5 Essential Kitchen Appliances To Cook Up A Hari Raya Feast

1. Stove

Stoves are a cornerstone of cooking in every home, available in both gas and electric options. Gas stoves offer greater heat control and quicker response, owing to the use of a gas flame. This lets you utilise methods such as charring and stir-frying, allowing for greater variety in cooking as well as helping you successfully whip up popular festive dishes such as rendang and lontong.

Coming in a variety of designs such as coiled, smooth, and induction cooktops, electric stoves offer greater energy-efficiency and safety. Electric stoves are generally safer as you don’t have to worry about accidents such as kitchen fires or gas leaks that may arise from using a gas stove - and not to mention, easier to clean as well.

2. Electric Oven

Electric ovens are equally essential alongside stoves in preparing a tasty meal. Two popular types are convection and combi ovens; each with their own strengths. Convection ovens allow fast and even cooking for delicious bakes and roasted meats, while combi ovens utilise steam in the cooking process to facilitate cooking styles such as poaching and steaming, allowing you to prepare a greater variety of dishes.

Other types of electric ovens include toaster ovens, which provide easy reheating and baking; as well as self-cleaning models such as pyrolytic ovens, which utilise intense heat to break down splatters and grime, allowing you to do away with caustic cleaning products and enjoy a simple wipe down.

3. Rice Cooker

Rice is a staple in Southeast Asian cuisine, and rice cookers are a quick alternative to serving rice to your guests when you run out of traditional ketupat! There is a wide selection of models that incorporate various features for greater convenience, such as multifunction and induction models.

Multifunction rice cookers allow you to cook other varieties of rice, such as jasmine, brown, and Basmati. They allow you to adjust warming times and reheat cycles, making them a versatile option for preparing rice. Induction models utilise a magnetic field to deliver consistent heat, making them ideal for preparing dishes such as soups and stews, in addition to cooking rice.

4. Microwave Oven

Be it reheating your Hari Raya feast or heating up finger food for young ones, microwave ovens are a classic kitchen appliance. They come with numerous features, ranging from intuitive food presets to smart displays. Two versatile options to consider are grill and convection microwave ovens.

Grill microwave ovens feature heating coils and other accessories in addition to their regular microwave functions, allowing you to grill meats and vegetables. Convection microwave ovens distribute hot air to ensure uniform heating, making it a popular baking appliance for preparing tasty bakes, such as cookies and cakes.

5. Kitchen Mixer

An essential baking appliance, kitchen mixers save time and effort when preparing batter and beating eggs - especially crucial in making jars and jars of kuih raya, while also improving the texture and consistency. The two main types of kitchen mixers to choose from are hand and stand mixers.

Hand mixers are portable while being budget-friendly, making them popular with occasional bakers preparing smaller volumes. They often incorporate a rubberised base and an ergonomic grip for an improved user experience. Stand mixers are ideal for heavy duty baking work, delivering greater speeds and handling larger volumes, often featuring removable beaters for easy cleaning and a durable mixing bowl for repeated usage.

For homeowners seeking additional equipment protection, Harvey Norman’s Product Care offers comprehensive coverage for all parts, labour, and fees for UNLIMITED repairs. We also work with authorised repairers to ensure your products return to you as good as new.

Looking for a comprehensive collection of kitchen appliances? Visit our website to see our full range of gas stoves and electric ovens.