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PRODUCT TRENDS Gas and electric ovens The largest change in gas ovens throughout the years has been safety. Sealed burners come with thermal couplers that sense the heat from the flame and send a spark if the valve is open without being lit. Gone are the days of igniting the pilot light, as modern appliances have an electric sparker. Many manufacturers combine a gas cooktop with an electric convection oven, and this combination can be purchased as one appliance or separately. One trend is for conventional ovens to have multiple cavities (one generally larger for bigger foods) so homeowners can cook various items at the same time at different temperatures. There also has been movement toward a reduction in selfcleaning times in conventional ovens, and one appliance now offers a self-cleaning cycle that is complete in 20 minutes. GE's wall ovens feature true European convection with Direct Air, a system that distributes heated air from two sources at the top and back wall of the oven, depending on the cooking mode. GE's newest app allows users to preheat, set the time, change the temperature or cooking function and check cooking status from a smart device. Circle 34 or visit ForResidentialPros. com/10920159 The latest ovens from LG Electronics include EasyClean Technology, allowing for the cleaning of an oven's interior in minutes, notes the company. Users can spray the interior with water, push the EasyClean button to start, and wipe away the grime 20 minutes later. Circle 35 or visit ForResidentialPros. com/10939173 30 July 2013 QR ForResidentialPros.com Microwave ovens Microwave ovens have made their way around the kitchen. Initially, these standalone units rested on countertops. Then they were placed over the range. The aboverange built-ins free up counter space but create safety issues with owners reaching over boiling pots or trying to remove hot, full containers from a high angle. Now, these appliances have found a more ergonomic and aesthetically pleasing location. "Microwave drawers allow designers to integrate these appliances into the cabinetry at a safe height and conceal the microwave in an open-roomed kitchen," Petrie says. "Another design feature is that conventional microwave doors always open to the left, which may have meant that the door opened back into the cook. The drawer eliminates this issue." Flexibility and customization One of the biggest trends, however, is not in which specific appliances homeowners prefer, but in their passion for customization. Ranges and cooktops have moved beyond the standard four fixed elements to come in an array of configurations. One example is four burners with a griddle in the center. Another is found in a variable cooking element where the center ring can be fired up between two elements to accommodate larger pan surfaces. In fact, RICKI's 2012 Remodelers 360 revealed a third of consumers were interested in cooktops with built-in attachments like a grill or griddle. Notini says every manufacturer is trying to provide more features with the same footprint and functionality. "Smaller fans, smaller motors, different lighting and varying sizes are all popular," she explains. The dual-fuel Connoisseurian range from Capital Cooking Equipment, shown here in ruby red, offers a choice of open or sealed burners. Circle 33 or visit ForResidentialPros.com/10839074 "Cooktop widths span from 38 in. all the way down to 29 in., which are great for remodeling a separate living area with a fully functional kitchen." Placement is also flexible, as some homeowners want a cooktop in one spot and a wall oven in another, which is especially helpful when there are multiple cooks in the kitchen. Remote access Today, smart technology allows owners to turn on their oven remotely through phone or computer applications. Although these devices create convenience, they still pose potential safety issues in instances where the owner accidentally left something in the oven from a prior meal or used the oven as a storage place. Manufacturers are addressing these situations with new applications that will allow the user to see inside the oven remotely, so they can make sure the oven is clear before pre-heating, check on whatever they have cooking inside or see how much time is left on the timer. Bryan remarked a full 51 percent of homeowners from RICKI's 2013 Consumer Kitchen Trends survey were aware of remote access cooking technology and 13 percent found the concept very appealing. Near future technology is slated to help owners with easier cleanup, meal preparation and faster cooking. Methods to further reduce energy and water use also are on the horizon. KJ Fields writes from Portland, Ore., about remodeling and design.