US Kitchen Appliances in the UK - Your Experience?

Hello!

So, we are shipping most of our US stuffs to the UK.  What I'm wondering about is the experience folks have had with US kitchen appliances in the UK?  So many of our appliances are high end wedding gifts that I hate to part with them.  Of course, I'd hate it more if they blew up in the UK!  I don't mind investing in heavy duty step down transformers to make the switch and have read the electronics compatibility article on this site. 

But even with step down transformers, I'm wondering, what's your experience?  Do they still work well?  Here is the list of appliances we are considering taking:

Espresso machine
Drip coffee maker
Toaster
Griddle/Press
Rice maker
Kettle
Crock pot
Deep fryer

I've taken appliances back and forth, and used really heavy duty transformers (the big yellow industrial type). But, here's my 2 cents....if it heats up and draws a hefty load (kettle, griddle/press,crock pot, toaster, deep fryer) don't bring it. Coffee pot - no big deal, but bear in mind that the digital clock won't work correctly (50 cycles versus 60 cycles) so you only plug it in when you use it. Check the wattage on the espresso machine; it may be fine. Likewise the rice cooker; I've never bothered with one of those, so not sure.

Hand mixers, blenders and so forth are usually fine, just not with those 'baby' transformers. Also, if something would typically be plugged in for continuous use, not really a good idea; the transformer will heat up.

I know others have used transformers with success, but I wasn't willing to take the risk. I left all my appliances behind - including a KitchenAid mixer, Cuisinart, etc - and have gradually replaced them here.

My KitchenAid stand mixer was a $20 garage sale find, so I did bring it -- if the motor goes, I'm out $20 -- and it works okay with the transformer, but I try not to push it.

My KitchenAid food processor eats transformers alive, I wouldn't recommend bringing that.

It's all about the rating of the transformer. The big ugly yellow ones are designed for using 110V tools on building sites. They can handle almost anything.

The big ugly yellow ones are designed for using 110V tools on building sites. They can handle almost anything.

Vadio - where do you get these?  x

About any electrical supply store; we paid about £65 for a monster that will power about anything. Amazon also sell them - you're looking for something like this:



You need to cut the US plug off a heavy duty extension cord, and fit the special plug that is used with the transformer. Then plug your US appliance into the extension cord as normal.

If you do a search on ebay for '110v Tranfsormer', you will get hundreds of the industrial yellow ones pop up. The most common ones will have 1 or 2 outlets, but there will be some with three outlets.

As others have said these are for use on building sites etc, they are therefore more or less bullet proof so buying second hand should hold no fears, which can reduce the price to £20-£30. Bear in mind that these units are heavy so delivery might add substantially to the price if you can't find one locally.

I'll second that for eBay, and also Gumtree for local ads. We had 3 2nd hand transformers at one point when I first lived here, and sold all 3 on when we went back to the US in 2000.

They are heavy....very heavy....so wouldn't recommend anything except a 'local pick-up'.

We find that kettles and toasters bought in the UK work much faster, as they utilize the double voltage to heat things up faster, and they are cheap enough to buy these days.  (US toasters take forever in comparison)

e.g. My routine in the USA when making a pot of tea is to put a liter of water in the kettle and turn it on.  That gives me plenty of time to empty and rinse the teapot, put a little water in and stick it in the microwave for 1 minute.  (I like to warm the teapot first).  In the UK I have to set the teapot warming in the microwave first before putting a liter of water into the kettle and switching it on.

PS
I did the big yellow transformer thing when we first moved to the USA - heavy and inconvenient.