TurboChef 30" Double Wall Speedcook Oven: First Look

We recently tested the TurboChef Speedcook Oven. This 30-inch double wall oven, $7,895, provides state-of-the-art technology but some of its results weren’t masterpieces. Read more about this TurboChef oven—described by the manufacturer as a "high performance gourmet oven designed specifically for today's home chef"—in this First Look on ConsumerReports.org.

Essential information: Look for our full report on ovens in the August 2008 issue of Consumer Reports. If you're in the market for a new oven, read our buying advice.

Tip of the Day: Shopping advice for gas grills

While many Americans with grills use their outdoor cooker year-round, with Memorial Day about a week away, high grilling season is about to start. If you're ready to buy a new gas grill, use our shopping tips below and buying advice and watch our video (right) before you head to the store.

Size it up. Match the grill's cooking area to the number of people generally around your table. Remember, manufacturers might include warming racks in their measurements of cooking area. Our measurements are based on the main cooking area and how much food it will hold. Next factor in how much space the grill will take up on your patio or deck. Some of the large grills we've tested are 6 feet wide.

Look over the menu. A basic grill is fine for cooking hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, kabobs, chicken pieces, and vegetables, but if you regularly cook whole chickens, turkeys, or large roasts, look for a model with a rotisserie burner.

Bring a magnet. Many grills are made of a mix of grades of stainless steel. Our tests have found that 300-series stainless is less likely to rust than cheaper, 400-series stainless. Magnets will usually stick to cheaper grades, so bring a magnet with you to test the metal.

Think safety. The more stable the grill, the better. When shopping, gently push the grill from several angles to see if it tips. Check the cart, firebox, lid, and shelves for sharp corners and edges. Grip the handle. Your knuckles or fingers shouldn't be too close to the lid or your hand could get burned during use.

Essential information: Also read our June 2008 gas-grills report and visit our gas-grills product page. Then follow our expert advice to ensure you avoid common grilling mistakes and to keep your grill cooking better, longer as you make our delicious, easy-to-prepare dishes and use chef-restaurateur Bobby Flay’s recipes.

Bobby Flay’s tips for great burgers

With diverse restaurants like Southwestern-flavored Mesa Grill, Spanish-inspired Bolo, American brasserie Bar Americain, and Bobby Flay Steak to his credit, chef-restaurateur Bobby Flay might seem like someone with high-style tastes that veer toward the international. Yet the humble hamburger remains this longtime Food Network star’s favorite food to eat.

The 43-year-old Flay is so enamored of hamburgers that he’s planning to open Bobby’s Burger Palace, a chain of eateries with several locations in the greater New York City area.

If you share Flay’s passion for hamburgers but can’t make it to one of his restaurants, use his tips for making topnotch burgers at home. Add some flair to your standard grilling menu by making Flay’s tuna burgers (recipe follows after the hamburger tips).

Before you grill, follow our expert advice to ensure you avoid common grilling mistakes and to keep your grill cooking better, longer as you make Flay’s recipes as well as our delicious, easy-to-prepare dishes. And if you’re in the market for a new gas grill, read our June 2008 gas-grills report and visit our gas-grills product page.—Kimberly Janeway

Flay’s 4 Steps to a Great Hamburger
1. Skip beef that’s too lean. Flay suggests that you use ground chuck with a 20 percent fat content (80 percent lean). “A burger has to be juicy to be good and you can’t get juicy without fat,” Flay says, noting that a lot of the fat will drip off during the cooking process. If you use beef that’s too lean and you like your burgers cooked passed medium doneness, you’ll end up with a dry burger when the meat is too lean. “If you are watching your weight or are under the care of a physician, then use a leaner meat,” adds Flay.

2. Season the meat liberally. Flay recommends that you season the patties generously with salt and freshly ground pepper. Each patty should be about six ounces.

3. Turn up the heat. To get a nice char on the meat while keeping the inside juicy, cook over high heat, according to Flay, who cautions that you shouldn’t play with the meat while it’s on the grill: Place each patty on the grill (which you should have preheated for 15 to 20 minutes), let it get brown and slightly charred (this will take about 3 minutes), and then flip it. Flip each burger only once or they will start to fall apart. Don’t press on the burger either; this will cause juices to come out of the meat and will cause annoying flare-ups.

4. Break out the toppings. “My ideal burger contains two slices of aged cheddar cheese, two slices of ripe beefsteak tomato, grilled sweet onion, say Vidalia or Walla Walla, crisp romaine or iceberg lettuce, and a strong horseradish mustard,” Flays notes. He adds that the perfect burger calls for a soft, airy bun with sesame seeds.

Photo courtesy of Food Network

Vintage Consumer Reports: Automatic electric toasters, 1956

I recently stopped by our InfoCenter, a great resource for Consumer Reports editors. As part of some housekeeping they're doing, the folks in our library are giving away bound copies of past issues of Consumer Reports. I grabbed a few tomes, including the one from my birth year, 1963.

As someone who's fascinated by these old magazines and the great photography that filled their pages, I've decided to post our archival images on the Home & Garden blog, a way for you to take a step back in time and (re)connect with the work Consumer Reports has done since 1936.

The image here is from a 1956 toasters test. (That's not an army mess hall but one of our old labs.) In our tests of 22 models that year, we judged three toasters that were otherwise high in overall quality Not Acceptable because they presented a serious shock hazard.

Fifty-two years later we continue to encounter hazardous products, including this robotic lawn mower.

Drop me a line to let me know whether you want to see more photos from our archives and which home products interest you the most.—Steven H. Saltzman

Does the Fuego 02 gas grill combine style and performance?

We recently tested the Fuego 02 gas grill, $1,700, for our upcoming grills report, which will appear in the June 2008 issue of Consumer Reports (on sale and online the first week of May).

The Fuego 02 is a single-burner gas grill that seems to be designed for people who might favor form over function. Indeed, here's how the manufacturer describes this outdoor cooker in a brochure: "Part furniture and part grill, it functions as much as an entertainment hub as a place to prepare a memorable meal."

Find out whether this attractive grill left us burning with enthusiasm by reading our First Look.

Essential information: See our gas grills product page for expert tips on buying and using a gas grill, including easy-to-make delicious recipes, advice on avoiding common mistakes when cooking, and ways to keep your grilling working well and looking good.

Kitchen/Bath Industry Show Product Preview: Diva 365 induction range

In our tests, induction cooktops have proved themselves, having broken our speed record for boiling water and simmered sauce flawlessly. What’s more, the magnetic field, which does the cooking on these cooktops, sends nearly all of its heat to the pot or pan, so the cooking surface remains relatively cool, a safety plus.

The new Diva 365 induction range, among the first on the market, is a 36-inch stainless-steel appliance with five induction elements—one large, 4,000-watt “Super Burner”; two 3,000-watt side burners; and two 2,000-watt versions for small pots and lower-heat simmering. (Watch our video, right.)

The 365 comes with a premium price tag: $8,950. Note that the range also requires two 220-volt circuits.—Bob Markovich

Essential information: See our Cooktops and Wall Ovens product page for detailed information on gas and electric cooktops, and learn more about induction models. If you’re in the market for a cooktop, use our buying advice to find the best model, including detailed information on important cooktop features. Before you shop, refer to our Ratings of gas and electric models, available to subscribers.

Kitchen/Bath Industry Show Product Preview: Thermador Masterpiece Deluxe electric cooktops

Thermador calls its new infrared-sensor-equipped Masterpiece Deluxe electric cooktops groundbreaking. What distinguishes the cooktops? They’re equipped with an industry-first sensor, dubbed Sensor Dome (shown), that is designed to continually measure heat from the cookware and automatically cycle the burner on and off or even shut it down to maintain a set temperature, claims Thermador.

The manufacturer maintains you’ll save time and get better cooking performance since you won’t have to guess at or adjust the temperature. The retractable sensor is also supposed to prevent pots from boiling over.

The Masterpiece Deluxe cooktops are due in stores this July. The 30-inch, four-burner model with one sensor will cost $1,799; the five-burner, 36-inch model with one sensor, $1,899; the two-sensor 36-inch version, $2,099.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Before you shop for a cooktop, read our buying advice and review the Ratings of electric and gas cooktops, available to subscribers.

Q&A: Are built-in refrigerators more prone to repairs than other types?

I’m planning a kitchen remodel and want the look of a built-in refrigerator. But built-ins have been more likely to need repairs, according to Consumer Reports. Are these refrigerators a bad investment?

Our past surveys have found that built-in refrigerators were more repair prone than other types. But a recent analysis by the Consumer Reports National Research Center (CRNRC) shows there's been a change. When the CRNRC looked at reader responses to the Annual Product Reliability Survey about refrigerators bought between 2003 and 2007, it found that built-in refrigerators have not been more repair prone. Note that the survey did indicate that Sub-Zero built-in refrigerators have been repair prone.

Built-in refrigerators like the highly rated KitchenAid KBFC42F[SS] shown offer a sophisticated, sleek look—at a high price. (The 11 built-in models in our latest report range in cost from $5,200 to $7,600.) Built-ins align with cabinets and can be covered with panels that match cabinetry. Most built-ins are at least 36 inches wide and are about a foot taller than conventional refrigerators since their compressors are on top.

Many built-in refrigerators are bottom-freezers, but you’ll even find separate built-in refrigerator and freezer columns that you can place next to each other or install in different areas of the kitchen. 

Essential information: Before you shop for a refrigerator, read our buying advice and review our Ratings of bottom-freezers, built-ins, side-by-sides, and top-freezers (available to subscribers).

What’s new in small appliances: 2008 Housewares Show wrap-up

The 2008 International Home & Housewares Show (IHHS) recently took place in Chicago. Michael DiLauro, a product-information specialist for Consumer Reports, describes some interesting products and trends.

Smaller appliances are taking on multiple personalities, as manufacturers are incorporating multiple functions into their products. Makers are also adding enhanced programmability to their wares, allowing you to fine-tune the process, say setting the brew strength on a coffeemakers. Some of these countertop devices are also getting bigger screens and brighter displays with backlit LCDs.

Technology continues to reign, as appliances add electronic controls that prevent temperature spikes, keeping the heat consistent over the cooking process. (Learn what's behind this technology.)

Manufacturers are also trying to blend some of their smaller appliances seamless into home décor. Consumers don’t want their room air purifiers and cordless handheld vacuums, for example, to stand out when they’re plugged in.

With consumers expected to spend less this year, small-appliance makers were touting the cost-saving aspects of their products. Slow cookers, claimed one company, use about 3 cents per hour compared with 25 cents per hour for a wall oven. Vacuum sealers were also being pitched as way to lower food costs.

Pod-style coffeemakers continue to grow in popularity with Nespresso and Tassimo poised to take the lion’s share of both the coffee-pod and -maker market. Learn more about espresso makers.

Speaking of coffee, I knew the IHHS was trendy when I found myself drinking an espresso alongside celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck at the booth hosted by Illy, known for its espresso machines and coffee. The Italian company’s booth (shown) was actually the coolest part of all, since it’s a fully functional sustainable home built within a shipping container. Called the Push Button House (shown), it takes about 90 seconds to fully open and transform into a home with a kitchen, dining room, bedroom, bathroom, living room, and library.

Induction burners are becoming more common, though you might not need or want to buy a new cooktop just to take advantage of this emerging technology, which has performed highly in our tests, excelling at cooking speed and energy efficiency. The new portable induction cooktop from European appliance maker Fagor might make sense for you as a complement to an existing range or standard gas or electric cooktop. (Note that induction cooktops require cookware made of cast iron or enameled steel. Some stainless-steel cookware will work but aluminum or copper products will not.)

The $200 unit (shown), which measures 12x14 inches and weighs 8 pounds, includes many of the standard features found in a built-in induction cooktop at a fraction of the cost, around $1,700 for a four-burner model.—Michael DiLauro, Product-Information Specialist

Tip of the Day: How to microwave food

Cooking food in a microwave food isn’t rocket science. Nevertheless, if you don’t familiarize yourself with your unit, you might ruin what you’re heating or cooking or not get most out of the features on your microwave.

Flex its muscles. Browsing the owner’s manual will help you use your microwave properly, but so will experimentation. Some microwaves we’ve tested include “less” and “more” buttons that let you adjust preset times to get the exact cooking, defrosting, or cooking result you want. And try accessories, such as a browning tray or sizzle pan, before you stow—and then neglect—them.

Be careful with containers. Use only plastic containers or wraps labeled microwave-safe. (Some concerns about plastics are exaggerated, as we explain in “Unsafe at Any Temperature.”) If you’re using a convection oven, use heat-resistant glass, ceramic, or metal containers.

Let it breathe. Loosely cover foods with microwave-safe plastic wrap, wax paper, or a lid. Sensors in the ovens detect the moisture level in the food you’re heating, but they don’t work properly if the cookware is covered tightly or not covered at all.

Stir it up. If your microwave tends to heat unevenly, stop partway through the cooking or reheating time and stir the food, especially if you’ve switched off the turntable to fit a large dish. Most microwaves will pause and signal during the defrost process when it’s time to turn meat. Be extra careful if you’re using additional functions, such as convection or grilling, because they heat the air in the unit as well as the food.

Mind your metal. You can wrap tiny strips of foil no wider than an inch or so around the corners of food you’re defrosting to keep those sections from cooking before the rest of the food defrosts. Otherwise, metal is generally a no-no in most regular microwaves.

Essential information: Learn how to choose a microwave oven, then check our Ratings (available to subscribers) to find the microwave that’s right for you.

Struggling Sears mulls selling its brands at other retailers

Two thousand and eight is a leap year. For Sears, which on February 28, 2008, announced a 47 percent decline in 2007 fourth-quarter net earnings on a 6.8 percent sales drop, a different kind of leaping could be on the horizon.

The Hoffman Estates, Illinois-based Sears announced that it’s considering selling some of its biggest brands—Craftsman, DieHard, Kenmore, and Lands’ End—through retailers beyond its nearly 3,800 U.S. and Canadian stores. (Read the entire press release from Sears.)

“One of our most important resources is the great brands we own, in particular DieHard, Craftsman, Kenmore, and Lands’ End,” said Sears Chairman Edward S. Lampert in a letter to shareholders. “All four of these brands have significant equity with customers and provide tremendous opportunity for value creation.” Lampert went on to explain that DieHard “leads in customer recognition among car battery brands by a wide margin, but it lags dramatically in market share . . . due to fewer points of distribution.” The move to sell Sears brands through other retailers “is an opportunity for us to rethink our brand distribution strategy to create value,” said Lampert.

The announcement is yet another sign of the reeling U.S. economy and points to tougher times for Sears, whose shares were down almost 5 percent in trading on February 29. The good news: The presence of Sears brands at other retailers could be a boon for appliance and outdoor-power-equipment shoppers who don’t live near a Sears store, since Kenmore and Craftsman products consistently get high scores in our Ratings of major appliances and outdoor gear.

Should Sears cross that threshold, it will be some time before its Craftsman, DieHard, Kenmore, and Lands’ End products appear in other places.

For now, you might have to drive the extra distance to a Sears or even to a Kmart store, where some Sears products are sold. If you’re lucky, any deal you get won’t be guzzled up by the rising price of gasoline.

Below we’ve highlighted a few notable performers sold by Sears. You’ll find the latest reports and Ratings for all appliances and outdoor power equipment on our main Appliances and Tools & Power Equipment pages. Note that Kenmore appliances and Craftsman mowers and lawn tractors have tended to be reliable, based on responses to the Annual Product Reliability Survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center.

Laundry appliances:
The Kenmore Elite HE5t Steam 4778[1], $1,600 (shown), and Elite HE5t 4708[1], $1,300, front-loading washers were among the top-rated machines in our latest report. The Kenmore Elite Oasis 6706[2], $800, and Elite Oasis 6703[2], $700, dryers notched excellent scores in our latest tests. Ratings of washing machines and dryers are available to subscribers.

Kitchen appliances:
Four Kenmore dishwashers were among the top six scorers in our latest tests of dishwashers: Kenmore1374[2], $650; Elite 1378[2], $1,000; Elite UltraWash HE 1315[2], $1,100; and Elite UltraWash HE 1312[2], $900.

Two Kenmore 30-inch electric smoothtop ranges—9641[2], $750, and 9611[2], $580—are among the best performers in our latest report.

The Kenmore Elite 5896[2] side-by-side refrigerator scored highly in our Ratings.

Ratings of dishwashers, electric ranges, and side-by-side refrigerators are available to subscribers.

Outdoor power equipment:
Sears also rides high in lawn tractors. The 46-inch Craftsman 28724, $1,600, and the 54-inch Craftsman 27690, $2,000, are among our top-rated tractors and also among the lowest-priced tractors we've tested. Learn how to choose a lawn tractor and see our Ratings of tractors for more information.—Daniel DiClerico

International Builders’ Show Product Preview: Best by Broan IP29 Vent Hood

When you’re shopping for an undercabinet range hood, you’ll find a large variety of styles, sizes, and performance abilities as well as a number of very good $500 and under models. (See our latest report, “Over the Range.”)

Downdraft models are another venting option. These are designed to reverse the direction of rising smoke and fumes and exhaust them through ducts running beneath the floor. But our testing has shown downdrafts to be among the least effective venting systems at removing smoke and steam.

But if you cook at a kitchen island, venting can be more complicated—and expensive. Many overhead vent hoods cost $2,000 and up, without installation and ducting.

The stylish stainless-steel Best IP29 from Broan costs $3,300 to $4,800, might be a good choice if you need a vent hood. Sensor technology detects what you’re cooking and can turn on the hood automatically, at whatever speed and duration are needed, according to the manufacturer.

The IP29 features pushbutton LCD controls for speed and light settings and an Americans With Disabilities Act–compliant remote control, says Broan. The hood comes in 42- and 54-inch lengths and is 32 inches deep.—Ed Perratore

Essential information: See our Ratings of range hoods (available to subscribers) and tips for proper venting. To help you make your dream kitchen a reality, refer to our kitchen-planning guide.

Buzzword: Algorithm

What does it mean? An algorithm is a step-by-step process for solving a given task. The term derives from Persian mathematician Mohammad ibn-Musa al-Khwarizmi (780-850), who’s considered the father of algebra. In a modern context, algorithms are often associated with computer programmers, who use them to tell the machines not just what to do but also how to do it. Google, for example, uses algorithmic techniques to establish PageRanks, which in term determine which sites pop up when you search a term or phrase.

Why the buzz? At Consumer Reports, we’re increasingly encountering the term algorithm in reference to smart appliances: dryers that know when loads are dry, refrigerators that can self-regulate their temperature, and dishwashers that sense when dishes are done. (You can bet the dishwasher shown, from a 1952 Consumer Reports article, did not feature such gadgetry.)

This leap forward in appliance design started years ago when electronic controls replaced mechanical ones. On a range, mechanical controls limited you to turning on the appliance and setting its temperature. You had to make any subsequent adjustments on your own—say, turning down the temperature during the cooking process. More-sophisticated electronic controls have allowed manufacturers to develop software settings based on an understanding of how food reacts at different temperatures.

The pizza setting on two new GE Profile electric smoothtop ranges, for instance, use algorithms to distinguish between fresh and frozen pizzas so the cheese melts evenly without burning the crust. Those same ovens have a slow-cook mode that uses algorithms. “With slow cooking, you can’t just put the oven at 180°F and leave it there,” explains Brian Steurer, systems manager at GE for free-standing electric ranges. “If it’s a beef dish, you first have to raise the temperature to break down the collagen. Then you gradually lower the temperature to tenderize the meat without boiling away the moisture.”

“Algorithms are a good thing if they do what you want them to,” says Robert Karpel, a project leader in our Tech department who handles appliances. But that’s not always the case. The soil sensors on some dishwashers misread dirt levels and increase wash time and water use even if the loads are only lightly soiled. In other tests, algorithmic settings prove no more sophisticated than standard settings: The pizza mode on those GE ovens, for instance, was only as effective as the conventional oven control.

We’re not suggesting you avoid algorithmic bells and whistles, but don’t base a purchase on them—you might end up spending more for no noticeable performance enhancement. Instead, read our reports and Ratings of washers and dryers, ranges, and dishwashers. If a feature ends up saving you time or does a better job at a given task, so much the better.—Daniel DiClerico

Inside CR Test Labs: How we test microwave popcorn settings

Each microwave oven in our Ratings (available to subscribers) gets evaluated with a number of different tests, including heating evenness, defrosting, and ease of use. One score that you won’t see in the test results in the Ratings is how well each microwaves makes popcorn, though it is a small part of a microwave’s overall score.

We use the automatic popcorn setting on each microwave to pop a 3.5-ounce bag of a national brand’s natural-flavor popcorn. The vast majority of the machines we test do at least a good job, producing a minimum of 9 cups (about 2,100 milliliters) of popcorn.

We do encounter the occasional kernel clunker. The automatic setting on one model we recently tested tended to burn the popcorn, for example. The model in the video (below) that left 56 unpopped kernels is no longer on the market—it’s our “reference” microwave whose popcorn abilities leaves us hungry.

If your machine usually overcooks popcorn or typically leaves lots of unpopped kernels, skip the automatic setting and adjust the time accordingly.

Essential information: To avoid being a dud yourself on February 3, be sure to have enough food, drinks, and other essential provisions on hand for the Super Bowl. If you’re in the market for a new microwave, read our February 2008 report.

 

Tip of the day: Use your small appliances during the holidays

While your dishwasher, refrigerator, and oven and cooktop (or range) are likely to be the workhorses in your kitchen this holiday season, your countertop appliances can be real work savers. To get the most from this gear, follow these tips from Katherine Alford, test kitchen director for Food Network Kitchens.

Note: If you’re in the market for new countertop appliances, use our free buying advice for each product (listed below). Ratings are available to subscribers.—Kimberly Janeway

Coffeemaker
• To make a great cup of brewed coffee, buy high-quality beans and grind them right before you make the coffee.
• Don’t make too much coffee at a time. After about 15 to 20 minutes, coffee can lose flavor and become bitter.
• If your coffeemaker has a thermal carafe, warm the vessel before you brew by pouring hot water into it. (Pour out the water before you make the coffee.)

Learn how to choose a coffeemaker. Then check our Ratings to find the model that’s right for you. Also read our review of espresso makers.

Food processor and blender
• Use the feed tube on your food processor to make emulsified sauces, such as salad dressing or mayonnaise.
• If you’re making a pie from scratch, use the processor to make the crust—the blade is ideal for this task. Note that the sealed container of a food processor means this appliance isn’t good for whipping cream.
• Chop whole fruits and vegetables into chunks before you place them in the processor.
• When chopping nuts in a food processor, use the pulse button; otherwise, the nuts might get oily.
• When using a blender, put the liquids in first, then add the solids. The mixture will move around the blades more easily.
• Before you turn on a blender when pureeing hot foods, hold down the lid. Heat and pressure could build inside the carafe and explode—onto you and all over your kitchen.

Learn how to choose a food processor and blender. Then check our Ratings of food processors and blenders to find the models that are right for you. Try our tasty recipes you can make with a food processor, which were created by a Culinary Institute of America graduate. They’re ideal for the holidays.

Kitchen knives
High-quality knives are expensive but can last a lifetime if you take care of them.
• Store knives in a knife roll or block or on a wall magnet.
• Wash knives by hand in warm, soapy water. The water pressure of a dishwasher can dull the blade and he high temperatures can damages a wood handle.

Learn how to choose kitchen knives. Then check our Ratings to find the knives that are right for you.

Microwave
• Use the microwave to melt butter or chocolate when baking. Cover butter so it doesn’t spatter. Put chocolate in a medium-size bowl. Melt it at 50 percent power until soft—about one minute. Stir the chocolate,  then continue microwaving until it’s completely melted, about one to two minutes.
• Instead of roasting garlic in the oven, do the job in your microwave—you’ll get the same soft texture in a small fraction of the time. Break the head of garlic into individual cloves. Pierce the skin with a knife but leave intact. Place the garlic in a bowl, cover, and microwave until soft, about 30 seconds.

Learn how to choose a microwave oven. Then check our Ratings to find the model that’s right for you.

Toaster oven
• Don’t overfill your oven when using it to cook. Moisture can build up in the oven if you place too much food in it. That might be good for keeping fish moist or warming bread and rolls, but not if you want your roast chicken to be crisp, for example.
• Use your toaster oven to bake a small batch of frozen cookies—perhaps your own homemade dough—for an afternoon snack or dessert or when guests come by unannounced during the holidays.

Learn how to choose a toaster. Then check our Ratings to find the model that’s right for you.

Black Friday sales for the home

Sales the day after Thanksgiving—Black Friday—can mean big savings on home items both big and small. Whether you’re talking tools, appliances, or home furnishings, deals are available at the major retail stores as the end-of-year holidays approach.

While Consumer Reports has not tested many of the products listed here, our free buying advice (listed with each section) can help you make wise shopping decisions. Also check out our all-star appliances and kitchen gear, and be a smart shopper when you’re looking for new kitchen and laundry appliances.

Check local store locations for product availability, and note that prices and models are subject to change. (Prices have been rounded up to the nearest dollar.)

For more information on Black Friday deals, visit Black Friday 2007.—Helen A.S. Popkin

• Blenders & Mixers
• Coffeemakers
• Cookware & Cutlery
• Dishwashers
• Food Processors
• Gas & Electric Grills
• Heating, Cooling & Air
• Mattresses & Mattress Toppers
• Microwaves
• Ranges, Cooktops & Ovens
• Refrigerators
• Sewing Machines
• Steam Irons
• Toasters & Toaster Ovens
• Tools & Power Equipment
• Vacuum Cleaners, Wet/Dry Vacs
• Washers & Dryers
• Wine Chillers

Buy the best appliances and kitchen gear

Shopping for appliances and kitchen gear shouldn’t be a race against the clock. You’re going to live with these products for years, so it’s important to choose models that blend performance, value, and brand reliability.

But if you can’t dedicate loads of time to researching your purchases, scout our all-star lineup of appliances and kitchen gear below. They’re the top performers from a year's worth of testing at Consumer Reports. Note that models within groups are listed in performance order, and prices for dishwashers, dryers, ranges, refrigerators, and washers are for models with a white finish.

Watch Bob Markovich, editor of the Consumer Reports Home & Yard franchise, present five top-performing appliances on NBC's Today Show, from November 19, 2007.)

(Click on each appliance name below to see models, then learn more about this gear using the links in the "essential information" section.)

• Cooktops & wall ovens
Essential information: Read our buying advice.

• Dishwashers
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice and find out which dishwasher detergents work best.

• Gas grills
Essential information: Read our latest report, prepare our easy, delicious grilling recipes, and watch a video buying guide.

• Microwave ovens
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice and take our microwave safety quiz.

• Ranges
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice.

• Refrigerators
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice and find out how much storage space refrigerators really offer.

• Vacuum cleaners
Essential information: Read our latest report and buying advice and watch a video buying guide.

• Washers & dryers
Essential information: Read our latest report on laundry appliances and buying advice for washers and dryers. Use our washing tips to keep you clothes looking their best, and learn how to avoid dryer fires.

• Wet/dry vacuums
Essential information: Read our latest report.