Kitchen appliances

Parent Cafe
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<p>We are in the market for new kitchen appliances for a house that we have just bought. We are researching Consumer Reports and Garden Web, but would like to tap into the wisdom of CC parents too, for recommendations. Here’s our wish list:</p>

<p>36 inch (possibly 42 inch) Refrigerator. Stainless steel, built-in or counter-deep, preferably one with an ice/water dispenser. We are considering a Subzero or Jennair built-in or Bosch cabinet-deep, all rated well by Consumer Reports. </p>

<p>24 inch standard dishwasher. Stainless steel Bosch versus Miele. We have used a Bosch and enjoyed its quietness but it is a bit of a pain to load. I’ve read that the Miele is easier to load and has a greater capacity.</p>

<p>36 inch (possibly 30 inch) Stove or Cooktop: Probably going for a Viking but open to other recommendations.</p>

<p>A Vent Hood: We are pretty sure we want the “Best By Broan” which we have used previously and is excellent. But if someone really has another favorite please let us know.</p>

<p>Wall oven.</p>

<p>Warming drawer.</p>

<p>Any experiences with the Sharp drawer microwaves?</p>

<p>Does a trash compactor really make life a lot easier?</p>

<p>We are redoing many but not all cabinets so sizes and installation are flexible right now.</p>

<p>While we are thankfully not on a very tight budget we do not want to spend a lot of money and then find out that we are unhappy with what we’ve bought. Snob value is not important for us, quality is -we drive Honda and Subaru. But we are aware that fancy names may have a greater appeal for potential future buyers in case we end up selling the house before these appliances die.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

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<p>I’m pretty “meh” about our Subzero 'frig. We’ll be looking into other options for our next house. We have a Whirlpool in the basement kitchen and it’s fine. </p>

<p>The Miele d/w would be my choice. We have Bosch in both kitchens now, and I spend a small fortune on Dishwasher Magic and similar d/w cleaners. You may want to check out the appliance forum on garden web (where you’ll find quite a few posts about the funky odor that some dishwashers develop.) </p>

<p>For the cooktop, you might consider the Profile and Monograms line by GE. I’ve used several others, and for the money I think that the 36" GE gas cooktop I had in a previous house was the best buy. </p>

<p>For the vent hood, I do like Best by Broan, but have also been pleased with Vent-a-Hood. The important thing is to get it properly sized. We had a 42" VaH over a 36" gas cooktop in the house we had built, and it made all the difference. Here, we have a 48" Wolf range and the vent hood is not adequate, IMHO. Dh now does any frying outdoors.</p>

<p>The wall oven choice depends on whether you want gas or electric. For gas, I’d probably choose Blue Star. For electric (my preference), I’m not so sure. I was happy with the performance of the GE Profile convection wall ovens that I had previously. I’ve also read good things about the KitchenAid Architect series. </p>

<p>In a second house we sold in '08, we had a Frigidaire range (similar to model FGEF3057KF) that I’d be perfectly content with now. If you’re thinking of an electric cooktop instead of gas, you might consider a range plus a second wall oven. This one had (has) a warming drawer, too.</p>

<p>For a separate warming drawer, Wolf is good. Dh likes the preset temp options, and I appreciate its automatic turn off function, since dh has never remembered to turn it off whenever he’s used it.</p>

<p>I don’t have any experience with the microwave drawer (love the idea, though) or a trash compactor. Being short, I don’t like microwaves over the range or set too high on a wall, so the drawer really appeals.</p>

<p>One thing you didn’t ask about, but I’ll suggest anyway is to seriously consider buying the extended warranties. I never used to think they were worthwhile, but after spending more time with appliance repair techs in the past 5 or 6 yrs. than I did in the previous 25 yrs. I am now a firm believer in them.</p>

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<p>vp, if you are considering a Miele dishwasher, take a look at the Miele’s line of fridges (not yet very widely distributed in the US, but very popular in Europe). We will get a Miele fridge when I’m done paying DD’s tuition. :)</p>

<p>Maybe it is just me, but I would stay away from Bosch dishwashers after a pretty bad experience with our dishwasher that came with the house. The dishwasher only lasted 8 or so years. It stared to smell badly (mold-like stench) after about 2 years of use, so I had to run an empty cycle with a cup of vinegar about once or twice a month to get rid of the stench. One morning I came down to the kitchen and discovered that the %$@# dishwasher (which was empty and not running at the time!!!) leaked a puddle of water all over my maple floors! :eek: Thank goodness the floors did not need to be replaced, but the dishwasher had to go. We bought a Miele dishwasher, and I’m very pleased with my choice. I love the upper tray for silverware and small items. It has been more than two years since we got it, and there have been no moldy smell problems.</p>

<p>One advice about trash compactor - many think of it as an “outdated” appliance. With so many municipalities requiring recycling/composting, the amounts of actual trash people generate decreases every year. I’d consider incorporating a place for recycling containers/food scraps bin. Another idea - many people keep their garbage can under the sink, but we chose a pull-out drawer in the cabinet next to the sink that houses our kitchen garbage can. I like the fact that I do not have to bend down and get under the sink to throw away kitchen waste.</p>

<p>Added: Both Miele and Subzero use the dual-compressor cooling for their fridge/freezer combos. There is no air exchange between the two chambers, and because of this foods stay fresher longer.</p>

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<p>i had a Viking 6 burner gas cooktop and was very happy with it, I miss it!!</p>

5

<p>We replaced a Bosch dishwasher with a Kenmore than cleans dishes infinitely better.</p>

<p>On the other hand, I just purchased a Bosch double oven after researching price/performance. The top is conventional + convection. I like it a lot. Others on the short list were the Electrolux, Frigidaire and KitchenAid.</p>

<p>The best prices I found were at A.J Madison; no shipping charges and no sales tax. </p>

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<p>Don’t like my Bosch dishwasher. Hard to load and gets the same icky smell others have described. Just bought appliances for a new house (money was a factor for us). Went with Whirlpool Gold. Like the dishwasher way better than my Bosch.</p>

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<p>Last year we replaced our old Thermador cooktop with a Wolf. We originally thought we wanted a Viking, but we ultimately decided on a Wolf after much research. I couldn’t be happier with our choice. </p>

<p>Like others here, I was very disappointed with our old Bosch dishwasher. It had a circuit board problem that required frequent repairs. If I were deciding between a Bosch and a Miele, I’d definitely choose the Miele.</p>

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<p>We have a subzero 42" right now and I am neutral on it. We just built a lake house last year and used a Miele Frig…this frig rocks!! Less $$ than Sub, yet IMO quality is better. The hinges alone are crazy. We used the Miele dishwasher also and convection cooktop. Now as a gas girl, I was irritated about not having gas. We would have had to put in a propane tank and didn’t want that. I am in love with convection. 100x easier to control your heat and clean up is crazy easy. We used Jenn Air ranges mainly because it is what we have in the house and I was used to the controls. We have a Fisher & Paykel dishwasher (drawers) at our main home. My favorite treat at the lake? A stand alone ice maker. I am trying to figure out how to put one in our home.</p>

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<p>I love my ten-year old Miele dishwasher. It is so quiet you can barely hear it running. I have not had one problem with it. It doesn’t hold as much as a Kitchen-Aid, though.</p>

<p>Trash compactors I hate. Had one in my old apartment - a 3rd floor walkup. It was of some use because the city did not recycle and so everything we did not haul to the recycling station went in the compactor. But your garbage sits in there for extra days, and you have to wash it out regularly - no, thanks. I tore out the compactor in my house after I moved in.</p>

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<p>I have a Miele dishwasher. Love it. Especially love the third top tray just for flatware. Makes for lots more room in the rest of the dishwasher.</p>

<p>I also hate trash compactors. I’d rather take the trash out every day. If pickup was difficult I might put one in the garage. Not in the house. </p>

<p>I have a four-burner Viking with an 18-inch griddle. Wonderful.</p>

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<p>Count me as another happy owner of a Miele dishwasher. We were a little hesitant about the third tray for silverware, but now it’s our favorite feature.</p>

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<p>Third fan of Miele dishwashers–I love that it’s quiet, but the tray for silverware is its best feature. Easy to use and get the silverware very clean.</p>

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<p>I won’t tell anyone what to do, but for me, I try to choose as American as I can, when I can. I know that isn’t every product. It can be difficult, it can be impossible.
Others may make different choices. I have been thrilled with Whirlpool and Kenmore lately.
That’s just me, and how I feel most comfortable. I live here, work here, prefer to spend here.</p>

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<p>I don’t like the jennair in my current house, only 4 burners and all 4 are the same size, it seems weak compared to the Viking…I had a Wolf 20 years ago when I had a restaurant, that thing was awesome. I loved the flat top and my 6 burner Viking allowed me to leave a griddle on two burners all the time, emulating a flat top at home</p>

15

<p>Thank you all! Looks like the Miele is winning over the Bosch DW and has become a strong contender for the fridge too!</p>

<p>We just finished a 2 hr long session with the kitchen designer. As of now it looks like we may end up with a 33 inch cooktop, a 42 inch refrigerator, a standard 30 inch wall oven, a GE Advantium oven, and a warming drawer. Anyone like (or hate) their Advantium?</p>

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<p>Do NOT get a 33" cooktop if you can avoid it. Should you need to replace it, you will have very limited options.</p>

<p>Why a warming drawer? Does the need come up often? My Miele oven has a lovely warming cycle (along with its breed rising cycle and the dehydrate option).</p>