Testing Is at the Heart of Consumer Reports
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NEW MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT TESTING IS AT THE HEART OF CONSUMER REPORTS You Test™ is your chance to get involved. Test your knowledge, tell us your experiences with the products and services you already own, and give our experts real-world insights that help us research and test. Check out You Test™ at cr.org/youtest KBG8BYT Contents JANUARY 2019 P. 82 P. 52 DESIGN NOTES 22 Clearing the Clutter 52 Now You’re Cooking! Give your new kitchen (or Insights straight from our 8 Better, and Bigger the one you already have) test labs will help you shop An eicient new layout a clean, streamlined look smarter for a new range. and a little extra space trans- with these neat ideas from formed a dark and dated professional organizers. Plus: 66 Warming Trends kitchen into a bright, family- The pros’ favorite keep-it- Whether you’re looking for friendly hub. orderly gear. an electric or a gas cooktop, you’ll ind the best model for 12 Fast Face-Lift BUYING GUIDE your space right here. Three weeks and a modest P. 12 budget gave a dull kitchen a APPLIANCES P. 6 3 Update modern makeover. Plus: Our in-house experts How to get its vintage-chic 34 Chilling Out share the best of what’s look in your own space. Use our experts’ exclusive new, including freezer buying advice to determine organization features and 16 Remodeling Secrets which type of refrigerator the latest color trends. of the Pros will best it your family’s These tips from top kitchen needs. Then, turn to our 6 Products We Love designers—and CR’s own Ratings to ind the perfect Perk up your workspace experts—will help you achieve choice for your space with these top-rated small the professional renovation and budget. appliances and gadgets. of your dreams. P. 120 P. 28 P. 34 74 Easy Bake Ovens 112 Covering All the Basins SHOPPING ADVICE Even baking and impressive Find out which sink materials broiling: Those are just some withstand heavy use best. 132 Where to Shop of the perks our top-rated and Save wall ovens boast. 116 Water Works Our survey reveals the on- Today’s faucets should last line and walk-in stores with 78 Breathe Easy for years, maintenance-free. the best selection, service, The right range hood can P. 3 Here’s what to look for. and price on appliances. keep your kitchen free of Plus: CR members’ secrets to smoke and fumes—and look DESIGN ELEMENTS 120 Floor Show getting the best deals. great doing it. Get the latest tips on how 100 Planning Storage to choose wood, vinyl, lami- 136 Resources 82 Clean Machines Learn how to recognize great nate, or porcelain looring The best models in our lat- quality when choosing cabi- that will look good and last. est dishwasher tests deliver nets, so your investment will cleaner dishes, quietly, using last for years. 126 Strokes of Brilliance ON THE COVER less water and energy. Our top-rated interior paints Photographer: Jane 106 Counter Intuitive ofer easy one-coat coverage, Beiles. Interior Designer: 92 Quick Cuisine Strong, durable, and beauti- no priming required. Keough Stearns Interiors, keoughstearnsinteriors. Not just for popping corn ful: Our ratings of countertop com. Kitchen Designer: and reheating leftovers, materials tell you which Veronica Campbell, today’s top microwaves are ones have it all. Deane Inc., deaneinc.com versatile kitchen tools. CR.ORG KITCHEN BUYING GUIDE 1 From the Editors Kitchen Buying Guide President and CEO Marta L. Tellado Senior Vice President, Chief Operating Officer Leonora Wiener Vice President, Chief Content Officer Gwendolyn Bounds Editor in Chief, Consumer Reports Magazine Diane Salvatore Deputy Editor, Special Interest Publications Amanda Lecky Design Director Matthew Lenning Creative Director, Brand Young Kim Manager, Art Operations Sheri Geller Art Directors Tammy Morton Fernandez, Lisa Slater Photo Editors Emilie Harjes, Karen Shinbaum Photography John Powers, John Walsh Imaging Francisco Collado, Mark Linder Senior Director, Content Development Glenn Derene Deputy Directors, Content Development Christopher Kirkpatrick, Ellen Kunes Remodeling With Confidence Associate Directors, Content Development Scott Billings, Althea Chang Home & Appliance Eric Hagerman, Content Lead; Editors: Mary Farrell, Paul Hope, Kimberly Janeway, Sara Morrow, Haniya Rae, Daniel You know you want good looks we evaluate and on our surveys Wroclawski; Product Testing: John Galeotaiore, Emilio Gonzalez, James Nanni, Testing Leads; Peter Anzalone, John Banta, Susan Booth, and top-notch products in your of CR members’ experiences Tara Casaregola, Lawrence Ciufo, Enrique de Paz, Bernard Deitrick, new kitchen, but how can with the products in their Cindy Fisher, Rich Handel, Misha Kollontai, Ginny Lui, Joan Muratore, Joseph Pacella, Christopher Regan, Frank Spinelli, David Trezza, Michael you tell the really great gear homes. You can trust our advice Visconti. Analysts: Mark Allwood, Claudette Ennis, Min Kim Bryant, from the not-good-enough? because we’re nonproit and Kelly Moomey, Marion Wilson-Spencer Don’t worry: Consumer Reports independent: We buy all the Chief Scientific Officer James H. Dickerson Food Safety James E. Rogers, Director; Sana Mujahid; Tunde Akinleye, is here to help. products we test, and we accept Amy Keating, Ellen Klosz, Charlotte Vallaeys Our team of kitchen pros— no ads. Consumer Engagement Testing Charu Ahuja, Director; Linda Greene editors, researchers, market So relax—buying the best Content Systems & Operations Strategy Peter Meirs, Director experts, and more—will guide for your kitchen update just got Content Operations David Fox, Director; William Breglio; Anthony Terzo you through your remodel, a lot easier. Production Eric W. Norlander, Manager; Letitia Hughes, Terri Kazin sharing insights straight from —The Editors of Content Coordination Nancy Crowfoot, Associate Director; Diane Chesler, Aileen McCluskey our labs on everything from Consumer Reports Copy Editing Leslie Monthan, Copy Chief; Noreen Browne, fridges to looring, and more. Alison France, Wendy Greenield Fact Checking David Schipper, Manager; Kathleen Adams, Tracy When you’re ready to shop, Anderman, Sarah Goralski, Christine Gordon, Karen Jacob RATINGS Overall Scores are Administration Decarris Bryant, John McCowen turn to the Buying Guide on based on a scale of 0 to 100. page 32. You’ll ind thousands We rate products using Content Impact & Corporate Outreach Jen Shecter, Senior Director these symbols: Statistics Michael Saccucci, Director; Andrew Cohen, of ratings and reviews based Keith Newsom-Stewart, Martin Romm 1 POOR 2 FAIR 3 GOOD Survey Research Karen Jafe, Simon Slater; Dave Gopoian, on the exhaustive tests our 4 VERY GOOD 5 EXCELLENT Kendra Johnson, Debra Kalensky, Martin Lachter, Jane Manweiler, engineers run on every product John McCowen, Olufemi Olu-Lafe, Adam Troy Consumer Insight Monica Liriano, Associate Director; Frank Yang; Teneisha Thomas Marketing Dawn Nelson, Senior Director; Patricia McSorley, Newsstand Procurement Operations Steven Schiavone, Associate Director Vice President, Chief Communications Officer Matt Anchin; Vice CONNECT WITH US President, Financial Planning & Analysis JoAnne Boyd; Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer Lisa Cribari; Vice President, Data & FACEBOOK TWITTER Marketing Operations Brent Diamond; Vice President, Chief Digital fb.com/consumerreports @consumerreports Officer Jason Fox; Vice President, Advocacy David Friedman; Vice President, General Counsel Michael Hubner; Vice President, Chief fb.com/SomosCR @SomosCR Social Impact Partnerships Geofrey MacDougall; Vice President, Research, Testing & Insights Liam McCormack; Vice President, YOUTUBE PINTEREST Business Strategy & Planning Betsy Parker; Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer Kim Stehle; Vice President, Chief Social Impact /consumerreports /consumerreports Officer Shar Taylor; Vice President, Chief Financial Officer Eric Wayne INSTAGRAM LINKEDIN Copyright © 2019 Consumer Reports, Yonkers, New York 10703. @consumerreports /company/ Published by Consumer Reports, Yonkers, New York 10703. consumer-reports All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. ISSN: 2473-621X Manufactured in the United States of America. GETTY IMAGESPHOTO: 2 KITCHEN BUYING GUIDE CR.ORG UPDATE Trends, product news, and expert advice TREND WATCH Gold Rush No longer purely utilitarian, today’s kitchens are living and entertaining centers with style to match, right down to everyday essentials—which are suddenly showing up in rich, gleaming gold. Case in point: this Goldtouch Bakeware Set, $363 for 15 pieces; williams-sonoma.com. 3 Update 12 Instant Pot Face-Off 3 Can the Instant Pot DUO60 7-in-1, $100, really replace multiple kitchen appliances? CR’s testers TREND WATCH decided to i nd out. Gold Rush VS. T-Fal CY505E Electric 1. Dualit NewGen 4-Slice Toaster, $340; Pressure Cooker, $70 surlatable.com. 2. G25 Gold Tipped 60W Light TEST RESULT: Instant Pot Bulb, $10; cb2.com. 3. Gold Handled Utensils, $10 each; crateandbarrel.com. 4. Gold Accent wins by a nose. The Instant Footed Colander, $25; crateandbarrel.com. Pot took just 54 minutes 5. Gold Dipped Barstool, $300; westelm.com. to turn out pork ribs that were juicy and tender. The 6-quart T-Fal took 56 minutes. VS. Crock-Pot SCCPVL610-S Slow Cooker, $50 TEST RESULT: It’s a tie. Both turned out delicious pulled pork. The Instant Pot took 5 a bit longer. 4 VS. Aroma ARC-914SBD Rice Cooker, $30 TEST RESULT: Instant Pot wins. Two cups of brown rice took 60 minutes in the Aroma rice cooker. The Instant Pot cooked the same What’s America’s IKEA 75% amount in 45 minutes, and it tasted just as good. Favorite Place to Shop for HOMEGOODS 63% Home Furnishings? VS. Hamilton Beach TARGET 61% 37530Z Steamer, $40 According to a new poll of 1,800 consumers from Market Force Information, a firm specializing BED BATH & BEYOND 61% TEST RESULT: Steamer wins. in customer experience management, it’s Ikea, Vegetables steamed in the WALMART 43% by a wide margin. In the poll, Ikea won for Instant Pot were mushy, product variety and availability, but Target was 0 20 40 60 80% and their color had faded.