The kitchen can be a busy room, with family members coming and going and food being served and eaten. If there are multiple meals being prepped throughout the day, especially for a large family, it’s unsurprising that certain kitchen accessories can begin to show signs of wear and tear.
Three of the most common kitchen accessories to show these signs do require proper maintenance to help prevent any issues. This is maintenance that can be carried out at home, as outlined by this post.
Why Kitchen Accessories Need Regular Maintenance?
Kitchen accessories are the most important part of our daily cooking routines, but to keep them working, like new, the need regular maintenance. With constant exposure to heat, moisture, and food spills, our kitchen accessories goes with too much wear and tear.
Whether it’s a cutting board getting minor cracks, or a coffee machine which is getting dirty, ignoring their regular maintanence can lead to bigger issues. The dirt and grease that accumulate over time can cause appliances to malfunction, affecting their overall performance.
Take a stovetop or fryer, for an example – if not properly cleaned, they can become hazardous. Regular maintenance isn’t just about keeping things neat and clean; it’s also about ensuring your tools last longer, work better, and keep your kitchen safe from micro bacterias.
Kitchen Accessories That Require Regular Maintenance
Just like how keep the design of our kitchen upto date and properly maintained, similarly it’s equally important to keep our accessories maintained.
In any kitchen, there are certain accessories that are used on a daily basis. For example, the cutting board which is being used every single day. Or the coffee machine which is used every day in the morning.
These accessories can start to show signs of wear and tear if not properly maintained. Some of the most commonly used kitchen accessories such as, stovetops, ovens, and fryers – really need maintanence to avoid getting malfucntione.
Fortunately, many of these maintenance tasks are not that time consuming. With the right guide and steps, you can easily keep your accessories properly maintained.
In this section, we’ll explore 7 essential kitchen accessories that require regular maintanence.
1. Cutting Board
Cutting boards, specifically wooden cutting boards, are often overlooked when it comes to performing mandatory maintenance. Due to its use, and the damage it can receive from this, many people do not believe it is necessary to care for a cutting board. It will often end up scratched and dry, which can result in an unsightly kitchen accessory.
Knowing the proper way to maintain a wooden cutting board can avoid warping or splitting the wood. As it is a porous material, the wood will absorb water and expand before contracting at it dries; this will cause the wood fibers to break. Due to this, wooden chopping boards should not be cleaned in dishwashers. Instead, they should be cleaned using dish soap and sanitize with lemon juice, then dry it with paper towel.
The cutting board should be stored upright in the kitchen to allow air circulation. If any damage is noticed, such as cracks, repair should be carried out quickly to avoid bacteria growth. Repairs can be made using mineral oil, sandpaper, and wood glue.
2. Knives
Just like a cutting board, it’s easy to forget that kitchen knives require frequent care. As they are used to cut a variety of foods, such as meat and vegetables, knives can become blunt and dull. Even the highest quality of blades can begin to show signs of usage, and maintenance is need to ensure the knife has a long lifespan.
As strange as it sounds, the safest knife to use in the kitchen is a sharp knife. With a sharp knife, less force is required to cut foods, which means there is a smaller risk of being cut. However, to keep a kitchen knife sharp, a sharpening stone is required. This item, which is also known as a whetstone, is an incredibly conventional method of sharpening knives. The sharpening stone should be soaked before use, although the time will depend on its grit.
When it comes to using the sharpening stone, the knife should be positioned at a 20-degree angle against the stone, and the blade should be facing you. The knife can then be pushed away from you against the stone; repeat this on both sides multiple times to ensure it is completely sharpened. This process should be completed once a month to ensure effective kitchen knives.
3. Scales
The another kitchen accessory in this post is the scales, which can also be improperly maintained. With less than adequate cleaning and improper use, the accuracy of the digital device could be lost, which can have an unpleasant effect on any meals you prepare. Dirty kitchen scales will be tougher to read, and the built-up ingredients that accumulate on the scale might alter the weight.
One of the best ways to check the accuracy of your kitchen scales is to carry out a test. This can be completed by turning the digital scale on and ensuring it reads exactly zero. You can use a calibration weight or a nickel, which weighs give grams, to see how accurate the scale is, too. If the calibration is off, but the scale has a calibration feature, check the product manual to resolve this issue.
If you would like to ensure your kitchen accessories keep you cooking for a long time to come, ensure you carry out the correct maintenance on a regular basis.
4. Stovetops
Stovetop is the heart of any kitchen, but they quickly get exposed to grease, food spills, and burnt residue.
Hence, regular maintenance is the key to keeping them running smoothly. Gas stovetops need their burner grates and caps regulary cleaned to prevent clogged holes.
Also, electric stovetops, especially smooth-tops, require care to avoid scratches. Moreover, wiping down your stovetop after each use prevents forming stubborn stains on the surface.
For deeper cleans, use a non-abrasive cleaner(such as fabuloso) and soft cloth.
5. Ovens
Oven is another importance kitchen appliance that easily get exposed to spills, splatters, and burnts splashes.
Regular maintenance can keep them in shape and efficient. For example, if food residue is left too long, it can burn onto the walls and racks, making cleaning tougher.
A quick wipe down after each use helps prevent such minor issues. Make sure to clean the oven door, knobs, and vents, and check the heating elements for any signs of wear.
6. Fryers
Fryers, though a kitchen’s favorite appliance for crispy fries, can quickly become greasy and grimy with regular use.
If left unchecked, oil can buildup and affect both the performance and safety.
After each use, it’s important to carefully drain the oil and wipe down the fryer to prevent acculumating any food residue.
Every few weeks, deep clean the fryer, removing any stuck food particles and sanitizing the heating element.
7. Coffee Machine
Coffee machines are a daily essential for many, but they can get damaged if not regularly maintained.
Over time, mineral buildup from water can clog the machine’s internal parts, affecting both taste and performance.
Regularly cleaning your coffee machine helps prevent such issues, ensuring a smooth, flavorful brew every time.
To get started, clean the filter basket and drip tray after each use to avoid any coffee grounds or residue buildup.
Conclusion
In the hustle and bustle of the kitchen, it’s easy to forget the maintenance of your accessories.
But a little care goes a long way. Whether it’s a cutting board, stovetop, oven, or fryer, keeping these accessories maintained ensures they work efficiently and safely.
Regular maintenance not only extends the life of your kitchen accessories but also enhances your cooking experience. By investing a little time now, you’ll save yourself from future headaches and keep your appliance working, just the way you first purchased them.
