Some people claim the stainless steel appliance era is over. We used stainless steel in our main kitchen but chose differently for our beach house, so we wanted to weigh in on when stainless might be a great choice—and when it might be better to skip it. While we’ve been thinking about finishes, we’ve also tried a few new things in the kitchen: testing meal-delivery kits, organizing the fridge, and exploring a popular cooking trend. Below you’ll find show notes, images, and links referenced in the episode.
Listen
You can download this episode from Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, and TuneIn Radio — or listen on the podcast player on the original site. Use this page to follow up on any links, notes, or photos we mentioned.
Help for Puerto Rico
We’re grateful to report that we raised $12,000 to donate directly to relief efforts in Puerto Rico, thanks to the support of the companies we partnered with below. Their generosity made a meaningful contribution to recovery efforts on the island.
Universal Furniture | Delta Faucet | Cardboard Safari | Grove Collaborative | West Elm | DAP Products
Shades of Light | The Annie Selke Co. | HANDy Paint | Wohven T-Shirt Subscription | Sabrina Soto
If you’d like to contribute, you can donate to United for Puerto Rico at unidosporpuertorico.com/en.
What’s New
- We tried two vegetarian meals from meal-delivery kits and photographed them. The first was from HelloFresh and the second from Blue Apron. We paid for these boxes to test them and see what the fuss is about.
- Both meals were easy to adapt to vegan versions for Sherry. For example, the avocado pasta was recreated at home with our own ingredients, and the paella from Blue Apron is one we’d consider making again.
- Sherry shared some favorite vegan staples and substitutes that we use frequently:
- Amy’s Roasted Vegetable Pizza (a solid store-bought option)
- Earth Balance Buttery Spread as a butter substitute
- Follow Your Heart Vegenaise as a mayo substitute
- Silk Unsweetened Coconut Milk for cereal or cooking
- Tofutti Better Than Sour Cream for recipes that call for sour cream
- Wholly Guacamole Avocado Verde and Sabra Classic Hummus Singles for quick snacks
- Extra-firm tofu for stir-fries and baking
- If you have favorite vegan recipes or better substitutes, please share them — we’re always looking for new ideas.
- If you know a meal-delivery service with a larger vegetarian selection, tell us so we can test it next.
Updates
- If you missed our earlier chat about light color temperature and why it matters to us, it’s covered in Episode #57.
- We also shared our favorite soft white LED bulbs in a past post for anyone looking to replace bulbs with a warm, consistent color.
- Episode #63 features a conversation about budgeting tools; Mint.com was recommended, and many listeners recommended YNAB (You Need A Budget). We’re trying YNAB now and welcome tips from users who have experience with it.
- We’ll be speaking in Bristol, Virginia, on Thursday, November 9th at a shop called House Dressing — tickets are limited to 100, so check the event details if you’re nearby.
Listener Question: Are Stainless Steel Appliances Still in Style?
There’s a lot of discussion about whether stainless steel appliances remain the best choice, or if newer finishes like black stainless, graphite, or colorful retro finishes are taking over. We explored the options and shared the appliances we picked for our kitchen so you can see how stainless looks in a real setup.
- For reference, these are the appliances we chose: a counter-depth refrigerator, a Whirlpool slide-in gas range, a Whirlpool dishwasher, and a microwave. We considered different finishes and even compared the “white ice” option, which felt too bright next to our cabinets.
- Manufacturers are offering darker metal finishes such as black stainless and graphite gray, while specialty brands provide colorful retro and designer colors. Each finish has pros and cons depending on your overall kitchen design and how much maintenance you want for fingerprints and wear.
We’re Digging
- We’ve been using clear bins to organize snack cups like guacamole and hummus so they don’t roll around the fridge. The bins come in three sizes; we use the medium size and they’ve tamed a previously messy shelf.
- If those bins are out of stock, there are good alternatives available that achieve the same tidy result.
- One app we like is IFTTT (If This, Then That). It automates simple tasks for free, such as sending Instagram images to Twitter automatically, and it connects many web accounts and smart devices in useful ways.
- For a consolidated list of items and tools we’ve recommended over time, check the master list of things we’re digging from past episodes.
Special thanks to The Annie Selke Companies for sponsoring this episode. They recently opened 33 Main, a bed & breakfast, and they’re offering a discount code for listeners. Check AnnieSelke.com for current promotions and product selections like bedding, rugs, and home décor.
Thanks for listening—your feedback always helps us refine what we try next in the kitchen and around the house.
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