Cohousing-L Mailing List: Appliances

[Ruth Hirsch (heidinys]

> Dear Susana,

Here at Cantines Island we do three meals p week.  Before I answer  
regarding what we have here, I would hope/suggest/recommend that the  
folks interested in this read Consumers Report.  Just reading it -- 
the issues covering your items of interest--can be interesting--even  
sort of fun-- and give oyu a lot of useful info.

So, we do two cooked meals most every week and one potluck
We built, I think it is eleven years ago, and did somethings smarter  
than others.  We-- like Takoma village-- have a commercial type  
dishwasher.  I echo what Sharon said:  I would not recommend it,  
although it does serve as a bonding experience, spending all that  
time loading and un-loading and sometimes re-washing dishes [tho re- 
washing can happen in a regular dishwasher too!]  o yes: Commercial  
Dishwasher repair.  Our soap squirter stopped working,.  Not a huge  
deal.  We've had this machine maybe four-five years.  However,  
finding someone to repair it, this has been--and still is-- a big  
deal!  So whatever you do buy,  you may want to see what the reality  
of repair service is, perhaps get extended warrantees.  In our own  
home, we do get extended warrantees, and find it tends to be very useful

You already got some good stove advice:  room for big pots/pans is  
necessary.  Contiguous grates are wonderful.  Our gas stove looks  
good, however the heavy grates retain heat once hot.  They also take  
a long time to get hot, much longer to boil water, say for pasta for  
twenty than at home.  So heavy grates are something to consider, be  
aware of time factor if oyu get them.
We have a commercial type fridge:  two doors, all fridge.  I have  
seen similar with four doors:  three fridge, one freezer.  I think  
that would be just right!    Also one of those doors locks:  perfect  
for beer/wine that you want to keep away from youngsters.  We also  
have a freezer in our basement.  A number of households store food in  
the community freezer.

Those are the Major Appliances.  We also have a reasonably large  
residential-ie, not commercial--Food Processor, a Cuisinart.   And a  
neighbor has parked her stick blender in the CH.  Somethings folks  
might have: an extra timer, for example, or a good digital thermometer.
We have a wonderful electric kettle.  When needing to boil water, I  
find it works well to start some on stove, possibly in two pots, and  
a third batch in electric kettle.  Much much less time than boiling  
same amount in one pot.

enjoy the process!

Ruth Hirsch
Cantines Island, Saugerties,NY





> From: Susana Michaelis [mailto:susana [at] pacificgardens.ca] Sent:  
> Monday, April 27, 2009 2:49 PM
> Subject: [C-L]_ Which appliances useful in your Common House Kitchen?
>
>
> Hi everyone,
>
> I volunteered to ask other Cohousing Communities which appliances you
> found to be most useful in the Common House kitchen.
>
> At a minimum I gather that we need one stove, one fridge, one
> dishwasher. How many washers and dryers, if about 6-10 households  
> use them?
> Any recommended brands?
>
> Do you use household appliances, commercial, heavy duty or other?
> Are your washer/dryers coin operated?
> Some people think we need 2 stoves, maybe a deep freeze or even 2
> fridges. Realistically, how often are these appliances used?
>
> When responding, it would be helpful to know how often a meal is  
> cooked
> in the Common House kitchen.
> We don't want to have excess appliances in order to cook a Christmas
> dinner!
>
> Thanks for your feedback!
> Susana Michaelis
> www.pacificgardens.ca
>
>
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> End of Cohousing-L Digest, Vol 63, Issue 34
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