Modern Kitchen Appliances – The New Tools of Contemporary Cooking

“You don’t need a silver fork to eat good food,” said Paul Prudhomme, an American celebrity chef who popularised Creole and Cajun cuisines.

That is true for eating. But in preparing and cooking good food, design and technology have elevated, or even transformed things. The contemporary kitchen is a far-cry from its ancestors. Change has swept every element of the kitchen, and continues to do so. Technological innovations in function and design transformed cooking from a dreary, labour-intensive chore to a creative and relaxing activity. In fact, some of these appliances are even safe enough for children to use, and thereby enable them to become participants in meal preparations – something that has changed the dynamics of family relations.

Reduced exposure to flame and hot liquids, allow for reduced risk of burns and scalding. Since most appliances today are shock-proof by design, and made of well-insulated materials, many possible hazards in the kitchen are averted. To cook no longer means sweating in a smoke-filled kitchen next to a pan with hot oil waiting to sputter, when an ingredient is added to it. It doesn’t necessarily mean spending hours in the kitchen chopping vegetables and cleaning the spills and stains any more.

Appliances that take pride of place in the modern kitchen are microwaves, air-fryers, electric rice cooker, Atta makers, coffee makers, OTGs, induction cooktops, electric kettles, juicers, hand blenders, and more.

Air-Fryer
The Air-fryer uses hot-air circulation to ‘fry’ ingredients with little or no oil. It helps turn out healthier foods, is easy to clean up after use, and eliminates the fumes and pervasive smell associated with frying foods in the house. It cooks food fast, minus the mess, and without compromising on taste and texture. Havells Prolife Digi Air-Fryer allows for oil-free cooking that is safe and healthy.

Microwave
Microwave ovens are multi-taskers – cooking, defrosting and re-heating foods and beverages – using high-frequency electromagnetic waves. Microwaves are quicker, because they work on the food from the inside-out, rather than the other way around. They are energy-efficient as they work quickly, and requires less supervision – giving the cook time to multi-task. Microwave cooking retains the nutrient value of food by preventing the loss of important vitamins and minerals.

Coffee Maker
Coffee grounds are placed in a paper or metal filter inside a funnel, which is set over a glass or ceramic coffee pot. Cold water is poured into a separate chamber, which is then heated up to the boiling point, and directed into the funnel. Coffee maker is convenient because of the ease and effortless brewing and less wastage of coffee. Havells range of coffee makers are equipped to brew aromatic a rich bracing cup of hot coffee that sets every day off to a perfect start.

Electric cooker
An electric-cooker cooks various foods, while maintaining a constant temperature. Some cookers have pre-programmed settings for certain foods, or keep-warm settings. It yields better results compared with stovetop cooking, quick cooking, less supervision, and energy efficiency. Havells range of electric rice cookers are equipped with auto-cook and keep-warm settings, and cool-touch handles that makes food handling easier.

These gadgets help to strike a time/effort balance in busy lives, and make cooking easier. The appliances not only spell efficiency in the kitchen, but are aesthetically designed and impressive. All the recipe ingredients for a modern lifestyle.