If you’re someone who loves nothing more than a cosy night in, and earning brownie points by preparing the perfect Valentine’s day dinner then it’s best to do it right. Have a read to see which treats tickle your fancy and the best way to cook them.

Melted chocolate...

A Valentine’s classic, whether it’s the heavenly chocolate-dipped strawberries or your own more creative way of using melted chocolate, it’s the perfect treat to have on your romantic evening. The most traditional, (yet crafty!) way of melting chocolate, is putting it in a dish over boiling water, but we’ve got a hob so gentle, that you can melt chocolate straight onto the pan- the induction hob. If you want the full effect go for a model which has a lot of power levels, like the Neff T43T20N0. You’ll have batch of melted chocolate goodness in no time.

Pie Perfection

You’ll impress your other half trillions by slaving away and cooking the perfect heart shaped pie on Valentines; but with the new cooking functions available, it’s actually a lot easier than you think. You could cook a hearty steak and ale pie, or a sweet cherry one.

Just make sure you cook it in an oven which has top, bottom and a fan element. This is because the fan cooks the pie through evenly while the top element browns the top of the pie and the bottom one crisps the base. Or you could have a look at an oven which has a pizza function which uses the fan and bottom element in a similar way. The Smeg SCP112PZ8 has all these fun features.

Slow cooked

If you’re cooking for someone who loves a more traditional dish, you absolutely have to use the slow cook function. You’ll cook the most delicious slowed cooked beef in red wine stew.  It’s also one of the easiest ways of cooking; all you do is pop all the ingredients in a dish and put it in the oven. All the flavours and juices mix together to create beautifully flavoursome and succulent food. And because it’s slow cooked there’s hardly any chance of you overcooking the stew. Take a look at the E0C68000X to get your perfectly cooked stew today.

If you want some more tips on the best oven functions for different types of cooking, have a read of my Buying Guide.

If you’re into keeping up appearances, this season’s cooking appliances are not to be missed. Combining effortless beauty with up to the minute technology, these new kids on the block are so nifty they’re worthy of a place in Hyacinth's kitchen.

"The Bouquet residence, the lady of the house speaking!"

No need to shout about your new appliances, with a centrepiece as good looking as the Whirlpool AKR804/IX Island Cooker Hood, it’ll be the first thing the neighbours spot. 

Designer lighting? No. An efficient cooker hood with 3 variable venting speeds.

Candlelit suppers on the cards? Forget about a lengthy wait for dinner. With the immediate response you get from the Siemens IQ-700 EH679ME11 Induction hob, those fillet steaks will be seared in seconds. Your guests will be too busy wondering where you keep the Mercedes, sauna, and room for a pony.

Why not melt some chocolate for dessert and wow them with just how fast this bad boy is?

The periwinkle china’s laid out in the dining room; all that’s left to do is cook the soufflés. Keep your cool, because the Smeg Linea-elite SCP115 electric oven will literally do it for you. There are 10 automatic cooking programmes which know exactly how much heat to use for different dishes so you’ll never be caught short. Simply allow the smart chef function to automatically adjust the temperature and cooking time, and it’ll cook those soufflés perfectly.... do make sure you take all the credit, of course!

The glass finish on this beauty could pass for a bespoke mirror.

And when they've all left, the pyrolytic cleaning fucntion on this oven takes all the hard work away. Just switch it on, and your oven will look brand spanking new again.

They'll never know!

Welcome to my first ever Energy Saving Blog! It’s very exciting if I do say so myself. Having recently become the new Energy Saving Expert I’m here to tell you about all things green and what that means to you (and your bank balance).

The most important thing to know about energy saving appliances is that they save you money because they take less energy to run. With energy bills on the rise, being energy conscious is a fantastic way to save money and there are tons of energy saving appliances out there to choose from.

More importantly there are many more affordable energy saving appliances now, for example the Zanussi ZWG6161P. It has a clever JetSystem which uses sensors to weigh the load of your clothes at the start of the cycle. It then adjusts the cycle time, water and electricity consumption to suit the load. Not a drop of water or any excess electricity is wasted; saving energy and money!

Another perfect way to save energy is by getting an induction hob, which are also much more affordable than 10 years ago. Take the Indesit VIA640C for instance, it has 4 induction zones, an electronic display and a touch control system; a lovely hob that doesn’t break the bank! Induction is far safer and quicker than standard hobs and because the hob only heats when it is in direct contact with a compatible pan, you never waste any heat.

One simple way to spot energy efficient appliances is to see if they have been recommended by the Energy Saving Trust. Any cooking appliances that are recommended can save you up to £43 a year. And for dishwashers you can save as much as £48 annually compared to an old inefficient dishwasher.  In all that’s £91 saved in one year on energy bills. £91 to spend on whatever you like.... a spa day, a meal out... anything you fancy!

This is only a taster into my best ways to save energy in your home. So make sure you have a read of my next blog to see how you can keep track of every penny and pound! Until next time.

So January is well underway, the belts are getting a little tighter and the blues are starting to wear a little thin. What better way to cheer yourself up than to find yourself a tidy little bargain. While January might be the month of quick sales, these products offer you something more than a flash in the pan. I’ve put my expert knowledge to use and scouted out some of the best deals you’ll ever find on appliances.

Did you know that you can actually get an oven that doubles as a microwave? Two appliances in one! The Neff C57M70N0GB gives you an electric fan oven, a microwave and a quartz grill all in one. You can even make use of both cooking times at the same time. Roast the outside, microwave it so it’s cooked through and get a lovely golden brown colour on top. In half the time too! What’s more, you’ll even save on space. No more bulky microwave cluttering up your work surface.

Speaking of ‘two for ones’, we also offer pack deals, so you can fit out your kitchen with some products that suit each other beautifully. This Beko pack deal combines the HIC64102 ceramic hob and the OIF22100X electric oven. Amazing value as these two products will provide all the cooking power and space you could need. There’s also a gas version if you prefer a more traditional style of cooking.

Lastly, when you buy it’s important to get something that’ll last you. Keeping your eye out for the brands that are known for longevity and decent quality is key, though it’s the ones that won’t cost the earth that you need to be aware of. Bosch, Hotpoint, Electrolux are all recognised brands that are trusted the world over, yet won’t break the bank. Just another friendly tip from your expert friends at Appliances Online.

Good luck and happy hunting all you bargain-hunters.

New Year, new you! Sound familiar? Yes, it’s that time of year when we’re all trying our very best to change our ways and be healthier so diet is going to be key. One way to make that much easier for yourself is to have an oven which doesn’t cook away all the nutrients and flavours in your food. It’ll be your best weapon fighting against waning motivation.

Enter the Steam oven! They’re by far the best way to cook food healthily retaining 95% of your vegetable’s nutrients, as opposed to 50% when you cook with traditional ovens. And because steam it a much gentler way of cooking your food retains its natural juices and texture. So make your diet much healthier by using a steam oven for more nutritious and tasty veggies and fruit.

Steam ovens aren’t just great for healthy foods but lots of other tasty dishes. The moisture in the air creates the perfect environment for proving dough or baking crusty bread for when you’re having a treats day. Or if you have babies it’s great for sterilising bottles or jars. And you get the best pre heating results as there is no risk of drying the food out.

Some of the most popular ovens are those which combine with traditional cooking, these are called (surprisingly enough) combination ovens. They’re perfect for tender meats like roast beef, crispy legs of lamb and casseroles as there’s moisture in the air. The Bosch HBC36D753B has functions for reheating, dough proving and low temperature cooking, to name a few.  And it has a self cleaning function so you can be in the gym pumping some iron (or having a lounge in the steam room) while your oven cleans itself! Perfect. Come March you’ll be slimmer, happier and healthier.

Click here to see all of our steam ovens.