A Harvey Norman Special - on 15 Jun 2020, 11:47am

The Circuit Breaker has been lifted and we can gradually resume some sense of normalcy with the guidelines set by Phase 1 of Post-Circuit Breaker. Unfortunately, one of Singapore’s favourite past-time – dine-in – can only resume in Phase 2. So, while we still must live with take-aways, this is also a great time to discover a kitchen extraordinaire in all of us – look at how we are baking and cooking like never before during the Circuit Breaker!

While great recipes have been instrumental in these endeavours, so have the right tools — which enable higher levels of creativity and reduce time spent cooking, juicing or washing up.

Now, that brings us to Harvey Norman.

The retail chain has an extensive range of smart built-in and kitchen appliances, which spans more than 50 brands at the most competitive prices – whoever said techies cannot be good cooks? Here are some of our favourites:

For many Asian families, rice is a daily staple on the dining table. So, it goes without saying that the humble little rice cooker, the  Tefal (RK-500166) Mini Fuzzy Logic, plays a key but underrated role in the kitchen. It features 11 cooking functions for rice (both white and Japanese grains), congee, brown rice, instant noodles and more. Its ceramic-coated removable inner pot reduces wash-up time too, but really, the fact that it can cook instant noodles makes instant food so much more…instant? (Tip: You can also make your own KFC Japanese rice with it – check out this video)

Carbs are important but as with all balanced diets, never forget your proteins. The Tefal 6L Smart Multicooker CY601 and its suite of functions such as adjustable cooking temperatures on selected cooking programmes, helps to get the rest of your meal ready in a fraction of the time – be it braised short ribs or steamed minced pork. You don’t even have to keep stirring or pricking the meat for done-ness either! (Tip: The Tefal 6L Smart Multicooker is great for making delicious soup too!)

Then there are days when you hunger for a quick snack (or every day now with #WFH arrangements), and the Philips Airfryer XXL HD9654/91 is a great example of how technology has made cooking idiot-proof and our food healthier. This must-have can cook a whole chicken or 1.4kg of fries, or grill, bake and roast your favourite veggies and more. Twin TurboStar technology extracts fat and captures it in the fat reducer for easy disposal, while a QuickClean basket enables a 90-second wash-up.

Tefal (RK-500166) Mini Fuzzy Logic (Image Source: Harvey Norman)

Tefal 6L Smart Multicooker CY601 (Image Source: Harvey Norman)

Philips Airfryer XXL (Image Source: Harvey Norman)

If you are facing space constraints at home, choose appliances with multi-functions such as a convection oven, combination oven, or a pressure cooker. -  Ives Bong, Harvey Norman cooking specialist

Many may not have thought of the dishwasher as an essential kitchen appliance, but it is actually a very useful tool. It helps you save a lot of water, and the high temperature helps you sterilize your utensils including baby bottles. Cleaning is also hassle-free especially for those who do heavy cooking regularly. -  Susan Lee, Harvey Norman cooking specialist

Keeping the doctor away

Let us also not forget the adage, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. Or in this case, apple juice. And to make juice you will need a mixer or blender, and today’s models are hi-tech gizmos that look like they arrived from the future. For instance, the Ninja CT682 Intellisense Kitchen System, which is available exclusively in Harvey Norman, allows you to experiment via a Smart touchscreen display and Smart Programs, and discover functions such as Total Crushing technology that creates creamy frozen drinks in seconds. Its Auto-Spiralizer Extraction helps retain precious nutrients when juicing fruit and vegetables too. (Tip: Like a real ninja, this blender can also be used to slice veggies or make ice cream.)

Fitness enthusiasts can also consider the easy-to-clean Kuvings MOTIV1 HealthFriend Smart Juicer. Through its mobile app, you can access a range of fitness videos, so you no longer have to rely on YouTube. It even includes a body composition analyser (monitor your BMI, among other compositions) and puts juice recipes themed Diet, Detox, Beauty and Antioxidant at your fingertips. Remember, fruits and regular exercises are basic tenets to a healthy lifestyle.

Ninja CT682 Intellisense Kitchen System (Image Source: Harvey Norman)

Kuvings MOTIV1 HealthFriend Smart Juicer (Image Source: Harvey Norman)

Saving water, energy, and utility bills

Once you are done with your hearty meals, afternoon tea or fruit juice party, place your utensils in the LG QuadWash Steam Dishwasher. Its TrueSteam technology ensures sparkling clean dishes and less water spots, a QuadWash System to power clean from multiple angles, SmartThinQ technology that alerts when cleaning is complete, and Inverter Direct Drive function that promises quiet cleaning. Contrary to popular notions, today’s modern dishwasher help saves water and energy over conventional hand washing. So, you will get to save your utility bills and keep your hands dry at the same time. What’s not to like?

LG QuadWash Steam Dishwasher (Image Source: Harvey Norman)