There’s nothing like getting used to things to make you take them for granted.Most of us have fridge freezers and ovens as part of our integrated kitchens. It is only when we are on holiday or visiting friends with less integrated kitchens that we start to appreciate the difference that these appliances can make to our lives.
Let’s begin with fridge freezers. While everyone has a way to keep items of food and drink cool or frozen, there is a world of difference in the options that are out there. Probably the most annoying thing – which can also become health-threatening – is a fridge freezer that is too small to meet the demands of the household.Not being able to store food comfortably in the space provided by your appliance means that day to day, the person who is cooking will be struggling to find items of food. There is also a greater likelihood that food which is beyond its best before date gets forgotten about, increasing the likelihood of making someone ill.
While a well-stocked fridge is a great way of saving power – ensuring that the fridge isn’t working too hard to cool a few items – but an over-stocked fridge might mean that nothing is being kept cool enough. For fresh fruit and vegetables this doesn’t pose a major issue, but for meat and fish you might be looking at the beginnings of bacterial growth.Not having an oven brings different issues – less to do with health and more to do with convenience and cooking options.
Some people never use their ovens, but for those who do, not having an oven has serious implications for how they cook. People who bake will find themselves at a loss, so will those who are used to cooking their family’s weekly roasts. Oven cooking can be a time,labour and money saving way of cooking, so not having one will have a detrimental effect on the household finances.Perhaps we should all take a moment to appreciate the unsung heroes quietly residing in our kitchens.