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.

10 Questions for . . . Joan DesCombes, Certified Kitchen Designer

In this installment of 10 Questions for . . . , Senior Editor Daniel DiClerico speaks with Joan DesCombes, CKD, principal of Winter Park, Florida–based Architectural Artworks Incorporated. Here, DesCombes, who received the 2008 Pinnacle of Design award from the National Kitchen & Bath Association in April, talks about her winning project, where kitchen design stands today headed, and what her clients want in their new kitchens.

Q. Congratulations on winning the 2008 Pinnacle of Design award. What separates you from other designers?

A. I think I’m a little unique for a kitchen designer in that this isn’t my first career. I was trained as a designer but then I ended up working in the fashion industry for many years. So I approach a kitchen almost like I’m dressing somebody. I start by asking a lot of questions about the homeowners’ lifestyle. The more I know about them, the more I can create a room that suits their personality. Coming from the fashion industry, I strive to design rooms that are functional first but also that people look good in. If you’re a blue-eyed blond I’m going to design that room differently than if you have dark hair and dark eyes.

Q. How is that philosophy reflected in the award-winning kitchen?

A. This kitchen, in Winter Park, Florida (shown), is in keeping with who that homeowner is. He’s a creative person and he wanted a kitchen that’s innovative and uses rare materials. The combination of stainless steel and raw wood on the ceiling gives the space a loftlike feel that’s in keeping with the rest of the house. The stone floor is the same throughout, enhancing the Zen-inspired fluidity of the space. The same stone continues up the side of the island for a dramatic effect. The lighting is also very dramatic, combining cable lights with hanging pendants.

Q. What are your favorite features about the kitchen?

A. When you look at most kitchens, they tend to be traditional in look and layout. This one wasn’t traditional from any standpoint. We reused a lot of existing materials, so while it isn’t green in the conventional sense, it’s largely recycled. The purple-concrete countertop was left over from a project we worked on with designer Fu-Tung Cheng, from Berkeley, California. We also used some leftover cabinetry for the pantries that flank the refrigerator, a Sub-Zero with a paneled front that matches the cabinetry. The fully integrated refrigerator is something we do all the time. It goes along with my kitchen-as-furniture philosophy. Homeowners need to understand that furnishing a kitchen is no different than furnishing a living room. Except that they’re going to spend a lot more time in the kitchen.

Q. In general, how are people today interacting with their kitchens differently?

A. Everybody’s lifestyle is different, and so every kitchen needs to be different too. Take someone who’s big in the organic-food movement. They’re going to need more refrigerator than freezer space, and they’re going to need that refrigeration in several different places throughout the kitchen. For a recent client who’s vegetarian, we added a set of refrigerator drawers to her food prep island. That’s where she keeps the fresh vegetables for the salads she often makes. This split configuration is also popular with parents with small children. It means they can keep the juice and milk next to where the kids eat breakfast in the morning.

Vintage Consumer Reports: Appliance Woes

Most of you probably find Consumer Reports a pretty serious publication and ConsumerReports.org a fairly staid Web site. Both are certainly great sources of testing-based product reports, compelling investigative features, and expert advice for all aspects of your life. But beyond the entertaining Selling It column, neither the magazine nor the Web site has much of a reputation for humor.

At least that's what I thought. I recently was looking at issues from 1967 and came across the amusing cartoon shown here. We've reported on how appliance makers are shortening their warranties, and everyone's heard of planned obsolescence being a business model of some manufacturers. But I never imagined that these were concerns more than four decades ago. Call me naive, but I believed that companies were somehow more consumer friendly back then. As this cartoon from our March 1967 issue illustrates, that wasn't the case. (Click on the cartoon to enlarge it.)

Obviously appliance longevity and extended warranties remain issues today, and Consumer Reports regularly covers those topics. If you're looking for information on whether you should fix or nix an appliance, read "Repair or Replace It?" (available to subscribers). The article  includes  repair-or-replace timelines for many products, including appliances.

And before you buy an extended warranty for a refrigerator, washing machine, dishwasher, or other appliance, read "Why you don't need an extended warranty," which includes repair rates for a number of 3- to 4-year-old products.—Steven H. Saltzman

Essential information: As I mentioned in this recent post, I'm going to tap into our archives to bring you interesting articles and photographs from over the past 70-plus years. Click on my name above to let me know what interests you.

As food prices rise, consider a stand-alone freezer

Interesting article in today’s edition of The Wall Street Journal on how rising food prices have prompted U.S. consumers to buy in bulk and stockpile food (“As Food Prices Rise, Shoppers Stock Up,” by Gary McWilliams and David Kesmodel).

A chart accompanying the article details a 6 percent jump in the overall cost of food for home consumption from 2005 through 2007, ranging from hikes of 3.1 percent for fats and oils and 3.3 percent for poultry to 9.5 percent for fish and seafood and 35.5 percent for eggs. The authors note that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is forecasting a 4 to 5 percent climb in food prices for 2008, double the level of 2005.

If you’re considering buying a separate freezer to store certain foods you buy in quantity, read our buyer’s guide to and review of freezers, which features Ratings (available to subscribers) of manual-defrost chest and upright models and self-defrost uprights.

Follow this advice when shopping for a stand-alone freezer:

Figure the capacity you need. The freezer size you need will depend on the size of your family and their fondness for frozen foods. Freezers are available in compact (5 cubic feet), small (6 to 9 cubic feet), medium (12 to 18 cubic feet), and large (more than 18 cubic feet) capacities. Except for their hanging baskets, chest freezers are wide open so that almost all of the claimed space is usable. Upright freezers have shelves and pullout bins, which make it easier to organize and reach contents but reduce usable space by up to 20 percent.

Weigh manual vs. self-defrost. Manual-defrost freezers, whether chest or upright, are generally quieter and more energy efficient than self-defrosting models of the same type. But manually defrosting a freezer can be a lot of work and take up to 24 hours.

Consider local power problems. If the area where you live is prone to brownouts or power failures, a chest freezer will be the better choice.

Check the controls and lights. Easy-to-reach controls make adjusting the temperature simple. An interior light makes it easier to find foods, especially if the freezer is in a dimly lighted area. A power-on light on the outside of the freezer lets you see at a glance that the freezer is on. That way you don't have to open the unit to check, letting cold air out. Most of the models we tested have that feature. We think all should have it.—Steven H. Saltzman

Essential information: Find out which warehouse shopping club is the best to join—and the best spot to save money.

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

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: Vinotemp Eco-Series wine chillers

Refrigerators rely on a compressor to operate, but the Vinotemp Eco-Series wine chillers use thermoelectric technology. This approach, claims the manufacturer, is better for the wine and for the environment.

The main advantage of this technology, says Vinotemp, is that no chlorofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons are used. These gases, commonly referred to as freons, can damage the ozone layer. (Note that the types of gas used in today’s refrigerator compressors, hydrofluorocarbons, do not affect the ozone layer.) Other claimed benefits of this technology include less vibration—a “merciless killer” of wine, says Vinotemp—and better temperature accuracy, +/- 0.1°C.

The Eco-Series lineup includes 18- or 28-bottle single-zone units, $229 to $314, and a 21-bottle dual-zone model and 32- and 48-bottle dual-zone units, $314 to $599. (The 32-bottle unit is shown. Smaller countertop models are available, too.) These freestanding wine chillers come in black with stainless-steel doors, trim, and handles and double-pane glass. You’ll find them online and in stores, including Costco, Home Depot, and Lowe’s.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Read our advice on choosing a wine chiller and see the Ratings of wine-storage units (available to subscribers). Also, find out which wines to buy to fill up your chiller, and discover the proper serving temperatures for reds and whites.

Kitchen/Bath Industry Show Product Preview: Thomas’ Liquid Stainless Steel

Suppose you love your refrigerator, range, or dishwasher but really hate the bisque color you loved when you bought the appliance. Instead of replacing the appliance you can give it a makeover. Thomas' Kitchen Art Liquid Stainless Steel is designed to cover up an old finish with a stainless-steel look.

You can apply this brush-on finish yourself in a weekend, claims Thomas’. This two-part, water-based paint includes a base coat with micron-size flakes of real stainless steel and a clear-urethane topcoat for toughness, says the manufacturer. You can even use your refrigerator magnets once the paint has cured, according to Thomas’. (An after shot of a range is shown below left; the before of the same range is below right.)

The steps are straightforward:
• Prep the appliance surface by removing or masking handles and trim. Lightly rough-sand and clean the surface with window cleaner.
• Apply three light coats of the paint with a roller and smooth it with a foam brush, letting each coat dry about an hour before you apply the next one.

Liquid Stainless Steel works on painted and stainless finishes and can withstand heat up to 300°F on range tops, according to the manufacturer. The Fridge Kit, $40, is supposed to have enough paint for an average-size refrigerator, while the Range and Dishwasher Kit, $20, should handle both appliances. The kits are sold at hardware stores and some Home Depots. A spray-on version for faucets and other small items is on the way, says Thomas’.—Bob Markovich

Kitchen/Bath Industry Show Product Preview: Fisher & Paykel CookSurface gas cooktop

First there were electric smoothtop cooktops, which eliminated food-trapping coils. Next came gas-on-glass versions, which did away with the grime-trapping wells typically found around the burners.

The latest easier-to-clean cooktop is the 36-inch-wide, three-burner CookSurface gas model from the Fisher & Paykel. After you’re done cooking, says the manufacturer, you push a large knob on the cooktop to lower the burners so they’re flush with the ceramic glass cooktop, facilitating cleanup. Next time you need to boil water, sauté a steak, or stir-fry some vegetables, you push the knob to raise the burners. (The photo shows the cooktop with a burner recessed, left, and elevated.)

To lower or raise the flame level when cooking, you twist that same knob, says the manufacturer. The CookSurface cooktop provides smooth heat control by using the patented AeroBurner system, which adds oxygen as the flame setting goes up, according to Fisher & Paykel.

The three burners can go from a low simmer to a robust 15,000 Btu. Other features include digital displays, quiet igniters, and pan supports that rise and lower with the burners and replace the usual grates. The 21-inch-deep and 161⁄2-inch-deep versions of this cooktop should arrive at Fisher & Paykel dealers and select Lowe’s stores nationwide this fall.—Bob Markovich

Essential information: 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: Viking Designer Series Ultra-Premium 450 dishwasher

Viking dishwashers used to be made by Sweden-based Asko (learn who makes which appliances in “Appliance sleuthing”). But for its new Designer Series Ultra-Premium dishwashers, Viking decided to control the manufacturing process in an effort, the company says, to outfit its models with cutting-edge technology.

The 450 model, $1,575, can clean up to 15 place settings in one load, says Viking, and its features include a stainless-steel exterior and interior, a soil sensor that adjusts water use and pressure to the load, and a self-cleaning filter. The Energy Star-qualified dishwasher makes virtually no sound, touts the Greenwood, Mississippi-based manufacturer.

This dishwasher is available in 23 different colors, for a $100 premium. You’ll find it at Viking dealers and major retailers nationwide starting this June, with other models to follow.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Read our latest testing-based report on dishwashers and buying advice before you shop for a new model, and see our Ratings (available to subscribers) to help find the right one for you.

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.

Tip of the Day: How to keep food fresh

There’s a reason your grandmother kept her fresh-baked rye and pullman loaves in a breadbox on the kitchen counter and not in her icebox: Bread goes stale much quicker when you stow it in a refrigerator than at room temperature.

Grandma knew that proper storage will help your food maintain its flavor and freshness—and save you money since you won’t have to toss out so many spoiled items. Follow the advice here to get the most out of your weekly grocery shopping and watch our Food Gone Bad video (right).

Dairy
• Store opened sticks of butter in a covered dish in the refrigerator’s butter compartment. You can keep unsalted butter wrapped in foil or plastic in the freezer for about five months; salted butter, six to nine months.

• Plastic wrap used on some cheeses can impart an off flavor, so remove it. Wrap the cheese in wax paper, and then tightly wrap it in plastic. Store the cheese in the refrigerator’s meat-and-cheese drawer. You can keep unopened hard cheese, such as Cheddar or Swiss, in the refrigerator for six months; if it’s opened, the cheese will last for up to four weeks. Soft cheeses, like Brie, will last a week in the refrigerator.

• Keep eggs in their carton on a shelf in the main cavity of the refrigerator, not on a shelf on the refrigerator door.

Produce
• Once your bananas have ripened, store them in the refrigerator to slow further ripening. The peel might darken, but the fruit will be good for up to five days.

• Wash and thoroughly dry greens before placing them in a resealable plastic bag and storing them in the refrigerator’s crisper drawer. Do not place greens near fruit, which emit gasses that can spoil vegetables. When properly stored, most lettuce will last a week; tender greens like spinach or mesclun will keep for three days.

• Keep fresh mushrooms in their package. After you open them, store your button, shiitake, portobellos, and other mushrooms in a brown-paper lunch bag.

• More than three-quarters of Americans keep fresh tomatoes in the refrigerator, according to the Florida Tomato Committee. But these fridge-happy folks shouldn’t because refrigeration keeps tomatoes from ripening, kills their flavor, and makes them mealy. Store fresh whole tomatoes at room temperature and out of direct sunlight, with the stem side up to prevent bruising.

Meat, poultry, and fish
• Place raw meat, poultry, or fish in a covered dish to keep the juices from dripping onto other foods, and store it in the back of the refrigerator. Ground meats last one to two days; chops, roasts, and steaks should keep for three to five days. When you get home from the supermarket, remove the store packaging and rewrap the beef with plastic wrap; you can then keep it for up to two weeks in the freezer. For longer storage, repackage meat in heavy-duty aluminum foil, freezer paper, or a plastic freezer bag, eliminating as much air as possible when sealing it.

• Poultry lasts one to two days in the refrigerator. When you get home from the supermarket, remove the store packaging and rewrap the poultry with plastic wrap; you can freeze it for up to two months. If you’re freezing it for more than two months, wrap foil, plastic, or freezer paper over the original plastic packaging or place it in a freezer bag. You can keep whole poultry for a year; poultry pieces, nine months.

• Refrigerate fresh fish and shellfish for a day to two. For freezer storage, place the items in a tightly wrapped plastic package and cover it with foil or place in a resealable bag. You can store fish in the freezer for three to eight months; shellfish, three to 12 months.

We’d like to hear how you make your food last. Send your own food-storage tips—for the refrigerator, freezer, or pantry—to us at home@cro.consumer.org.

Back to your grandmother’s bread: You can freeze fresh bread— sealed in an airtight bag—for up to three months.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: If you’ve ever picked up a piece of moldy cheese and wondered if it was safe to eat, read our guide to funky foods. When you’re in the market for a new refrigerator, visit our refrigerator product hub for the latest product information and Ratings and expert shopping advice. And to make sure you get the most refrigerator storage for your dollar, learn about capacity claims and how they don’t always measure up.

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).

Buzzword: Techorate

What it means: “Techorate” was recently coined by LG Electronics, manufacturer of cell phones, flat-panel TVs, computer monitors, and home appliances, including ranges, refrigerators, and dishwashers. The company defines the term as “the integration of technology into the overall decorative theme of a home.”

Why the buzz? With all due respect to the marketing folks at LG, we see techorate as an anti-buzzword. It’s not that we disagree with the concept—figuring out where to put your TV, say the LG 60PY3D plasma model shown, so that it meshes with your furniture plan can be a challenge. But this design/decorating issue has existed for generations, and flat-panel sets might be easier to work with than the boxy cathode-ray TVs of old.

What’s more, buzzwords—and the trends that generate them—can’t just one day be decreed. They should start out among a small group of people, then find their way to larger groups before eventually going mainstream. “Ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread like viruses do,” wrote Malcolm Gladwell it in his 2000 best seller The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference.

As far as we can tell, techorate underwent no incubation period. It simply popped up in an LG press release, alongside the announcement that interior designer Doug Wilson would start working with the company to help consumers imbue their WiFi with proper feng shui. Wilson’s techoration tips are good but hardly merit a spot in the Buzzword pantheon, which includes greenwashing, neuroeconomics, reputation economy, and ruralpolitan.

The most important move in buying a plasma, LCD, or other television set is choosing a quality model. When it comes to highly rated gear, we can’t take LG to task for some of its products. In our latest testing, a plasma and an LCD from LG excelled; for home appliances, LG’s front-loading washers and its over-the-range microwave oven are winners.

Essential information: Read our latest reports on flat-panel TVs, microwave ovens, and washers and dryers.

Q&A: What's the best way to load a dishwasher?

My kids load the dishwasher in a haphazard way and the dishes sometimes come out dirty. Is there a proper way to load a dishwasher?

Careful placement—combined with using an enzyme detergent and a rinse aid—can make the difference between your getting glistening dishes and grungy ones. Note that you can skip prerinsing your dishes. This step wastes time and energy and uses as much as 6,500 gallons of water per year. You can save even more water by running only full loads.

Follow our expert advice to help your dishwasher perform its best and keep your items from getting damaged:

1. Load large items at the sides and back of the dishwasher, so that they don't block water and detergent from reaching other dishes.

2. Place the dirtier side of dishes toward the center of the machine to provide more exposure to the spray. Don’t let dishes or utensils nest, or rest side by side, which can prevent water from reaching all surfaces.

3. Use the top rack for plastic and delicate items that are dishwasher safe.

4. Rest glassware on prongs to prevent breakage. And to prevent chipping, make sure that china, crystal, and stemware don’t touch other items. Don’t machine-wash brass, bronze, cast iron, disposable plastics, gold-colored flatware, gold-leaf china, hollow-handle knives, pewter, tin, or anything made of wood or with a wood handle.

5. Load silverware with handles down but place knives with the handles up. If your dishwasher has an open basket, mix spoons, forks, and knives to prevent them from sticking together.

6. Place items with baked-on food facedown and toward the sprayer in the bottom rack.

Essential information: Read our latest dishwasher report and visit our dishwasher page for expert advice on how to choose the right model and to check out our Ratings (available to subscribers). Continue reading this blog to find out which models we've tested.

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.

CPSC small-appliance recalls

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recently issued the following recalls of small kitchen appliances. For more information, read this item from the Consumer Reports Safety blog and click on each item for details  from the CPSC.

Hamilton Beach and Proctor Silex toasters (shown) recalled due to fire hazard.

Cooks deep fryers (sold at JCPenney) recalled due to fire and hazards.

QVC and Tristar electric contact grills recalled due to fire hazard.

Essential information: To learn how to stay informed about product recalls, read “CPSC Steps Out With Million-Consumer March.” And be sure to subscribe to the Consumer Reports Safety blog for the latest on product-safety news.

Appliance trends for 2008 . . . and beyond

Michael DiLauro, a product-information specialist who covers a wide range of home products for Consumer Reports, recently attended the 2008 International Builders’ Show. Here, Michael, who knows a thing or two about the appliance industry, provides his insight into the appliance trends you’ll see in the coming months and years:

• New lines and brands emerge. You’ll have three new full lines of appliance to consider when shopping this year. Samsung and LG will round out their offerings in 2008, as both will offer a complete line of major appliances; Samsung has added a dishwasher while LG has come out with a wall oven and a cooktop. Also debuting in the U.S. market this spring is Electrolux, which will have 130 new products in stores. Take a look at the new Electrolux appliances. The GE Café line, introduced last fall, has been a big success. Look for GE to increase the number of Café line products this year.

Also, after years of major changes and consolidation in the appliance industry—including Whirlpool’s acquisition of Maytag, Jenn-Air, and Amana—some brands are now being repositioned. Amana is being morphed into the brand for the practical style seeker. (Read about the company’s Jot dry-erase refrigerator, shown.)

• Appliances go high-tech. Sophisticated electronics continue to make their way into the appliance world. For cooking appliances, the gadgetry allows for easier-to-clean glass touch controls and more one-touch functions that control cooking time and temperature. Behind these one-touch settings are algorithms designed to bring the ovens up to the correct temperature and cook to the proper doneness, adjusting and providing visual feedback along the way. One range I checked out features 11 different cooking modes, many of which would not be possible without state-of-the-art electronics and algorithms. Ranges and wall ovens from several brands have electronic controls that are completely blacked out until you touch the surface. The electronic controls on some Bosch gear lights up when you bring your hand to within six inches of the controls.

GE Profile PGSS5PJX[SS] Refrigerator: First Look

This refrigerator has two freezer drawers but offers less usable capacity than other French-door models we’ve tested

Price we paid: $2,650

Date of Consumer Reports full report: May 2008

What it is. This French-door, bottom-freezer refrigerator with a claimed 24.9-cubic-foot capacity features two full-extension freezer drawers, part of what the manufacturer calls “armoire styling.” The PGSS5PJX[SS] stands 70 inches high x 36 inches wide x 33 inches deep, and it’s equipped with LED lighting, an icemaker, and a through-the-door water dispenser with LCD controls.

What we liked. The double freezer drawers provide easy organization of and access to items in the freezer. The configuration also allows you to reach the upper storage compartments with one move instead of the typical two you’d have to make with a single-drawer French-door refrigerator. This GE Profile model has also proved to be very quiet in our ongoing noise tests.

What we didn’t like. Because there’s a mullion between the upper and lower freezer drawers—basically a bar that separates them—you can access only about 60 percent of the usable freezer capacity we measured. By comparison, the LG LFX25980 French-door model we’re also testing provides nearly 70 percent of our measured freezer space.

In addition, this GE has merited only good scores for energy efficiency, and it is hard to reach the on/off switch for the icemaker.

Our initial take. The double-drawer freezer provides some nice conveniences, but a conventional single-drawer bottom-freezer offers a lot more usable space than the PGSS5PJX[SS]. What’s more, GE has been among the more repair-prone brands of bottom-freezer refrigerators.

Essential information: Look for our full report on refrigerators in the May 2008 issue of Consumer Reports, on sale and online in April. Learn more about refrigerators and refrigerator capacity and check out the new Amana Jot, on which your kids can doodle.                

Proposed settlement in Sears ranges tip-over class action

Sears, the largest appliance retailer in the United States, has agreed to address a dangerous home hazard under a proposed settlement of the Charles Parker, et. al., v. Sears, Roebuck and Co. class action. Over the past seven years, Sears installers had failed to secure millions of freestanding gas and electric ranges with a bracket to keep the stoves from tipping over when weight is applied to an open oven door.

If you own a freestanding or slide-in range that you bought at Sears and for which you paid for delivery and installation between July 2, 2000, and  September 18, 2007, read this item from the Consumer Reports Safety blog. And for more information on the settlement, go to the settlement Web site.

Essential information: If you’re in the market for a new range, read our buying advice and latest report.

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.

International Builders’ Show Preview: Electrolux’s New U.S. Appliances

You might think of Electrolux only for its vacuums, but the company actually is one of the biggest appliance brands throughout Europe and makes full lines of kitchen and laundry appliances. The company will be launching the Wave-Touch line and the IQ-Touch series of appliances in the U.S. this spring, with a wide range of kitchen gear.

Based on what I saw in Orlando, these new lines are all about luxury, with features like glide racks and lighting that gradually increases in intensity when you open a door. The display on the Wave-Touch appliances, like the dual-oven model shown, are blacked out except for the clock until you pass your hand in front of them. They then light up, at which point you can set them.

One compelling feature on the ovens is the “perfect turkey” function. Electrolux claims that you just put a turkey or any other poultry into the oven, insert the included probe, and press a button. The oven automatically roasts the bird at the optimum temperature; it also displays how much time is remaining until the cooking is done.

These appliances include many bells and whistles. One of the freestanding ranges, for example, has 11 different cooking modes, including slow cook, convection bake and broil, dehydrate, and bread proof (for baking bread), and the aforementioned turkey setting.

The new lines will be available at Lowe's and other retailers nationwide.—Michael DiLauro

International Builders' Show Product Preview: Amana Jot Refrigerator

If your kid tends to scribble or doodle on everything in reach, you might find yourself reading—literally—the writing on the wall . . . or the floor, counter, and other household surfaces. But what if you could strike a deal so that your burgeoning Picasso or aspiring Austen were to confine his or her assaults to only one front: the refrigerator?

A 28-inch-wide top-freezer fridge from Whirlpool’s Amana brand could be the answer. The new Jot, $549, features refrigerator and freezer door panels that are covered from top to bottom with a white dry-erase surface. (Thank the savvy folks at Whirlpool’s Brastemp brand for this idea; that Brazilian appliance maker first offered this fridge with wipe-clean front panels.)

While there’s no guarantee your kids won’t use crayons, markers, or other weapons of mass messiness on the Jot, you can wipe away anything applied with dry-erase markers to make room for the next masterpiece. Try to get your children not to use red and green dry-erase markers. The documentation for the Jot indicates you’ll need to use a bit more elbow grease to remove works done in those colors.

The Jot (model ATF1822MRE) comes in white only and offers a very basic design, with rounded edges and corners, hidden hinges, and an integrated door handle. Other features inside include dual up-front temperature controls and SpillSaver glass shelves.

If the media you’re more interested in is of the “multi” not marker variety, check out the latest upgrades to the Centralpark Connection line of side-by-side refrigerators, which we first covered at the 2007 Builders’ Show. The latest electronic add-ons to these refrigerators include an iPod dock, a photo display, and centralized family scheduling. Look for our First Look review on some of these features in the coming weeks.—Ed Perratore

International Builders’ Show Product Preview: Kenmore Pro Built-in Refrigerator

The new Kenmore side-by-side built-in refrigerator is the latest in the brand’s upscale Pro line of kitchen appliances and the first built-in from this Sears brand. Unlike lower-priced cabinet-depth models, which extend a tad past cabinets, the Kenmore Pro aligns with them for a sleek, flush look.

Highlights of this high-end cooler include 304 stainless steel instead of the cheaper 400-grade variety, oil-dampened doors designed to close without a thud, and, of course, the requisite on-the-door ice-and-water dispenser. This latest Pro brings a pro-style price—$6,500.

Sears labels the capacity of this 48-inch-wide refrigerator at nearly 30 cubic feet of storage. But remember that most refrigerators don’t have nearly the usable capacity that their makers claim, as we reported in “Refrigerator capacity claims don’t add up.”

Essential information: The next time you’re shopping for a new refrigerator, read our buying advice and also ignore the claimed-capacity numbers and rely instead on the more-accurate, real-world measurements in our Ratings of bottom-freezers, built-ins, side-by-sides, and top-freezers (available to subscribers).

International Builders' Show Product Preview: Whirlpool SteamClean Ranges

When it comes to appliances, steam is, well, hot. We’ve recently tested washers, dryers, and dishwashers with steam modes. (Steam-mode improvements ranged from barely to noticeably better than the cycles we regularly test. But other nonsteam cycles might also perform better as well, as we found on this LG dishwasher, for example.) Whirlpool is the latest appliance maker to unveil a steam-equipped product, launching new electric ranges in September.

Whirlpool claims the SteamClean cycle on its ranges will clean grime off the oven interior and that routine use of the new feature will eliminate having to run the self-cleaning cycle. To run a SteamClean cycle, you pour 12 ounces of water onto a tray at the bottom of the oven, close the door, and push a button. After 20 minutes, according to the manufacturer, you simply wipe the oven clean. The SteamClean ranges will cost $700 and up.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: If you’re in the market for a new range, read our buying advice and latest report.