Appliances & Kitchen Gadgets

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November 25, 2009 1:14 PM PST

Get the most out of your oven

by Brian Krepshaw
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Good looks and it cooks, too.

(Credit: Dacor)

Certain appliances are used so frequently they just blend into the background. This is a good thing. When heavy-use appliances integrate seamlessly into our lives, that means they are working as they should. It's best not to notice them, because that usually means something is wrong. But just because they blend into our surroundings, that doesn't mean we don't want them to be attractive when we do look at them. Considering how central the oven is to daily life, efficiency and design go hand in hand.

The new Dacor Distinctive 30-inch Single Wall Oven is an eye-catching centerpiece in the kitchen. Featuring contemporary styling that includes a handle design that sits flush with the wall oven door and a stainless steel finish, the oven offers the good looks that makes any kitchen feel complete. The inside features hidden bake and recessed broil elements, creating not only a smooth appearance, but also more workable area in the interior. The 3.8-cubic-foot capacity oven also features an innovative baffling system that channels consistent heat throughout the oven.

With six cooking modes (Convection Bake, Convection Broil, Convection Roast, Pure Convection, Bake, and Broil), the features make it easy to achieve desired results when cooking. The electronic touch-control panel offers cooking functions (Start Time, Cooking Time, Stop Time, and Temperature Hold) that facilitate meal planning. There's even an integrated meat probe thermometer, assuring that you get the most out of your oven.

August 7, 2009 9:30 AM PDT

See what's cooking with Dacor

by Brian Krepshaw
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Looking good, cooking good.

(Credit: Dacor)

The new Dacor Epicure 36-inch gas range brings style and ease of use to the kitchen. Featuring a cool flame-blue glow when in use, the burner controls are just a touch of what to expect when using the stove. With a large cooking area and a spacious oven interior that can accommodate a full-size commercial sheet pan, the range combines good looks with deep usability.

With six burners in total, in three different configurations, the stovetop is very versatile. The burners include two sealed gas burners rated at 9.500 BTU, two at 15.000 BTU, and two SimmerSear burners that range from a convenient 800 BTU output for delicate cooking, all the way up to 18,500 BTU for applying quick, hot heat for steaks or other foods that benefit from a quick sear.

The oven is just as versatile as the stovetop, featuring four cooking modes that include a three-part convection system that includes fan, air baffle, and convection filter. The system creates an environment for superior heat distribution with zero flavor transfer. When cooking at the same time, the roast should taste like roast, while the cake should taste like cake. Along with convection bake or broil, the oven also offers traditional baking and broiling modes.

When you're ready to peek inside (and who isn't when it comes to dinnertime?), the range offers a large viewing window, while bright halogen lighting makes it easy to see inside. With a kitchen decked out with a quality range, dinner never looked so good.

June 4, 2009 5:21 PM PDT

Millennia Distinctive Rangetop for a new era

by Brian Krepshaw
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The new Millennia Distinctive Rangetop from Dacor.

(Credit: Dacor)

Attention to detail. It's an important trait to have, especially in a confusing economy. Consumers look for details and want to see value for their purchases. The more it is apparent that some thought was put into a product, the better that product will do in the marketplace. Of course, a million other factors are involved, but a strong attention to detail is important, now more than ever.

The new Millennia Distinctive Rangetop from Dacor combines many little details that form a cohesive whole. The range top is designed with usability in mind, featuring angled controls that illuminate for easy readability while cooking. Available in either a four-burner or a six-burner configuration (30-inch and 36-inch models, respectively), the range top gas burners offer precise control. Three different sealed gas burners (available on both models) feature separate outputs of 9,500 BTU, 15,000 BTU, or 18,000 BTU. The result is a precision range top whether you need to create a perfect simmer, sear, or saute.

Smaller details round out the range top. An included feature is a Perma-Flame function that automatically reignites the burner at the previous level in case the flame goes out. Anybody who has ever smelled gas instead of delicious food cooking will appreciate this simple add-on. The cooking grates are flush with each other allowing for easy pot and pan maneuverability. They also feature small rubber feet, allowing for them to be used as trivets without marring countertop surfaces. The most important detail for most consumers is affordability; the company promises "competitive pricing" and a showroom floor date in July.

May 7, 2009 5:46 PM PDT

Dacor Energy Star qualified Epicure fridge

by Brian Krepshaw
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Convenience and control.

(Credit: Dacor)

Family-owned Dacor showed off its new line of appliances recently at the 2009 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Atlanta. Among the appliances on display was the Energy Star qualified Epicure 36-inch Freestanding French Door Cabinet-Depth Bottom Freezer Refrigerator. The refrigerator saves time and energy with a 20-percent energy efficient compressor, and is stated to use less energy than a 60-watt light bulb.

An easy-to-use control panel not only monitors the temperature of the freezer along with the refrigerator, but also offers some convenient options. Fast Ice automatically cools the freezer section for 24 hours, allowing for the included icemaker to produce more ice. Max Cold is another 24-hour timed mode that lowers the overall temperature. The mode is a convenient option for when the door has been opened for prolonged periods, or when loading warm foods. Other control panel options include a temperature alarm, an absent mode, and a door alarm.

The refrigerator is designed to complement your lifestyle and kitchen decor. A modular design system allows for the customization of handles to match other Dacor appliances (including the Millennia and Preference series). A large deli drawer spans the width of the refrigerator and is able to hold full-size deli trays. Fruits and vegetables can be stored in the two individually adjustable humidity-controlled crisper drawers. Energy-saving capabilities and customizable options define this feature-friendly refrigerator from Dacor.

May 6, 2009 12:19 PM PDT

Dacor range wants to get to know you

by Brian Krepshaw
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Waiting to learn.

(Credit: Dacor)

Getting dialed into your personal workspace is a fun and exciting challenge. When that space is the kitchen--specifically the oven--the resulting meals that emerge are like no others. Experience tells you if the oven runs hot or on the cool side, where the hot spots are, and even which burner burns better. Knowledgeable cooks in their own familiar kitchens are capable of producing anything. Trial and error gives way to familiarity, and understanding of the tools at hand gives way to delicious meals.

The Dacor Epicure 30-inch Dual-Fuel Range offers the home cook a number of nuanced cooking options. The four dual-valve burners feature three top heat levels: one 18,000 BTU searing burner, two 16,000 BTU burners, and one 8,500 BTU burner. Just learning the stovetop will keep some cooks occupied with creating delicate dishes, but the oven itself offers options for home baking. With four convection modes and two conventional modes, finding the perfect settings for your favorite recipes will take some (delicious) trial and error.

The patented RapidHeat baking and broiling element, along with the convection features, make getting to know this oven a painless experience. Even heating and better circulation means those all-too-familiar hot spots from older ovens are eliminated. Combined with neat external features such as a tilting control panel and illuminated burner controls, it won't take long for you to figure out what your home cooking is capable of. Learning never tasted so good.

October 20, 2008 8:06 AM PDT

Dacor's cooking with gas

by Thursday Bram
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Dacor has built its Epicure line of kitchen appliance as a high-quality line with great attention to detail. Its new 30-inch gas range fits in with the style of the line. The range is available as both a freestanding model or for installation in an island design. Dacor included a whole list of bells and whistles with the range: its SimmerSear burners can deliver professional-level accuracy for cooking temperatures. Whether you're simmering, searing or sauteing, you can get your temperature just right. The burners are configured to allow you to prepare different foods at different BTUS at the same time--you can even use a variety of pot sizes with no problem. If you're worried about oversized pots, Dacor has added two 14-inch grates that create enough room for even the largest of pots on the cook top. It also makes moving around your pots and juggling a large meal much easier. For a 30-inch range, Dacor's new Epicure is amazingly spacious. The range has four different cooking modes: Convection Bake, Convection Broil, Bake, and Broil. It relies on Dacor's Three-Part Convection System to guarantee precise oven temperature control and heat distribution. The system also eliminates flavor transference. The new Dacor range will be available at the end of this month.

The Epicure 30-inch gas range

(Credit: Dacor)
September 18, 2008 12:19 PM PDT

Dacor's outdoor refrigerator keeps the party going

by Brian Krepshaw
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Now you don't even have to leave the pool party to get your next brewsky.

(Credit: Dacor)

Summer is fading away and turning into fall. Baseball pennant races are heating up and the football season is just getting underway. Some teams have hope, while others look forward to next year. However, just because the seasons are changing, doesn't mean the end of outdoor get-togethers.

This Epicure 24-inch Outdoor Refrigerator from Dacor can keep your party supplied all the way through to winter. The stainless-steel finish protects a surprisingly large capacity. With the ability to hold up to 124 cans or 50 bottles (750 ml), there's no reason to pry yourself away from the fun to restock supplies.

Of course, no party is complete without food. Having this fridge tucked away under your outdoor counter means you'll never have to reach too far for a plate of food. With a BBQ nearby, it makes even more sense. Keep your food at a safe temperature while grilling up a party platter.

The fridge itself has an adjustable temperature from 34-68-degrees Fahrenheit. An active-carbon filter purifies the air. There is an internal fan, and the electronic controls are handled via a digital display tucked away inside the unit.

With such close convenience to the booze and food, you might not ever want to come back inside. Good thing most grocery stores deliver--no matter the season.

(Via Appliancist)

July 29, 2008 10:01 AM PDT

See what's in drawer No. 2

by Jennifer Lowell
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The drawer microwave can be installed either under your counter or below a wall oven.

(Credit: Dacor.com)

Appliances have made their way off counters and floors and into a place that's far less conspicuous: drawers. Drawer freezers and fridges have made their way into savvy cooks' kitchens because they make reaching items easier, they blend in under countertops, and they're handicap-friendly.

But the drawer is a space that has great potential outside of the realm of cooling. If you haven't seen it yet, you should take a moment to check out Dacor's Millennia Microwave-in-a-Drawer. Granted, the microwave in a drawer was first released in 2006 by Sharp, but one important lesson to learn about new technology is that it should constantly be revisited and reevaluated to gauge whether it belongs in your kitchen.

I mention this because in the wave of built-in appliances and minimalist designer kitchens, extra appliances on the counters and walls have the potential to seriously interrupt the culinary Feng shui of your kitchen. Supplementing these new designs with existing appliances can lessen the blow to your pocketbook when you redesign, and the Dacor Millennia can save you counter space and help you maintain your kitchen's aesthetic.

The Millennia is available in 30 inch and 24 inch models, with finishes in stainless steel or black (a blend of the two finishes is available in the 30 inch model). It also includes a Control Lock for child safety, an automatic open feature, and touch controls.

The Dacor Millennia Microwave-in-a-Drawer retails for about $1,155 at dealers that can be located on Dacor's Web site.

June 30, 2008 5:10 PM PDT

Dacor builds for safety

by Thursday Bram
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I'm one of those rare creatures who actually grew up with a gas stove. Just about everyone I know these days had an electric range even as a kid. I've always loved cooking with gas, though. I feel like I can control the heat a little more evenly. The Dacor Renaissance Cooktop gives me all of that control that I enjoy, along with a few benefits I just can't get from an old-fashioned gas stove. For one thing, this cooktop is elegantly designed--no clunky oven to distract from the nice lines of the gas cooktop. I'm not biased against ovens, but I do like the separate units. Dacor's gas cooktop also has a few safety features that put it a step above its competitors. The Dacor designers have added SimmerSafe lights that can help a cook tell that the burners are lit even when flames are so low that they're practically invisible. The combination of PermaFlame and SmartFlame technologies guarantee further safety: extinguished burners relight themselves with no messing about with matches, and the flame output is reduced, protecting both the cook and the cooktop's grates. The Renaissance Cooktop is built for both use and safety. Beyond safety features like the protected ignition system, the cooktop can handle heavy cooking requirements. With the options of the four- and five-burner units, you can pick the Dacor cooktop that can handle your cooking needs.

The Renaissance Cooktop

(Credit: Dacor)
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