Looking Back And Closing Out 2023

A Recap of Trendsetting Refrigerator Styles

Hey there, fridge enthusiasts and kitchen aficionados! Can we just take a moment to appreciate how far our good ol' refrigerator has come? I mean, from being this big, clunky box in the corner to a sleek, stylish centerpiece of our kitchens, it's undergone a serious glow-up! And guess what? While the year is winding down, the fridge game isn’t slowing down any time soon. Let's dive into a recap of the world of 2023's coolest refrigerator styles - trust me, you won't believe what these bad boys can do now! 

Panel Ready: Elevating Kitchen Aesthetics

Courtesy of SubZero

               While panel-ready appliances have been out for a while, they gained traction in 2023. Panel-ready appliances can be found for every major appliance and most small ones as well. Naturally, this includes your refrigerator. Panel-ready appliances are those that are unfinished and are ready to be covered with a panel that seamlessly matches the rest of your cabinetry. If you want a high-end kitchen, custom panels are the way to go.

Question: How might a hidden refrigerator transform the functionality of your kitchen space? We'd love to hear your ideas!

               Invisible & Hidden: The Rise of Hidden Refrigerators

Even as pandemic restrictions have lifted, people have not shed their focus on staying home and being comfortable in their homes. Manufacturers are still responding to that need and are working to make refrigerators smarter, quieter, and as close to invisible as they can get.

Courtesy of Simple Showing

Creating an invisible kitchen allows you to use the space in more than one way. It also helps with making smaller homes feel more open. The use of cabinetry faces and pocket doors creates the illusion of the refrigerator vanishing into the walls.

Handle-less Marvels: Embracing Futuristic Designs

Refrigerators are beginning to go handless. Although it’s not common yet, what started as recessing the handle into the door is now shifting towards no handles at all. Instead, manufacturers are looking at how to incorporate smart options like auto assist. Not only does this help the everyday user, but it also helps those who are disabled or injured to be able to get around with less trouble. 

Splash of Color: The Vibrant Evolution of Refrigerators

At the beginning of the year, we pointed out the LG MoodUp. While we haven't seen anything as bombastic as that, we have seen other manufacturers bringing about colored appliances. we've seen them and talked about them for years with ovens, but now refrigerators are beginning to get some love as well in blacks, blues, reds and more unique colors like purples and teal. There have been other manufacturers that have done this, such as the European SMEG, but it's not a common occurrence in the American market.

Courtesy of LG

Question: Which vibrant color would you pick for your refrigerator to express your kitchen's personality? Tell us your favorite hues!

Zones Redefined: Customizable Spaces for Organized Living

We’ve talked recently about the importance of refrigerator zones and how they affect your food’s life span. The design of your refrigerator is one way that this can be affected. Multi-door refrigerators offer a unique option to mix and match the type of space you need.  They offer different zones that can be controlled from your phone as well as additional drawers and doors to allow you to better break down your fridge for your needs. 

LED Illumination: Efficiency and Elegance Inside Your Fridge

While it might sound odd, LED lighting is starting to gain traction in the market. LED lighting throughout your refrigerator and the various compartments makes a difference on multiple levels. First off, it allows you to cut down on your power usage as LEDs are up to 90% more efficient. Second, it gives your refrigerator a modern and sleek appearance. Finally, it makes it easier to find items within your fridge, ensuring you don’t lose that delicious bottle of jam to the back of a shelf. 

Smart Innovations: Cameras, Ice Filters, and Beyond

Cameras inside the refrigerator allow you to take stock of what you have even when you're out on the go. Instead of having to make a list of what you have at all times and trying to maintain that in your head, you can pull open your refrigerator app and check what's there. This doesn't necessarily get rid of your need for grocery lists or lists of what you need for different recipes, but it does help if you forget to check for an item or two before you leave. This continues to build momentum, and manufacturers are constantly trying to figure out something new. We look forward to what innovations the new year will bring us. 

Courtesy of KitchenAid

An interesting new feature that we noticed for the first time this year was filtered ice. While refrigerators making ice is nothing new, being able to get crystal clear ice is. Refrigerators are now being included with filtered water and ice as part of the system rather than having to be a specialized or aftermarket feature.

Question: Which smart feature - camera integration or filtered ice - would you find more beneficial in your daily kitchen routine? Let us know your choice and why!

And there you have it, a sneak peek into the dazzling world of 2023's coolest refrigerator trends! From seamless panel designs to invisible fridges and futuristic innovations, it's been a whirlwind of creativity in kitchen tech. By the way, if your trusty fridge or any major appliance needs a tune-up or repair, we at Appliance Rescue Service have your back! Whether it's fixing a stubborn ice maker or giving your appliances some TLC, our repair wizards are on standby. We're your go-to folks for keeping your kitchen tech running smoothly. Share your thoughts on these trends in the comments on our Facebook page, and remember, if your appliance needs some love, reach out to us at Appliance Rescue Service!

 Trends come, and trends go. Tell us which of these trends you expected or enjoyed in the comments on our Facebook page!

Additional Reading
Chill Hacks Unveiled: Mastering Your Fridge's Microzones for Fresher Foods

The MoodUp Refrigerator to Shake UP Your Kitchen

The Kitchen Gift-Giving Guide: From Laughs to Lessons, What Not to Wrap

From Melting Splatter Guards to Rubbery Eggs—Avoiding Disastrous Presents

Welcome, fellow gift-givers and kitchen explorers! This guide is your ticket to steering clear of kitchen gift disasters. We'll navigate through the treacherous terrain of poorly designed gadgets, criminally single-use wonders, and items that should come with a "Handle with Extreme Caution" label. Get ready to dodge the banana slicers as we delve into the world of ill-advised kitchen presents!

Poor Choices

Our first category looks at some of the gifts that are just poor choices. Either because they’re poorly designed, or they don’t match the needs of the recipient, these gifts just don’t work. 

Frywall 10

Courtesy of Amazon & Frywall Store

     Starting us off strong, let’s look at a Frywall 10. It might have been seen on Shark Tank, but the production of this invention leaves much to be desired. Even if you remove the splatter guard when you aren’t at the pan, it still melts after a few uses, as one giftee notes. “The idea is great, and it certainly kept grease from splattering, but after two uses, holes started to form, and now it seems to be completely breaking down.” If the gift you want to give somebody is known for breaking down after only two uses it's not worth the money you paid for it. Read the reviews to make sure that you aren't getting scammed, and your giftee isn't either.

Pots/Pans/ Knives 

Just, don’t. For the sake of the home chef in your life, don’t gift it to them, except under 1 very specific instance. If they have been talking constantly about wanting a particular knife or pot set. Then and only then should you try this one. Chefs and cooks alike are just like any other artist. They find tools they like, and they don’t want to shift away from them. They don’t want to try something new, or the latest invention because they know what they have and how it works. Save yourself the heartache, and offer to get them a subscription box they love instead. 

Margaritaville Mixer 

Although we love a good margarita or other mixed drink, it doesn't work unless the giftee regularly throws parties or is training to be a bartender. These mixers can make a ton of margaritas, and with a bit of tinkering, you can use them for other drinks. But you can't use them for literally anything else. If you want to get something similar, try out a NutriBullet or a top-tier blender that can handle ice and various other kitchen jobs like pureeing fruits and vegetables. This way, you're not inciting somebody to alcoholism.

3 Pot Crockpot Buffet

Make sure you know how much space your giftee has. This is one where the idea can be very sweet, but if you’re giving it to someone who doesn’t cook, doesn’t host parties, or doesn’t have a ton of space? We can guarantee it’s not going to get much use. 

Sodastream

Everyone wants to be healthy. Most of us even know that drinking soda all of the time isn't great for us. The market’s trend toward flavored waters over the past 2 to 3 years shows just how much money there is to be made in this arena. And Sodastream is one of the first contenders to try and let you make your own drinks and flavors at home. Unfortunately, people have a lot to say about it.

Courtesy of SodaStream & Pepsi Co

“At first I thought this would be great. Less aluminum, less storage space and just the right amount of fizz. My first bottle lasted the required time for the amount of fizz I wanted. The second and third bottle, not so much. The second and third bottle require three times as many pumps and sometimes four times. I used to push it five times for a 1/2 second, now I am up 10-15 times for about a second each. Maybe my math isn't that good, but I know I am not getting the value out of the machine that I expected. After this bottle, I will return to the aluminum cans and add the cans to the recycling bin.”

One Use (If That) 

Our second category are those gifts you see in stores marked “As Seen on Tv!” and have exactly ONE (1) use, if they’re lucky. They languish in drawers and cabinets, never being used because they take too much time, space, or attention when you can do better with less. 

Microwave Egg Cooker

Courtesy of HSN

You’ve probably seen some variations of these that claim to make a perfectly delicious egg in half the time it would take in a pan on TV. Except they don’t. Not really. The egg leaks, or (as is most often) it tastes rubbery and gross. Unless you’re gifting it to someone with no sense of taste, we don’t advise this one. 

“All In One Breakfast Sandwich Maker” 

Another tool that claims to make it all in one, we all know what breakfast sandwich this is trying to knock off. As shiny as it looks though a) it only allows for one type of sandwich, and b) it comes with numerous flaws. As one user pointed out,

 “The point of it is to place the top and bottom of the English muffin in the machine to get toasted, then crack the egg into the centre area with a "removable floor" so that the egg drops down onto the lower bun once it's cooked. The problem is (a) that I don't want to automatically drop the egg, because I want to butter the ******* english muffins and (b) there is too much of a gap between the walls of the egg section and the removable floor, so the egg partially runs out and drops raw onto the lower half of the english muffin, or down the sides and makes a mess.”

Cleaver Cutter Scissor 

Picture a set of scissors with a very very small cutting board attached. Ideally you are going to use this to slice paper thin pieces of vegetable, or your herbs as you're prepping dinner. In reality? You're lucky if you don't cut yourself.

People consistently cite that not only is it dull on arrival, but additionally that it doesn’t work worth a damn, and that you’re better off spending the same amount of money on a knife. 

Mr. Sneezy Egg Separator

We're not sure if you've seen this one. It looks simultaneously hilarious and disgusting when you see it in person or in action. You have a head of a man with a large head that is primarily made up of nose. You crack the egg inside the cup and the egg white drip out through his nose.

We understand the concept. We understand why it exists. There are dozens if not hundreds of recipes that ask for you to separate your yolks from your whites. But this? This is just unsanitary. Not only does it only have one use, but it is extraordinarily difficult to get every nook and cranny inside of that deformed head properly clean. You're better off watching a 2-minute YouTube video on how to separate your yolks and your whites by hand then using this. So unless you want to chance giving someone a bacterial infection under the guise of offering a funny gift, you better avoid this one.

Pizza Scissors

As usual our description first. Unfortunately this name pretty much describes it. This is very similar to the supposed vegetable cutters we mentioned before, and is a triangular plate attached to a pair of scissors. In theory this is meant to help you cut a slice of pizza more easily. In reality no matter which type of pizza is your favorite, this is just insulting.

Banana Slicer 

Courtesy of Amazon

Our final woefully useless tool for this section Is the banana slicer. This one is flat out useless. Most bananas don't even fit this mold perfectly so you end up having to cut them with a knife and by the time you've done that you might as well use the same knife to cut the rest of the banana. Additionally why would you gift anyone this? We've seen reports of people getting these as gifts, and they weren't toddlers. This is just a very large go jump off a cliff if you give this to somebody as a gift because you obviously do not like them.

Flat Out Dangerous

Our final category is fortunately very small. These are gifts that are dangerous due to poor design. They’re gifts that can and have hurt people, even when using them properly. 

Easy Bake Ovens

Courtesy of Hasbro

Every child who loves to bake has for at least a moment clamored for an easy bake oven. Your blogger certainly did. And if you didn't, then you knew somebody who did have one. Did you know the number of people who have gotten hurt using one though? Or adults for that matter? The numbers have been high enough that the maker Hasbro has had to recall them at least once and has completely redesigned them from the ground up at least twice during the lifetime of the toy. 

And the problem isn't people not paying attention or not following instructions. It's always been a matter of design and fingers getting caught where they shouldn't trying to put the little pans in or pull them out.

Mortar and Pestle Made of Fragile Materials like Ceramic or Glass

In theory this could be one of the better gifts on this list. You want to spoil somebody you love by getting them a tool that they need for making the best sauces and grinding their own spices. You want to show them how much you love them by getting them something beautiful. Unfortunately for you, glass and ceramic and other fragile materials no matter how beautiful do not belong in this case. A mortar and pestle is meant to crush and grind herbs and spice. Do you know what glass on ceramic are remarkably bad at over time? Grinding and crushing things! Glass and ceramic will look pretty but as soon as they're put to the test they begin to chip and break and will eventually shatter which means somebody is getting an ER visit if they're lucky.

Grandma’s Hand Mixer From The Dark Ages

“This  was used by your great-grandmother to make her famous gingerbread!” 

How many times have you heard that? It's great when it's a recipe that's passed down. What's less great is when you hand over a 30-plus-year-old piece of electronics that hasn't been properly tested or insured that it's still works safely. Please do not give old electronics unless you know that a it's going to have sentimental value to the person your gifting it to and b it's not going to light their kitchen on fire.

Fondoodler

Our last one is one that checks all of the boxes. It's a difficult tool. It wasn't properly thought out during the design process. And worst of all it is definitely dangerous. Do you like fondue? Do you like drawing with your food? How about combining those things into this epic nightmare called the fondoodler. Rather than paraphrasing what somebody else has said though, we're going to share this hilarious and horrifying tale from user vengefultacos over on Reddit.

  “ My wife got me a fondoodler. Want a quick snack

Cut up some cheese (has to be exactly the right type to get the correct consistency)

Stuff said cheese into the barrel of the fondoodler. The barrel is round. You cut your cheese into a round tube, right? No? OK, it's square peg in round hole time

Wait a while for the thing to heat up and melt some cheese.

Courtesy of Dot Brand

Finally, you can squirt out molten cheese which may or may not stick to the cracker, and may or may not push the cracker around. If you decide to hold the cracker steady, recall that the tip of the Fondoodler is REALLY *******HOT.

After a few minutes of squirting cheese, you're done. Now go clean the congealed cheese out of the tube and tip.”

And there you have it, folks! Remember, while we've had a good laugh (and perhaps a cringe or two) exploring these ill-fated kitchen gifts, the lessons extend beyond these specific items. These tips, dripping with sarcasm and genuine advice, serve as your survival guide for gift-giving in the kitchen realm. So, next time you're eyeing that questionable kitchen gadget, think twice, and consider the recipient's needs and the practicality of the gift.

Got some horror stories of kitchen gift-giving gone wrong? Let's chat about it on our Facebook page! Share your tales of disastrous gifts and join the conversation on what not to give this holiday season.

Before you dive into the holidays headfirst, we'd like to throw in a friendly reminder: when it comes to your major appliances, before, during, and after the festive chaos, Appliance Rescue Service has your back! From reviving misbehaving ovens to saving fridges on the fritz, we’re here for you. So, while you're out there conquering your holiday shopping, remember, that there's always a lifeline for your appliances!

Contact Us
Call: (214) 599-0055

Caffeinated Comfort: Pumpkin Muffins with Coffee Cream Cheese Frosting

 A Fusion of Fall Spice and Coffee Indulgence

Welcome to a delightful twist on classic pumpkin muffins! This recipe is a perfect marriage of seasonal flavors—warm pumpkin, aromatic spices, and a decadent coffee cream cheese frosting. With each bite, you can experience the cozy essence of fall combined with the indulgence of a caffeinated treat. Follow along step by step to create your own batch of these deliciously unique muffins.

Ingredients:

For the muffins:

1 15 oz can pumpkin puree

1 1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup sour cream

2 eggs

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the frosting:

1 stick butter, softened

1/2 brick regular cream cheese, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

2 tablespoons instant coffee

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 tablespoons milk

Tools:

can opener

mixing bowls (large and small)

muffin tin or sheet pan

muffin liners or baking cups

spoons

measuring cups and spoons

mixer (hand or stand)

Preheat your oven to 350 and let's get dessert rolling!

Begin with the can opener - go ahead and crack open the can of pumpkin. If you only have pumpkin pie filling on hand, you can sub half a 30-oz can of that, but keep in mind how much sweeter it will make the final result.

Dump the pumpkin into the mixing bowl (use a spoon to scrape the sides of the can to be certain you get all of it), then add the eggs and sour cream to the bowl and stir together, making sure to break the yolks on the eggs so they're properly incorporated.

Measure your dry ingredients - sugars, flour, spices, salt, baking powder - into another dish and mix them up. Add the dry ingredients slowly to the wet ingredients, stirring as you go. Try to avoid ending up with any clumps here, but don't stir it to death. Overdoing it will cause the muffins to be rubbery.

Once you've got the batter thoroughly mixed (but not overmixed), portion it out into your lined muffin tin or baking cups. We used baking cups on a sheet pan because these fall themed cups were just too cute to pass up! Don't worry too much about overfilling; these won't rise very much at all in the baking process.

Pop the muffins into the oven and set a timer for 25 minutes. 

Take a clean mixing bowl and put your softened butter and cream cheese into it, and put the beaters into your mixer. We used a hand mixer, mostly because it would have taken much longer to get the stand mixer out and ready.

Whip the butter and the cream cheese on at least medium speed until it's all fluffy.

With the mixer on, add the powdered sugar slowly. A second set of hands helps here. If you have a little helper you don't mind getting a smidge messy, feel free to recruit them. You don't have to get the powdered sugar fully incorporated at this stage. The goal here is just to get it into the bowl and start combining it with the butter and cream cheese.

In a shallow dish (or repurposed yogurt container if you're us), dissolve your instant coffee granules in the little bit of milk you've measured out. It shouldn't take much stirring. Once it's all one color and you've minimized the amount of sunken coffee bits, pour the mixture into the cream cheese/butter/sugar dish and turn the mixer back on. Mix thoroughly, until the whole thing is one color.

By now your muffins should be coming out of the oven. It'll be too soon to frost them (they're much too hot), so set them aside to cool and tuck your frosting into the fridge until they're ready.

Once the muffins are cooled, pull the frosting back out of the fridge and put your dessert together.

If you're feeling fancy, you can break out a pastry bag and tip and get ready to pipe the frosting. But we swear, it still tastes just as good if all you do is take a spoon or flexible spatula and drop a dollop on top of each muffin.

Enjoy after dinner with a big cup of coffee.

As the aroma of freshly baked pumpkin muffins fills your kitchen, remember that Appliance Rescue Service is here to ensure your cooking experiences are always seamless. Share your baking success on our Facebook page and take a moment to reach out to us at (214) 599-0055 or our website, for any appliance needs. Whether it's repairing a freezer or running routine maintenance on your oven, we're dedicated to keeping your kitchen running smoothly. Treat yourself to these delightful muffins and elevate your fall baking game with a touch of caffeinated comfort. Enjoy this flavorful creation with a steaming cup of coffee and savor the season's joys in every bite.

Additional Reading 

Easy No-Cook Not Quite a Cannoli 

Chocolate Raspberry Thumbprints

Kitchen Hazards Unveiled

Your Guide to Oven Safety

Welcome to the heart of the home—the kitchen. Amid the aroma of culinary wonders lies a landscape fraught with potential hazards. From toppling ranges to shattering cookware, the dangers are subtle yet prevalent.

In our exploration, we’re taking a look at the three primary adversaries: range tipovers, cookware mishaps, and the looming threat of cooking fires. These dangers aren't just about burns; they encompass a complex web of risks that demand attention.

Avoiding Common Oven Related Accidents

We’re going to take a look at the three most common types of oven-related accidents. While you think immediately of getting burned, you also have to think of rage tipovers and shattering cookware. 

Range Tipovers

Almost 40,000 people were injured during a 20-year NIH study, just from a range tipping over. Unsurprisingly, children are the ones most at risk. When left unsupervised, kids love to climb, And if an oven door is left open? You can bet they will climb on that, unfortunately, causing the range to tip. 

A few ways you can prevent your range from tipping over- 

If your range doesn’t have one, install an anti-tip bracket to keep it securely in place. 

Never place a heavy tray on an oven door that’s been left open. (This is the most common reason adults get injured in a range tipover.) 

Drape a towel on the oven handle if a pan is cooling to remind you that it’s still there. 

Cookware Injuries

In the same NIH study, more than 37,000 people were injured while using cookware. Hot glassware can shatter (yes, even ‘heat-proof’ dishes), and handles can absolutely burn. 

To avoid both of these instances, remember these tips- 

Don’t take a dish directly from the freezer to the oven or the other way around. 

Don’t add liquid after a dish is hot, or put a hot dish onto a cold or wet surface as it can cause shock to the dish. 

If a dish has become cracked or chipped, stop using it. Those chips will eventually become cracks, spreading over time until the piece shatters. 

Make sure to turn handles out to the sides rather than being over a working burner. 

Cooking Fires

Cooking fires account for 2 of every 5 reported home fires. Of those, unattended equipment accounts for 1 in 3, and half are set off by fat, grease, or oil, according to the National Fire Protection Association. 

In the NIH study, approximately 16,262 people were treated for injuries caused by contact with the stove, most commonly for burns. 

If you spend a lot of time in your kitchen, take a minute to learn these safety tips to protect yourself and your home. 

Stay in the kitchen if you are frying, grilling, or broiling something. 

If you’re simmering, baking, or roasting, stay at home and check on your food often. A timer on your phone can help. 

Make sure to keep anything that can catch fire away from the stovetop. This can be things like food packaging, pot holders, kitchen towels, and cookbooks. 

If a fire starts in your oven, turn it off and leave the door closed. This will suffocate the fire. 

Always keep a lid near to hand to smother small grease fires. You can slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burn. 

Keep a fire extinguisher with a minimum rating of 5-B:C on hand in your kitchen or as close as possible. 

If a fire gets out of hand, leave the house and call 911. 

Gas Ranges vs. Electric Ovens and Safety Concerns For Each 

Gas 

Gas stoves burn natural gas, which does generate a number of invisible by-products. The biggest concern to our health is the production of nitrogen dioxide or NO2. According to Josiah Kephart, an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health at Drexel University, this is produced when natural gas is burned at high temperatures when there is also nitrogen in the atmosphere. “We’ve known for a long time that [nitrogen dioxide] has many harmful effects on health,” says Kephart. 

While the Environmental Protection Agency regulates outdoor NO2 emissions, there are no standards for indoor exposure. Nevertheless studies dating back decades have shown the harmful effects from the no2 in gas cooking stoves. 

Studies have also found that unburned natural gas leaks from stoves, and contains the known carcinogen, benzene. Additionally, cooking, in general, creates fine particulates, which can cause or exacerbate respiratory problems. 

However, studies in this area have also long been linked to political lobbying groups, so data might be skewed one way or the other. As usual, politics is beyond our purview here, so we suggest doing your own digging. 

Electric 

Recent attention to the gas stove’s environmental impact has turned some away from the once-preferred chef’s stove. However, while electric stoves are the current darling of the industry, they also have their own issues. 

Courtesy of Mike Jones

According to a report by the National Fire Protection Association, they do tend to have far greater fire risks. A 2020 report by the NFPA showed that households with electric stoves reported fires at a rate 2.6 times higher than those with gas stoves. Equally staggering, the death rate of electric-run households was 3.4 times higher than those that had gas appliances. And the injury rate? That was nearly 5 times greater. 

General Safety Tips In the Kitchen 

We’ve taken both general tips and those from the community to bring to your attention. *

You need to be sure you are watching your food and your hands so you do not get burned; both are hot. Pay attention to smooth-top ranges, as the ceramic glass can be very hot for a while, even with the burner off. The same goes for gas stove grates above the burner.

Roll up your sleeves before cooking. Loose-fitting clothing can catch on fire.

Both electric and non-electric ovens have a thermostat to control how high the heat goes, and then they cycle the heat on and off to maintain the correct temperature. Can thermostats go bad? Yes, equally in both electric and non-electric ovens. ((ARS Note: This is one of the key reasons we suggest having your oven maintained regularly!))

Clean the stove, oven, and burners regularly to prevent grease buildup.

Use the right cookware both for your type of range and for the size of the burner. 

Only use cookware in the oven that is meant to go in the oven. Plastics will melt and either damage your oven (ask us how we know.) Metals, on the other hand, can damage the oven by heating it improperly and will almost certainly cause your food to cook improperly. 

Keep items that can catch fire, such as dish towels and pot holders, away [from heat sources].

Overheated foods can cause a fire. With that in mind, cook your food for the recommended cooking time, and use oven mitts to protect yourself when taking it out. 

Plug cooking appliances directly into an outlet. Never use an extension cord for a cooking appliance.

Tuck appliance cords out of reach of children.

If your oven has malfunctioned, it’s not safe to use it. Whether it is gas or electric, it needs to be seen by a professional. You can have gas leaks, your oven overheating, or the heat cutting out randomly and without notice. 

Finally, read the manual for your range. The manufacturer included it so you could get the best experience from your oven, and reading it will only help you. 

And there you have it—a peek behind the oven door, revealing the quirks and perils lurking in our culinary havens. Remember, while your kitchen might be a stage for gourmet wonders, it's also a hotspot for potential misadventures. Stay vigilant, cook safely, and should your appliances ever decide to throw a cooking tantrum, don't hesitate to summon the professionals at Appliance Rescue Service. Until then, may your kitchen adventures be filled with delicious triumphs and minimal mishaps. 

Website 

Office Number:  (214) 599-0055

Additional Reading:

Places to Avoid: The Paw Version! 

Why The Media Wants You To Be Scared Of Your Gas Stove

Help I Melted Plastic In My Oven

*Some commentary may have been adjusted for clarity or length. 

Chill Hacks Unveiled: Mastering Your Fridge's Microzones for Fresher Foods

 From Crisper Drawers to Door Dilemmas - Your Complete Guide to Optimizing Refrigerator Storage and Banishing Food Wastage

Ever wondered why your refrigerator seems like an enigmatic labyrinth of varying temperatures? Brace yourself for a surprising revelation: your fridge isn't the uniform cold box you think it is. Instead, it's a tapestry of microclimates, each with its own purpose and ideal use. Buckle up for a journey into the hidden world of fridge dynamics, where thermodynamics and food storage collide to challenge common assumptions.

Prepare to unravel the mystery behind why your leftovers might fare better on one shelf than another, why your greens shouldn't cozy up with your meats, and why that jar of jam ended up frozen solid in the back. Join us as we break down the misconceptions about your refrigerator's temperature zones and unveil the secrets to optimizing freshness and food safety within its chilly confine

Refrigerator Revelations: Unveiling the Myth of Uniform Temperatures

Let's start with breaking down a common misconception: your refrigerator is not all one temperature. We know it's a strange thought. Most of our clients are very shocked when they discover this. But it's true. 

Instead, your refrigerator is made up of many different microzones. Now, your microzones work based on the concept of thermodynamics. We know, we know, that's not something any of us want to try and dive into on a Wednesday night. And to be frank, it's beyond anything we need to go into. What matters is understanding that heat rises. Even in a cold environment like your refrigerator, heat will always rise*. So, the warmest portions of your refrigerator will be the top shelf of your refrigerator because of that principle, and also the door of your refrigerator because it's constantly being exposed to warm air as you open and close your refrigerator throughout the day. No matter how fast your refrigerator returns to temperature, there is still fluctuation. That fluctuation will directly affect whatever you store on the door of your refrigerator. We'll go into more of that later on in the article. For now, it's enough to understand that it's an issue. 

The Secret Behind Microzones: How Your Fridge Works on Thermodynamics

The different zones in your refrigerator are  your door, top shelf, middle shelf, bottom shelf, and any drawers you have, like a crisper drawer, cheese drawer, or deli meat drawer. Each of these different zones has been engineered for a different purpose, and the shape of the drawer directly impacts how temperature and humidity affect the food inside the drawer.  

Crisper Drawers Decoded: Optimizing Humidity for Fresher Produce

Let's take a quick side note to explain the different drawers that might come with your refrigerator. Your crisper drawer is typically one to two drawers on the bottom of your refrigerator. Whether you have a French door, a single door, or a top-of-the-line Sub Zero refrigerator, the bottommost drawer or drawers is for fruits and vegetables. The reason for this ties into the microclimates like we talked about earlier. This is the coldest part of your refrigerator, and it fluctuates between cold and colder. Now, your fridge's design might be two drawers side by side or one on top of another. We have worked on both varieties. It doesn't matter for the most part. Either way, there is typically a small flap or a slider that allows you to set which one has lower humidity and which one has higher humidity. 

Lower humidity is typically for fruits, and higher humidity is for vegetables. This is where we will get into some exceptions in just a minute. These drawers work on humidity as well as temperature. Your fruits need lower humidity, which the slider or air flap on the drawers allows them to adjust. Just because it's not extra fancy or has dials or switches that you need to work to learn doesn't mean that it's not effective. Companies have discovered what works and, for the time being at least, are sticking to it. Higher humidity allows your vegetables to maintain the most moisture, keeping them from wilting for longer. 

Mastering Middle Shelves: The Stable Haven for Dairy and Deli Delights

But Blogger, you say, what about the shelves in the middle? What are those for? Oh dear, reader, those shelves are, in what we said earlier, the most stable portion of your fridge. This is the section that is most likely to stay at the temperature for what you've set your refrigerator to. These drawers, whether you have one or two, sometimes even more, will be where you store your cheeses and deli meats. Cheeses and deli meats need to be kept away from fluctuations in temperature to ensure that they stay tasty and free from bacteria for as long as possible. They also don't need to worry about humidity like your fruits and vegetables, which is why they are just drawers. 

Strategic Food Placement: Where Every Zone Shines in Your Fridge

Now that you understand how your refrigerator works and how some of the more specialized sections should be used let's look at your fridge as a whole. This breakdown for storing your food comes from years of research into maximizing space, freshness, and food safety. So, at the top of your fridge,  as we mentioned earlier, that is going to be the section that fluctuates the most, and therefore, is the section where you should store already cooked foods; this is your leftovers,  this is the rotisserie chicken that you're going to have tomorrow night for dinner or the green bean casserole that your neighbor brought over because they had a little too much. Things like that. 

Your middle shelves are where you should store your dairy products. Cheeses, butter, eggs, and other things that need to be kept as stable as possible. 

Your bottom shelves are where you store raw meats and fish. If you really wanted to, all of the other shelves, ,could be swapped around. If you follow the other tips we will talk about, your food will stay fresh. Maybe not for as long as they could, but they will stay fresh for about the average length of time that you might expect. For your raw meats and fish, you store them at the bottom of your refrigerator not just to keep them fresh for longer and to butkeep them in that cold air that doesn't fluctuate as much. It's also for food safety. Raw meats tend to leak. You don't want that getting on the rest of your food.  

Now, we're not saying you should just throw a hunk of raw meat or the fish your cousin caught for dinner tonight onto these shelves. You store these on the bottom shelf because they won't leak into the drawers when wrapped properly. Your crisper drawers are designed so things from on top, unless they spill or overflow, won't get into the drawers. Instead, they drip around and under. Your shelves, though, say the top and middle shelves aren't designed the same. Put meat on those shelves, and you will contaminate the shelves below.   

Decoding the Door Dilemma: What to Store (and Avoid) on Your Fridge Door 

The one thing we haven't talked about yet is your refrigerator door. On your refrigerator door, it is good to put things like condiments. They're not bothered much by fluctuating temperatures. Salad dressing falls into the same category. Even the ones you might make yourself can still be stored in the container and left on your fridge door. Soda, water bottles, sports drinks are great to put on your refrigerator door, so they're easy to grab. 

Things that maybe shouldn't go on your door that you wouldn't consider: 

Nut butters

Milk 

Glass bottles 

We've all done it. Heck, in your Blogger's fridge right now (or at least right now as of the time of this initially being written) is a container of milk. The reason you don't want to store it there normally is because it will go bad faster. In our household, however, it doesn't typically last long enough, so we choose to take that risk. Which is what you can do as well. Nut butters, however, and glass bottles are less conditional. Nut butters like almond butter and cashew butter will start to separate when kept at unstable temperatures. They start to either become hard or oily, they don't taste as good, and they're harder to spread. Then you've got glass bottles, which is more of a practicality issue. All it takes is one slam of the door, and there goes all that lovely wine you were planning on sharing. 

A refrigerator with some things stored properly and some not. How many can you find?

Courtesy of the USDA

Versus, this refrigerator which has taken into consideration the various tips and safety measures that we talked about, and the size and design of this particular refrigerator.

Courtesy of the USDA

The FIFO Method: Saving Money and Maximizing Freshness in Your Fridge

How do you save money then? The answer is the First In First Out method. It is a very simple concept, but it does take a bit of thinking as you implement it. You put the newest foods at the back of the shelf and bring the oldest foods towards the front. You can do this with everything or just things you buy duplicates of. An example would be putting an already open pint of sour cream at the front and a new one at the back of the shelf. 

 We aren't saying you have to do this every day. That would be ridiculous, and you would end up wasting electricity and letting in all the hot air you're trying to avoid. But once a week or so, when you go grocery shopping, do this, and then you have all of the oldest food towards the front automatically when you need to go and plan for meals or just need a quick snack. The First In, First Out method is utilized by restaurants and other corporate-level food services. It's a way to ensure your food is used long before it spoils.  

The Perils of Overstuffing: Why Air Circulation is Key in Your Refrigerator

A final important note that we think cannot be overstated is that you should not be overstuffing any section of your fridge. Your refrigerator cannot do its job properly if it can't breathe. If the air cannot circulate around your refrigerator, the microclimates we discussed will go to extremes. The coldest section, that bottom shelf, and your crispers will end up freezing. Meanwhile, your top shelf and door will be much warmer than they should be, causing things to spoil. This is how you end up pulling out the jar of jam from the back of a shelf and finding out that it's frozen solid in the time that it's been in your refrigerator. While sections like your crispers have an optimum level of food in them, say 67%, the rest of your fridge is more a matter of air being able to move around. That one does take a little bit of trial and error. It becomes much easier if you pay attention and start with the tips we've taught you today. 

Keeping Cool: When to Call for Professional Refrigerator Assistance

Remember, your refrigerator is not just a glorified cold box—it's a meticulously engineered system of microzones. By understanding its nuances, from the fluctuating temperatures of the top shelf to the humidity-controlled crisper drawers, you hold the key to prolonging the freshness of your groceries and minimizing food waste.

So, bid farewell to haphazard food placement and embrace the art of organized refrigeration. Employ the 'First In First Out' method, keep meats low, dairy mid, and condiments on the door, and most importantly, avoid overstuffing to let your fridge breathe. By following these simple strategies, you're not just managing your fridge; you're preserving flavor, maximizing space, and ensuring a longer shelf life for your groceries.

However, if you encounter issues beyond the realm of organization—such as temperature inconsistencies, malfunctioning water lines, or any other fridge-related quandaries—don't hesitate to reach out for professional help. Appliance Rescue Service is here to assist you, whether it's a troubleshooting call or a need for expert maintenance. Contact us today via our website or give us a call to schedule an appointment and ensure your refrigerator runs smoothly, keeping your food fresh and your kitchen hassle-free.

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Call: (214) 599-0055 

Additional Reading: 

The Hidden Messages Behind the Odors in Your Refrigerator

Why Is My Refrigerator Making Weird Noises!? 

* If you are a physicist, or other scientist who studies thermodynamics and we have gotten this wrong in certain instances, please understand that we are talking solely about heat in a refrigerator.