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SIMPLE YET STYLISH
Now you can customise your kitchen according to your needs with a range of built-in appliances. These gadgets may not have the fancy voice-recognition technology, but they score on optimum usage of space, energy conservation and sophisticated design. You can purchase a combination of built-in dishwasher, deep fryer, barbeque and microwave from Häfele's design studio. The full-integrated dish washer is a notch above the rest. Unlike several other dishwashers in the market which only have four programs, Häfele's appliance has six washing programs for intensive, normal, economy, rinse, glass rapid and soak. Armed with LED indicators, the dish washer also comes with pressure switch water sensors, anti-flood device, two spray arms and three- to nine-hour delay option.
Price: Häfele dishwasher, Rs 46,490; built-in microwave, Rs 22,690
STAYING COOL THIS SUMMER
The MasterCool range by Miele offers a combination of refrigerator, freezer and wine conditioner which can be installed together or purchased separately, depending on your cooling needs. The refrigerator boasts a touch-based system and has four independent cooling zones. You don't need to bother with different settings for vegetables, meats and dairy as the fridge automatically optimises the humidity levels and temperature in the storage drawers. With an energy efficiency rating of A+, its energy consumption per 100 litres usable space is 0,21 kWH in 24 hours, The wine conditioning unit, too, maintains an optimum temperature of 10-12 degrees Celsius, so that your reds, whites and roses don't spoil.
Price: The refrigerator with a capacity of 543 ltr is priced at Rs 849,990, while the wine conditioning unit, with a capacity of 102 bottles, is priced at Rs 999,990
BREW A HOT CUPPA
Turn brew master for your friends and family with the Intelia One Touch Cappuccino machine. This fully automatic machine instantly grinds the beans and froths the milk to create a creamy cappuccino at the press of a button. The gadget allows you to vary the temperature and strength of the coffee and the amount of milk you add, unlike the other machines available in the market which follow pre-determined settings. The brewing process has been certified by the Centro Studi Assaggiatori - Italian Tasters Association, founded in 1990. You can also opt for the Intelia Focus which is the first fully automatic espresso machine for home use.
Price: Intelia Cappuccino, Rs 74,995; Intelia Focus, Rs 54,995
COOK UP A STORM
This set-up promises to bring out the Master Chef in you. The CombiSet Range by Miele offers a combination of gas, electric, induction, induction wok, barbeque grill, deep fryer and a tepan yaki unit. The highlight of the unit is the salamander, which happens to be a favourite with chefs across the world as it helps in browning, glazing, caramelising or simply keeping the food warm. Each component in this CombiSet caters to a different cooking technique. While the induction wok is ideal for stir fries, the tepan yaki unit uses a stainless steel cooking plate for grilling, roasting and flambeing.
Price: Miele CS 1000 range of combi sets, between Rs 95,000 and Rs 300,000
STRETCHING THE CULINARY LIMITS
Unlike the other induction hobs available in the market, the The FlexInduction hob by Siemens Home Appliances doesn't restrict you with single-zone cooking. Instead, it offers an extended zone cooking feature that allows you to place several pans, utensils and cookware of all shapes and sizes on it at the same time. To save on power, Siemens has introduced the connect and disconnect mode. As part of the former, the cooking zones work at the same power level while in the disconnect mode, different power levels can be selected as per individual requirements. The 60-cm wide hob has a power output of up to 3.6 kW and ensures uniform heat distribution.
Price: FlexInduction Hob by Siemens, Rs 105,000
SUPER GADGETS
Internationally, kitchen appliances have transformed into super-cool gadgets that you wouldn't mind showing off in the living room. One can find a smart fridge that comes with an LCD touchscreen, camera and an Internet connection to download recipes. The focus is on invention.
For instance, Miele has come up with an intelligent 3-D cutlery tray for the dishwasher. Often international designs are localised for the Indian markets.
When Philips launched the AirFryer, which uses 80 per cent less oil than conventional frying methods, the team spent more than six months trying to understand the nuances involved in cooking different Indian recipes.
