Buy the best microwave oven

When we tested 23 microwaves for our March 1981 report, we wanted to find out how good microwave cooking could be, as noted on the whimsical cover of the issue (click on the cover, right, for a better view). So our Tech department staff spent hundreds of hours preparing comfort foods like roast beef, meat loaf, stew, and pudding.

The testers noted the ease or difficulty of preparation for each oven and evaluated how the food looked and tasted. They found that microwaves weren't ideal for all dishes: Meat loaves turned out juicy and flavorful, but, the story concluded, "In our opinion, microwave cooking is no way to treat a $15 roast—cook it in a conventional oven instead."

Twenty-eight years later, our February 2009 report on microwave ovens covers more than 60 models. While all of the latest microwaves can handle basic tasks like making popcorn, some ovens promise to make cooking main meals as simple as preparing snacks. A few models can produce nicely browned, crispy chicken.

For specific details on the ovens, check out our Ratings (available to subscribers).—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: For more advice on choosing a new oven, visit our updated microwaves product page and watch the video buying guide (right).

Homemade cleaners can save you money

Resolved to reduce household expenses this year? Consider concocting homemade cleaning products, which will cut your costs for these supplies. Some of the cleaners you make will do just as well as products you buy at the supermarket or warehouse club, as was the case for a simple solution of ammonia, dishwashing liquid, and rubbing alcohol that equaled many well-known glass cleaners. 

Other household products are effective cleaners, as detailed in this article from our February 2009 issue. Baking soda, borax, castile soap, cream of tartar, and lemon juice can clean even some stubborn stains from a range of surfaces. And hydrogen peroxide can save expensive carpets from wine and soda stains, as the video at right shows.

Distilled white vinegar is especially versatile. You can use it as part of a second rinse for cloth diapers to help prevent diaper rash and on delicate fabrics. It's also good for cleaning wood floors and removing carpet stains.  Manufacturers recommend distilled white vinegar for clearing mineral-scale buildup from humidifiers and even to clean a coffeemaker. Just don't use it or a vinegar-based cleaner on a calcareous-stone countertop.

Baking soda shows its mettle as silver cleaner. Line a glass or plastic container with aluminum foil, add tarnished silverware, sprinkle on some baking soda, and pour in hot water. This will create a chemical reaction that transfers the tarnish from the silver to the foil. For antique or intricately patterned silver, a store-bought silver cleaner might work better. Watch our video on silver cleaners.

Essential information: Our Cleaning Supplies page offers reviews of traditional and green household cleaners.

Forum Friday: Lots of talk about washers and dryers

Based on the chatter in our appliances forum, prices for washers and dryers are falling fast. One member is seeking help deciding between LG and Whirlpool Duet models. Feel free to toss in your own opinion on these brands.

It pays to remember that choosing the best laundry appliances for your home includes a number of factors, not just the overall score in our Ratings of washers and dryers (available to subscribers). These include capacity, cycle time, vibration, water and energy consumption, brand repair history, warranty length, style, and more.

You'll also want to remember these mistakes to avoid when buying a washer and dryer, which could save you a bundle. Once you have your new washer at home, these repairs for your washing machine can help extend its life, saving you even more money and the hassle of shopping for a new machine.

Essential information: Visit our washers and dryers product pages for buying advice for these laundry appliances.

Happy holidays to all—and keep warm

If you're of a certain age and grew up in the New York City area, you probably remember watching the Yule Log on WPIX on Christmas Day. Channel 11 used to show a fireplace aglow for hours on end, a goofy yet—if not literally—warming looping log.

Some of us used to look for the spot where the loop ended and started again—perhaps not the most exciting thing to do on a holiday but if the bowl games were boring or the weather too nasty to go outside, this detective work did provide a diversion.

While most wood- and pellet-burning stoves won't allow you to watch the burning logs, they clearly have grabbed the interest of many consumers who are looking for less expensive ways to heat their homes. If you're considering adding one of these devices to your home, read our buyer's guide and these blog posts on an innovative pellet-delivery system and the fluctuating price of fuel for these stoves.—Steven H. Saltzman

 

Tip of the Day: How to safely use a generator during a weather emergency

A series of devastating ice storms recently knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of residents in New York State and New England, and carbon-monoxide poisoning caused by backup generators has claimed three lives.

Thousands of homes were without power several days after the storms hit, and more wintry weather has been forecast throughout the country for this week. So it's a good time to review the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's alert on portable generators and our advice for using generators safely (also watch the safety video, right, and our video buying guide).

If you're in the market for a generator, read our report on portable and whole-house generators and use our free wattage calculator to determine which model you need.

Essential information: Our Storm & Emergency Guide offers expert advice for coping with a wide array of natural disasters. To get advance warning of bad weather, visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center.

A meat thermometer can help make your holiday meal a success

The table setting is beautiful, a warming fire dances away in the hearth, good spirit and tasty spirits abound, and cheerful music provides the background for the compelling conversation. Friends and family have gathered for what's expected to be a sumptuous holiday feast.

This scene is played out in family and living rooms all over the country at this time of year, as is this one in countless kitchens: The cook is sweating and fretting over the pricey roast cooking away, unsure when to take it out. Remove it from the oven too soon, and it could be raw on the inside. Let it go too long, and a charred mess could emerge. But there is a simple solution, and it doesn't entail ordering from an overpriced caterer.

The easy way to ensure your main dish doesn't turn into an under- or overcooked nightmare is to use a meat thermometer. We recently tested 11 different leave-in and instant-read models ranging in price from $15 to $40. One model, the Weber 6439 Audible, even has a wireless probe, allowing you to check food temperature or get notified when the desired temperature has been reached up to a football field away.

Read "How Accurate Is That Meat Thermometer?" for more details on our tests and watch our video (right).

Essential information: If turkey is on your holiday menu, read our Thanksgiving tips. And check out or wine page for information on the best values in reds, whites, and sparklers.

Tip of the Day: How to safely use your snow blower

As of mid-December, the area around our Yonkers, New York, home base has received only a dusting of snow. But other parts of the country have already been dumped on, which means that millions of folks have schlepped out their snow blowers. These wintertime workhorses can certainly make easier, faster work of driveway and sidewalk clearing, but as with any outdoor power equipment, they pose some inherent risks.

So before you crank up your snow blower, read and follow our safety tips and these from the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute:

• Read your owner's manual thoroughly and understand all of the recommended safety procedures before starting your snow blower.
• Before the snow hits, remove doormats, sleds, boards, wires, and any debris from the area you'll clear to avoid clogging the chute and damaging your snow blower. These objects will be hidden from view once they're buried beneath the snow and could become dangerous thrown by the snow blower and could potentially injure bystanders.
• Handle gas carefully. Avoid spillage by using nonspill containers with spouts. Store gas in a clean, dry, ventilated area—never near a pilot light, stove, or other heat source. And don't smoke around gasoline.
• Don't let your kids operate the snow blower. And keep people and pets away from the area you're clearing.
• Don't clear snow across the face of slopes and use extreme caution when changing directions on slopes. Don't try to clear steep slopes.
• Never run the snow blower without good visibility or light. Be sure of your footing and keep a firm hold on the handles.
• If you have to repair your machine, remove an object, or unclog built-up snow from the auger blades or chute, always turn the snow blower off and wait for moving parts to stop. When cleaning snow use the supplied snow-removal tool or a broom handle, and never put your hands into the chute or near the auger. If you need to work on the machine, disconnect the spark plug wire or, for an electric snow blower, unplug the cord.—Ed Perratore

Essential information: Read our report on snow blowers and use our interactive feature "Snow blowers: Which is right for you?" to find the best snow blower for your home.

Tip of the Day: How to cook with a convection oven

Many people buy ovens, ranges, and microwaves with convection capability but don't take advantage of that feature. If you've shied away from using your convection oven, here's how to become a confident convection cooker.

In standard ovens, there is radiant heating of the interior, and air movement is relatively slow. In convection ovens, a fan constantly circulates and mixes the air within the cavity. As a result, convection ovens heat more quickly and cook faster. Note that some convection ranges run the fan more slowly for baking and faster for roasting.

Heating can be uneven in standard ovens because the temperatures might not be uniform throughout the cavity. But with convection ovens, the fan is supposed to make the temperature more uniform throughout the cavity and result in more evenly cooked food. (That's not always the case, as our tests over the years have shown.)

The best way to become a confident convection cooker is to try out your favorite recipes using the feature. Read your owner's manual or look on the manufacturer's Web site for specific cooking guidelines. And consider these convection-cooking tips from Jenn-Air:

BAKING
• Lower the temperature indicated in the recipe by about 25°F but cook for the indicated time.

• For cookies and cakes, use shiny, bright aluminum or steel pans. They reflect heat and allow for more delicate browning.

• For breads and pies, use dark or dull aluminum or steel pans. They absorb heat and result in darker browning.

ROASTING
• When roasting meats, cook according to the indicated temperature but cut cooking time by about 25 percent.

• Use pans with low sides so the circulating hot air can work its magic. Otherwise food won't brown as well.

• Don't use a lid. It prevents the circulating air from reaching the food.

When cooking in a full oven, pay attention to how the food browns, as you might still have to rotate the pans to ensure even cooking.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: You'll find ranges with convection ovens in our latest report and other cooking time-savers in our coverage of cooktops and wall ovens. Tell us about your experiences with convection cooking by posting a comment below.

Cyber Monday deals at Home Depot

Home Depot’s Cyber Monday specials are heavy on power tools, gas grills, and ceiling fans, products we’ve tested extensively over the past year.

The Ryobi One+ 18-volt cordless-tool kit, which includes a drill, circular and reciprocating saws, a work light, and a free additional tool of your choice, is one of Home Depot's offers. Before you buy this $159 kit, refer to our November 2008 report on cordless drills and tool kits (ratings of cordless drills and tool kits are available to subscribers). The smarter move might be to opt for the drill alone—or pick another higher-rated drill or complete tool kit that doesn't use lithium-ion batteries.

A number of high-quality gas grills are among Home Depot's deals; with more Americans grilling year-round, it doesn't seem odd to see grills on sale out of traditional outdoor-cooking season. Our latest report on gas grills covered several models sold at Home Depot. Watch our video buying guide (right) for more information on gas grills.

Ceiling fans might seem an odd choice for a holiday gift, though some folks feel that reversing the direction of the fan blades can make for more efficient heating during late fall/winter. However, while buying the right ceiling fan can help cut you summer cooling costs, we found that reversing fan direction can cause drafts that will have you raise the thermostat and, as a result, boost your utility bill.

Essential Information: Before you dive into your holiday shopping, read about the best appliance retailers.

Cyber Monday vacuum deal at Lowe's

If you're a Cyber Monday shopper, you might have come across the Daily Drill Down deals being offered through December 12 at Lowes.com.

The offer for Monday, December 1, is the Electrolux Pronto 2-in-1 model EL1000A vacuum, on sale for $69.99. We tested the Pronto model EL1000[ ] for our October 2008 report on vacuums. While the Lowe's online price seems a good one—we list it with a price of $100—the Pronto's performance in our tests indicates it might not be a great deal.

This vacuum earned the lowest score of the more than 20 stick, handheld, and sweeper/broom vacuums we reviewed. While the EL1000[ ] was quiet and excelled at the emissions assessment, it scored a poor for cleaning carpet, edges, and pet hair and a fair on bare floors.

If you're in the market for a stick vacuum, consider models from Hoover and Dirt Devil that outperformed the Electrolux in our tests and cost only $40 each. For more details on these specific models and the other small vacuums we've tested, see our updated ratings (available to subscribers).

Essential information: Before you shop for a vacuum, watch our buyer's guide video (above) and visit our vacuums product page for all the expert advice you need to find the best model for your home.