles, auto dosing – so the correct amount of detergent is used and many other additional economical features, washing has never been so easy. 

Now what about all the other appliances and gadgets you can use in the kitchen? From the air fryer to the blender, there are many favourite gadgets that we couldn’t be without, but is it time to branch out? Perhaps a new coffee machine will brighten your mornings, ora frozen slushy machine? A slow cooker makes a great addition to the kitchen (turkey curry anyone?) or perhaps you could try out a food dehydrator or electric pizza oven? And children will love popcorn, candy floss or ice cream makers, or how about a doughnut or waffle iron? The fun just never ends! 

And finally, don’t forget to treat yourself this Christmas with a high-end gadget – how about an electric pepper mill, a super sharp Japanese knife or a luxury tap – would you like your water boiling, sparkling, filtered or chilled? 

Now you’ve got your kitchen appliances sorted, you are fit and ready to proceed with Christmas and you can embrace the season in true hearty and jolly spirit.