Author: BlockleyN

by BlockleyN

How to host the perfect house party… according to Brits


As we dive into the heart of the festive season, the air is filled with anticipation for Christmas and New Year’s, marking the onset of a flurry of celebrations and gatherings.

For the hospitality sector, there is a significant uptick in bookings from groups and businesses for parties. However, Christmas and New Year’s are synonymous with hosting or attending house parties.

With the height of the COVID-19 pandemic a distant memory for most, there’s been a noticeable shift, with nearly a quarter of Brits confessing to attending more house parties in 2023 compared to the previous year but according to Google data, it is during December and early January when searches for house party-related terms soar.

But what is required to host the perfect party?

That’s the question we have attempted to answer to celebrate the launch of our first retro drinkers cooler with our new Nancy range (more about that at the bottom of this article).

We recently conducted a national survey of people between the ages of 16 and 55+, with the help of Censuswide, to find the answer and discover what people most want to see at a house party:

An unsurprising disclaimer: the answer is not straightforward.

Brits house party preferences by city

With our survey, we have been able to discover what the most desired house party requirements were per city. As part of this, we looked into what the most popular party persona of that city was but also delved into what the most popular food, drink, and music choices were. 

And here’s what we found:

Perfect Party by City
 

Some of the key highlights we found include:

Food highlights Drink highlights Music highlights Party preferences
Northern Ireland had the highest preference for pigs in blankets (37%), compared to other cities Bristol loves to see cocktails at their house parties more than any other UK city (40%) London showed more preference for hip hop and R&B as their choice of music than any other city (27%) Music was more important to people in Bristol than any other UK city when it came to house parties
Sheffield had the lowest preference for pizza (30%) London prefers wine, cocktails, and even soft drinks over beer and cider While pop and disco hits were the overwhelming top choice of music, Nottingham had the lowest preference for it (32%) While good food was important everywhere, it scored the lowest number of votes in Norwich, where more emphasis was put on music and drinks
Cardiff party-goers scored the lowest when it came to wanting to see sandwiches on the buffet table (36%) 15 of the 17 cities we surveyed highlighted non-alcoholic beverages as the drinks option they’d least like to see at a house party. Brighton was the only city that didn’t give non-alcoholic drinks a single vote While London loves hip-hop and R&B, Glasgow doesn’t with only 7% picking it as their music of choice at parties Party favours and an order of events was the least sought-after thing from house parties, although London showed the highest preference for them than any other city
 

Assessing the data, Holly Bolus, a lifestyle expert at CDA Group, said: “While those statistics caught the eye, they were clear winners across all of the preferences that can help us understand what it is people want to see when they go to house parties. 

“On a very top level, it’s not surprising that music, food, and drinks are seen as the staples of a good party. It’s been interesting to see how that has broken down by the different age groups but also the different ways people identify themselves in a party environment.

“It’s also important to say that we had an overwhelming response in our survey that highlighted the importance of a good guest list, too.”

How the top five UK cities compare

London – estimated population: 10,803,000
  • Outside of most popular choices, Londoners scored the biggest percentage for wanting hip-hop and R&B, soul and funk classics, and reggae for their house parties
  • That said, Londoners had the lowest preference for wanting to listen to the Top 40 charts and Indie music
  • While wine and cocktails were the drink of choice in London, respondents also showed they had the lowest preference for wanting beer and cider at a house party
  • London had the biggest percentage of people who described themselves as the life of the party, as well as party planning extraordinaire, and the karaoke king/queen
  • Life of the party or not, responding Londoners were least likely to want a theme at their house party
Birmingham – estimated population: 2,517,000
  • Has overwhelming popularity for pop and disco hits for their music choice, with a bigger percentage gap between that and its next best choice out of the top five cities
  • However, Brummies were also least likely to want to listen to classic rock anthems, classical, or jazz at a house party
  • When it came to drinks, Birmingham also were least likely to want wine or cocktails, with their preferences, instead, being on beer, cider, and spirits
  • It also turned out Birmingham party goers had the highest preference for cheese boards, spring rolls, and mini cheesecakes than any of the other big five cities in this list
  • Don’t introduce the games, though! Brummies had the lowest preference for interactive games, as well as party, favours
Manchester – estimated population: 2,449,000
  • Famous for its punk rock era, it turns out that Mancunians had the highest preference for Top 40 chart toppers at their house parties
  • When it came to the top five cities, Manchester party goers identified most as an oversharer or crier at a house party. Manchester also topped the category of people who described themselves as the quiet snacker
  • But while Mancunians topped that the quiet snacker category, they also scored the lowest preference for wanting a cheeseboard at a house party
  • Manchester had the biggest preference for cocktails and mocktails out of the UK’s big five cities
Leeds – estimated population: 1,659,000
  • Yorkshire’s biggest city showed the highest preference for wanting chicken wings, pigs in blankets, trifle, and stuffed mushrooms at their parties
  • However, on the other end of the scale, Loiners also had the lowest preference for mini cheesecakes, cup cakes, and macarons
  • When it came to music choice, Leeds party goers had the highest percentage of people who wanted to listen to classical and jazz music at their house party, compared to the other four cities in this list
  • Had the biggest percentage of people who claimed they attended parties as the supportive sidekick
  • Respondents from Leeds showed they were least likely to want an attentive host when they attended a house party.
Glasgow – estimated population: 1,100,000
  • While largely unpopular throughout the poll, Glaswegians actually had the highest preference for interactive games at their house parties
  • Beer and cider was the overwhelmingly popular choice of drink for a house party but it turns out the Glaswegians, more than any of the other big five cities, other had a preference for tea and coffee
  • Glaswegians are also very clear on what they don’t like, too. Glasgow showed the lowest preference for hip-hop and R&B as well as soul and funk classics
  • Had the lowest preference for spring rolls and pigs in blankets, compared to the other four cities in this list.
  • Only 1 person from Glasgow voted for trifle as a top three food choice at house parties
 

Five things to avoid at your house party

We all love a tick-list of what we need to have for a house party. And because it is such a subjective thing, it is easy to decide to get a bit of everything to ensure everyone is happy. However, if you just want to focus on what is going to keep the majority happy, here are a few tips to take on board:
  • Perhaps we will regret it the following day but forget the greens and healthy options. We’re attending a party to indulge
  • Inclusivity is key to any successful party but Brits said that filling a limited bar with non-alcoholic options will ruin the vibe you’re going for
  • Classical and jazz genre music is likely to have people heading for the door and not the dance floor
  • Building a guest list? Brits say they want to avoid those whose emotions spill out after one too many and who are going to bring the mood down
  • Forced fun isn’t fun. Put the games away – you only have to have watched Friends to know how this goes.
 

Creating the perfect house party for each age group

So, we have an idea of preference by city and what Brits don’t want to see at parties but how does this change when we’re hosting a party for a particular age group? As part of our survey, we asked questions to five different age ranges. They were: 16-24, 25-34, 35-44, 45-54, and 55+.  Below, we have taken all five age groups and are revealing what they have told us their preferences are and what they want to see when they are attending a house party

Ages 16-24

  • Music is the most important party requirement, particularly pop and disco hits and hip & R&B genres. Avoid classical. Indie peaks with the age group and begins a gradual decline.
  • Pizza is the overwhelming food of choice but having a bowl of crisps and chicken wings will go down a treat. Mini quiches, stuffed mushrooms, and trifle will be left behind
  • Cocktails and soft drinks are the drink of choice. Avoid non-alcoholic beers. Wine also wasn’t a popular choice

Ages 25-34

  • Music remains the most important party requirement, but food increases in importance for this age group. Party favours and an order of events, while still unpopular, peak in popularity here
  • Hip-hop and R&B peaks in popularity with Brits aged between 25-34. Classical sees an increase in popularity but jazz and swing music is going to be a huge mood killer. 
  • There’s no change in food choices. Pizza, chicken wings, and crisps are still the most popular, while mini quiches, stuffed mushrooms, and trifle get left behind. We begin to see an increase in sandwiches and cheese boards.
  • Cocktails are still the drink of choice. Soft drinks remain popular but beer and cider become far more popular for this age group. Non-alcoholic options remain unpopular.

Ages 35-44

  • Good music and food grow in importance again. Party favours and an order of events are beginning to decline.
  • There’s a clamour for popular pop and disco hits. Hip-hop and R&B remain popular but rock anthems have grown in popularity to become the third most popular music genre of choice.
  • Yes, pizza again remains the food of choice with crisps and chicken wings. Sandwiches grow in popularity, as do pigs in blankets and spring rolls. Macrons, trifles, and stuffed mushrooms remain an unpopular food choice.
  • Beer and cider is now the most popular choice of drink, closely followed by cocktails and spirits. There’s a go-hard or go-home mentality in play. You’re asking for trouble with mocktails and non-alcoholic beers. 

Ages 45-54

  • There’s almost nothing between the importance of music and food at this point. 
  • Popular pop and disco hits are the overwhelming choice of music. Classic rock anthems are now the second most popular choice, with top 40 chart toppers peaking in popularity.
  • Pizza’s decline begins. It’s still the most popular choice but not by a lot. Sandwiches see a significant rise with chicken wings seeing a significant decline. Macrons, fruit skewers, and trifle are the least popular options, while mini cheesecakes also scored low.
  • Beer and cider’s popularity grows again but party-goers in this age group want to see a varied selection available. Soft drinks are the second most popular option, but wine, cocktails, and spirits also feature highly. Less than 3% in this age group pick non-alcoholic beer as their drink of choice

Ages 55+

  • After music’s dominance, food is now the most important factor behind a good house party. Music is still popular, as is drinks, but this age group wants to see an attentive host more than any other. Less than 5% of respondents in total want party favours and an order of events.
  • Popular pop and disco hits remain the most popular choice of music by some distance. Classic rock anthems are also a clear second. Hip-hop and R&B is now the least favoured genre of music.
  • Pizza has finally been knocked off the top spot. According to Brits aged 55 and over, pizza doesn’t even feature in the top three food choices. Sandwiches are the most popular, followed by cheese boards, and crisps. Cupcakes are at their least popular here but macrons, fruit skewers, and stuffed mushrooms remain unpopular.
  • Wine peaks in popularity for Brits aged 55 and over. Beer and cider remain popular, as do spirits and soft drinks. Mocktails are the least popular with this age group. 
 

The party personas in more detail

More about the new Nancy range

Nancy heralds a departure from conventional refrigeration. 

Replacing bulky mini-fridges with an upright beautiful design and three colourway options – Cotton White, Tea Rose Pink, and Dark Skies Blue – CDA’s newest product effortlessly marries vintage aesthetics with contemporary demands. The device boasts top-of-the-line technical specifications, ensuring beverages inside are as refreshingly cool as the exterior suggests.

Functionality takes centre stage as Nancy effortlessly accommodates 13 bottles of wine and eight cans, chilling them to perfection at any temperature between 5-20°C. Its four spacious metal shelves cater to a variety of preferences, allowing enthusiasts to maximise their cooling space for an unparalleled experience.

But Nancy is more than a mere drink cooler – it’s a beauty enhancer, too. Ingeniously designed, it doubles up as a cosmetics cooler, storing makeup and beauty products at the ideal temperature.

Moreover, embracing the digital age, Nancy incorporates a wireless phone charger, seamlessly blending modern technology with vintage aesthetics.

Nancy is available now for order in Cotton, Tea Rose, or Dark Skies from CDA’s independent and national stockists, including AO, Marks Electrical, and selected Euronics, with a suggested retail price of £399. A full list of retailers can be found here.

Find out more about CDA’s newest retro lifestyle cooler here.

Methodology

 

This data was gathered via a national Censuswide survey that was completed at the beginning of November (6th-8th). The full data set can be found here.

by BlockleyN

CDA FWC604 Wine Cooler Endorsed as a Which? Best Buy

The pandemic meant that we all spent more time enjoying life at home – and now the restrictions are over and with the joys of the Jubilee ahead, we Brits are entertaining with enthusiasm. It isn’t just family get togethers either – researchers at Mintel discovered that Millennials in particular prefer to stay at home with Netflix and a good bottle of wine.

This change in the way we live has meant wine coolers have moved on from being a marginal consideration to becoming an increasingly important appliance in people’s minds when they are renovating or improving kitchen spaces.

Wine drinking is no longer just for connoisseurs either, with recent polling commissioned by the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) showing wine is now the favoured alcoholic drink for 60% of UK adults, compared to all other alcohol drinks. Over half (60%) of UK adults, including the majority in each age group and across all regions of the UK, now choose wine over other alcoholic drinks, amounting to over 30 million regular wine consumers across the country.

 

It’s said that wine kept in a cupboard at home loses quality and flavour four times quicker than that stored in a wine cooler, and CDA’s wine chiller range is one of the largest on the market, with coolers that hold from 7 to 117 bottles.

People who buy wine coolers come from all sectors of the market – from those who just want to keep a few ready to drink bottles at hand, to serious collectors.

This is why we’ve created a range that has something for everyone and we’re proud to share that the FWC604SS and FWC604BL freestanding wine coolers from CDA have been awarded Best Buy status by Which?

         

 

“It’s the best dual temperature zone wine cooler we’ve tested” says Which?

The FWC604SS has a stainless steel trim and the 604BL has black. Both coolers have dual temperature control and can hold up to 45 bottles. The Which? review praised the accuracy of the thermostat, temperature stability in hot and cold rooms, good humidity control and ease of operation and cleaning as winning factors.

 

At CDA, we are delighted that our wine coolers have been endorsed as Which? Best Buys. Our wine cooler’s are an integral part of our range and we’re keen to offer customers excellent choice in both freestanding and built in designs. If you’re considering adding a wine cooler to your kitchen, check out our Where to Buy page to find your nearest approved CDA supplier and national online retailers.

by BlockleyN

Brand Mashups: Dream Comfort Food Collaborations

Sigh. Eating convenience food is hard. 

Having to cut and spread stuff.

Having to combine two of our favourite foods OURSELVES.

Getting our fingers covered in cheese dust… 

Ok, first world problems for sure. 

Whether it’s to court controversy or to offer up some strange solution to a problem, we’ve seen a number of “food collaborations” in recent times – from baked beans on Weetabix (ew!), Marmite Easter eggs (also ew!) and Cadbury’s Creme Egg mayonnaise (what?!)

But we can’t help thinking that there are some missed opportunities for the food brands that cater to, well, the idle amongst us.

In fact, there are even missed opportunities to put some of the biggest divisive food issues to rest. For example, why waste precious munching time arguing whether the cream or jam is spread first on a scone? 

Why can’t it be both at the same time?! (It’s jam first, but let’s not argue.)

So, we put our heads together and asked a bunch of people which food hacks/brand mashups would make their lives even easier when it comes to tucking into their favourite treats. We then set about “creating” them and we’re definitely here for some of these. Others not so much:

Wotsits & Marigold Gloves



Our favourite cheesy snacks are delicious, but the mess eating them leaves is quite frankly annoying. What better way to avoid having to get up out of our cheese stained bed to wash our hands, than to wear specially branded Marigold gloves?! These household favourites are perfect for preventing cheesy digits, and in a stylish way too! Maybe.

McDonalds & Nesquik Milkshake



We’re informed that the young’uns of today enjoy dipping their French fries into hurr …into hurrburrr… sorry. Into MILKSHAKE. Disgusting as this sounds, what’s a more convenient way to feed this habit, than to provide little milkshake ‘sauce’ pots alongside your ketchup? Or maybe you don’t want a whole milkshake? Choices. It’s all about choices.

Also, why not bring Nesquik back into the game? 90’s nostalgia at its finest.

Kraft Cheese Slices & Sunpat Peanut Butter



Peanut butter is a dream on the taste buds, but an absolute nightmare to spread. Some busy folk don’t want to be bothering with spreading things and putting knives in the dishwasher! 

Nope. Give us a tasty nutty layer in the convenience of an individually wrapped slice that we can just plonk on our toast and be done with it. Sounds messy, but surely there’s a science bod out there who can make this happen.

Smirnoff Vodka & Watermelon



Ok, so technically this isn’t a brand mashup as such, but as everyone is busy force-feeding watermelons vodka ready for the summer, Smirnoff may as well step in and do it properly. A handy bottleneck design would facilitate the feeding of the vodka, but you could also (after a stint in the freezer and good shake up) pour watermelon vodka slushies on demand! 

Dominos & Del Monte Pineapple Chunks



Okay, so from conversations we’ve overheard, pineapple on pizza is a universally approved and accepted topping, right? (we joke)

With that in mind, isn’t it annoying when you have to go to the effort of placing a Domino’s order, then wait ages for it to be delivered? Why not just empty a tin onto some toast, maybe sprinkle on some cheese and then pop it in the oven for 5 minutes. Et voila!

Bagsy the rights to this one.

Patak’s Curry & Müller Yoghurt Corner



Everyone loves a good curry! And some like it hotter than others. For those who like yoghurt or raita to cool things down a bit, traipsing to the fridge after you’ve got all comfy on the sofa with your curry is beyond inconvenient. 

But wait. 

Harnessing the brilliance of Müller’s yoghurt corner design, this could be a problem of the past, except this time the curry is the main show and baby …sorry, yoghurt is in the corner.

Rodda’s Clotted Cream & Hartley’s Jam



This is a big one guys. 

A game changer.

Opening the door to world peace.

A marriage of two households.

Clotted cream and jam shall be equal upon the scone. No more family feuds, no more raised eyebrows, and no more ‘blobbing’ or ‘dolloping’. No cream first. No jam first. They enter the stage together, in a swirling embrace.

Seriously though, this might be quite nice.

———————

So there we have it. Food worlds collide and brands find new purpose in collaborating for the greater good. 

What kind of food or brand collaborations would you like to see?

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PLEASE NOTE: You’re more than welcome to use our images for your own content, all we ask is that you credit CDA.eu as the creator and cite this post as the original source. Disclaimer: We are not associated with any of the brands mentioned and all depictions are for illustrative purposes only.
by BlockleyN

5 Energy-saving Kitchen Appliances That Can Also Save You Money

In April 2022, the energy price cap is increasing. According to Ofgem, the new price cap will increase by 54% and impact around 22 million customers in the UK.

Average energy costs are expected to increase from £1,277 to £1,971 for the year for those paying their energy bills by direct debit – a rise of £693.

Those who have opted for a prepayment method will see average annual costs rise from £1,309 to £2,017 – an increase of £708.

One way to help keep the financial impact of this as low as possible is to swap to more energy-efficient kitchen appliances, particularly if you were contemplating an upgrade anyway.

Energy efficient appliances - gas hob - CDA Appliances

Are all appliances energy efficient?

Not necessarily. Some appliances are more energy-efficient than others; dishwashers are better when it comes to saving energy than washing machines, for example.

To make things more confusing, one dishwasher model can have a much better energy efficiency rating than another. Size, for example, is a contributing factor. Say you were looking at two dishwashers of different sizes but with the same energy rating, in those instances, the smaller product will be more energy efficient than the larger.

The thing to remember is that – the better its rating – the better for your energy bills and the planet.

What is a good energy efficient rating?

Previously, household appliances were assigned energy ratings from A+++ – which is the best rating as it’s the least energy intensive (energy intensive means it uses a large amount of energy), – and D, the lowest rating.

Energy efficiency ratings have been assisting consumers in selecting the best models for the planet and their energy bills for over 25 years. The ratings have also led to manufacturers working harder to build better products.

New Appliance Energy efficiency ratings - CDA Appliances

New energy labels released in 2020

In 2020, the UK introduced an energy label to make things even clearer and help consumers make better choices. Old energy ratings have now been removed and in their place is a new energy rating scale from A-G, where A is the best energy rating and G is the lowest.

These are colour coordinated, so if you see a green energy label, you know you’re purchasing one of the most energy-efficient appliances. And if you’re looking at a red label, you’ll know that opting for a different model will save you money in the long run.

Some products will also have energy labels giving information on:

  • Noise levels
  • Storage capacity
  • Water consumption
So you can make a fully-informed decision, some even come with a QR code so that you can access all the information you need in a quick snap of your phone’s camera.

Video from the Energy Saving Trust.


Do energy-efficient appliances really save money?

In a word, yes, energy-efficient appliances do save you money. In Nov 2021, Which revealed that owning the least energy-efficient home appliances would result in energy consumption increasing your bills by approximately £490 every year.

Conversely, choosing to invest in an appliance that has the highest energy efficiency rating can save you up to £336 each year. Which could amount to £3,360 over the average lifespan of a new appliance.

This Is Money also gives an example of how switching to an appliance that is more energy-efficient can save you money. They state that upgrading a fridge freezer with a rating of C to a product with an A+++ rating could save you £113 in annual running costs. With this example in mind, you’d recoup the money you spent within five years.

Therefore, if you are looking to upgrade your home appliances, it’s really important to do thorough research to ensure you purchase something that will save both money and energy, something that thankfully is mutually exclusive.

What are examples of energy-saving appliances?

Here are five examples of energy-saving appliances:

An Energy-efficient Washing Machine

You may think that a smaller washing machine is a more energy-efficient appliance than, say, a model that can wash an 8kg or more load.

But the fact is that by choosing a larger washing machine with a great energy label and increasing your load size to reduce the number of loads per week, you’ll actually end up saving more energy, water and money.

Washing Machine Energy-saving Tips

  • If you want to reduce the number of washing cycles and cut down on running costs, weigh your laundry using bathroom scales to ensure you’re loading your machine with the right amount, a full load may be more than you think!
  • You can also reduce energy usage further by washing your clothes at 30C. Most laundry detergents work better at this temperature anyway, so you may find your clothes come out even cleaner.
Energy efficient washing machine - CDA Appliances

An Energy-efficient Dishwasher

It’s a common misconception that dishwashers are less energy-efficient than hand-washing your items, as proved with a study carried out by Reviewed.com.

The study included washing four full place settings (plates, bowls, cutlery, glasses and mugs etc.) both by hand and in a dishwasher. The people that washed the place settings by hand used two methods, one used a bowl of soapy water and the other had the tap running continuously.

The results showed that manually washing the place settings used 12 gallons of water, which was 3.5 times more water than the average dishwasher used. Dishwashers are especially good for saving money on your bills if you’re on a water meter. 

Dishwasher Energy-saving Tips

  • When running your dishwasher, opt for an eco cycle wherever possible to lower energy consumption.
  • Look at how you stack the machine. Try to arrange your plates, cups, dishes etc so that the spray can reach every item so you won’t have to do any additional scrubbing once the cycle has ended.
  • Keep the salt and rinse levels topped up at all times.
  • Be sure to keep the filter clean of debris and limescale build up.
energy efficient dishwasher - CDA Appliances

An Energy-efficient Induction Hob

If it’s time to upgrade your cooking appliances, Leafscore recommends that you opt for an induction hob if you’re shopping with energy efficiency in mind. Here’s a rundown of what you can expect from a new hob by fuel type:

  • Electric-coil and standard ceramic hob models are approximately 74% efficiency.
  • Gas hobs are approximately 40% efficiency.
  • Induction cooktops are 84% efficiency.
As you can see, the type of hob you choose really makes a difference when it comes to energy use, this is largely down to the residual heat that each of these fuel types create.

Induction Hob Energy-saving Tip

  • If you want to further reduce how much energy your new induction hob uses, look out for a green energy label and consider models that come with simmer settings, a timer and keep warm functionality to use less energy.
Energy efficient induction hob - CDA Appliances

An Energy-efficient Oven

Upgrading your oven is an excellent way to save energy as modern electric multi-function models are designed with energy efficiency in mind.

Fan ovens cook food more quickly and ensure an even cook, meaning that both time, temperature and your carbon footprint can be reduced.

Similar to washing machines, opting for an oven with a larger capacity, like our 77 litre ovens, can reduce how much energy is used since they are perfect for batch cooking (and then freezing) your food. Bulk cooking also helps to lessen food cost, food waste (which also impacts the environment), your energy bill and reduces time spent cooking throughout the week.

Oven Energy-saving Tip

  • Look for models that have a rapid preheat feature to reduce the amount of time the oven needs to reach the right temperature.
CDA fan assisted ovens automatically choose the right temperature, meaning premium joints of meat and poultry will be cooked to perfection every time.

energy efficient ovens - CDA Appliances

An Energy-efficient Microwave

While small appliances like microwaves are best-known as the method for heating up TV-dinners, there is a lot more to them.

Heating up ingredients in general reduces the amount of nutrients within them. When you boil carrots, for example, the orange-tinged water that you pour down the drain is full of vitamins that have seeped out during the cooking process

According to Science Focus, microwaving your vegetables can help to preserve the goodness held within, meaning you get an extra shot of nutrients when you cook using a microwave.

Looking at microwaves as energy efficient products, you could, for example, microwave large baking potatoes for six minutes before popping it into your oven for 30 minutes. to cook from raw in the oven can take well over an hour.

Again, this technique will save both energy and time. You can also use your microwave to make sauces, melt chocolate, warm milk, reheat soup and more – it offers so much more than heating up microwave-meals as it can drastically reduce your energy costs.

energy efficient microwave - CDA Appliances

Which appliance uses the least amount of energy?

It may come as a surprise, but the kitchen appliance that uses the least energy is… the dishwasher!

Choose a model with a great energy rating and you’ll not only never have to scrub dishes again, you’ll save yourself time and clean your dishes and other equipment in the most energy efficient way possible.

Are energy-efficient appliances worth it?

Yes. Energy-efficient appliances are definitely worth it. Considering how much the average UK household bills are set to increase in April, upgrading any of the gas and electrical appliances mentioned in this post (plus those that weren’t, honourable mention to fridge freezers) to a more energy efficient model can help lower your gas and electricity bills. Just keep your eye on those energy labels when shopping.

By upgrading from an old model to something with a higher energy rating, you can make your money back through energy bill savings in just a few years.

An added bonus is that when you opt for products that save energy, you’re also doing your bit to make the planet a healthier place, too!

by BlockleyN

How Long Will Frozen Food Last in a Power Cut?

Power outages that last anything from a couple of seconds to a few minutes don’t really have an impact on daily life, even those that last for half an hour to an hour are often only a mild inconvenience.

It’s power failures that last hours that create a problem when it comes to appliances, especially fridges and freezers and keeping your chilled and frozen food cold enough not to spoil and go to waste.

Why does the UK have so many power cuts?

Power outages can be caused by planned maintenance and environmental factors such as high winds, lightning storms and heavy floods, which unfortunately are pretty common in the UK.

The pandemic, plant and reactor shutdowns, and increased demand for energy were noted to be the reason why Great Britain was expected to experience the highest risk of blackouts in recent years.

Additionally, the National Grid warned in 2021 that there was a higher risk of blackouts as a result of energy suppliers collapsing and the hike in energy prices.

With all of this in mind, it’s a great idea to take proactive steps to know what to do during a prolonged power outage to keep your chilled and frozen products safe.

UK power cuts set to rise - CDA Appliances

Preparing for a power failure essential

There are several reasons why taking proactive steps to protect our frozen and refrigerated food from the impact of your power cutting out, including:

The rise of bulk cooking

While bulk-cooking and freezing food is not a new concept, a recent study has found that 73% of people were batch cooking food during the pandemic as a time-saving exercise.

As well as saving a considerable amount of time on cooking throughout the week, bulk cooking can save family households, on average, £300 per year.

At a time when energy bills are soaring, cutting costs is at the forefront of many people’s minds. If you regularly cook and freeze your food in batches, knowing what to do in response to your power cutting out can save you hundreds over the years.

Batch cooking and freezing food - CDA Appliances

Food waste in the UK

Bulk cooking can also work to reduce food waste. It’s a massive problem, with studies suggesting the UK produces the largest amount of food waste in Europe.

Waste is lessened through the practice of planning weekly meals, purchasing select ingredients and cooking them well before their use-by dates.

The rise in bulk cooking and freezing increases the damage an extended power outage can cause.

Knowing what to do with perishable food during a power cut could now be more important than ever.

How much has the price of food gone up in the UK?

Adding insult to injury, the Consumer Price Index has hit a 30-year high, increasing by 6.2% from January to February 2022.

This was the highest rise in food prices for any month since 1992, according to National World.

Increased chances of power cutting out, food price hikes and the rise in bulk cooking and freezing meals make protecting our chilled and frozen foods during a power outage more important than ever.

Food Waste in the UK highest in Europe - CDA Appliances

How long is food OK in the fridge without power?

Food in a fridge that runs between 0 and 4C will be safe for up to four hours while the power is out.

After this, you will likely find that your chilled food is no longer safe for consumption.

What food can be saved from the fridge during a power cut?

If you weren’t home when a power outage hit and you believe your fridge was unpowered for at least four hours, there may still be some salvageable products, such as:
  • Hard cheese and processed cheese
  • Butter and margarine
  • Unopened yoghurt
  • Eggs
  • Whole fresh fruit and vegetables
  • Pasteurised fruit juice
The following food items should not be consumed if your fridge has been without power for over 4 hours:
  • Soft cheese and cream cheese
  • Mike, cream, crème Fraiche and open yoghurt
  • Any dishes prepared with raw or cooked eggs
  • Opened fresh fruit or vegetable juice
  • Cooked vegetables including soups
  • Processed raw fruit and vegetables
  • Dishes and products containing cooked or raw red meat, poultry, fish and seafood
  • Any ready meals and leftovers
Saving food from the fridge in a power cut - CDA Appliances

How long will stuff stay frozen without power?

How long your frozen meat, prepared meals and other food items will stay cool enough to not spoil depends on the quality of your freezer.

A four-star rated fridge freezer, for example, will keep your frozen meals at an acceptable temperature for approximately 48 hours.

If you take action as soon as the power goes out, you have slightly longer.

What food can be saved from the freezer during a power failure?

Similarly, if you’ve experienced a power outage for more than 24 hours, you may still be able to rescue specific frozen items, such as:
  • Food products where the centre is still hard
  • Defrosted raw food if they aren’t any warmer than 4C, which you can check using a food thermometer
It’s even more important that you thoroughly cook any items salvaged before consuming them.

You can also keep the following, so long as you eat them as soon as possible:
  • Blocks of hard cheese
  • Bread, muffins, pastry without cream filling and defrosted fruit
Sadly, it isn’t safe to eat the following that’s been left in a freezer without power for more than 24 hours:
  • Dishes and products prepared with meat, poultry, seafood or fish, dairy products and defrosted eggs
  • Ice cream
If any food items have developed ice crystals, it will not refreeze well and the flavour will be negatively affected.

Saving food from the freezer in a power cut - CDA Appliances

What to do with your refrigerator and freezer when a power outage strikes

If you’re at home when a power cut occurs, we recommend doing the following as soon as possible to maintain the integrity of your food:
  1. Pack the drawers as fully as possible – having a full freezer will help to maintain a cool temperature for longer.
  2. Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors firmly closed.
  3. If you have some thick blankets, wrap them around your freestanding refrigerator and freestanding freezer to add further insulation, this will keep the cold air inside for longer. 
  4. Even if it is very cold don’t be tempted to put food outside unless it is in an animal-proof snap-top cool box.

Can you get compensation for power cuts?

The good news is that most home contents insurance covers the contents of your fridge and freezer, so if you can’t get to your food before it spoils, you may not be quite so out of pocket.

With that said, be sure to check the small print before you make a claim.

This is Money reviewed 364 home contents insurance policies and found that:
  • 93% of policies give some amount of cover as standard
  • 3% offer cover as an optional extra
  • 4% won’t cover frozen food in their policy at all
Making a claim if you can is incredibly worthwhile since the contents of a well-stocked refrigerator and/or freezer can add up to a substantial sum.

Policies will normally cover all food in both fridges and freezers, including additional models stored in outbuildings. 

However, please note that models older than ten years are often exempt, so it is worth double-checking both your policy and the age of the appliance before trying to make a claim. 

Generally, insurers will also allow customers to claim for new refrigeration appliances if theirs stop working permanently through incidental damage, such as from a power surge. 

Put together a power failure preparation pack

In light of the risk of an increase in power outages, it’s recommended that you put together an emergency pack containing:

  • A power bank to charge your phone, iPad, e-reader – You’ll find a good selection on Amazon.
  • Stock up on candles or buy a camping gas lantern for safe, bright light.
  • A two-burner camping gas stove makes hot drinks, soup and even simple meals possible.
  • Buy some hot water bottles and a few cosy throws to keep warm.
To keep you as safe and comfortable as possible until the power comes back on.

Power outages may become more common in the future, so doing everything you can to prepare in advance can help keep your food at a safe temperature for as long as needed.