Which Grill is Which?

 Taking a look at different fuel types for different grills and what you can achieve. 

Already we’re nearing the end of summer! For many of us, Labor Day is the last chance to host a big backyard party. For just that reason, we’re taking a  look at grills. 

To many of us, a grill is a grill. You light the fire somehow, and you toss food on. You make sure to flip it occasionally, and you don’t let it burn. Then, yay, you have food. For those who are skilled in cooking with a grill, this is a gross simplification. After talking with experts we learned how different grills can actually be used to achieve a different effect. We aren’t talking models, but instead styles. The bells and whistles don’t matter here. 

Charcoal Grill 

One of the most popular types of grills, a charcoal grill is also extremely finicky. They take time to catch the flames and build up the heat needed. Usually, you need about 20-30 minutes to get a solid fire going, and you’ll need time in the end for the coals to be extinguished when you’re done cooking. The good thing about all of this time though is that whatever you cook on the grill is also going to have a rich, smoky, complicated flavor. You can grill anything you want, but steaks, salmon fillets, and as many vegetables as we can fit on the grill are our favorites. You can cook at much lower temperatures with a charcoal grill because the fire will keep going, without going out. 

Gas Grills

If you’re looking for something that heats quickly and can feed a crowd, this is it. Gas grills use propane to heat quickly and evenly, but you’re still able to manage the flame to get different temperatures.  A gas grill can give you a little bit of charring and a little bit of flavor. Even better they’re extremely easy to care for. So if your backyard party is large and you’re looking for the usual hot dogs, hamburgers, and corn, this is a  fantastic choice. 

Kadamo

Maybe you’re looking for something different though. You want something that can maintain the high temps of a gas grill and the low temps of a charcoal grill. Then what you’re looking for is called a kamado grill.  These are grills that are based on ones that China developed 3000 years ago. It can hold a temperature of 225*F or go as high as 1000*F.  They use lump charcoal for fuel, just like a charcoal grill, but their shape and composition allow them to get far hotter.  Unlike a gas grill though, it’s capable of not just grilling foods, but also smoking, roasting, and even baking. 

Pellet Grill 

Pellet grills are easy to use and heat up quickly, which makes them great for weeknights. However, we will point out they don’t get much about 475*F at their highest. This means that if you’re wanting them to sear your meat, you might look at something else. Many of them do have a digital thermostat though that allows you to specify exactly what temperature you want them to hit. A major downside, for us at least, is the difficulty of finding pellets compared to propane or charcoal.  You might be able to if you live in a major area, but not if you plan on taking it with you when you travel. 

Now that you’ve got your preferred grill selected, let’s quickly talk about fire safety. (We know you know, but humor us, ok?)  Every year outdoor cooking fires account for $37 million in property damage. So to prevent your home from being on this list, here are a few things you can do. 

• Make sure you don’t have anything too close to the grill. If it can fly, flap, or be shoved by wind, move it at least 3 feet away from the grill. 

• At the beginning of the day and again at the end, take a few minutes and clean out the grease trap. Doing this can prevent your grill master from getting burned.

• If it’s lit, don’t leave it unattended. If you need to step away, switch places with someone else. 

• Make sure to have a sand bucket nearby. Yes, the food would be absolutely terrible after, but at least you won’t’ be on fire. 

Follow these four rules to enjoy your next outdoor party without worrying. 

Which one are you most interested in? Grills aren’t something we fix, but we do love grilled food as much as the next person, so we’re interested in hearing what you have to say. Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page!

If you’re not up for grilling next weekend though, that means you’re cooking. If your range is giving you trouble, you might want to give us a call. Whether it’s broken, behaving oddly, or you just want to give it a thorough going-over, we’re here for you. You can reach out to us at our contact page or by calling us at ((214) 599-0055).  

Additional Reading: 

Fire in the Kitchen

7 Reasons To Build An Outdoor Kitchen 

What To Know Before You Build Your Outdoor Kitchen

Deep Dive On Washing Machines- Part Two

What Do All Of Those Features Actually DO?

Last week we walked you through the basics of different types of washing machines. This week we're tackling the most common features. What do they mean, what they do, and are they worth it? We'll give you our opinions below, lets get started. 

Table of Contents: 

Compact

Stackable

Portable

Pedestal Storage

Door Window

Adjustable Legs

Cycle Status

Washer/Dryer Set

Delay Start

Pause Button

Adaptive Fill

Steam

WIFi Enabled

Soft Close Lid

High Efficiency

Compact

If after last week you decided that an all-in-one washer dryer combo isn't for you, this washing might be. It's still just as capable as a standard washer, has all the bells and whistles, it's just compact. If you're looking to build a tiny house in your yard or as a getaway cottage, this would be perfect. 

Our opinion: 8/10 - Definitely a good choice if you need space. The only downside is it being smaller than a standard machine. 

Stackable

If you're looking for saving space, this is a feature you definitely want. The machines are built so that they can handle the weight of a dryer stacking on top of them, or stabilized so that they can stand on top of a dryer.   As long as both machines are well seated, you're good to go. 

Our opinion: 7/10 - If you've got a room with a high ceiling, this is for you. You save on the floor space and don't lose out on functionality. Our only concern is the difficulty of making sure they're seated properly. 

Portable

A portable washing machine is small enough that you can use them almost anywhere. Whether you live in a dorm, an apartment without a laundry center, or an RV as you travel, this is an ideal machine. It's a little different from the compact machine because you can use them anywhere, whereas the compact stays where you put it. While it can only handle a few items at a time, it counterbalances that by having a 'dehydration basket' for drying your clothes instead of needing a  separate dryer. 

Our Opinion: 7/10

Pedestal Storage

If on the other hand you have enough space for a full washer and dryer but you need more space for laundry extras, a pedestal storage unit might be for you. You can make up for having a smaller laundry room or closet by storing your detergents and other cleaners under the washer. The only downside that we have is that you need to be slightly taller in order to still easily reach the control panel. 

Our Opinion: 9/10 

Door Window

Just what it says on the tin, your door, either top or front loading, has a window. Although we think it's so you can keep cats and small children mesmerized, engineers say no. They say i'ts so you can keep an eye on your laundry as it runs. 

Our Opinion: 5/10 it's useful, but it's not necessary unless you really need to keep your kids preoccupied. 

Adjustable Legs

We've talked before about how a rocking washing machine can be caused by your floor being uneven. Most of us try to fix it with bits of wood or cardboard. Some fantastic engineer figured out that adjustable legs would be more useful. Now you can easily level your washing machine with this feature. 

Our Opinion: 10/10  We think this one is absolutely needed for anyone, no matter what other features you get. 

Cycle Status

Have you ever checked on your washer, noticed it said it had 30 minutes left, and walked away? Except you come back later, and it says it’s still got another 10 minutes. 

A cycle status instead shows you where in the process your machine is, so you can plan around that. Is it in the rinse cycle or spin? Take that into account, and it's so much less frustrating than a pseudo-timer. 

Our Opinion: 20/10   (Nope, that's not a typo, we just really believe it's needed.) 

Washer/Dryer Set

These are washer and dryer units that are matched aesthetically. If you want a magazine perfect laundry room, this might be what you're looking for. They'll have their own additional features, but the machines will be perfectly matched. 

Delay Start

There's nothing worse than having to weigh staying up late to do laundry vs not having enough water pressure for your morning shower. A washing machine with delay start solves that. You can set your machine to wash before you wake up, toss them into the dryer and have warm, wrinkle free clothes when you're out of the shower! In winter at least, that's perfect.  In summer, well, at least you know you're going to be looking fantastic and wrinkle free. 

Our Opinion:  8/10 Definitely something we want, but it's not something we absolutely have to have. It's close though. 

Pause Button

Picture this, you've sorted your laundry and loaded the machine and you're getting on with something else. You notice you dropped a shirt while carrying the load. It used to be that you would have to wait and do an entirely new load of laundry. With a pause button, you can pause the wash where it is, toss in the shirt and continue with your day. 

Our Opinion:  10/10 Definitely a needed feature. 

Adaptive Fill

Some of us have trouble telling whether a load of laundry is 'small' or 'medium, 'large' vs. 'extra-large.' Adaptive fill was built for people like us. The machine senses how full it is and puts in the amount of water needed. This means you're only using the amount of water you needed, and your water bill will thank you for it. 

Our Opinion:  6/10 It's really useful and definitely fantastic, BUT we won't say this one is a necessity. 

Steam

Have you ever taken your clothes out of the dryer and found they were still wrinkled? It happens because of how the agitator works, throwing clothes against the fins and the side of the machine. Normally, you put it onto a hanger and hang that in your bathroom while you (or one of your family members) take a shower. By the time you're done with your shower, your clothes are perfect. A steam feature gets rid of the need for that. The steam allows the water to soak your laundry more thoroughly, saturating it, rather than risking sections being covered by other clothes. The steam feature can also be used after washing to soften, sterilize or de-wrinkle your clothes. It also means that you're cutting down on ironing. The downside here is that you are using more energy to heat the water, which is going to push up your electric bill. 

Our Opinion: 7/10 While it's more expensive to purchase and run a machine like this, if you need your clothes looking sharp all the time, this is a fantastic feature to keep an eye out for. 

WIFi Enabled

It's not the washing machine of the future, but it's close. Earlier, we talked about delayed starts. This is better. With a wifi-enabled washer you can check on your laundry from anywhere. You can start or stop it, and you can see how much longer it has left. YOu can even see what stage its at in the wash cycle. It can't transfer laundry over to the dryer, but that's only a matter of time. 

Our Opinion: 8/10 We're still sketchy about how manufacturers use and protect your information, but we think it's fantastically useful aside from that.

Soft Close Lid

If you've ever caught your fingers in a washer lid, this feature is for you. Engineers made it so that the lid 'catches' itself in the fall and closes slowly. No more smashed fingers or loud, sudden bangs! 

Our Opinion: 10/10 Smashed fingers are always to be avoided. We think all washers should have these.

High Efficiency

Rounding out our list of features, there's a high-efficiency washing machine.  Much like with Energy Star ratings (see the additional reading below) an HE machine has standards. In order for a manufacturer to be able to apply that term to their washer, the machine has to meet guidelines for detergent, water and energy consumption. They have to use less of all three of those than what a standard machine does, or else they can't make use of the label.  On top of being better for your pocket, an HE machine can handle a larger load and removes more water during the spin cycle, meaning less time in the dryer. All around, we think a high-efficiency machine is dead useful. 

Our Opinion: 9/10 We want to say that everyone should get one of these machines, but we know that's not always possible. If you can get one, though, they definitely have our vote. 

So, what do you think? Which features are your favorites, and which ones can you do without? Let us know in the comments or over on our Facebook page.

 If your washing machine is broken and that's why you're here, we can help. Whether you live in Dallas or McKinney, Appliance Rescue Service is here to help. We want to work with you to keep your home running smoothly. 

You can call us at ((214)-599-0055) or set up an appointment by going to our webpage. 

Additional Reading:

What Does Energy-Efficient Even Mean?

How To Level a Shaking Washing Machine

Deep Dive on Washing Machines - Part One

How many types are there and what are the differences?

Table of Contents

Types of Washing Machines

Agitator Types

Other Articles 

Death and taxes are said to be the only consistencies in life, we want to add laundry. And for it to be possible to get all of your laundry done, you need to have a good washing machine. Like most other appliances we've improved the washing since it was invented in 1691. We've come a long way, but there are still so many different things to consider if you're looking for a new one. So this post we're focusing in on what separates the different types of washing machines and what you need to know about them to find one that works for you. 

Types of Washing Machines

We've found four different types of washing machines are the primaries on the market right now. The first two are named based on how you load the laundry into them. The others are based on how they are built and function. 

Front Loading 

A front-loading washing machine has the door on the front panel of the washing machine if you're standing in front of it. They come in all different shapes and sizes, but they can still be really beneficial if you're short on space. These units are typically able to be stacked with a matching or similar dryer. So, instead of having to find the space for two units, you can just have the one, and stack the other on top. Unless you live in a Hobbit hole, you should be good to go. (And if you do live in a Hobbit hole, can we come visit?)  Despite saving you on floor space, a front loading machine will usually have a very large interior space, which means it can handle larger loads of laundry and bulky items like comforters. Fashionistas love them because they treat your clothes gently, as they don't have an agitator, instead using blades to tumble your clothes.  They are also a good choice for the eco-conscious as they are very efficient with both energy and water usage. 

They do have two major cons though that buyers need to be aware of. First off, they are more expensive that other washers, due to their design. Second, they can get a 'musty' smell if you aren't careful from water getting caught inside. 

Top Loading 

For some, the front load washer isn't an option. You might have back, knee, or hip troubles, or heck, you have a small child that might decide to climb into it. We understand. That's where a top-loading washing machine comes in. A top-loading machine is just as sleek and modern as a front-loading, but they don't have the price tag.  They're less expensive to buy and less expensive to repair. On top of that (pun intended)  they have a shorter cycle time, which means you can get more loads done in a shorter amount of time. 

However, they do have their own unique drawbacks as well. If you try and load too many items into them, things don't get cleaned as well. So there's a fine line to walk in terms of your load size. You also end up using your dryer for a longer period of time because these don't get all of the water out of your clothes during the spin cycle. 

No matter which of the two types you choose, they are good choices that have some very reliable brands and models to choose from. We highly suggest going with one of these if you have the space and choice.  

But wait you say, didn't you say there were four options? 

And you're right, there are. BUT they're vastly different from our first two choices and they're going to have very specific use cases. 

Laundry Center 

Our first oddball is the all-in-one laundry center. It's not just one unit that you stack on the other, but instead, the two are connected with a gap between them. These are ideal for a tiny home or apartment.  You also don't have to worry about them sliding off or moving while in use the way you might with stacking units.  They don't usually come with as many bells and whistles as their individual unit cousins, but they do their job and do it well. 
Just like their cousins though, they do have some drawbacks. They are tall! Even taller than stacking one of the individual units on top of another. Some of them are front loading, but most will have a front loading dryer and a top-loading washer. The problem with this is that if you have that one escapee sock (as happens every load for most of us) you could end up smacking your head on the dryer. A final issue is that you're going to be doing many more loads of laundry due to a small interior capacity. 

These are a good choice if you need a washer and dryer for a small space. But we'll be honest and admit we love our front-loading washer. 

Washer - Dryer Combo

A washer-dryer combo is a machine that does everything in one. It's not stacked, it's not attached, it's one unit that does everything. They're usually on wheels so that you can put them in a corner when not in use and then pull them out on laundry day. Many also don't require an external air vent to be set up, which is beneficial if you're living in an apartment. They also have different temperature controls,  letting you specify how you want your laundry done. 

The drawbacks though are hard to get over for many people. They are expensive because the technology is still relatively new. Since they need to be portable, they aren't very large internally. And then there's the fact that they have an extended cycle time to get your clothes completely dry. The first two we can forgive but the last one we just can't get over. 

We talked in-depth about washer-dryer combo units back in February of this year, if you want a deeper explanation of them, we've included the link at the bottom of the page. 

For the second two of our types of washing machines, both were combination units (after a fashion) that served for small homes and apartments. We feel that the laundry center is currently the better choice, but you might feel differently.   

Agitator Types 

Depending on the type of washing machine you have the exact question of /how/ it gets your clothes clean is different. For the most part, there are two different systems that are used, an agitator and an impeller. 

Agitator 

Have you ever opened up a washing machine and seen the big spindle with fins coming up from the bottom and you can twist it back and forth? That's an agitator. It spins in different ways based on the settings you have for a wash. It works by moving the water and clothes back and forth in the drum, against the spindle, the drum and each other to 'scrub' the dirt out. The good news is that this type of agitator is GREAT at getting the dirt out of your clothes. The bad news is that while it's really good at cleaning, it's not so good at being gentle with your clothes. Even when you sort out your jeans from your undergarments, they're still getting tossed and beaten around by the agitator. So depending on how delicate you need to be with your clothes, that might rule some washers out. 

Impeller 

An impeller by contrast is a small cone with fins coming out from it. It sits at the back of a front loading washer and drives your clothes around the drum of the machine. The idea is that your clothes have more room to move and cycle back from the outer edge of the rim to the center, gently being cleaned.  They're more gentle on cleaning clothes, rubbing the clothes together to get dirt out.  They also lead to a shorter dry time, because they can spin at high speeds to wick away moisture. 

Usually, this is the point when we dive into the most common features. However due to the length of this article already, we're going to break this into two parts and come back next week to cover some of the features you might find when shopping for a new washer. 

So, what type of washer works best for you or your family? Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook. 

If on the other hand, you're here because your washing machine is broken, making noises or otherwise making you concerned for the safety of your clothes or house, feel free to give us a call. Whatever the issue might be, we can guarantee that we'll find out what's going on and get it fixed. Reach out to us via our website or by giving us a call at ((214) 599-0055). 

Additional Reading: 

All-In-One Washer Dryer Combo - If you’re wondering more about this and how it works.

Top Loading Washing Machines Under $1000 - If you're interested in purchasing a new washer today

Simple Steps for Cleaning Your Washing Machine - If you want to do things on your own before you call us (or someone else) in.  ( We get it, self-sufficiency is good!) 

All of Your Laundry Questions Answered - If you've still got questions about laundry and how to get it done properly. 

How Cleaning Your Fridge Can Keep It Cool

For When Your Fridge Isn’t Doing Its Job

Have you ever wondered why your refrigerator fails to do its job? When you open up the fridge and you just find ice built up on the butter, but then the condiments on the door are almost room temperature? What about opening your freezer and finding that your ice cream is now soft-serve? We’ve all had it happen. The most common reason is that your fridge is facing one of three issues. It’s packed too tight, the vents inside are dirty or the condenser coils are blocked or dirty. 

Table of Contents

Sections of Your Refrigerator

Cleaning Your Refrigerator 

Links 

Sections of Your Refrigerator 

Let’s start off with a quick intro to the different parts of your refrigerator that actually make it, you know, work. This is the stuff most of us don’t look at, but it’s important if you want to figure out how and why things aren’t working right. 

Compressor

Your compressor is where everything starts. You can find it at the back or bottom of your refrigerator. The compressor pressurizes the liquid refrigerant before it pumps it through the system, turning it into a vapor.  It's now a hot gas! 

Condenser Coil

Your condenser coils will be located on either the back or bottom of your refrigerator, usually hidden behind a grille if it's on the bottom. The refrigerant condenses into a liquid inside the pipes and releases heat that gets pushed into the outside air. So now it's still high pressure, but in a liquid state. 

Expansion Device

The expansion device is located in between the two sets of coils. It acts as a barrier between the condenser coil and the evaporator coil. On one side, the refrigerant is in a liquid state at high pressure. On the other, is a low pressure area. The expansion device sucks the refrigerant from one side to the other, immediately boiling it and returning it to a vapor state, then flowing into the evaporator coils. 

Evaporator Coils

The evaporator coils  are where the actual cooling happens. The refrigerant absorbs heat from the surrounding air and releases cool air. Small vents on the inside of the freezer and refrigerator allow air to move from the freezer and into the fridge. 

Cleaning Your Refrigerator

Now that you know what the different sections are, you might see that only a small section is available to access, that's the condenser coils, either underneath or behind the fridge. You might think that your refrigerator only needs to be cleaned once in a blue moon. In fact, you should consider cleaning it on a regular basis, especially if you have pets that traverse the kitchen. 

Inside

Start the process by emptying everything out from your fridge and freezer. If you want to, you can allow your fridge to defrost while you're at this.  Make sure to place everything into a cooler or on the counters while you move on. 

Now remove all of your shelves and drawers that can be taken out. (This is one of the reasons we recommend purchasing refrigerators that have moveable shelves and drawers. It makes everything easier to clean and sort.) Important note: Before you clean the different pieces, you need to allow the shelves to come up to room temperature. If you don't, the sudden shock can cause the glass or plastic to shatter. No one wants that mess.

Go ahead and scrub everything down using a mix of warm water and dish soap, carefully drying it with a clean cloth.  Take a moment to find the vents that are inside your fridge and freezer and take a close look at them. These are where the cooling air is forced through from the evaporator coils. Make sure that the vents aren't obstructed by any dust, grime or other detritus. You can also go ahead and give them a quick scrub while you have everything cleared out from your refrigerator. 

Let's take a look back at the contents of your fridge. Are things covered in spilled condiments or last week's noodles? Give everything a quick wipe down, making sure to dry it thoroughly.  Once you're done with that,  consider how to best use the space within your fridge. Nothing says you need to do it the way the manufacturer or magazines show. The two rules we tend to go by are a) can we easily find what we need, and b) are the vents remaining unblocked. If the answers to both of these are yes, you're good. 

Outside

Once the inside of your refrigerator is sorted, let's turn to the outside. Start by grabbing some cleaner that's relevant to what your refrigerator is cased in, be it stainless steel or cabinetry. Use a damp cloth and wipe it down. Make sure to use a non-abrasive sponge if there's anything that is sticky or gross. Rinse off the outside with clean, cool water, and quickly dry with a soft cloth. (This is especially important if your refrigerator is stainless steel so that you don't have any water spots or discoloration.) As a final step, if you have stainless steel, grab some polish and go with the grain to bring it back to a shine. 

Condenser Coils

Before you decide to start messing with your condenser coils, make sure to check over your Use & Care Manual. Some makers prefer for only a certified technician to clean the coils. If that's not the case let's get things taken care of. Start by unplugging or disconnecting your refrigerator.  Once that's done you can safely locate your condenser coils either on the back or base of your refrigerator. If they are on the bottom, they'll be behind a decorative grille.  Now use a vacuum cleaner with an extendable attachment and a soft brush. Once you've got everything gathered up, replace the grille and carefully bring your refrigerator forward. Sweep and vacuum behind and under the fridge, making sure to clean your brush as needed. 

And that's it! You've cleaned your refrigerator from top to bottom and reorganized it. Hopefully, this should help it 'breathe' more easily and keep everything nice and cold. If that hasn't solved it, you can reach out to us via Facebook, our website, or by calling us at ((214) 599-0055). We're here to help keep your home in shape, and that's especially important during the peak of summer!  If this did help your refrigerator and freezer work, please let us know that too! 

Links to Other Articles 

Want to learn more about buying your ideal refrigerator? This is the article you want. 

What about organizing your fridge to keep things fresher, longer? Check out this article! 

Speed Oven Comparison : 2021

Wolf vs. Thermador vs. GE Advantium. 

When you think of a speed oven, what brand do you consider to be the best? 

We’ve been getting dozens of you lovely people coming to our site over the last few months, specifically looking for speed ovens, information about them, and the best ones on the market. To satisfy that, we’ve put together this week’s post comparing what we think are the top three. Whether you want a stylish piece that’s going to fit into your kitchen, a professional oven that can handle all of the cooking you do, or a beast of a speed oven, we’ve got what you need. 

Table of Contents: 

The Most Stylish Conscious Speed Oven. 

The Professional’s Choice Of Speed Oven 

The Do Everything And More Speed Oven

Important Safety Note

The Most Stylish Conscious Speed Oven: The Wolf SPO30CMBTH

Starting us off, let’s take a look at the Wolf SPO30CMBTH. (We’re tempted to question if the name was meant to be a reference to Macbeth…) This is the most stylish of our 3 options today. Not only are you able to get it in 24 or 30-inch sizes, but you can also get it matched to your existing oven. If that’s not your thing, you can have it fitted as a built-in, standalone, or tuck it under a countertop. The way that Wolf designs their speed ovens lends itself to a timeless look that will fit in any kitchen. 

Just because it’s stylish doesn’t mean the Wolf is lacking in function. On the contrary in fact, it has 12 different functions. The Wolf speed oven is actually rather similar to a microwave in that it can handle a wide variety of various tasks for you. You can tell it to broil or work in convection, or you can use it for popcorn and heating milk for hot chocolate! The option that amazed us the most, though, was the “micro bake” option. You don’t have to preheat your oven at all. 

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“If you want the most stylish speed oven, then the Wolf SPO30CMBTH is your best bet.”

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The Professional’s Choice Of Speed Oven: The Thermador MC30WP

This is for the professional or at least the experienced chef in your life. Not because it’s too ‘complicated, but because of its design and features. This is a speed oven with commercial-grade design. A heavy-duty handle and high-end knobs give it an enduring and solid design. (ALthough if that’s not your preference, Thermador does offer a more conventionally styled speed oven with their Masterpiece series.) 

One of our favorite features of the Thermador is just how large it is internally. At 1.6 cubic feet inside the speed oven, it’s capable of holding a 9”x13” pan. (Most of the other speed ovens on the market cannot boast this.) The Thermador also has options to work as a microwave, grill, or convection oven. 

There are 36 different “cook Smart” automatic programs, with our favorites being the “whole Cornish Game Hen” and the “scones.” Although it has a brownie function, too, we’re wondering what can be done to improve on the wonder that is brownies. 

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“If a professional oven is what will fit into your kitchen, the Thermador MC30WP is what you want. .”

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The Do Everything and More Speed Oven: The GE Advantium PSA9120SFSS

Rounding out our top 3 picks is the GE Advantium speed oven. While our first two were undoubtedly well made, this one is robust. 

The ‘Advantinum” in the name isn’t just to describe the line. It’s also the technology that GE has developed specifically for this. The Advantium speed oven cooks from the outer layer using radiant heat produced by halogen lights. It can also be paired with microwaves when a specific program calls for it. Pairing in this way ensures that food not only cooks more quickly but also that the moisture is sealed in. 

The GE speed oven has several cooking modes that wowed us. Speed cooking, convection baking, broiling, toasting, warming, proofing, and “traditional microwave power.” Our favorite options have to be those for warming and proofing though. The Advantium is capable of tweaking the halogen lamps so minutely that your food proofs precisely as needed. Or, if your guests are running late, you can keep it warm and at the ideal temperature until it’s time to serve. 

In all honesty, if GE told us these speed ovens could sing as well, we wouldn’t be surprised. 

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“If you’re looking for a robust speed oven that will do everything (and possibly replace your standard oven) the GE Advantium is the way to go. ”

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Important Safety Note

Now before you rush off to get a speed oven, there is one important thing we want to impress on you. A speed oven does still function in many ways as a microwave. So, if you’re using it as a microwave or any mode that incorporates the microwave power, DO NOT USE METAL. 

Just like your standard microwave, you will end up with sparks and possibly a roasted oven. 

So please, definitely enjoy using your speed oven, but make sure to read up on which functions use microwaves and which don't’? 

What do you think about speed ovens? Do you think you’ll be shopping for one at some point? Let us know in the comment below or over on our Facebook! We’d love to hear about your experiences in using one, and we might even round them up in a post in the future!

If you’re not here because you’re shopping for one, but because your speed oven is being wonky, give us a call ((214) 599-0055) or hop on over to our appointment page. Wherever you live in Dallas or the surrounding area, we want to help.  

If you want to know more about speed ovens in general, check out our earlier post going into what they are how they work.