Ok fine, but there’s no denying that kitchen appliances definitely do have a limited lifespan, and no matter how well you take care of them, there comes a time when you will have to bid Manny the microwave a very teary goodbye. In this article, we’re going to help you figure out just when that goodbye should be.
Knives are one of the few things in a chef’s arsenal that can actually last for decades if you take care of them well. Why? Because they’re solid metal through and through (with the exception of the handle which may need replacing), the blade itself can be maintained by frequent sharpening and honing. If you’re looking for a way to sharpen the blades that you have at home, do take a look at knife sharpeners for some high-quality kitchen equipment.
One of the things that you will need to replace fairly often is Teflon (AKA nonstick pans), during its lifetime, it is the chef’s best friend due to its uncomplicated nature, but after a few years of wear and tear, Teflon pans can begin to show scratches and God forbid bare metal. It is when you see these scratches and when the food begins to stick to it that it’s probably time to let it go.
Electronic appliances are great for all kinds of things, and the one that gets the most action at least in my kitchen is the blender. We use it all the time to blend smoothies, milkshakes, juices, etc. In the world of electronic appliances, it’s generally understood that you get what you pay for. You can’t pay a bottom dollar and expect an appliance that’s going to be strong enough to blend cement. At any rate, putting a lot of stress on a blender by expecting it to punch above its weight and blend really hard stuff is probably going to be a death sentence, and the moment you start smelling the engine burning, that’s when you know it’s time to say goodbye to Bob the blender.
Electric kettles are just great because we don’t really know how to maintain them (who does really?) they mostly just die off on their own without much warning. One day you will find that Karla the kettle just isn’t heating up water like she used to. Generally speaking, take care of your kettle, clean it well (especially if you have hard water that calcifies on the heating element).
Food processors are the home cook’s other best friend. And when you buy one, we recommend that you invest a good amount into it because you’re going to be getting a ton of use out of it. The way you take care of a food processor is by cleaning it out thoroughly after use. But one day you will find that the blades don’t cut as well as they used to. That’s when you know it’s time to either, hand sharpen them like some kind of frugal psycho, or just replace the blender.