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Sub-Zero’s New Refrigerators Help Reduce Food Waste

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A recent study from the University of Arizona, along with internal research, suggests that the average U.S. household throws out well in excess of $500 worth of fruits, vegetables, leftovers and other food items every year due to spoilage. Much of this waste can be reduced by proper refrigeration, the reduction of ethylene gas in the refrigerator, and food storage education.

“With prices on the rise for so many food items at the supermarket, and as people make fewer visits to the store because of increased gas prices, it’s more important than ever before to keep food from spoiling in the refrigerator,” said Christopher Parr, consumer marketing manager for Sub-Zero, Inc. “Our new built-in refrigeration series includes several features to help combat this problem.”

Like all Sub-Zero refrigerators, the new built-in includes a freshness preservation system, which is a dual-compressor operating system that separately controls the temperature and humidity of the refrigerator and freezer compartments, and holds preset temperatures within a plus-or-minus one-degree. This precise, independent control of the refrigerator and freezer compartments ensures the highest air quality and therefore, fresh food and energy efficiency. Other refrigerators utilize just one compressor to push air from the freezer into the refrigerator, and this recycled air from the freezer compartment contributes to the drying and decay of fresh foods.

Sub-Zero’s new built-in series also includes an advanced air purification system that “scrubs” the entire volume of air in the refrigerator an average of once every 20 minutes. This purification system significantly reduces odors, viruses and bacteria – as well as the ethylene gases present in some foods that cause premature ripening and, ultimately, food spoilage. Some fresh foods, such as apples, naturally emit ethylene gas, which will make carrots in the refrigerator taste bitter and leafy vegetables decay faster.

Another feature of the built-in series is its new water filtration system. Sub-Zero created one of the most-advanced water filtration systems in the industry, designed to significantly reduce contaminants such as viruses and bacteria that may be present in water and ice. Most refrigeration water filters typically reduce chlorine and sediment, but Sub-Zero’s new design takes filtration a step further. The new microbiological water filter preserves the fresh taste of clean water and ice.

Proper food storage is also essential to ensure that foods stay as fresh as possible. Sub-Zero’s built-in units offer a freshness guide within the refrigerator that provides easy-access reference to proper storage for fruits, vegetables and leftovers. Advice featured on the card is based on research conducted by food scientists at the University of California, Davis. A second card offers important use-and-care information so owners can truly understand how to care for their food within the refrigerator.

“People often forget that certain foods shouldn’t be placed within proximity of each other in the refrigerator,” added Parr. “Our new freshness guide offers easy-to-understand tips and reminders that can make a big difference in keeping food fresh.”

These storage tips, along with guides on how to select high quality fruits and vegetables, and other helpful information are also featured on a recently launched Web site to support the launch of the Sub-Zero built-in series, www.subzerofresh.com. The site also gives users an expanded look at the refrigerator’s new features and allows virtual interaction with its capabilities.

Dishwasher Power Wars-Plus a Little Advice

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Here’s a fun story straight from the Wall Street Journal:

Marriage counselors say one of the biggest issues that couples fight over is money. But many of us know what’s really the most contentious battleground in the home: the dishwasher.

Except for the family dog, perhaps nothing in the house is louder or wetter, breaks more things, or causes more fights than the dishwasher. It’s just an appliance, but in many families the dishwasher becomes a stainless-steel-and-ceramic metaphor for marital power. Who loads it, how it gets loaded, how often should it be run, and when did it last get emptied – all these questions are like a fuse on a pack of TNT. One spark and there’s a conflagration.

I, of course, know that my method of loading the machine is best: Don’t rinse first, which wastes precious water and time. And silverware goes in tines and blades DOWN, thank you, so you don’t skewer yourself unloading later.

But others disagree. Tines UP, please, and always prewash.

A straw poll around the office reveals that many couples staunchly stick to the method they learned growing up. That means visiting family members who want to “help” in the kitchen can compound the problem. Woe to the well-meaning in-law who puts pot lids on the top instead of the bottom. Or worse, moves things around. Marriages have broken up over less.

One colleague says he always runs the machine immediately once it’s loaded, so no one goes in to rearrange. Another says he divides people into two categories: loaders and emptiers. He’s an emptier.

Dishwasher manufacturer Whirlpool offers some advice on its Web site: “It is not necessary to rinse the dishes before putting them into the dishwasher. The wash module removes food particles from the water.” And for silverware: “Mix items in each section of the basket with some pointing up and some down to avoid nesting. … Always load sharp items (knives, skewers, etc.) pointing down.”

But that’s not likely to end the dishwasher wars. Apologies to those of you who wash by hand (maybe you’re happier people!) but readers, do you find you fight over the dishwasher? And if so, how do you reach détente?

Dacor Introduces New Larger Wall Ovens

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Dacor is pleased to introduce the Epicure 36″ Renaissance Wall Oven, offering consumers 20 percent more capacity than standard wall ovens and innovative technology for a more efficient culinary experience.

The Epicure 36″ Renaissance Wall Oven is a welcome addition to the distinctive Renaissance collection Dacor unveiled earlier this year. “Over the past three years, our goal was to give our customers the complete Dacor kitchen. With the introduction of built-in refrigeration and dishwashers, we are now able to offer full lines of luxury appliances in a variety of styles and finishes,” said Steve Joseph, Vice President of Marketing at Dacor.

The Epicure 36″ Renaissance Wall Oven provides a professional cooking experience with intuitive electronic touch controls that give users complete control over the six cooking modes: Bake, Broil, Convection Bake, Convection Broil, Convection Roast, Pure Convection.

An exclusive four-part Pure Convection system helps create uniform temperatures on every level of the oven cell and features a unique filter, which allows home chefs to cook multiple items at the same time without the worry of flavor transfer. Now, every entree, hors d’oeuvres and dessert, even the roast turkey and apple pie, can be cooked together without the fear worry of tastes blending.

Dacor’s patented RapidHeat Bake Element ensures more even baking, faster preheating, energy efficiency, accurate temperature control, and is safely protected from spills and drips underneath glass. In addition to easy cleanup, owners gain increased capacity and improved heat transfer.

The Epicure 36″ Renaissance Wall Oven is available in a stainless steel finish with ergonomic elliptical handles and interchangeable trim caps in four color options; chrome, brass, copper and black chrome.

Bread Bakers Can Use the Microwave

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Now that my title has your attention, I’ll be a little more specific.  Whirlpool suggests that it’s Speedcook microwave can be used as a proofing box for maintaining an appropriate and steady temperature while proofing breads.  Home bakers who are trying to create their own artisan breads often find the loaves rising either too quickly or too slowly depending on the ambient temperature of the room.  Whirlpool suggests these steps to help bakers keep a proper temperature:

Using the convection setting:
Place dough in a lightly greased ovenproof bowl, and cover
loosely with shortening-coated wax paper.
1. Place a shallow, ovenproof container, such as a pie plate,
filled with 2 cups (500 mL) boiling water on the turntable.
2. Place the convection rack on the turntable, and then place
the bowl of dough on the convection rack and close the door.
3. Touch “Time/Temp/Power” on the Main Menu, then select
“Bake.”
4. Follow instructions on the display to program the proofing
time (about 45 minutes).
5. Touch “Temp 350°,” and then set a temperature of 100°F
(38°C) using the “-” control or number pads.
6. Touch “Start Preheat,” and then touch “Skip Preheat.”
7. Touch “Start” on the touch screen, or START control.
The display will count down the proofing (baking) time.
Check dough after 20 to 25 minutes. Proofing time may vary depending on
the type and quantity of dough. Proofing time may be
changed during the countdown by touching “Adjust
Settings,” and then following the instructions on the display.
When the cycle ends, the end-of-cycle tones will sound,
followed by reminder tones.
When proofing is done, remove bowl of bread dough and continue with your recipe as desired.

If you own the Speedcook and would like to let us know how this works, we’d love to hear from you.

College Laundry Basics

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For those lucky kids whose clean clothes and sheets magically appeared in their rooms all these years, the first week away at college will be a shock. About this time next week they will awake to the fact that Mom is no longer doing the laundry. When they call in a panic, you can refer them to us. With the help of Whirlpool, we’ll present them with the basics for getting through that pile taking over their room.

Step 1 – Prepping:

Treat stains by blotting, not rubbing, from the back of the fabric to the front.
Divide loads into lights and darks.
Check that zippers are closed, hooks clasped and pockets emptied.

Step 2 – Washing:

Use only enough detergent as specified for your load size (check the bottle).
Extra suds hold and re-deposit dirt on your laundry.
Use hot water to keep white loads bright.
Use cold water to prevent darks from fading.

Step 3 – Drying:

Select items from the wash load to place in dryer. Delicate items can go on a drying rack.
Add a dryer sheet to keep clothes static-free.
Empty the lint trap to dry faster and increase energy efficiency.
To avoid extra wrinkles, fold immediately.

Three simple steps… now they’ll only call for money.

Dishwashers Save Time and Water

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It’s official, running a fully loaded dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes by hand. If you use an Energy Star rated dishwasher you will save even more. An replacing an older dishwasher with a newer Energy Star rated dishwasher can save you about $30 dollars a year in energy costs too.
According to Frigidairee appliances:
If you still wash your dishes by hand, you’re probably wasting more than just your valuable time. Over an average eleven-year lifespan, Energy Star qualified dishwashers can save 55,000 gallons of water (that’s a lifetime supply of drinking water for more than four people) or $465 in energy and water bills (that’s like getting a 15-year supply of dishwasher detergent).

Here are some additional savings that come with upgrading to an Energy Star dishwasher:

Save Time:
Using an Energy Star qualified dishwasher instead of handwashing will save nearly 10 days of your time each year. So stop scrubbing – just load and go!
Dishwashers today don’t require pre-rinsing of dishes before loading. Pre-rinsing doesn’t necessarily improve cleaning and wastes water. Just scrape off food and liquids – the dishwasher will do the rest.

Save Money:
Cut your energy and water bills by more than $40 per year compared to handwashing.
You can save $465 in energy and water bills over the life of an Energy Star dishwasher compared to washing dishes by hand.

Save Energy:
Use half as much energy as washing by hand.
Fill your dishwasher to full capacity to get maximize the energy used to run it. Most of the energy used by a dishwasher goes to heat water. Since you can’t decrease the amount of water used per cycle, fill your dishwasher to get the most from the energy used to run it.

Save Water:
Use nearly 5,000 gallons less water per year, compared to washing dishes by hand.
Run your dishwasher only on the cycle necessary for the task to conserve water

Reduce Noise:
Energy Star qualified dishwashers run 50% more quietly than 10-year old models.

Help the Environment:
Less energy means less pollution and greenhouse gases in the environment. Less water consumption helps protect our lakes, streams and oceans.
Stay away from the heat-dry, rinse-hold and pre-rinse features and try the air-dry option instead.

You can read more here about choosing a Frigidaire dishwasher.

Electrolux to Give Portion of Profits to Cancer Research

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September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and to help raise awareness, Electrolux, leading is teaming up with Kelly Ripa to launch its premium laundry collection in North America. At the centerpiece of the new collection is a front-loading washer and dryer in “Turquoise Sky,” inspired by the brightly-hued ribbon that is the nationally recognized symbol in the fight against ovarian cancer.

During September, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Electrolux Turquoise Sky Washers and Dryers will benefit The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is the perfect opportunity to remind people that we need to raise funds to help find a method of early detection for ovarian cancer. It’s a deadly disease that affects thousands of women and their families each year,” notes Ripa. “That’s why I am so grateful to Electrolux for stepping up once again to help me raise money and awareness to help support this important cause.”

“Electrolux is proud to support the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund and its efforts to fund the research that will eradicate this deadly disease; that’s why we’re donating $200 to the OCRF for each Turquoise Sky Washer and Dryer pair purchased as part of our commitment to raise more than $500,000 to help fight ovarian cancer over the next two years,” said Electrolux Major Appliances President and CEO, North America, Keith McLoughlin.

For more information, visit www.electroluxappliances.com or check out the new laundry line at select independent appliance dealers Best Buy, Lowe’s and Sears.

Miele Earns Robb Report “Best of Best” for Washer

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German appliance manufacturer Miele reports that their super large capacity Honeycomb Care™ laundry system has been awarded the top honor in the Robb Report’s “Best of the Best” issue featuring the “Best” products for affluent lifestyles.

The Robb Report “Best of the Best” issue is currently in its 20th year of compiling the finest examples of technology, exclusivity and overall quality in the luxury market. “Miele has always been known for its top-of-the-line washers and dryers, but because the products are geared to a mostly European audience, they traditionally have been sized for smaller loads,” said Bruce Wallin, Editorial Director, Robb Report. “The new Miele appliances represent a rare breed that combines the best of both worlds: large-capacity washers and dryers that are gentle on your clothes.”

From Miele directly:

The Miele Honeycomb Care™ laundry collection easily and safely launders a wide range of clothing including woolens, silks and other delicate fabrics once washed by hand or sent to a dry cleaner. MasterCare™ technology, available on the top-of-the-line W 4840 model, adds an enhanced program selection to optimize the care and cleaning of outerwear, comforters, dress shirts and much more. Consumers no longer have to know the temperature or spin speed – Miele’s Honeycomb Care™ laundry is programmed by clothing type – so a user selects the type and the machine already knows how to effectively clean them.

Miele has achieved more than 10 patents for the Honeycomb Care™ system’s technological advancements – increasing its longevity, cleaning performance, energy savings and quiet, stable operation. A few of these patented features include: the Honeycomb Drum™ that is proven to extend the life of clothing four times longer than other washers; a new aerodynamic lint filter on the super large capacity dryer that reduces the total dry time by keeping a continuous airflow; and, the optional appliance stand / storage drawer with a patented shelf for setting laundry baskets at the perfect height for sorting and folding.

Time For a New Lawn Mower?

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The End of Season sales are a good time to replace that old mower you’ve been dragging out all summer.  Newer models are more energy efficient and the gas models burn cleaner too.  Before you head out to your local home store, take a few minutes to brush up on your lawn mower knowledge.

One of your first decisions is whether you want a gas or electric mower.  Gas mowers are powerful and can handle long, dense grass.  There are many different models available.  On the downside, they require oil, air filter and spark plug changes.  They use a pull start and are often quite noisy.  You need to have a ready supply of gasoline.  Electric mowers are quiet with no fuel or exhaust emissions and require little maintenance other than sharpening the blades.  They start with a simple switch or push button and are generally lightweight.  The negatives of electric mowers include the limits of mowing within 100 feet of an electrical outlet- the length of the cord.  Cordless machines require a rechargeable battery with a limited run time, on average, of 45 minutes.

Both gas and electric mowers come with the option of being push or self-propelled.  Self-propelled mowers are easy to use, they move automatically when you pull a lever and stop when the  lever is released.  ( A safety feature to keep it from running away from you as they do in bad comedies.)  They come in a variety of models, but are more expensive than push mowers.  Push mowers will give you a workout and burn calories.  They are tough to use on hills or yards larger than 1/4 acre.

Side-discharge mowers leave lawn clippings to be raked.  Bag equipped models collect the clippings but add to the weight being pushed.  Mulchers finely chop the clippings and leave them behind to fertilize the grass.

One last tip: measure your gates to be sure the new mower can get into your yard.

Win a New GE Profile Washer/Dryer Pair

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Visit Times Square on August 26th, 2008 for a free demonstration of GE’s newest washer/dryer pair. Between 8 a.m. ET and 4 p.m. ET, be sure to enter this event’s sweepstakes for a chance to win your own GE Profile frontload laundry pair with a SmartDispense pedestal and dryer storage pedestal.

The Washer:

Uses H2ition to sense the right amount of water and temperature for each load (ENERGY STAR® qualified)
Communicates electronically with the dryer to preset dry cycles and help save time
Stain Inspector ™ provides more than 40 different preprogrammed stain treatments
Offers SmartDispense technology, which when used with the optional pedestal can store and dispense 6 months worth of detergent and fabric softener

The Dryer:

Uses a reverse tumble to offer the fastest, most even drying
Includes a built-in dryer rack and hanger clip for more drying options
Has a 7.5 cubic foot capacity