3 Thanksgiving Turkey Tips You Need to Know!

Before you start cooking for a big meal for the holidays,take these pro tips from Celebrity Chef Mark Kalix. These tips will help you make sure that you have your turkey ready on time for dinner.



1. Prep your oven before hand by taking out all the extra racks and putting the rack about 3/4 down in the oven. You can also save time by cutting all of your produce and herbs the day before.

2. When deciding when you should start cooking the turkey, work backwards. Think about the time that you want it done and on the table. It takes about 15 minutes per pound to start with. Add an extra hour for resting and an extra 20 minutes for carving.

3. Before you put your turkey in, make sure to over preheat. Set your oven at 500 degrees Fahrenheit and put it on induction bake. Roasting it for a long period of time will burn it.  The reason why you want to have the preheating so high is because when you put in your oven it actually shocks it because it is so big and cold. The temperature of the oven will actually go down to almost 90-120 degrees and will take about an hour to get back up to the temperature that you want to cook it at, usually 350 degrees Fahrenheit. By having the heat higher it will drop down to the correct temperature and can save you about an hour of cooking time.

We hope that with these simple tips, you will save time and make sure you start eating the meal right when everyone arrives.

6 Benefits of a Steam Dryer

The latest trend in high-end laundry (as well as dishwashers and ranges) is steam. While some of the benefits of steam are obvious, there are some added qualities that you may have not thought of.

1. A conventional dryer applies heated air to your wet clothes. This causes the moisture to evaporate. A steam dryer uses hot air to dry clothes, but takes it one step further with steam. The steam cycle allows the moist air to penetrate the clothes and soften the fabrics reducing wrinkles.

2. There is a wrinkle release cycle which is similar to the steam refresh cycle, but it happens at the end of the cycle and will periodically tumble the load until you take the clothes out. This helps prevent wrinkles that caused by your clothes to sitting in the dryer for a while.
3. Steam is used to sanitize items. This works great for killing germs in kid's toys, dog beds and toys, or just to keep your family safe during the flu season.

4. Steam is used to freshen up items that should not be washed. Things like shoes, hats, pillows, camping equipment, and sports equipment. This can also be used as a way to freshen a shirt up without having to do a complete load of laundry.

5. Purchasing a new laundry pair with steam technology is a little more expensive, but it can save you time. If you use steam, you won't have to iron ever again.

6. Using steam cycle can actually make your clothes last longer. With all the benefits, including refreshing your clothes without using detergents and skipping the ironing board can actually help for fabrics not break down as easily and keeping strong and less likely to rip and separate.

Steam allows you more flexibility and improve the drying quality. All of these benefits make steam the hot new feature and is a great option when selecting your new laundry set.

LG vs Samsung Laundry

If you are in search of a new washer and dryer you will probably look at a couple of different appliance brands before making a purchase. There is a lot of new technology innovations in laundry than you may realize. If you are in search of an appliance that has great technology and is stylish you will probably be wanting to look at LG and Samsung.

LG and Samsung are both Korean manufacturers that blasted into the appliance industry during the last decade. They both show no signs of slowing down. LG hit the market hard about 15 years ago and Samsung about 10. Both companies are known for their innovation, style, features, and technological advances.

Both companies are always rated highly in leading consumer publications. The LG brand attempts to be the leader in home appliance innovation. Samsung also  strives to become number one in the home appliance industry. Seeing that they have similar goals and are great rivals, makes it exciting for consumers to find the best machine. You know that no matter which company you choose, you know that you are going to get amazing technology and features like smart appliances or other advanced features.

The two companies both have very similar machines and branding strategies. The two companies were initially in high-volume stores, but switched to being independent stores  which creates an even more competitive pricing advantage for customers.  Most companies will first sell to independent retailers and then when they have processes and systems sell to larger retailers to support the volume.

A buying tip is to purchase during promotional times like holidays will save you 10% to 20% or even more.

We like both brands for different reasons. They both have similar cubic feet and interesting features. Their large capacity, over 5.0 is very impressive in both brands and often rate very well in consumer magazines. Because of the large capacity it is crucial to do site checks in your own home before delivery to see if they would fit in your basement or laundry room. They both have great advanced features like anti-vibration systems or sensor drying technology. Both brands are making their machines connected appliances meaning that you can control them directly with your smart phone to save consumers time and money.

There are some features and options than you will probably rarely use, but can be very convenient when washing delicate clothing. It's hard to believe where the technology has gone to with how specific each cycle can be.

Some time ago, LG used to be one of the statistically worst appliances to buy, but in the last decade they have vastly improved. Samsung has always been a great trusted brand. Unfortunately, they recently had a large recall, but have taken precautions to improve their production for the future. Both companies have received a lot of feedback about difficulty in getting parts in a timely manner. LG pays the lowest labor rates in the industry. Many service companies don’t want to fix these machines in warranty and risk a huge loss.

Now that you know a little more about both LG and Samsung. It's time to compare some of their models. Here are a couple of options to choose from:

Samsung Washer WF45M5500AP and Samsung Dryer DVE45M5500P

Washer Features:

• Steam Wash
• VRT Plus Technology- reduces vibration for quiet washing
• Large capacity
• Self Clean+ to keep your drum fresh and clean
• Smart Care with your smart phone

Dryer Features:

• ENERGY STAR ®  certified
• Multi-steam Technology
• Sensor Dry
• Vent Sensor
• 10 Preset Dry Cycles
• Smart Care with your smart phone

LG Washer WM9000HVA and LG Dryer DLEX9000V

Washer Features:

• TurboWash® makes your big loads require less time
• SmartThinQ® Technology to connect to your smart phone
• Steam Technology
• TubClean to keep your washer fresh
• Electronic Panel

Dryer Features:

• TurboSteam Technology
• SmartThinQ® Technology to connect to your smart phone
• NeveRust™ Stainless Steel Drum
• Elevated angled door for easy access
• Dial-A-Cycle™ drying program

Only you can decide on which washer and dryer is best for you and which brand you will ultimately go with. Let our team know if you have any questions when comparing any laundry set or other appliances.

5 Steps to Clean Smooth-Top Cooking Surfaces

The sleek design of a smooth-top stove can be very appealing to have installed into a kitchen. Choosing this option can make your kitchen have a modern and clean look. It will provide extra countertop space and can be easier to clean than traditional coil burner options.

Cleaning the surface will take a little bit of effort, but after every clean your cook-top will look sparkly clean just like when you first installed it.

We recommend to wipe down your cook-top after every use to help keep it clean, once of course, the surface cools down. We know that spills can happen and that you can get busy after cooking and forget to wipe it down. Here are a couple of steps to get the gunk off and have your smooth-top shine!

1. Use a cleaner specifically recommended for cleaning smooth-top cooking surfaces as some substances may harm your cook-top with chemicals like ammonia and bleach. We recommend using Cerama Bryte as it is the best choice when trying to remove tough stains. It is formulated for heavy-duty cleaning without making scratches on glass surfaces. When used regularly, it helps maintain shine and performance.
2. Wait until the cooking surface is cool to the touch.  To remove any burnt on food residue use a single edged razor blade scrapper. Scrape off the thick areas and wipe it off of the cook-top with a paper towel.
3. Use a quarter-sized amount of cleaner and a nylon cleaning pad to remove residue.  DO NOT use a metal abrasive cleaning pad such as steel wool. Don't be afraid to rub hard on the surface with the right materials as it won't scratch the surface.
4. After cleaning with nylon pad, use a dry paper towel to remove any remaining cleaning residue.
5. The last step it to take a microfiber cloth and wipe the surface to give your cook-top that shine.

Following these simple tips will keep you smooth-top looking just as it did when your first purchased it. These steps are great to follow before having family or friends come over for dinner.

Bosch Black Stainless Steel Dishwasher

We have seen many color changes in appliances over the years such as stainless steel, slate, white ice, and black stainless. Black stainless steel finish options are very popular and for good reasons. One of the biggest reasons is that black stainless steel resist fingerprints and smudges. This option makes cleaning much easier, especially when having young kids.

LG, Samsung, KitchenAid, GE, Whirlpool, and Frigidaire all have kitchen packages available in a Black Stainless. Each of the appliance brands have their own unique finish when it comes to black stainless steel and it is hard to mix and match the black color with the different brands.  Many of our customers might want a kitchen package in one of these brands, however, they tend to want their dishwasher to be quieter and better.

Bosch has always been recognized as a leading manufacturer of dishwashers.  Unfortunately, they have not had a dishwasher in a black stainless to compliment the black stainless offerings in the other brands…..UNTIL NOW!! Bosch does in fact have their own black stainless kitchen suite.

Today, I would like to introduce the new Black Stainless available in Bosch.  The new SHPM78W54N has all of the latest innovations in dishwashing technologies from Bosch, and is now available in a beautiful Black Stainless finish.

The unique thing about Bosch's black stainless is that the unique black-graphite tone color actually reflects light back into the kitchen. This makes the room feel more spacious and inviting when compared to other black stainless steel made by other brands which traditionally absorb light.

The dishwasher unit features 42 dBA which is a measurement of sound and makes this dishwasher one of the quietest dishwashers on the market. This dishwasher also has a stainless interior which make it last longer, handle higher water temperatures, and absorb sound better making  the unit quieter compared to plastic interiors. The other great feature is that this unit has a third rack for your utensils or other odd shaped items This also allows more space on the bottom rack for bigger items to fit. 

If you are needing a high performance dishwasher to compliment your new black stainless kitchen, you should consider the new line in Bosch available in black stainless.

Please let us know if you have any questions. We hope to hear from you soon.