your dream kitchen for less cooking appliances buy...

34 Consumer reports Z AUGUST 2008 • Exper t • Independent • Nonprofi t

COOKING APPLIANCESBuy results, not promises

Manufacturers are serving up new names and claims as they prod you to spend a little more on your next range, cooktop, or wall oven. But our tests of more than 100 models show that when it comes to good cooking, it often pays to pay less.

You’ll find almost 30 Quick Picks from Frigidaire, GE, Kenmore, and other major brands in our Ratings. Samsung, the Korean company bet-ter known for its cell phones and TVs, recently joined the fray with its first smoothtop electric range. The $1,300 stove has three convection-oven fans and a steam-cleaning feature for the oven. Yet the steam did little to clean even the small messes for which it’s intended. And as we found, the three-fan oven proved no better than a twin-fan competitor’s when we loaded it up with cookies. (See “The Great Cookie Bake-Off,” on the facing page.)

Induction cooktops, which use a magnetic field to cook more quickly and efficiently than gas or radiant-electric models, have also made inroads. Many

cost $2,000 or more, but GE’s new Profile matches the best for hundreds less.

You’ll also find more big names com-peting at the “pro” end of the price spec-trum as kitchens have morphed into places to show off as well as cook in. But our months of boiling, baking, and broil-ing tests reveal that you can cook like a

pro without spending like one. Here are the details on our latest findings:

Ranges: Faux pro beats real. GE’s top-scoring Profile gas range heated quickly and simmered superbly. The 30-inch, $1,800 model also includes plenty of pro-look stainless. True pro-style ranges cost much more, and Kenmore’s $6,300 Pro 7962 dual-fuel range is no exception. Sears promises the new 36-inch-wide range will “daz-zle the most discriminating chef or kitchen designer.” The all-stainless stove has extra burners as well as an extra-large oven with 14 rack posi-tions that Sears says yield more pre-cise, even baking. While the Kenmore outperformed most other large dual-fuel models, the GE outcooked it.

Cooktops: Pricier isn’t better. Miele says its gas and electric cooktops are designed to perform to your highest expectations. While its gas model KM3474, $1,450, was very good at fast heating, it was only mediocre at low-heat simmering. KitchenAid promises com-plete versatility for its gas and electric

A ‘Pro’ For LESS GE’s Profile PGB910SEM, $1,800, blends top performance with stainless steel, continuous grates, a bridge burner, and a griddle.

lFirst things firstl Decide whether you want a stand-alone range or a cooktop/wall-oven combo.

STAND-ALONE RANGE

$450 AND UP

Best for economy. Spending more buys slide-in styles, stain-less, dual-fuel, and pro-style models beyond 30 inches. But all lack the flexibility of a separate cooktop and wall oven. Pro-style and dual-fuel ranges are pricier without necessarily being better; some pro-style brands have been repair-prone.

COOKTOP & WALL OVEN

$1,500 AND UP For BoTH

Best for separate cooking areas. Some cooktop/oven combos can cost less than some stand-alone ranges, especially pro-style.But a separate cooktop and wall oven cost more to install than a stand-alone range. You’ll also find a growing number of stylish and capable ranges for less than you’d pay for many of the cooktop/wall-oven combos.

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Your dream kitchen for less

34-41 COOKING APPLIANCES 08-08.indd 34 6/5/08 1:50:37 PM

AUGUST 2008 Z www.Consumerreports.org 35

COOKING APPLIANCES

Decide whether you want a stand-alone range or a cooktop/wall-oven combo.

OVER-THE-RANGE MICROWAVE

$300 AND UP

Best for convenience and saving counter space. Many of these ovens have a convection feature, and most now have a sensor that prevents under- or overcooking by adjusting the cooking time based on the steam the food emits as it heats.But none of the over-the-range microwave ovens we tested could match the smoke-clearing ability of an effective range hood.

RANGE HOOD

$225 AND UP

Best for venting smoke, fumes, and heat. Today’s models offer higher style, with stainless hoods priced under $1,000.But you must find space for a countertop microwave if that’s a part of your cooking. Good under-cabinet and wall-chimney range hoods often cost $800 or less, but island models for venting cooktops often cost $2,000 or more.

the great cookie bake-offDO THREE OVEN fANS MAKE A DIffERENCE?

Samsung says the third convection fan in its first-ever smooth-top electric range, the $1,300 FTQ386LWUX, helps ensure more-even cooking than you’ll get with the usual one or two fans. The range’s convec-tion oven yielded good, relatively even cookies in our usual test with two racks full of sugared cookies. But many other models baked just as evenly with just one or two fans and, sometimes, without a con-vection oven.

Would a third rack of cookies bring out the third fan’s hidden talents? To find out, we loaded the Samsung range with 36

cookies and stuffed an equal amount into the $2,000 LG LRE30955, a simi-larly sized electric smoothtop that baked equally well with two fans in our regular tests.

As the photo shows, the Samsung baked our test cook-ies evenly enough to satisfy the most

discerning sweet tooth, even with three full racks. But so did the two-fan LG range we pitted it against in our tougher test.

Cr’s take: A convection oven can con-tribute to faster roasting and more-even multirack baking. But more convection fans don’t necessarily guarantee better baking.

a large oven. For baking, look for high scores in our evenness tests—and ignore all the hype about dual-fuel ranges, which haven’t delivered any notable advantages in our cooking tests.

Think twice about pro-style ranges. Our latest survey of roughly 1,700 online subscribers shows that owning one is a mixed bag. While our readers liked their pro-style ranges’ high-heat burners as well as their broiling and searing, they also reported more and pricier repairs. Almost half of the pro-style models bought during the 8-year survey were repaired—some of them three times—compared with only 17 percent for regu-

lar ranges. And repairs to pro-style ranges were more than twice as likely to cost more than $300.

Choose the right hood. If you’re an avid cook, you’ll need an effective range hood to handle all of the heat and steam. Be sure the hood you choose is at least as wide as the cooking surface it’s over. Two CR Best Buys to consider are the under-cabinet Kenmore 5234, $225, and the wall-chimney Kenmore 5030, $550. If you’re venting a kitchen-island cook-top, consider the Jenn-Air JXT8142AD, $1,900, and the GE Monogram ZV1050SF, $2,400. Both tested models mount to and vent through the ceiling.

models. Yet the gas model KGCC766R, $1,050, was mediocre in our high- and low-heat tests. GE’s Monogram ZGU385NSM gas cooktop, $1,400, met its precise sim-mering claims in our low-heat tests. But as with most gas models, it was mediocre at quick heating.

Wall ovens: Some broken promises. We also found disappointments in the wall-oven aisle. KitchenAid’s Superba KEBS107S, $2,150, performed less-than-superbly in our baking and broiling tests despite claims of unrivaled performance. Fisher & Paykel’s OS302 wall oven, $2,200, yielded unevenly cooked cakes, belying its promise of even heat distribu-tion. Thermador’s high-priced ME301E, $2,400, is a top performer in our tests. But when it comes to repairs, the brand has ranked rock-bottom in our surveys for electric wall ovens.

HOW TO CHOOSE

You don’t have to pay top dollar to get cooking appliances with style and per-formance. See First Things First to decide whether you prefer a stand-alone range or a cooktop and wall oven. Also decide whether the space an over-the-range microwave saves on your countertop is worth more than the better venting of a range hood, especially if you use your range often. Then follow these tips:

Consider your cooking. Convection ovens can speed roasting, but you’ll typi-cally pay $250 extra to save a few minutes. Cooking for a crowd? Look for at least one high-powered burner or element, ex-pandable range or cooktop elements, and

Then choose between the convenience of an over-the-range microwave and the better venting of a range hood.

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Features that count- These add convenience to ranges, cooktops, and wall ovens.

Split oven racks. Hinged or half-width upper racks fit stacked dishes on one side, taller items on the other. On Quick Pick Kenmore (55) range.

Brand repair history l Readers report on more than 90,000 electric and gas ranges.

The graphs show the percentage of the indi-cated brands of electric and gas ranges bought between 2001 and 2007 that have ever been repaired or had a serious problem. Differences of less than 3 points are not meaningful. Jenn-Air and KitchenAid have been the most repair-prone brands for elec-tric ranges, while Amana, KitchenAid, and Maytag have been the most repair-prone for gas. We lacked enough data to include Viking gas ranges or any dual-fuel brands in the chart, but the data we have indicate that Viking gas ranges and Dacor dual-fuel ranges have been repair-prone, while Frigidaire, GE, Jenn-Air, and Kenmore dual-fuel ranges have not. Note that models within a brand may vary, and changes in design or manufacture may affect reliability. Still, choosing a brand with a good repair history can improve your odds of getting a reliable model.

Data are based on reader responses to the Annual Product Reliability Survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center on more than 61,000 electric ranges and 29,000 gas ranges. Data are adjusted to eliminate differences linked solely to age of the product. Electric and gas ranges were analyzed separately, so data aren’t directly comparable.

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

Hotpoint 3

GE 5

Whirlpool 7

Frigidaire 8

Kenmore (Sears) 8

Maytag 11

Amana 12

KitchenAid 15

Jenn-Air 16

Fewer repairs

More repairsë í

ELECTriC rANGES GAS rANGES

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

Hotpoint 7

GE 8

Frigidaire 8

Kenmore (Sears) 10

Whirlpool 11

Maytag 14

Amana 16

KitchenAid 17

Fewer repairs

More repairsë í

Continuous grates. These abut to slide pots over burners. On Quick Picks GE (27, 51), Frigidaire (37), Bosch (50), and Ken-more (55) ranges and GE (15) cooktop.

Touchpad oven controls. Push buttons, digital readouts, and touch screens make setting pre-cise temperatures easier. On all of the tested ranges and wall ovens.

Gas on glass. Burners are set on or into a smooth ceramic surface, with grates. On Quick Pick GE (18) cooktop.

Covered oven element. Keeps spills from encrusting element. On Quick Picks Kenmore (1, 24) and GE (2) ranges and on Bosch (3), GE (4), Kenmore (6), and Frigidaire (8) wall ovens with grates. Also on Quick Pick GE (18) cooktop.

Hot-surface light. Warns when cooktop is still hot. On Quick Picks GE (2) and Frigidaire (7) ranges and on Electrolux (1), Kenmore (2), GE (3), and Whirlpool (4) cooktops.

Sealed burners. Prevent spills from falling inside. On Quick Picks GE (27, 51), Hotpoint (28), Frigidaire (37), Bosch (50), and Ken-more (55) ranges and GE (15, 18) cooktops.

Bridge element or burner. Merges two elements for oversized cookware. On Quick Pick GE (27) gas range.

Warming drawer. Keeps plates and food warm. On Quick Picks Kenmore (1, 24, 55), GE (2, 27, 51), and Bosch (50) ranges.

Warming element. Uses low wattage to keep food warm. On Quick Picks Kenmore (1) and Maytag (11) ranges.

Expandable elements. Concen-tric rings let you power outer ones for larger cookware. On Quick Picks Kenmore (1, 9), GE (2), and Frigidaire (7) ranges and Electrolux (1) and Kenmore (2) cooktops.



Ratings• Availability Most models at stores through December 2008. Excellent Very Good Fair Poor

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30-INCH ELECTRIC SMOOTHTOP MODELS

1 Kenmore (Sears) 9641[2] 9642[] $ 750 81 &Z &Z &X &Z &X •

2 GE JBP81SL[SS] Ï JBP81SM[] 1,100 79 &Z &Z &X &X &Z •

3 Samsung FTQ386LWUX 1,300 79 &X &Z &X &X &Z • •

4 LG LRE30955[ST] 2,000 77 &C &Z &X &X &Z • •

5 GE Profile JB968TK[WW] 1,550 76 &X &Z &X &C &Z • • 6 GE PB970SM[SS] ⁄ 1,750 76 &X &Z &C &C &Z •

7 Frigidaire Gallery GLEF369D[S] 700 76 &X &Z &X &Z &X 8 Maytag Gemini MER6765BA[S] ⁄ 1,400 76 &X &Z &X &C &X •

9 Kenmore (Sears) 9611[2] 9612[] 580 76 &X &Z &X &Z &X •

10 GE PB975SM[SS] ⁄ 1,950 76 &X &Z &C &C &Z • •

11 Maytag MER5752BA[W] 550 74 &X &Z &X &C &X •

12 Jenn-Air JER8885RA[S] 1,500 74 &X &Z &C &C &X • •

13 GE JSP42WK[WW] € 1,000 72 &X &Z &X &C &X •

14 Maytag MES5775BA[S] € 1,650 71 &X &Z &X &C &C •

15 KitchenAid Architect Series KERS807S[SS] 1,700 70 &X &Z &X &C &C • •

16 Hotpoint RB787WH[WW] 500 69 &C &Z &X &C &X 17 Jenn-Air JES8850BA[W] € 1,750 69 &X &Z &C &C &C • •

18 Ikea Hemkar 800.919.87 600 68 &C &Z &X &C &X •

19 Bosch HES71[5]2 HES72[8]2 1,600 66 &X &C &X &X &X • •

20 Whirlpool Gold GR773LXS[Q] 1,150 63 &C &Z &X &C &X • •

21 Whirlpool RF367LXS[Q] 700 63 &C &X &X &C &X • •

22 Sharp InsightPro KB-3425LS ‹ 2,000 61 &X &X &X &X &V • •

23 Viking VESC306-4B[SS] 4,000 60 &X &Z &X &C &V • •

30-INCH ELECTRIC COIL MODELS

24 Kenmore (Sears) 9421[2] 530 76 &X &Z &C &X &Z •

25 Hotpoint RB757WH[WW] 400 73 &X &Z &X &C &X 26 Whirlpool RF264LXS[Q] 500 63 &X &C &X &C &X 30-INCH GAS MODELS

27 GE Profile PGB910SEM[SS] 1,800 72 &X &Z &X &C &X •

28 Hotpoint RGB745WEH[WW] 500 72 &C &Z &X &Z &X 29 Maytag MGS5775BD[S] € 1,600 70 &X &Z &X &C &C •

30 Thermador Professional PG304B[S] 4,100 69 &X &Z &C &X &X • •

31 GE Profile JGBP918WEK[WW] Ï PGB918DEM[] 1,600 69 &X &Z &X &C &X • •

32 Kenmore (Sears) 7136[2] 650 68 &C &Z &X &V &X •


34 Bosch HGS71[5]2 1,700 66 &C &Z &X &C &X • •

35 Maytag MGR5751AD[W] Ï MGR5751BD[] 550 66 &C &Z &X &C &X •

36 Frigidaire FGF368G[S] 580 65 &C &Z &X &V &X •

37 Frigidaire Gallery GLGF386D[S] 1,000 65 &X &X &X &C &X • •

38 GE Café CGS980SEM[SS] 2,500 65 &C &Z &X &V &X • •


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Cr Quick recommendations

As the scores show, some of the top- performing gas and electric ranges were by no means the priciest on the market. Our ratings rank ranges by overall score. Quick Picks are models that blend per-formance and value, and, where data are available, come from reliable brands.

QuICK pICKsBest electric ranges: 1 Kenmore $750, CR Best Buy 2 GE $1,100, CR Best Buy 7 Frigidaire $700, CR Best Buy 9 Kenmore $580, CR Best Buy 11 Maytag $550, CR Best Buy24 Kenmore $53025 Hotpoint $400, CR Best Buy

The smoothtop Kenmore (1) and Maytag have warming elements; the GE adds oven capacity. Among coil ranges, choose the Kenmore (24) if you value broiling, the Hotpoint if stainless isn’t a priority. Also consider the GE (6, 10) and Maytag (8) if you want dual ovens for different meals.

Top gas ranges:27 GE $1,80028 Hotpoint $500, CR Best Buy37 Frigidaire $1,000

The GE blends performance and style. The low-priced Hotpoint broils superbly, while the Frigidaire includes convection. Also consider the Jenn-Air (42) and Maytag (47) if you value dual ovens and are willing to live with uninspired baking and broiling, especially for the Maytag model.

if you want dual-fuel or pro-style:50 Bosch $2,0005 1 GE $1,70055 Kenmore $1,800

Our extensive tests have revealed no clear benefits to dual-fuel ranges. But if you want one of those models, consider the Bosch and Kenmore for their broiling per-formance, the GE for its faster cooktop heating. Pro-style ranges have been a poor value overall. But if you want a pro-style range, consider the Thermador (59) for its fine performance, the lower-priced Frigidaire (62) if you’re willing to trade some oven space for a lower price.

1 Kenmore 28 Hotpoint

r a n g e s



Ratingsr a n g e s• Availability Most models at stores through December 2008.

Excellent Very Good Fair Poor good

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30-INCH GAS MODELS continued

40 Ikea Hemkar 400.919.89 $ 850 64 &C &Z &X &V &X •

41 LG LRG30355ST[SB] 1,300 64 &C &Z &X &V &X •

42 Jenn-Air JGR8890AD[P] ⁄ 2,150 64 &C &X &C &C &Z • •

43 Kenmore (Sears) Elite 7942[3] 1,600 63 &C &X &X &X &X • •

44 Whirlpool SF367LXS[Q] 750 63 &C &X &X &C &X •

45 Viking Professional VGSC307-4B[SS] 4,100 62 &C &X &C &Z &V • •

46 Whirlpool SF265LXT[Q] 550 61 &C &Z &X &V &C •

47 Maytag Gemini MGR6775BD[S] ⁄ 1,450 59 &C &X &C &V &Z •

48 Whirlpool Gold GS773LXS[Q] 1,000 53 &C &C &X &V &X •

49 KitchenAid Architect Series KGRS807S[SS] 1,700 49 &C &B &X &X &C • •

30-INCH DUAL-fUEL MODELS

50 Bosch HDS71[5]2 2,000 71 &C &Z &X &X &X • •

51 GE Profile J2B918WEK[WW] Ï P2B918DEM[] 1,700 70 &X &Z &X &C &X • •

52 GE Profile J2B912WEK[WW] Ï P2B912DEM[] 1,400 69 &X &Z &X &V &X •

53 Kenmore (Sears) Pro 7952[3] 4,000 67 &X &X &X &X &X • •

54 Wolf DF304 5,200 67 &C &X &X &X &C • •

55 Kenmore (Sears) Elite 7946[3] 1,800 66 &C &X &X &X &X • •

56 GE Café C2S980SEM[SS] 2,600 64 &C &Z &X &V &X • •

57 Jenn-Air JDS8850BD[P] 2,650 61 &C &C &X &C &C • •

58 KitchenAid Architect Series KDRP707R[SS] 4,250 49 &C &B &X &C &C • •

36-INCH GAS & DUAL-fUEL MODELS

59 Thermador Pro Grand PG366B[S] PG364GEBS; PG364GLBS

5,900 68 &X &Z &X &C &X • •

60 Kenmore (Sears) Pro 7962[7] › 6,300 63 &X &C &C &C &Z • •

61 GE Monogram ZDP36N6H[SS]› ZDP36N4DM[SS]; ZDP36N4RH[ss]

5,000 60 &C &Z &C &C &C • •

62 Frigidaire Professional PLGF659E[C] 2,100 57 &C &C &X &X &V •

63 Viking Professional Series VGSC367-6B[SS] VGSC367-4G; VGSC367-4Q

5,600 56 &X &X &C &C &C • •

64 KitchenAid Architect Series KDRP462L[SS] KDRP463L[SS]; KDRP467K[SS] › 6,050 49 &C &V &C &X &C • •

Ï Discontinued; similar models available. ⁄Dual ovens. €Slide-in design. ‹Includes microwave oven. ›Dual-fuel.

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Guide to the Ratingsoverall score reflects cooktop performance, oven capacity, baking, broiling, and oven self-cleaning, as well as surface temperature and other safety issues. Displayed scores are round-ed; models are listed in order of precise overall score. Cooktop high is how quickly the highest-powered element or burner heated water to near-boiling in our tests. Cooktop low is how well the lowest-powered element or burner melted and held chocolate without scorching it and how well the highest burner, set on low, held tomato sauce below a boil. Baking reflects whether cakes and cookies baked on two racks were evenly browned in our tests. Broiling denotes even browning of a pan of burgers as well as high-heat searing ability. oven capacity is our measure of usable space. Price is approximate retail. Under brand & model, note that brackets show color codes.

Where to saveLOOK fOR THE HIDDEN DEALS

• Time your shopping. When you buy can save you hundreds of dollars. That’s because retailers typically discount cook-ing and other appliances for holiday weekends such as July Fourth and Labor Day. Stores also tend to clear out older models in September and October because that’s when the new models typi-cally arrive from manufacturers. • Get an inside deal. Sears periodically offers a 10 percent discount to family and friends. Those events typically apply to kitchen appliances and other items, even if they’re already on sale. Don’t know anyone at Sears or its sis-ter chain, Kmart? Sears says they don’t check IDs at the door, and if you show

up, you’re a friend. Ask a sales associate or check Web sites

such as www.fatwallet.com /forums/deal-discussion or www.forums.slickdeals.net to get a heads up on those periodic sales. ● Check stores for price-match offers. Many retail-

ers advertise that they’ll match a lower price from another

retailer. Some stores will also match another store’s lower price even if they don’t tout such deals in their ads. What’s more, you can often get a refund even if you already bought a range or other kitchen appliance if the same model you bought goes on sale at that retailer or another retailer within 30 days of your purchase. • inspect package deals closely. You’ll probably get a volume discount if you buy two or more major kitchen appliances of the same brand. But because perfor-mance often varies by appliance, even within the same brand, such package deals could give you a stellar cooktop and a subpar fridge or dishwasher if you aren’t careful. Check our Ratings to be sure you’re getting top performers for all of the brand’s products you’re consider-ing. Also ask the retailer whether you can create your own package of appliances from the same or different brands—and then push for that volume discount as a condition to your buying at that retailer.



Our ratings rank gas and electric cook-top models by overall score. Quick Picks are tested models that combine high per-formance and value, and, where data are available, come from brands that have been reliable in our repair surveys.

QuICK pICKs 30-inch electric cooktops: 1 Electrolux $1,200 2 Kenmore $580, CR Best Buy 3 GE $1,0004 Whirlpool $470

The Kenmore and Whirlpool offer fine performance for less; the Kenmore has a 3,000-watt element with slightly faster cooking. Paying more for the Electrolux buys five elements instead of four; the GE adds touch controls.

36-inch gas cooktops:15 GE $1,20018 GE $650, CR Best Buy

Paying more for the GE (15) buys higher-powered burners. The lower-priced GE (18) trades some simmering performance for a much lower price.

30-inch induction cooktops: Induction cooktops cook using a mag-netic field for faster heating than gas or electric versions, though you need magnetic cookwear. The Thermador and GE cost less than many; the Ther-mador includes electric elements. The Kenmore costs little more and has three high-powered elements, but less-convenient controls.


Ratingsc o o k t o p s• Availability Most models at stores through December 2008.


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30-INCH ELECTRIC COOKTOPS

1 Electrolux Icon E30EC65E[SS] $1,200 85 &X &Z 1 2 2 •

2 Kenmore (Sears) 4273[2] 580 82 &X &Z 2 0 2 •

3 GE Profile PP945BMBB 1,000 81 &X &Z 2 0 2 •

4 Whirlpool RCC3024L[Q] Ï RCC3024R[] 470 80 &X &Z 1 1 2

5 GE Profile JP930TK[WW] 800 80 &X &Z 1 2 1 •

6 Kenmore Elite 4281[3] 1,450 79 &X &Z 1 2 1 •

7 Jenn-Air JEC9530BD[F] 800 79 &X &Z 1 1 2 •

8 Whirlpool Gold GJC3034R[P] 630 78 &X &Z 1 2 1 •

9 Bosch NET75[5]2 900 78 &C &Z 1 2 1 •

10 Frigidaire FEC30S6A[S] 580 78 &X &Z 2 0 2

11 KitchenAid KECC506R[SS] 800 73 &X &X 1 1 2 •

12 GE Profile JP950WK[WW] 1,300 72 &X &X 2 1 1 •

13 Viking DECU105 [SB] 1,450 66 &X &X 1 2 1 •

36-INCH GAS COOKTOPS

14 Viking DGCU1655B[SB] 1,500 84 &X &Z 2 2 1

15 GE JGP975WEK[WW] 1,200 79 &C &Z 1 2 2 •

16 Dacor Preference PGM365 1,470 79 &X &Z 3 2 0 •

17 GE Monogram ZGU385NSM[SS] 1,400 77 &C &Z 3 2 0 •

18 GE JGP637WEJ[WW] 650 65 &C &X 1 2 2

19 Miele KM3474[SS] 1,450 63 &X &C 3 2 0 •

20 Jenn-Air JGC9536BD[S] 1,170 63 &X &C 2 1 2 •

21 KitchenAid KGCC766R[SS] 1,050 57 &C &C 2 1 2 •

22 Whirlpool Gold GLS3665R[S] 1,000 55 &X &V 3 2 0 •

23 Frigidaire GLGC36S9E[W] 950 54 &C &C 2 2 1 •

24 Bosch PGL98[5] 900 52 &C &V 1 3 1 •

25 Kenmore (Sears) Elite 3323[3] 1,000 38 &C &B 2 2 1 •

26 Whirlpool Gold GLT3657R[Q] 830 34 &C &B 2 1 2 •

30-INCH INDUCTION COOKTOPS

27 Electrolux Icon E30IC75F[SS] 2,000 96 &Z &Z 3 1 0

28 Thermador CIT302D[S] 1,725 94 &Z &Z 2 1 1 •

29 GE Profile PHP900DM[BB] 1,700 92 &Z &Z 2 2 0

30 Kenmore (Sears) Elite 4280[0] 1,800 91 &Z &Z 3 1 0

31 Diva DDP-40 2,700 89 &X &Z 4 0 0

32 KitchenAid KICU508[S] 2,100 89 &Z &Z 1 2 1

33 Viking Professional VCCU105-4B[SS] 2,200 88 &Z &Z 2 1 1 •

34 LG LCE30845 2,000 88 &Z &Z 1 2 1

Ï Discontinued; similar models available. For Guide to the Ratings, see facing page.

1 Electrolux

2 Kenmore

15 GE

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Ratingsw a l l ove n s• Availability Most models at stores through December 2008.


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Our ratings rank electric wall ovens by overall score. Quick Picks are models that combine performance and value, and, where data are available, come from brands that have been reliable in our repair surveys.

QuICK pICKs30-inch electric wall ovens: 3 Bosch $2,1004 GE $1,6006 Kenmore $1,9008 Frigidaire $1,400

Paying more for the Bosch and Kenmore buys well-rounded performance and a tem-perature probe. Consider the lower-priced GE if you’re willing to give up some even-ness, the Frigidaire if you can do with a bit less capacity.


Guide to the Ratingsoverall score reflects cooktop performance, oven capacity, baking, broiling, and oven self-clean-ing in our tests, as well as surface temperature and other safety issues. Displayed scores are rounded; models are listed in order of precise overall score. Baking reflects whether cakes and cookies baked on two oven racks were evenly browned. Broiling denotes even browning of a pan of burgers as well as high-heat searing ability. Capacity is our measure of usable space. Price is the approximate retail. Under brand & model, note that brackets show color codes.


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30-INCH ELECTRIC WALL OVENS

1 Thermador ME301E[S] $2,400 71 &X &X &X • •

2 Viking Professional VES0130[SS] 2,400 70 &C &Z &X • •

3 Bosch HBL54[50]UC 2,100 69 &X &X &X • •

4 GE JTP70SM[SS] 1,600 67 &C &X &X • •

5 Electrolux Icon E30EW75E[SS] 2,250 67 &Z &X &V • •

6 Kenmore (Sears) Pro 4100[3] 1,900 66 &X &X &X • •

7 GE Monogram ZET1SOL1[SS] 2,500 63 &Z &C &C • •

8 Frigidaire Gallery GLEB30S9F[S] 1,400 61 &X &X &C • •

9 Kenmore (Sears) Elite 4789[3] 2,000 61 &X &X &C • •

10 Whirlpool Gold GBS307PR[Q] 1,300 58 &C &X &C •

11 Kenmore (Sears) 4783[2] 950 57 &X &X &V12 KitchenAid Superba KEBS107S[SS] 2,150 55 &C &C &C • •

13 Fisher & Paykel OS302[SS] 2,200 50 &V &X &X • •

14 GE Profile JT930WH[WW] 2,200 46 &C &C &V •

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The graphs show the percentages of the indicated brands of electric and gas cook-tops bought between 2004 and 2007 and electric wall ovens bought between 2003 and 2007 that have ever been repaired or had a serious problem. Differences of less than 4 points are not meaningful. Jenn-Air has been the most repair-prone brand of electric cooktops, while Dacor and Viking have been among the more repair-prone brands of gas cooktops. Thermador, fol-lowed by Jenn-Air and Dacor, has been the most repair-prone among wall ovens. Mod-els within a brand may vary, and changes in design or manufacture may affect reli-ability. Still, choosing a brand with a good repair history can improve your odds of getting a reliable cooktop or wall oven.

Data are based on over 19,000 reader responses concern-ing electric and gas cooktops and almost 19,000 responses concerning wall ovens to the Annual Product Reliability Survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Data have been adjusted to eliminate dif-ferences linked solely to the age of the product.

Brand repair historyl Readers report on more than 38,000 cooktops and wall ovens.

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Kenmore (Sears) 5GE 5

Frigidaire 5Maytag 7

Whirlpool 7GE Monogram 9

KitchenAid 9Dacor 13

Jenn-Air 17Thermador 24

Fewer repairs

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Fewer repairs

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ELECTRIC GAS

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Frigidaire 5GE Monogram 5

Maytag 5Whirlpool 5

KitchenAid 6Jenn-Air 10

Whirlpool 4KitchenAid 5


Wolf 7GE Monogram 9

Thermador 10Jenn-Air 11

Dacor 14Viking 15

GAS & ELECTriC CooKToPS WALL ovENS

6 Kenmore



Ratings over-the-range microwave ovens

• Availability Most models at stores through December 2008. Excellent Very Good Fair Poor good

Z BX BC BV B

Our Select ratings focus on tested over-the-range microwave ovens with the per-formance and value required to make our Quick Picks list. All of those over-the-range microwaves include sensors that help prevent under- or overcooking by measuring the steam emitted from foods as they’re being heated. They’re also avail-able with stainless-steel trim, and where data are available, come from brands that have been reliable in our repair surveys.

QuICK pICKsBest for most; fine performance:

The LG offers the most performance for the price, though the similarly sized Whirl-pool, GE, Maytag, and Frigidaire perform comparably for little more money. Cook-ing for a crowd? Consider the roomy Ken-more (2), which trades the usual turntable for a sliding tray that adds usable space by keeping wide plates moving for more even cooking. For fitting large plates, also consider the $430 LG Glide & Cook LMVM2055[ST], not shown, which also uses a sliding tray to expand the cooking area, but cooked less evenly in our tests.

if you’re willing to pay for convection:

The Kenmore (3) and Frigidaire models are similar in price and performance. Both were among our top scorers overall and performed better in our gamut of cooking tests than other over-the-range micro-wave ovens equipped with a convection mode. Both of those pricier ovens also come with halogen bulbs that contribute to speedier cooking and some browning on certain foods.


Guide to the Ratingsoverall score is based mainly on cooking evenness, defrosting, and convenience. Displayed scores are rounded; models are listed in order of precise overall score. Evenness is uniform heating of cold mashed potatoes. Auto defrost is how completely and evenly the program defrosted 1 pound of frozen ground beef. Ease of use denotes ease of setting without the own-er’s manual. Capacity claimed is per manufacturer; usable is based on our measurement of what fits the turntable or sliding tray. Price is approximate retail. Under brand & model, the color code is bracketed. Note that all tested over-the-range models are 30 inches wide.

Brand repair historyl

The graph shows the percentages of the following brands of over-the-range (OTR) microwave ovens bought between 2003 through 2007 that have ever been repaired or had a serious problem. Differences of less than 3 points are not meaningful. KitchenAid has been the most repair-prone brand. While we lacked enough data for all years to include Sharp in the chart, we have sufficient data to conclude that it has also been a repair-prone brand. Note that mod-els within a brand may vary, and that changes in design or manufacture may affect a brand’s reliability. Still, choosing a brand with a good repair history in our sur-veys can improve your odds of getting a reliable model.

Data are based on over 20,000 reader responses about OTR microwave ovens to the Annual Product Reliability Survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Data are adjusted to eliminate differ-ences linked solely to age and usage of the product.

Fewer repairs

More repairsë í

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25%

Frigidaire 4

Whirlpool 6

Maytag 7

Amana 7

GE 7

Kenmore (Sears) 7

KitchenAid 12

Brand & model Price Overall score Test results Capacity Features

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30-INCH OVER-THE-RANGE MICROWAVE OVENS

1 LG LMV2053[SB] $300 78 &X &Z &X 2.0 0.9 17x30x18

2 Kenmore Elite 8083[9] 530 77 &X &Z &Z 2.0 1.6 17x30x18

3 Kenmore Elite 8082[9] 630 77 &X &Z &Z 1.7 0.8 • • 17x30x18

4 Whirlpool Gold GH4155XP[B] 470 76 &X &Z &Z 1.5 0.8 16x30x15

5 GE Adora DVM1850DM[BB] 400 74 &X &X &Z 1.8 0.9 17x30x17

6 Maytag MMV4205BA[B] 300 67 &X &Z &X 2.0 0.9 17x30x17

7 Frigidaire Gallery GLMV169D[B]Ï Professional PLMVZ169G[]

300 67 &X &X &X 1.6 0.8 16x30x17

Ï Discontinued; similar models available.

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seLeCt

Top picks from among more than 30 tested.

Readers report on over 20,000 microwaves.

2 Kenmore

1 LG

ovEr-THE-rANGE MiCroWAvE ovENS


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