Appliance . net -- Home and Kitchen Appliances news, reviews, ratings, repair centers, store locator and community forums

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Portable Dehumidifiers
Units: About 98,000
Manufacturer: LG Electronics Tianjin Appliance Co., of China
Hazard: The power connector for the dehumidifier’s [...]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Blenders
Units: About 53,800
Importer: Haier America Trading, L.L.C., of New York, N.Y.
Manufacturer: Ka Po International Industrial Co., of [...]

The holiday season and food. They seem to be inseparable. One way to make the job of cooking for the holidays easier is to let your appliances do the work for you. If you own a slow cooker, you know how nice it is to come home to dinner- ready to eat. [...]

It’s a complaint of a generation – “They don’t make ‘em like they used to” It seems that appliances, both large and small, fall into that category. Mark Kinsler shares his take on this in his own home with their latest crockpot:
We immediately learned its fatal flaw, which was it smelled [...]

Most of us have at least one- you know yours- the appliance you were sure you needed, used once or twice and relegated to the back of a closet. It disappeared into your home’s own appliance Bermuda Triangle.
Tamar Haspel who blogs at starvingofftheland.com writes about her’s and her mother’s appliance mis-purchases.
A Champion juicer [...]

Name of Product: Black & Decker® Thermal Coffeemakers
Units: About 9,800
Distributor: Applica Consumer Products Inc., of Miramar, Fla.
Hazard: The coffeemakers can overheat and melt, posing a burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received one report of a coffeemaker melting. No injuries reported.
Description: This recall involves Black & Decker 8-cup programmable thermal coffeemakers. [...]

The hot, humid weather of summer is about to meet Americans’ continuing desire to cut costs this cooling season. Room air conditioners are a practical way to cool down when temperatures heat up, especially if you want to save money by only cooling the rooms you use the most.
New room air conditioners are significantly more [...]

MicroFridge, the industry leader in compact specialty appliances, today introduced the next generation in small space convenience. The new product line includes patent-pending Safe Plug® technology and also features a Dual Outlet Charge Station that enables people to safely and conveniently charge a range of popular electronic devices such as laptop computers, MP3 players, cell [...]

PartSelect.com is pleased to announce the launch of its Paint Your Appliance Pink contest which runs from July 1, 2009 – September 1, 2009. Contestants can enter to win 1 of 3 Pink Prize Packages valued at $369.97 and help PartSelect donate up to $10,000 to Breast Cancer Research.
Breast Cancer is the second most [...]

Name of Product: Black & Decker® brand Spacemaker™ Coffeemakers
Units: About 584,000
Distributor: Applica Consumer Products Inc., of Miramar, Fla.
Hazard: The brew basket can shift out of alignment allowing hot water to overflow. This poses a scalding and burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 235 reports of hot water overflowing and contacting consumers, including 10 [...]

Name of Product: Starbucks Barista® Blade Grinders and Seattle’s Best Coffee® Blade Grinders
Units: About 530,000
Importer: Starbucks Coffee Co., of Seattle, Wash.
Manufacturer: Tsann Kuen (Zhangzhou) Enterprise Co. Ltd. (“TKL”), of China
Hazard: The grinder can fail to turn off or can turn on unexpectedly, posing a laceration hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 176 reports [...]

Name of Product: Wagner Paint Sprayers
Units: About 35,000
Importer: Wagner Spray Tech Corp., of Plymouth, Minn.
Hazard: The on-off switch can be dislodged from the casing, resulting in exposure of electrical connections. This can pose an electrical shock hazard to the consumer.
Incidents/Injuries: There have been no reported incidents or injuries.
Description: This recall includes the Wagner Control Spray [...]

Name of Product: National and Sanyo Hand-Held Hair Dryers
Units: About 2,300
Importer: Vintage International Inc., of Hacienda Heights, Calif.
Hazard: The hair dryers are not equipped with an immersion protection device to prevent electrocution if the hair dryer falls into water. Immersion protection devices, which prevent electrocution, are required by industry safety standards for all electric hand-held [...]

Today stainless is still popular in kitchen remodeling, but it is slowly losing its standing to oiled bronze. Thirty years from now we will all look back at these kitchens and fondly remember them the same way we are chuckling at the kitchens of the 1970’s.
Although my mother chose the ever-so-popular Avocado Green appliances, [...]

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) is the trade association representing manufacturers of major, portable, and floor care appliances and suppliers to the industry. Included in AHAM membership are manufacturers of portable room air cleaners. AHAM is a standards development organization for numerous technical, performance based standards for home appliances. AHAM also administers [...]

Name of Product: Bunn® Single Cup Pod Brewers
Units: About 35,600
Manufacturer: Bunn-O-Matic Corp., of Springfield, Ill.
Hazard: The pod drawer of the pod brewer can open unexpectedly during a brew cycle, posing a burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Bunn-O-Matic has received 10 reports of the drawer opening unexpectedly, including one report of minor burns.
Description: This recall involves Bunn® [...]

If you just have to have the shiniest, sleekest slow cooker on the block, Cuisinart has it for you. But it’s apparently got more than good looks. It holds 6.5 quarts, more than enough to feed a family a hearty dinner. It also features a 24-hour programmable cook time, a digital [...]

Some of you might remember these; for everyone else, yes,  this is how the fridge and stove really looked.

My childhood best friend had the whole matched set – in pink!- I was so envious.
 

Did anyone sit down to breakfast dressed like this?  And where are the kids? 

Is the jam part of this toaster?  Nooo… It [...]

Another Earth Day has passed us and just as we make resolutions on New Year’s Day, you might have planned to change your energy wasting ways. Those New Year’s resolutions are difficult to maintain, because we often try to do too much. Making just a few small changes is helpful and can be [...]

Name of Product: Special and Narita Hair Dryers
Units: About 3,000
Importer: Universalink International Trading Inc., of La Puente, Calif.
Hazard: The hair dryers are not equipped with an immersion protection device to prevent electrocution if the hair dryer falls into water. Immersion protection devices, which prevent electrocution, are required by industry standards for all electric hand-held hair [...]

Name of Product: Toaster Oven/Broilers
Units: About 106,000
Importer: Haier America Trading L.L.C., of New York, N.Y.
Manufacturer: Lun Dar Electric Ind. Ltd., of Taiwan
Hazard: Electrical connections in the toaster oven/broilers can become loose, posing electrical shock and burn hazards.
Incidents/Injuries: Haier America has received two reports of minor burns and one report of a minor electrical shock to [...]

Name of Product: Philips Senseo One-Cup Coffeemakers
Units: About 155,000
Distributor: Philips Consumer Lifestyle, of Stamford, Conn.
Hazard: An electrical fault and the build-up of calcium from hard or medium water can cause an obstruction in the coffeemaker. If this happens, the boiler can burst, posing a burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported in the United States. The [...]

The US stimulus bill recently signed into law by US President Barack Obama includes a $300 million provision to fund the Energy Efficient Appliance Rebate Program.
This program will be administered through the 50 US states and will  provide financial incentive to encourage consumer spending and target it to energy savings through consumer rebates for the [...]

Name of product: Clothing Irons
Units: About 45,000
Distributor: Conair Corporation, of Stamford, Conn.
Hazard: The clothing iron can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Conair has received three reports of overheating, including two fires resulting in property damage. No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves Conair clothing irons with model numbers DPP1500, DPP1500R and [...]

 Many Americans are finding themselves looking for ways to save money. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) has come up with a list of five appliances that may already be in your home, which can help you save money.
Coffeemakers —Save on pricy coffeehouse blends by brewing your morning cup at home. Resisting a three [...]

I’ve owned a few crock-pots over the years. Right now I have two- both of them the large six quart models made by Rival. They are both basic models that have a simple central knob for choosing a low or high setting. I prefer my appliances simple and these are perfect for [...]

If you like having a cordless vacuum handy for quick clean-ups, and you have a house with hard surfaced floors, Dirt Devil’s KRUZ cordless floor vac might be your next lightweight vacuum purchase.
This five pound, bagless upright offers easy maneuverability, allowing you to twist 360 degrees to reach around furniture and into hard [...]

After more than thirty people in twelve states contracted salmonella from microwaveable dinners, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a warning on February 12th about microwaving food.
“Foods cooked improperly in the microwave have the potential to make people sick,” said Graciela Padua, a research associate professor of food science and human nutrition at [...]

Name of product: Style Elements Hair Dryers
Units: About 31,000
Importer: Big Lots Stores, Inc., of Columbus, Ohio
Hazard: The hair dryers are not equipped with an immersion protection device to prevent electrocution if the hair dryer falls into water. Electric shock protection devices are required by industry standards for all electric hand-held hair dryers.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: This [...]

This is just like winning a new appliance in retroactively. All you need to do is register your GE appliance, and you will be automatically entered in a monthly drawing for $2500 from GE. The contest lasts until October 2009 and winners will be awarded a check for the full amount. You [...]

Microwaves are one of the great conveniences of life. They heat up our coffee and lunch at work, make popcorn for snacks and heat up leftovers for a quick dinner.  While most of us admit to using the microwave for these tasks, there are fewer who find they truly cook meals using them.
“Everyone says that [...]

Steam is the latest thing in the laundry room.  You can get steam enhanced washers and dryers and although they’ve been around for years, clothes steamers are making a presence lately.  In the past they were most often seen at cleaners or tailors.  You could drop off your suit for pressing and steaming, picking it [...]

Do you have the cutest pet in the world?  Come on, you know you think so.  Or maybe not.  Maybe you know that the zany uniqueness of your family pet is what stands out.  Either way, Bissell, the carpet cleaner specialist is offering you a chance to show your pet to the world.
One winner will [...]

In the not too distant past, it was the stuff of science fiction for people to have “smart” homes – those houses that lit up and co-ordinated timers, alarms, coffeemaker and dinner each day as you awoke in the morning and arrived home at night.
Today a study by Connected Home Research Council (formerly the [...]

One of the easiest ways to extend the life of your appliance is with some preventative maintenance. Don’t spend your hard earned money on new appliances when applying some of these simple tips can keep your laundry, kitchen and small appliances running smoothly.
Washing machine – Make sure this is set up on an even [...]

Remember the vibrating chair and the nose hair trimmers?   Sharper Image, the company who filed for bankruptcy and closed its stores in 2008, is remaking itself and has plans for a comeback.
This time, Sharper Image will be selling a variety of home electronics under their Sharper Image name, but in independent stores nationwide, not [...]

Name of Product: Fit & Fresh™ Smooth Blend Mixers
Units: About 54,500
Importer: MEDport LLC, of Providence, R.I.
Hazard: While placing the cup on or off the base of the mixer, the mixer can be unexpectedly turned on, activating the blade. This can pose a serious laceration hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: MEDport has received one report of finger lacerations [...]

Name of Product: General Electric Toasters
Units: About 210,000
Importer: Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark.
Hazard: An electrical short circuit can occur between the heating element and the bread cage, posing a fire and electrical shock hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Wal-Mart has received 140 reports of fires or sparks coming from the toasters or the toasters tripping the [...]

Name of Product: Wolf Appliance Gas Ranges
Units: About 24,000
Manufacturer: Wolf Appliance Inc., of Madison, Wis.
Hazard: Delayed ignition of gas in the 18-inch oven can cause a flash of flames to be projected at a consumer when the range door is opened, posing a burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Wolf has received 97 reports of [...]

In today’s economy, with consumers watching their spending, manufacturers of countertop appliances are evaluating how these conveniences are used in our homes and what will spur us to buy their brand when a new one is needed. We all want to feel we are getting all we can for our dollar.
With this in mind, many [...]

Name of Product: Signature Gourmet™ and Crofton® Personal Blenders
Units: About 124,000
Importers: Atico International USA Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (for the Crofton® model) and East West Distributing Co., of Deerfield Ill. (for the Signature Gourmet™ model)
Hazard: While placing the cup on or off the base of the blender, the blender can be inadvertently turned on, [...]

Here at Appliance.net we get a lot of comments (read: complaints).  People want to vent their frustration about their broken dishwasher, inept repairman and customer service that isn’t.  Our forums are great place to share what has worked for you and of course, what hasn’t.  Sometimes we find a tip that just needs to be [...]

I think infomercials are unbearably annoying, but somehow I find myself pausing on the way to my show of the moment to see the latest gadget being hawked.  Sarah Aycock at Louisiana State University has discovered that she is drawn to appliance infomercials.
You flip to your favorite channel, but instead of the familiar lineup, there’s a [...]

Whether you are looking for a basic model for heating up leftovers or one with options for baking and broiling, we have tips and information to make your decision easier.
Counter top ovens are the least expensive starting at as low as $25 and ranging in size from a compact 17″wide by 13′ deep to a larger [...]

Here’s a fun gadget for the baker in the house. A .90 cubic foot brick oven that sits on your counter top. Cuisinart offers this oven with permanently built in bricks on the top and sides, two racks for multi level cooking, three settings and 1700 watts of power to reach up to 500°F . [...]

I’ve always thought of Vita-Mix blenders as a health food, hippy blender, one that has been replaced by juicers. Nevertheless, in the back of my mind I can ‘t help wondering if it is the answer to my ice crushing, smoothie making needs.  Sylvia Carter seems to feel the same way, but she finally gave in and purchased [...]

Name of Product: Deluxe Bottle and Food Warmers
Units: About 5,000
Manufacturer: Munchkin Inc., of North Hills, Calif.
Hazard: The bottle and food warmers can overheat, posing a fire hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: Munchkin has received nine reports of units overheating, several of which ignited, causing damage to countertops. No injuries have been reported.
Description: This recall involves the Munchkin Deluxe Bottle [...]

It’s been said before, but for many people the day just doesn’t really start until they’ve had that first cup of coffee. Not only that, but now coffee drinkers have myriad choices of beans and roasting styles. Those specially selected beans need to be brewed just right. Be sure to find a [...]

Fisher & Paykel, the New Zealand appliance manufacturer well known for it’s dishwasher drawers and washing machines is consolidating it’s manufacturing and moving to Reynosa, Mexico, just south of the U.S. border.
The range and DishDrawer factory in Dunedin, New Zealand, the refrigeration plant in Brisbane, Australia and the DCS manufacturing plant in Huntington Beach will [...]

Name of Product: Electric Simmer Pots
Units: About 830,000
Importer: Waxcessories® Inc., of Dracut, Mass.
Hazard: The simmer pots have wire connections that can become loose, posing a risk of fire and electric shock to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: There have been 161 reports of discolored cords, loose wires, and wires separating from the pot. No injuries have been reported.
Description: The [...]

The last man I know who tried to cut his own hair, had his family laughing at his expense for weeks.  Luckily a quick visit to a stylist saved him from having to face the world with the botched look.  I’m wondering if he’d like to try this new clipper from Remington which claims it [...]

Bissell introduces a handy little deep cleaner for use around the house. It’s portable and can be used in the car as well. It has a long power cord and since it can be hand-held, you can easily clean in hard to reach areas and on stairs. It can be used on [...]

Oneida Ltd., the 128 year old tabletop company, and a leading source of flatware, dinnerware, drinkware, cookware, bakeware and kitchen gadgets for both the consumer and food service
industries worldwide, announced it has signed a licensing agreement with Greystone Brands Ltd. Under the terms of the agreement, Greystone will license the Oneida brand for use in [...]

Phil Davis is the Managing Member of iCubed International, the company that makes the smallest microwave ever built. “I was looking for a way to do a hot towel treatment before my shave,”
said Davis, “I figured the only way I could do that was to have a microwave in the bathroom. I [...]

The Vita-Mix Corporation has been extolling the virtues of a whole food diet for decades, quietly amassing thousands of loyal customers who have made Vita-Mix high-performance blenders an integral part of their healthy lifestyles. Today, Vita-Mix is proud to announce the first new Vita-Mix household blender in 15 years – the Vita-Mix 5200. The Vita-Mix [...]

Name of Product: Electric Toasters
Units: About 12,000
Distributor: Salton Inc., of Lake Forest, Ill.
Hazard: The toaster can turn on without bread in the slots and ignite items placed on top of it, posing a fire hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: None.
Description: This recall involves the chrome two-slice electric toasters sold under the following brands: Farberware (model # [...]

Here’s a twist on the crockpot and fondue pot. Hamilton Beach’s Party Crock Cookset. This little pot would be great for entertaining. The 1.5 quart pot holds dips or side dishes on your buffet and can go from the refrigerator to the heating base to the table so you can prepare in advance [...]

Name of Product: Cooks Deep Fryers
Units: About 27,000
Importer: JCPenney, of Plano, Texas
Hazard: The deep fryer has a faulty heating element which can cause it to overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: JCPenney is aware of five incidents involving the deep fryers, including one report of a minor burn and three reports of [...]

Name of Product: Hamilton Beach® and Proctor-Silex® Toasters
Units: About 482,000
Importer: Hamilton Beach Brands Inc., of Glen Allen, Va.
Hazard: The toasters can remain “on” (energized) after popping up, and can ignite flammable items covering or in contact with the toaster, posing a fire hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: Hamilton Beach has received at least 63 reports of [...]

It can hard to find a paper shredder that fits your needs.  Many require a specific size trash can or are too big for household use. 
The MailMate which is available at Staples is so compact it can fit on a countertop, in a cabinet or under a table.  Also, the lightweight bin is easy to [...]

Back in July of 2006, I cast my vote for the immersion blender, with my article about my old Braun blender. Well, I’m not alone in my opinion. You can read Marlene Parrish’s thoughts in the Pittsburgh Post -Gazette. She’s even more enamoured of the tool than I am.
I chose model KHB300OB, [...]

Winter is a great time to enjoy chilis, stews and soups. If you want to arrive home to a comforting meal, one of the easiest ways to do so is by using a slow cooker. Slow Cookers (also known as Crock-pots) work, their name suggests, by maintaining a low, constant heat over many hours. Although [...]

Related Reading:

If you haven’t read our article on How Toasters and Toaster Ovens Work, you might want to do that before you start any repairs. If you feel ready to tackle a smallish job like this, then read on…
How to Repair a Toaster
In many homes, toasters malfunction more than any other small appliance. There are [...]

I like to know how things work.  Sometimes I can figure things out by observation, but other times I want someone to explain the details to me.  Toasters and toaster ovens are pretty straightforward  appliances, but for those of us who want a bit more information, howstuffworks.com offers this:
How Toasters Work
Most electric pop-up toasters all [...]

Name of Product: Crafters Square Hot Melt Mini Glue Guns
Units: About 253,000
Retailer: Dollar Tree Stores Inc., of Chesapeake, Va.
Importer: Greenbrier International Inc., of Chesapeake, Va.
Hazard: The recalled glue guns can short circuit, causing the gun to smoke and catch fire. This poses fire, burn and shock hazards to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Dollar Tree is aware of seven [...]

If you are like me, you prefer a toaster oven to a pop-up toaster in your kitchen. A toaster oven is more versatile. To begin with, the oven can warm pastries and muffins and toast thick sliced bread that a pop-up toaster can’t handle. A larger toaster oven can hold a small [...]

Here’s more from the great thinkers at halfbakery.com.  I really enjoy these ideas.
Keep track of instances/hours of kitchen appliance use:
I’m using my CostCo rice cooker bought a few months ago for the 3d time right now; it cost $30, so at the moment, I’m right at a $10 surcharge for each 4-cup rice serving, which [...]

Every small appliance has its moment, and the deep fryer’s moment might just be now. Even Thanksgiving turkeys are getting tossed (quite carefully-hot oil, you know) into the deep fryer. The Los Angeles Times reviewed six new deep fryers, of which, the smaller models could fry about one cup of, say, mushrooms; the larger models [...]

I just came across the site www.halfbakery.com, which as the name suggests, is a site where people can share and discuss their half-baked ideas. One I particularly liked is for an appliance ferris wheel that stores small appliances under the counter and brings them up to be used at the touch of a [...]

My family,  like many enjoys pancakes or even better- waffles- on Sunday mornings.  Crispy on the outside, puffy, tender golden brown waffles.  I’ve been making them for years using my almost eighteen year old Toastmaster waffle iron and we all love them.
Just recently, the old Toastmaster started having a bit of trouble with waffles sticking [...]

Taking a bath is relaxing, checking in frequently to see if your bathtub is full or getting the water temperature right is not. The Ondine Ess Tub-Electronic Faucet, a bathtub and shower system with an electronic touch pad will prepare your bath for you.
You can set the water level to half-full tub, full tub and [...]

During the last few days of December, volunteers show up by the hundreds to decorate the floats that will be on display during the annual Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.  One of the regulations for the floats is that they must be completely covered in plant matter.  No paint, wallpaper, plaster or cardboard is allowed [...]

The wind is blowing here, the temperature is dropping and we’re expecting rain.  On days like this we look forward to hot, comforting dinners.  A slow cooker (Crock-pot is one brand) is a convenient way to have that satisfying dinner ready when you come home at night.
Here are some helpful tips for making your slow ccoker [...]

If you’d like to see how the KitchenAid Artisan mixer looks in action before you buy, check this out and then check out our reviews of the Artisan Mixer and the Professional 600 Series.

Related Reading:

Many people believe that an air cleaner will help their family be healthier.  Using an air cleaner or air purifier in your home supposedly helps reduce dust, pollen and other respiratory irritants.  There are three types of air cleaners,  High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, electrostatic precipitators, and ozone generators.
From the Arizona Daily Star:
1. High [...]

Name of Product: Pressure Cookers
Units: About 38,250
Importer: Manttra Inc., of Virginia Beach, Va.
Manufacturer: TTK Presitge Ltd., of India
Hazard: If the pressure cookers are not closed properly, the lid can separate and allow hot contents to spill out. This poses a risk of burns to consumers.
Incidents/Injuries: Manttra has received two reports of hot contents spilling out [...]

AmericanChronicle offers this review of the toastmaster bread machine which is an option if you are looking for a less expensive bread machine than the Cuisinart that we reviewed here.
A Toastmaster bread machine is cheap to buy. This combined with their standard features makes these appliances attractive to buyers. But there are other cheap bread [...]

The BreadMachineDigest, which is a very complete resource for bread machines, offers this review of a Cuisinart bread machine:
The Cuisinart CBK-200 bread machine is an interesting machine. It offers several features that are not available on any other machine. Features like convection baking for a more evenly browned and crispier crust. A beep signal when [...]

A while ago we asked readers to let us know which small appliances they think are most important in their kitchens. Little-known-food-facts.com has compiled a list of their choices:
When it comes to small appliances, there are 6 must haves to every kitchen. Yes an automatic Can Opener is nice as is the plug in cutting [...]

I didn’t see this on TV- but apparently it’s everywhere- the One Touch can opener. I couldn’t escape it. Bed, Bath and Beyond has been stacking them in the aisle and the check-out lines and I finally gave in. I can’t resist the idea of an easy to use can opener; mine is finicky and [...]

I recently overhead someone ask a friend: ‘how did we ever find out anything before Google?’. I gave away my internet age when I said “with altavista” and added for good measure – in a gopher guide. But nevertheless, the point stands. Google is just the greatest mindshare search tool, but its just a gateway [...]

Many people believe that an air cleaner will help their family be healthier.  Using an air cleaner or air purifier in your home supposedly helps reduce dust, pollen and other respiratory irritants.  There are three types of air cleaners,  High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, electrostatic precipitators, and ozone generators.
From the Arizona Daily Star:
1. High [...]

As the days get colder, many people are bringing their electric heaters out for the season. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), the “best source of information about home appliances and the industry www.heatersafety.org. Tip number seven is one people might not be aware of:
Unless the heater is designed for outdoor use or [...]

Name of Product: Black & Decker® brand Infrawave™ Toasters
Units: About 70,000
Distributor: Applica Consumer Products Inc., of Miramar, Fla.
Hazard: An electrical component in the toaster can overheat and ignite the circuit board, posing a fire hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: Applica has received two reports of the toasters igniting, including one report of fire that damaged a kitchen countertop and [...]

KitchenAid produces a whole line of stand mixers with a range of sizes and power to suit your particular needs. Recently, we reviewed the KitchenAid Professional 600 series here and found it to be a powerhouse that can tackle truly large jobs with ease. Now we’ll take a look at the Artisan stand [...]

If you want know how to do something right, ask an expert.  The experts at Krups, the manufacturers of both commercial and home coffeemakers, offer these tips for great brewing:
1. The Coffee Beans
 It is best to buy as soon after roasting as possible. Ideally, you should purchase your coffee fresh every 1 – 2 [...]

Sharp launched a new line of heavy-duty compact microwave ovens designed to accommodate the limited space designs of busy commercial kitchens. The new line, which includes the 1200-watt R-CD1200M, 1800-watt R-CD1800M, and 2200-watt R-CD2200M, is redesigned to have a small footprint and a 0.7-cubic-foot cooking cavity. New TwinTouch dual controls make the microwaves ideal for [...]

I have some appliances that are my go-to tools for making life easier- my immersion blender, bread machine and toaster oven are a few.  At appliancepulse.com  they’ve come up with a list of what they consider the eight counter-top appliances people can’t do without.
They are:

coffee machine
microwave
toaster oven/toaster
blender
food processor
stand mixer
rice cooker
juicer

I’ll stand by numbers 2-5, but my coffeemaker [...]

As the population ages, many people choose to move to smaller homes or condos for ease of maintenance.  Some Baby-Boomers are purchasing smaller, second homes that can become retirement homes in the future. 
Marriette Mifflin at about.com advises:
Take a serious look at your appliances, large and small, and consider their age, general condition, capacity, performance, and [...]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer products. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
 Name of Product: Warm Mist Carefree Humidifier
Units: About 84,000
Manufacturer: Hunter Fan Co., of Memphis, Tenn.
Hazard: Water used in the humidifier [...]

This week we’ve been testing the KitchenAid Professional Series 600 Lift Stand Mixer (in onyx black).   I may not be a professional baker, but I’m no stranger to flour.   Most months I bake at least 16 loaves of bread, 4-6 quick breads and unreasonable amounts of cookies and brownies. Crazy yes,  but with four kids and [...]

Reuse, recycle, save energy- These ideas are ones many of us try to do daily.  There is one way we may not have thought of before- disposing of an old appliance properly.  Appliance Recycling Centers of America estimates that 55 million appliances will be removed from service this year.  If yours is one of them, be [...]

I have often thought that the little green lights on the computers, monitors and printers in my home office were handy little night lights but today I started seeing them differently. Warren Swil writes in the Los Angeles Times Opinion Section about the tremendous amount of energy that is wasted by leaving [...]

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: IonizAir(tm) Table Top Air Purifiers
Units: About 83,000
Importer: P3 International, of New York, N.Y.
Manufacturer: Leaven Enterprise Co., of [...]

Salton Inc. and QVC Recall Electric Toasters Due to Fire Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in
cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary
recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using
recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: Cook’s Essential Electric Toasters
Units: About 5,200
Retailer: QVC Inc., of West [...]

Berko Electric Toe-Space Heaters Recalled Due to Fire Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in
cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary
recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using
recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Products: Toe-Space Electric Heaters
Units: About 84,000
Manufacturer: Berko Electric, of Peru, Ind., now known [...]

Electric Heaters Recalled by Aloha Housewares Due to Fire Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in
cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary
recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using
recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: “Aloha Breeze” Portable Electric Heaters
Units: About 281,000
Importer/Distributor: Aloha Housewares, Inc. [...]

Back to Basics Products Recalls Iced Tea Makers Due to Fire Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in
cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary
recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using
recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.
Name of Product: IT400 Iced Tea Makers
Units: About 10,000
Importer: Back to Basics [...]

I know some people have those toasters with the slots on top that pop the toast up, and I remember having a toy one for my play kitchen as a child, but as an adult with a family to feed, I always choose a toaster oven over the pop-up.  My mother had a toaster oven [...]

I recently overhead someone ask a friend: ‘how did we ever find out anything before Google?’. I gave away my internet age when I said “with altavista” and added for good measure – in a gopher guide. But nevertheless, the point stands. Google is just the greatest mindshare search tool, but [...]

One of my fondest childhood memories is of eating homemade chocolate ice cream on the Fourth of July. I can still hear in my mind the sound of my parents’ ice cream maker churning for hours in the bathtub. (Where it was placed to catch the water from all the condensation that would [...]

One of the handiest tools in my kitchen is my immersion blender, also known as a hand blender. Immersion blenders have been around for about ten years, and do almost everything that a regular blender does. I have one of the older models made by Braun. Braun makes [...]