Choosing The Right Cutlery For You

It can be confusing when it comes to choosing Cutlery, especially there is a big selection to choose from.  Most are described as 18/10 Stainless Steel which to many people it can mean nothing at all.  Here we will explain the basics when it comes to choosing the right Cutlery Set for you

Ask yourself these questions:

• Material - What is it made of?
• Ranges - Can you buy extras to go with your new Cutlery?
• Style - Do you like the style?
• Weight - Do you like light Cutlery or want it a bit weightier?
• Dishwasher Safe - Is it dishwasher safe?

Material
Most cutlery is now made from Stainless Steel.  There are variations available like 18/0 or 18/10.  These numbers illustrate the percentages of chromium and nickel content present in the stainless steel. Chromium is a hard metallic substance that helps increase product hardness. Nickel is defined as a silvery metallic element that helps resist corrosion.  So the 18/0 means there is 18% Chromium and no Nickel while the 18/10 means 18% Chromium and 10% Nickel.

• 18/0 - Soft shine, economical and zero Nickel content
• 18/10 - Brilliant luster, rust resistant, durable and easier to maintain

Ranges
When it comes to choosing a range some people like the extras to keep in mind with their matching pieces while others are not to bothered about mixing cutlery up.  We offer a few ranges that have all the extras

• Andre Verdier Range
• Stellar Rochester Range
• Maxwell & Williams Madison Range
• Maxwell & Williams Cosmopolitan Range
• Maxwell & Williams Motion Range

Style
All cutlery are different.  Each one is styled to varied tastes. It could be the shape or the intricate pattern added to the handle.  It is really all down to your preference.

Weight
Cutlery can be light, balanced or weighty when holding it.  We all have our own preference so when choosing make sure you pick a few pieces from a range you like and just hold it for a few seconds and compare with another.  You will easily find a favourite.

Dishwasher Safe
Most cutlery is dishwasher safe - We would recommend choosing from the 18/10 Stainless Steel ranges as these are rust and chemical resistant.  Also never leave your cutlery in the dishwasher overnight, this is a sure fire way of ruining and tarnishing your cutlery.  As with most metals, if left long enough in damp or wet areas they will eventually rust.  so make sure you dry them after the cycle has finished

How To Use Your Bialetti Espresso Maker

• Fill the base with water to just below the level of the safety valve. Be careful not to overfill as the air in the space between the water and the coffee filter is what heats and forces the water up through the coffee. If the water tank is overfilled the result is boiled coffee, with a bitter or burnt taste.
• Insert the funnel.
• Loosely fill the funnel with espresso ground coffee, do not press coffee down. (Do not use instant coffee)
• Screw the top section firmly to the base.
• Place the coffeemaker on a low to medium heat.
• When using on gas adjust the flame so that it does not extend up the side of the pot.
• It takes only 3 – 6 minutes, depending on the size of the coffeemaker and the intensity of heat, until it’s ready to serve.
• Bialetti stovetop espresso makers are suitable for use on gas, electric and ceramic hobs.

Care & Use Instructions

• Before using the coffeemaker for the first time, it’s a good idea to wash all the parts in hot water first.
• We recommend that you throw away the first 3 brews.
• It’s really important that you don’t use the handle while unscrewing as this can cause the handle to break.
• When cool, separate the top section from the base, wash in warm water and dry thoroughly.
• It’s best not to use detergent when washing the aluminium models as it can taint the aluminium and therefore the coffee. However, mild detergent can be used to clean the stainless steel models if you prefer, and a liquid chrome polish can be used to keep the stainless steel looking new.
• Do not use abrasive scourers or baking soda as these will discolour or damage the surface.
• From time to time discolouration or a white deposit may form inside the base. This is generally due to the pot not being properly dried prior to storage, causing the aluminium to naturally oxidise. Scrub with your dish brush in a mixture of warm water and white vinegar to help remove stains. Remember to dry thoroughly.
• It’s best to store all parts separately to allow air to circulate.
• Bialetti stovetop espresso makers should not be put in the dishwasher.
• Never place the coffeemaker on a heat source without water.
• Use espresso grind of your favourite coffee blend. Do not use extracts, infusions or instant coffee as they will block the filter plate.
• It is important that you use the correct size coffeemaker for the number of cups of coffee required. If you’re after a single cup of coffee you would use the 1 cup Moka for a demi-tasse or a 2 cup Moka for a larger cup (gives 2 x demi-tasse)
• After a while, the the seal will get worn out and these can be purchased from us here (Make sure you get the right size for your coffee maker)

How To Choose The Right Food Processor For You

Here is a little guide from ourselves on choosing the right food processor for you.  We know it's often a daunting task and a lot of homework has to be done on finding the right one for yourself and your family.

How often you will use it
This is very important.  You don't want to buy a processor that you will hardly use at all.  Food processors are a necessary tool in the kitchen as they can practically do everything.  They take up a lot of space and can set you back in price depending on what brand you buy.  So when choosing, make sure you pick one that suits you and how often you will use it.

Manufacturers warranty
This can give you a good indication of how trusted the brand is.  Generally the longer the warranty the more confident that brand is in their product.  Most Food Processors offer from 5 years to 30 years which is a good indication that you're buying the best.  Magimix generally offer the best warranties with a 30 Year Warranty

Power or wattage
Having high wattage doesn't necessarily mean you're getting the best processor.  If you are avid and keen cook, and will be using your processor all the time with lots of hard to mix or chopping ingredients then we suggest a high powered machine. If you are not going to use it regularly or using it for light work like chopping , slicing vegetables or sauces and light mixing then start of with the entry level processors, which you can usually tell by the price.  Rule of thumb, entry level processors start at the lower end of the pricing structure, the high powered ones are at the top end.

Capacity or size
The capacity is very important to buying the right one for you.  Check the size of the bowls before you buy.  If you're making big batches for bigger families or functions then we suggest you go for the higher capacities.  If it's just for you and your family (2-5 people) then we recommend the smaller capacities.

Accessories that come included
All Food Processors come with their own set of included accessories.  Some come with add-ons like citrus presses, smoothie makers, or extra slicing & grater discs.  Always check with our sales team or look in the included sections to find out what you're getting when you buy.  All processors will come with extra bowls, slicing and grating discs but some will come with optional extras which suit every persons need.  We have found that Kenwood Food Processors come with more than enough accessories for your processor

Main purpose you will use it for
This is the main reason why you are buying a Food Processor.  Ask yourself this question.  Will it save me time when cooking and baking?  If the answer is yes (which for most of us that would be true) then you've come to the right place.  The hardest part is choosing which one suits you!  Again, if you know you will probably only use it a couple of times a year then maybe buying a processor could be a very costly acquisition.  If you are going to use it often then the money will be well spent as there is no limit to your culinary skills with a Food Processor.

Do you have enough storage in your kitchen
Most Food Processors are big and bulky and come with lots of accessories, so make sure you have somewhere to store it when you're not using it and somewhere to put all the accessories.

Difference between a Blender & Food ProcessorSome customers will tell us they don't need a Food Processor as they have a Blender.  There is a big difference between the two.  Blenders do just that, they blend whatever you put inside which makes them perfect for making soups, smoothies and milkshakes.  Food Processors will Slice, Chop, Mix, Grate, Blend, Juice & Knead Dough so why wouldn't you want a Food Processor

Caring For Your Non Stick Cookware

Caring For Your Non Stick Cookware

Nearly all of us have owned Non Stick Cookware and some can be very expensive.  So when you've spent some money on a Frying Pan you would expect it to last for a long time right?  Well, that is half right.  You also have to look after your Non Stick Cookware and take care with it.  Follow these instructions and advice from us and expect that piece of cookware to last for years.

Do You Put Oil In The Pan Even Though It's Non Stick?
We would suggest just a little oil or butter Which ever your preference.  We've found a little can go a long way and even though your pan is Non Stick, having a little bit of oil will help keep your Non Stick pan in good condition

What Heat Settings To Use When Cooking 
Our advice would be low to medium heat settings.  In our experience when you cook on a high heat you can burn oils onto the Non Stick pan, making it difficult to clean afterwards.  This can be problematic as when this happens the pan will be used again and again forming layers on top of your Non Stick surface.   This can lead to people thinking that the pans Non Stick is not working when in actual fact there is a layer of burnt on oils on top of the Non Stick surface.

What Sort Of Utensils To Use When Using Your Non Stick Pan
We always recommend, Silicone, Wood or Nylon.  Never use any metal utensils as they will scratch your pan which will ruin your Non Stick surface

Should You Put Into Dishwasher 
Most Non Stick pans will go into the dishwasher with no problems.  But here's a handy tip to keeping your pan for longer in better condition.  Let your pan cool down after use, then soak in warm soapy water for 10-15 minutes, scrub with a nylon brush or cloth, rinse again and dry.  The reason being that some dishwashing can be harsh on your pan because of the chemicals and the extreme heat inside a dishwasher, there's no problem with this but we do have pans that have lasted longer than has expected when we follow our method of cleaning.

How To Store Your Non Stick Cookware
When you've finished using your Non Stick cookware it's easy just to stack everything together or on top of each other in cupboards to save space, but did you know when you do this to Non Stick cookware you are actually scratching the surface with other pots and pans.  Try and keep your non Stick cookware away from situations where they might get scratched, either store them separately or hang them up

Is Cooking On Non Stick Cookware Bad For You?
Basic answer to this is, No.  A lot of science and testing is involved when Non Stick cookware is being made.  Most reputable brands have stopped using PFOA in their Non Stick cookware.  There is no evidence that Non Stick cookware is bad for you.  Check this article here if you would like to find out more.

What Choices You Have When Choosing A Non Stick Pan
There are a number of different Non Stick surfaces to choose from

• Enameled - Not completely Non stick but when you cook on a low to medium heat it is a good alternative to using Non Stick Teflon (Le Creuset, Le Chasseur & Stellar Easy Lift Cookware)
• Ceramic Titanium - Found on Scanpan Cookware.  The titanium provides a very durably cooking surface, while the ceramic part provides the non stick side of things. The titanium aspect of the coating provides two major benefits.  Firstly, it means you can use metal utensils when you are cooking, with no worry about damaging the nonstick coating.  The next major benefit this titanium coating provides is the ability for it to be used in the dishwasher.
• Dupont Teflon - Found in most Non Sticks (Stellar, Judge, Le Creuset Toughened Non Stick) Been around for over 50 years and are the originals when it comes to Non Stick.  Click here to read more about them
• Cast Iron Seasoned - Lodge cookware.  Not fully a Non Stick but another alternative.  Cast iron cookware which has been seasoned with vegetable oils.  Click here to see how to look after it (A big favourite of ours and most professional cooks)

Take A Tour Inside The Homestore In Wellington

Take A Tour Inside The Homestore In Wellington

We've recently added our store to Google Business View where you can browse our store online and virtually!  Click here to see it in action.  Sometime in the future, The Homestore will start product demonstrations on our YouTube channel which you can also find here so subscribe to the channel to keep informed!

New Stellar James Martin Bakeware has arrived which now compliments the whole range.  Now you can buy cookware, utensils, knives & cutlery from this fantastic range endorsed by James Martin himself. 

We have recently set up out top sellers this year on our website which you can find here.  These are are a small selection of products we sell online and in store that fly out our doors every month.  Our fastest selling items are the new Braun Hand Mixers.  These German innovative mixers are made to last, hence why we are selling out of these every month so far!

We have our competition still running for signing up to our newsletters and this month's prizes are Le Creuset cookware worth just under $1000!  Just click here to see how to enter and sign up to this fabulous prize

Weekly Deals

Weekly Deals - Get Top Brands At A Great Price
Twice a week we run a weekly deals campaign, which starts on Tuesday ends Friday then Friday to Tuesday.  We select up to 9 products to feature on our site at a very good price for a limited amount of time.  The most popular brand to feature has been the Maxwell & Williams range.  Whenever anything from this range features it sells out very quickly.  No surprising as the Maxwell & Williams range is now fast becoming a recognized world brand.  Originally started in Australia it quickly spread to NZ where it has become a household brand name.  Now sold the world over particularly in the USA and the UK where it has exploded in popularity, the cause for this is the fact that they cater for everyone's different taste, budget and style.  The two most popular ranges from Maxwell & Williams is the White Basics which is perfect for every day use dinner and tableware and the Cashmere Fine Bone China range where it's more popular for the dinner party or weddings where you want to impress your guests.  With other beautiful ranges to compliment these two from Cashmere Enchante, Sprinkle, Crinkle, Kimono, Casa Domani, Chef Du Monde and Krosno glassware.

Another popular brand to feature on our weekly deals is the Scanpan range.  Designed in Denmark, Scanpan is possibly the worlds most popular cookware and kitchenware range.  Sold in nearly every country, they range from cookware to kitchen utensils and kitchen knives.  The Scanpan classic range is their biggest seller especially the cookware where the non stick cookware is coated in Ceramic Titanium and is virtually scratch proof against metal utensils.  The Scanpan Classic Knives are all quality tested using the Rockwell Hardness Test Method, where a Diamond Indenter is slowly pressed onto the knife at a huge force to check the quality of the blade which leaves a tiny pin hole mark on each blade to show it passed the test.  Their other top ranges within Scanpan where the quality of the products are just getting better and better, CSX, CTX, Coppernox, Impact and Copperclad CS5 cookware.  You will find Scanpan products nearly everywhere you go which just goes to show how much of a trusted brand they are the world over.

Le Creuset

Home Favourites - Le Creuset
We have all seen Le Creuset cookware somewhere, like movies, TV shows, adverts, friends house or your own families.  Le Creuset is a French Cookware Company that stills manufactures cast iron cookware in France ever since the company was founded.  It's so reliable that we have people coming in to our stores telling us they still use their grandmothers pan which has  been handed down through the generations.  Fun, colourful and very durable you can't really go wrong when you purchase one of these pots, like most of our Le Creuset customers, we find they come back for more and add to their growing collection of Le Creuset cookware.

This week we finally got our long awaited collections of Le Creuset back into our store where we carry one of NZ biggest collections from the TNS Bakeware to the Le Creuset Utensils and crockery.  Now expanding into Stainless Steel & Cast Aluminium, Le Creuset has nearly all the tools you need for your kitchen.  It was just this week that we saw a Le Creuset mad customer who showed us pictures of their kitchen, where every pot and kitchen utensil of theirs is Le Creuset!  Now that's dedication to a brand, but we must say it made their kitchen look absolutely alive!

Still the most popular in the range is the Cast Iron Pot.  Great for casseroles and slow cooking but also very good for storing any food you want keeping cold in the fridge, like pasta salads or deserts.  Because it's Cast Iron, it makes it a poor heat conductor which is why it's used for slow cooking.  Just leave it on your element on a low temp, cover with the lid and leave it to cook while you go off and do your own thing.  There is something very homely to coming home to a casserole slow cooked in a cast iron pot, you lift the lid, serve the food, cut some fresh bread and it just smells heavenly.  For some of us, it takes us instantly back to our days as a kid.

Looking after Non Stick Cookware

How to look after your non stick cookware

Sometimes it’s very easy just to put your dirty or used cookware through the dishwasher, and yes most are dishwasher safe, but from experience if you learn to look after these very important pieces of cookware then we can guarantee they will last longer than you would think.  There are various non sticks out there, teflon, ceramic titanium, enamel, silicone  etc etc, but they all need looking after just the same.  Some people think that a non stick pan means nothing will stick to it no matter how high the heat is, wrong, when cooking you should only really be using a low to medium heat setting.  If you keep to that piece of advise then your frying pan won’t look like it’s been through the wars after only a year.  The main reason for this most people will put oil in their pan, which is a good idea, but what some people don’t know is that a lot of cooking oils out don’t work well with non stick pans.  Classic one we’ve seen through our stores is Olive Oil being burnt on the pan.  What happens is, the pan will get returned to us with the common conception that their non stick isn’t working anymore.  True, but this is down to how you clean and care for your pan.  What happens is, the oil cools down and makes another layer on top of your non stick which ruins the non stick properties of your pan.  We are all guilty of leaving the pan out after using it, then putting it through the dishwasher later.  The right way is to let your pan cool down and soak in warm soapy water for 20 minutes, with a nylon brush give it a scrub, then rinse and dry and put away for next time.  If you follow this method, that non stick pan of yours will last you a very long time.