Traditional French-press coffeemakers steep coffee grounds and hot water in a beaker, then use a manual plunger equipped with a filter to trap the grounds at the bottom before pouring. The ritual can make an elegant end to a meal. While purists may scoff, three manufacturers have introduced coffee machines that add automated brewing to variations on this age-old process. Consumer Reports tested all three with varying results and one made our list of top coffeemaker picks.

Of the trio, the iCoffee RCB100-BC12, $170, did best overall  and can make the most coffee at a time. It resembles a drip coffeemaker on steroids. Hot-water jets in the basket spritz and swirl the grounds in hot water—similar to a French press—before filling the carafe. The manufacturer, Remington, says the process eliminates the bitter aftertaste of drip coffee. We liked how simple the iCoffee was to use, and the carafe was easy to hold, pour from, and empty. It joins our list of recommended coffeemakers.

For something closer to the French-press experience—but with a tea option—the Capresso Coffee à la Carte, $180, is worth considering. It works similarly to a traditional French press: An assembly holds one of two removable, cylindrical filters (the other is for tea) and a plunger. Coffee or tea automatically drips into a carafe or a cup once the pressurized brewing process is complete. The removable reservoir holds 45 ounces, enough for a dinner party. The Capresso was easy to use and clean. One caveat: Your cup can be no taller than 3½ inches tall.

Bunn boasts that its Trifecta MB, $550, offers “a brew method unlike any you have tried before.” And for that price it should. The Bunn Trifecta MB comes with two plastic “brew chambers,” one serves as a small French-press pitcher for coffee or tea, which drips into the other. You get a choice of five so-called turbulence levels and five brew-time choices, between 40 seconds and 3 minutes, so it’s easy to personalize your brew. But the controls take some getting used to, and you can brew only 12 ounces at a time. You also need to keep the machine plugged in to keep the water in its internal tank hot for brewing.

You’ll find all three models in our Ratings for coffeemakers, along with the results of our tests of conventional drip and single-serve (pod) coffeemakers and espresso machines. But first check out our buying guide.

—Ed Perratore

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, many of us are already thinking about turkey and football. But others—and you know who you are—are contemplating a different contact sport: Black Friday shopping. And this year the deals are starting earlier, with some retailers opening at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day—something not all employees are happy about.

Regardless of when your Black Friday shopping spree kicks off, the game plan is to get the best deals you can on the items you really want. Often—though not always—electronics items are at their lowest prices of the year on Black Friday, and it's easy to get caught up in the shopping frenzy and spend more than you really want to. So here's a list of Black Friday shopping tips that should help ensure you get not only the best deals, but also some peace of mind once you bring the item home.

1. Be prepared. This means studying the ads before Black Friday. By now, many of the major retailers have released their Black Friday in-store specials, so check one of the comprehensive Black Friday-focused websites such as bfads.net, blackfriday.info, theblackfriday.com, and gottadeal.com to see whether you're getting the best deal. Some sites let you filter your searches by product categories, such as TVs.

2. Shop online first. Why leave the family and your comfy couch if you don't really have to? Before you brave the crowds at the stores, check to see if the retailer is offering the same—or even better—deals on its website. In past years, some of the biggest retailers have offered online sales during Black Friday week that have included many of the same items offered as part of their in-store Black Friday events and often combined with low- or no-cost shipping deals. And some retailers will offer online exclusives you couldn't get even by walking into one of their retail locations.

3. Sign up for e-mail alerts. Many retailers now use e-mail alerts to encourage store loyalty and frequent shopping. Sign up for alerts that will let you know about upcoming promotions and to receive coupons or discounts. Shoppers can also learn if the products they want are stocked and available, or if an item is eligible for a "buy online, pick up at store" option that can save shipping charges.

4. Use social media. Before you decide to buy, visit the Facebook pages and Twitter feeds of your favorite retailers and see if they're offering any incentives, such as discounts, when you "like" their page or follow them. Also, if you have friends who'll be shopping on Black Friday for similar items, text, tweet, or post to a social-media site the best deals you encounter, and hopefully they'll return the favor.

5. Get appy. Before you head out to the store, make sure your smart phone is charged and loaded with a few key comparison-shopping apps (such as ShopSavvy, ShopKick, and RedLaser) that will let you see special deals and compare prices while you're in the store. Many include a bar-code scanner that lets you scan and compare prices, plus a QR-code reader that can sometimes get you coupon codes or special deals.

If you see that an item is cheaper at a nearby store, try showing that price on your phone to a store manager and see if he or she will match that deal. Also consider the Black Friday App, from dealnews.com, for up-to-date Black Friday info, and try Evernote if you need to make and take a shopping list with you to help you keep on track.

6. Create a budget—and stick to it. Many Black Friday sales, especially doorbuster specials that are typically available in limited quantities, are designed to get you into the store so retailers can try to sell you something more profitable. Decide ahead of time how much you want to spend, and resist impulse buying in the store, especially if you don't know how good a deal you're really getting.

7. See if you can get a price-match guarantee, and check store return policies. Often, stores say they're suspending price-match guarantees during the Black Friday weekend, but you should ask for one anyway. After all, these are supposed to be "the lowest prices of the year!"

And to be safe, check your local chain's return and exchange policies to make sure that they aren't different for a Black Friday special. Sometimes, Black Friday sales are final, meaning the item can't be returned. Other items may have a shortened return or exchange policy, or one where you can get only a store credit and not a refund. Also, make sure the store isn't charging a restocking fee on a returned item.

8. Check the warranty. If you're loyal to a certain brand, you may feel you're aware of its standard product warranty. But even major brands offer special "derivative" models during promotional periods such as Black Friday, and they may alter the terms of their standard warranties for these sets.

For example, the term may be much shorter, or the repair provisions could be different: If a problem arises, there may be no in-home service for larger products, or you might have to pay shipping if the item needs to be sent to a service center. If so, make sure you're comfortable with the terms, and find out in advance what will happen if you need your electronics item repaired. You don't want to discover unexpectedly that it will be your responsibility.

9. Buy the item you really want, and avoid pricey accessories. Items designated as "doorbusters" draw us in because of their low prices, but they may not be the best products for your needs. In electronics, for example, this is especially true of bigger-ticket items such as TVs, which you'll be living with for a number of years.

Doorbuster items, particularly derivative models created specially for the event, usually have lower specs and lack features found on a manufacturer's standard lines. While this may be fine for a second or third set, you may want better performance or more features for your main TV. Also, a retailer may have more wiggle room on price for a step-up model than a bare-bones set, so you may still get a great deal on a TV you really want to own.

But one of the easiest ways to blow your great deal is to pad the deal with pricey accessories. This is where retailers make their money, so avoid the hard sell. If you know you'll need an HDMI cable, buy it ahead of time from an online retailer such as monoprice.com or bluejeanscable.com and avoid the temptation entirely.

10. Avoid the old bait-and-switch trick. If you're really buying only on price, stick to your guns and don't get pushed toward a more expensive model. Retailers will sometimes advertise a great deal on a certain TV but then denigrate it once you're in the store, hoping they can push you to a more profitable model.

We hope these shopping tips will help make your Black Friday shopping excursion a less stressful, more enjoyable outing. Happy shopping!

—James K. Willcox

Check our holiday and gift guide for more deals and tips!

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

The Kenwood Cooking Chef is supposed to be four kitchen appliances in one—a stand mixer, food processor, blender, and induction hot plate. The $2,000 multi-tasker initially impressed us as it whipped cream into stiff peaks and produced a rich risotto without the constant manual stirring usually required of the dish. But as our testing continued, we encountered serious issues with the machine’s food processor. As a result, we’ve rated the Kenwood Cooking Chef a "Don’t Buy: Performance Problem."

Sold at Amazon, Bloomingdale’s, and Williams-Sonoma, the Kenwood Cooking Chef is first and foremost a stand mixer (its Britain-based manufacturer has been making mixers since 1950). So we started by testing that function. The machine performed extremely well, whipping cream quickly and efficiently, kneading bread dough with ease, and folding chocolate chips and nuts into stiff cookie batter.

Our concerns started during testing of the food processor attachment. While chopping, slicing, shredding, and grating were superb, the slicing and grating disks took about 9 seconds to come to a full stop if the food processor lid was lifted during operation, and the exposed slicing disk had enough stored energy to cut through a fresh carrot several times before stopping. This is the only tested model in which we observed this problem.

We purchased a second Kenwood Cooking Chef and repeated the food processor tests. This time the slicing and grating disks stopped quickly when we removed the lid, but two new problems emerged. First, the plastic hub on a slicing disc broke, then one of three screws at the bottom of the drive shaft assembly sheared off. Neither of these issues creates a safety hazard, but the fact that two samples of the Kenwood Cooking Chef have been problematic when using the food processor raises concerns about its performance.
 
If you already own the Kenwood Cooking Chef, we suggest you stop using the food processor and contact the retailer to inquire about its return policy. You could also try contacting Kenwood at 800-322-3848. Hopefully you’ll have a better experience than our secret shopper, who spent weeks trying to get a replacement part after our second sample failed. In the latest message from Kenwood’s customer service department, we were told that the part will not be available until Spring 2014. 

—Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

Manufacturers tout lots of freshness technologies, including Viking’s “Plasmacluster Ion Air Purifier,” which is claimed to generate ions to eliminate airborne bacteria and mold spores. And Whirlpool says its “Producer Preserver” absorbs the ethylene gas that accelerates ripening. But you don’t need such fancy features to guarantee freshness. Here are some simple tips to help make food last in any refrigerator.

Be sure temperatures are cold enough. Use an appliance thermometer if your refrigerator doesn’t have a built-in one. The refrigerator should be a consistent 37° to 38° F; the freezer, 0° F.
Keep dairy off the door. Frequent opening makes the door the warmest part of any refrigerator. Instead, store milk and eggs in their carton at back, where it’s coldest. (Eggs can last three to five weeks after they’re bought, but don’t use milk more than a week past its sell-by date.)
Wrap raw fish, meat, and poultry. Place them on plates under cling wrap—again, at the back of the refrigerator. Use the lower shelves to keep dripping juice from contaminating other food. And freeze them if you won’t use them within a couple of days.
Don’t overpack. You’ll need enough room for air to circulate for food to stay cold. For freezing, begin by spreading items out on various shelves in single layers; you can stack them once they’re frozen.
Use containers with lids. Airtight containers are ideal for keeping cold cuts, cheese, and fresh berries from spoiling quickly.

Top refrigerators from our tests
As you might imagine, temperature performance is the most important factor in Consumer Reports’ refrigerator tests. Our top-scoring model is the French-door LG LFX28991[ST], $3,000, which scored an 85 out of a possible 100 with top performance in not only temperature control but energy efficiency and quietness as well. By comparison, our top-scoring conventional bottom freezer model, the Whirlpool Gold GB2FHDXW[Q], $1,200, earned a 73 but was also superb at temperature and energy efficiency. Our top-scoring top-freezer refrigerator, the GE Profile PTS22LHS[WW], was also excellent at temperature control but our top-scoring side-by-side, the Samsung RS265TD[WP], $1,300, only scored a very good on this test. Whatever configuration you prefer, you can find a recommended model in our refrigerator Ratings.

—Daniel DiClerico

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

Craig Zucker, cofounder of Maxfield & Oberton Holdings LLC, the company that created and marketed Buckyballs, one of several brands of high-powered magnet sets sold as desk toys, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (PDF). Zucker's suit seeks to prevent the agency from holding him personally liable for complying with a proposed product recall of Buckyballs, which would require him to provide refunds to consumers who purchased them. 

At an October 2013 public hearing held by the CPSC, several doctors urged that sets of these superstrong magnetic toys be banned due to the life-threatening risks they can pose if ingested by children or teens. Magnet ingestions occur frequently, sometimes with tragic consequences. A recent study based on an analysis of emergency-room data estimates that 7,159 emergency-room visits from 2002 through 2011 were attributable to superstrong neodymium magnets.

In July 2012, the CPSC sued Maxfield & Oberton (PDF), the company that marketed Buckyballs, seeking a full product recall. Maxfield & Oberton was dissolved in December 2012. The CPSC now has a suit against Zucker pending before an administrative-law judge. The suit seeks to force Zucker to comply with the terms of the proposed product recall, including providing refunds to consumers. 

Zucker retained Cause of Action, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group, to file his suit against the CPSC. “The commission has committed an unprecedented act by attempting to hold an individual entrepreneur liable for a recall that CPSC is seeking against a company that it forced out of business," said Dan Epstein, executive director of Cause of Action, in a public statement about the case.

Citing the agency's concern about children who have been seriously injured after ingesting high-powered magnets, a CPSC spokesman, Scott Wolfson, said: "Through enforcement, education, and rulemaking, the CPSC is working to keep children safe and reduce their exposure to this hazard—a hazard that doctors have described as a gunshot wound to the gut with no sign of entry or exit. CPSC staff continues to stand behind the administrative lawsuit and our pursuit of a free remedy for consumers of Buckyballs and Buckycubes.”

—Andrea Rock

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

Ham, turkey, duck, beef, and pork roasts are all a beloved part of many holiday meals. But because a lot of us only cook these once or twice a year, we run a higher risk of preparation and cooking goof-ups that can compromise taste at best—and at worst make people sick. Don’t want your guests to join the one in six people who get food poisoning each year in the U.S.? Use this guide to selecting, storing, cooking, and serving those holiday staples.

Choose the right meat

If you’re picking up a roast from a stand-alone re­frigerator case at the supermarket, don’t take the package on top, especially if it’s above the edges of the case, Francis Largeman-Roth, R.D., a dietitian in New York City, says. “Those cases only keep things truly cold as far as the walls of the case go up,” she said.

Look for cuts of meat that are lean, defined as less than 10 grams of total fat, no more than 4.5 grams of saturated fat, and fewer than 95 milligrams of cholesterol per serving. The label can provide clues. For example, cuts that include the word “round” are the lowest in fat, with “loin” a close second, says Heather Mangieri, R.D., a dietitian in Pittsburgh and a spokeswoman for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Turkey or duck breasts are leaner than a whole bird.

And read the ingredients list on poultry items. Turkeys are sometimes in­jected with a solution of saltwater and other additives to enhance juiciness. That can add a lot of sodium, so it’s better to look for a turkey that contains nothing but, well, turkey.

Store and prep properly

How long one can keep a turkey before cooking it is one of the most common questions posed to the Department of Agriculture’s Meat and Poultry hotline around holiday time, according to Tina Hanes, R.D., a dietitian and hotline staff member. (To reach the hotline, call 888-674-6854 or send an e-mail to mphotline.fsis@usda.gov.) For a fresh turkey in the refrigerator, plan to use it within one or two days. A frozen bird can last a lot longer—up to a year in the freezer, Hanes says. Uncooked pork and beef roasts can last three to five days fresh in the fridge and four to 12 months in the freezer.

Thawing meat in the fridge is the simplest way to defrost it, but make sure you leave ample time: A large turkey requires at least 24 hours for every 5 pounds. Defrosting in cold water in the sink is quicker but more labor-intensive, since you should change the water every 30 minutes. If you’re crunched for time, you can defrost meat in a microwave, but cook it immediately afterward because some areas may have already started to cook. Never thaw meat on a counter, which will put it in the “danger zone” of 40° F to 140° F, where bacteria can multiply more rapidly.

And however tempting it is, experts say that you should avoid rinsing poultry (and fish) before cooking because it can splatter potentially contaminated droplets of water around your sink and kitchen.

Cook it enough

In a survey of 1,011 American adults by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, 39 per­cent said that they had used a meat thermometer at some point in the last year. And only 8 percent said that they always used one. Even if you’re an experienced cook and think you can tell by color or texture if something is done, the experts we consulted said the same thing: You can’t.

What does that poultry label really mean?

Some labels on meat or poultry don’t mean much. For example, to put a “free range” label on poultry, producers only have to allow the birds some access to open air for an unspecified amountof time each day—even if it’s only 5 minutes. And “hormone free” is meaningless on chicken or turkey since the government prohibits the use of hormones in poultry and pork. Below are five label claims that are actually worth looking for. For definitions, check the Eco-labels page on GreenerChoices.org.

• “Organic”
• “American grass-fed certified”
• “Animal welfare-approved”
• “Certified humane”
• “No antibiotics used” (Also “raised without antibiotics” and “no antibiotics ever”)

This article appeared in the December 2013 issue of Consumer Reports on Health.  

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

This year, in a once-in-a-lifetime event, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah coincide. Imagine the feasts that will appear on American tables in just a few weeks. But whether you’re cooking potato latkes, pumpkin pie, or both, you’ll want equipment that puts your best food forward. As Consumer Reports found in its tests of baking supplies, some newfangled tools aren’t always an improvement over your tried-and-true bakeware.

A brownie pan that makes individual portions, a silicone pan insert that promises to release the grease, and ceramic cookie sheets that claim even browning. Before you replace your old pans with these new ones, see the results of Consumer Reports’ tests.

Slow-baking ceramic cookie sheets. We tested two ceramic cookie sheets, from the Pampered Chef, $34, and Hartstone Pottery, $40. They browned cookies about as evenly as air-bake cookie sheets and more evenly than coated sheets, and cookies didn't stick. But in addition to costing more, they're heavy, break when dropped, and baked a bit slower than metal baking sheets. The ceramic sheets also retain heat, making it difficult to quickly cook successive batches.

No point to the Pyramid Pan. The infomercial for the Pyramid Pan claims that the silicone insert will prevent “dining disasters” because food rests on the points of the pyramids instead of the pan’s surface. That supposedly allows air to circulate under the food and fats to drip away, leaving food crisp, juicy, and evenly baked. In our tests we cooked a variety of foods including puff pastry appetizers on baking sheets with and without the Pyramid Pan liner. It was nonstick but because the food didn’t make contact with the pan, the tops of the appetizers were golden brown and the bottoms pale and undercooked. Save the $19.95 plus shipping and use nonstick cooking spray instead.

The not-so-perfect brownie pan. The Perfect Brownie Pan Set promises to be "the nonstick way to bake, slice, and serve perfect brownies." Using an insert that resembles an ice-cube tray, the pan bakes each brownie separately. Because the bottom of the pan is not attached to the sides. the instructions say you can line the pan with foil or support it with a baking sheet to prevent leaking. A set cost $20 plus $8 shipping and handling. We baked fudge brownies four ways: in an unlined, Perfect Brownie pan; in the pan lined with foil; in the pan on a baking sheet; and in a regular 9x13-inch pan. Our trained taste testers found that brownies baked in a regular pan had better texture and flavor than the Perfect Brownies, which were all underdone to varying degrees, though we baked them 2 to 9 minutes longer.

Although the classic KitchenAid stand mixer was overtaken in our tests by another brand, we still highly recommend it. Here are the mixers and ranges that were best for baking in Consumer Reports tests and a handy new item to help spread holiday cheer.

Stand mixers to stand by. The Breville BEM800XL, $300, was excellent at whipping cream, mixing large batches of cookie dough, and kneading bread dough. It beat out favorites from KitchenAid and other brands thanks to a bevy of convenience features, including a leaf beater with a flexible edge that scrapes the bowl as it turns and a timer that lets you set your desired mixing time. We also recommend the more familiar KitchenAid Classic, $200, and KitchenAid Artisan, $300, and the Hamilton Beach Eclectics, $180. All four were excellent at mixing cookie dough.

Handy hand mixers. The KitchenAid Architect Series KHM920A[CS], $80, beat the competition by a wide margin in our tests, combing excellent mixing power with very good whipping time. Unlike a lot of lesser mixers, it's strong enough to fold chips into stiff cookie dough. It’s also one of the quieter hand mixers we tested, which you’ll appreciate if you’re cooking at odd hours when others may be sleeping. A digital speed indicator and slow start feature add to its convenience. Three other KitchenAids made our list of hand mixer picks along with a $30 model from Cooks, sold at JCPenney, and a $40 Cuisinart.

Best ranges for baking. Surprisingly, not all ranges get excellent marks for baking in our range tests. Two electric double oven ranges, the GE Profile PS978STSS, $2,800, and the Maytag MET8885XS, $1,700, were excellent at turning out evenly baked cakes and cookies and had large oven capacities. And the two ovens allow you to bake a dessert and a roast simultaneously. If you prefer gas, the LG LDG3037ST, $1,900, had superb baking performance and impressive capacity, with a smaller oven on top and larger oven below. For more choices, including pro-style, see our full range Ratings and recommendations.

A decorative, disposable dish. Chinet Bakeware nonstick paper pans are “the first disposable baking dishes that let you take your food from oven to table to freezer to microwave,” the product’s website says. The pans, along with plastic lids, come in square, rectangular, and oval shapes, in various sizes. We paid $4.95 per pack, consisting of two or three pans. Our food experts cooked casseroles and brownies in Chinet and in similar-size metal and aluminum-foil pans. Chinet panned out. It’s disposable yet tough and was more rigid than disposable aluminum pans. And you won’t need pot holders when you pick up the heated dish. That said, because the paper bakeware is flexible, the lids may pop off; and the paper seems to extend baking time. Brownies in a metal pan were done in 40 minutes; those in Chinet required 55.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

In Consumer Reports tests of televisions and refrigerators, LG and Samsung have some of the top models. But when it comes to the reliability of their dishwashers, the South Korean competitors are in a race to the bottom. That’s the opinion of almost 70,000 of our readers who bought a dishwasher between 2009 and 2013, according to the latest Annual Product Reliability Survey.

In our past surveys, LG has been one of the more repair-prone of the 10 dishwasher brands for which we had sufficient data. But this year, Samsung, fell to the bottom of the list becoming the most repair-prone brand of dishwashers.

Bosch, Whirlpool, and Miele are among the more reliable brands in our survey. Of these, Bosch has the most recommended models in our dishwasher Ratings. One particular favorite is the Bosch Ascenta SHK3AR7[5]UC, a CR Best Buy at $730. Our top-rated dishwasher is the Kenmore Elite 12793, $1,350. Readers found this brand to be pretty reliable, especially compared to LG and Samsung.

Three dishwasher brands—Amana, Asko, and Fisher & Paykel—did not make our chart because we lacked sufficient data. Electrolux also missed the cut. Subscribers to ConsumerReports.org can view the full brand reliability report, which also includes rankings of Maytag, GE, KitchenAid, and Frigidaire.

While Consumer Reports’ dishwasher tests cover such performance issues as washing, noise, and energy efficiency, we also recommend that consumers choose a brand with a good repair history to improve the odds of getting a reliable dishwasher. Fortunately, there are many to choose from including the 51 models on our list of recommended dishwashers.

—Ed Perratore

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

Space heaters today come in all shapes and sizes. Some are tall and thin, others short and squat, and some wood-paneled heaters resemble a piece of furniture. But no matter what a space heater looks like, you want to make sure it’s designed to keep you warm and safe and that it’s not too noisy. In Consumer Reports’ space heater tests, we found a dozen space heaters that cost $100 or less but some did a better job at chasing the chills than others.

Space heaters differ in their ability to heat a room or bathe a person in the room in warmth, called spot heating. In our tests, the Ambia ACH-120, $60, was the best at warming up a room in 15 minutes and a good choice for a family room. It was also very good at directing heat to a person in the room but got mediocre scores for noise, something to keep in mind if you plan to use it when watching television. The two CR Best Buys in our tests, the Holmes HFH436, $40, and the Bionaire BCH9212, $55, were both very good at heating a room and okay at spot heating but the Bionaire was much quieter.

If you want a heater that looks less like a space heater, spending $230 will get you the wood-paneled Duraflame 10HM4126-0107. In our tests, the Duraflame was very good at heating a room and has safety features that make it a good choice for families. It was also very quiet and made our list of top space heater picks. The heavily advertised EdenPURE GEN4, $397, while quiet and attractive, was mediocre at heating a room and worse at spot heating.

Space heater safety
When you shop for an electric space heater, look for a label from a recognized testing lab such as UL (Underwriters Laboratory), ETL (Intertek), or CSA (Canadian Standards Association) verifying that the heater's construction and performance meet voluntary U.S. safety standards. And use it with care. Not all are risk-free: Many we tested got hot enough to cause the equivalent of a bad sunburn within a second of contact. Here are some helpful safety tips from our experts.

• With any heater, keep it on a level, flat surface where children and pets can't reach it and never in a child's room.
• Use a heater on a tabletop only when specified by the manufacturer.
• Use it only in dry areas, away from paint, gas cans, or matches, and keep combustible materials such as furniture, bedding, and curtains at least three feet from the front of the heater, and away from its sides and rear.
• Never leave the heater unattended while it’s plugged in.
• Position the cord so it isn’t a tripping hazard.
• And be careful what other electrical devices are running on the same circuit. This includes the same extension cord, the same outlet, or even the same group of outlets on one circuit.
  

Before viewing our space heater Ratings, be sure to check out our buying guide. You'll also find Ratings with buying guides for thermostats, gas furnaces, and pellet and wood stoves.

—Ed Perratore

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

Shopping for a mattress can be a nightmare. Prices bounce up and down and if you don’t try a mattress in the store before buying it, you can end up with years of restless nights. But what if you could share the experiences of 12,000 other mattress shoppers? That’s the aim of the latest rankings of 11 brands and 15 retailers by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. Combined with our mattress tests, the information will help you find the right mattress and get the best service.

The new survey results yielded a few surprises yet also showed some consistencies from earlier years that tell you where your chances of satisfaction are best. The Original Mattress Factory, with stores in nine states, was among our readers’ top picks in our last mattress retailer survey and this year they’re again among the top brands. Other top brands, according to our reader, include Ikea, Novaform (sold at Costco), and Tempur-Pedic. And while the Tempur-Pedic brand scored highly for overall value, comfort, and sleep improvement, there’s a catch: For a queen-size bed, Tempur-Pedic’s median price was the highest, at almost $2,500.

Ikea, which did well overall in our 2012 survey, did even better this year with higher reader scores for quality and delivery. Macy’s also went up a notch for the quality of its service, though our readers’ perception of mattress quality, selection, and prices was only so-so. Still among the lowest-rated mattress retailers was Sleepy’s, with respectable scores only for delivery—and a median price for a queen-size bed that was at least twice as high as Costco and Ikea.

In addition to updating our rankings of mattress retailers and brands, we are testing a new batch of mattresses and will share the results in the coming months. Currently, our top-rated innerspring mattress is the Simmons Beautyrest Glover Park Firm Pillowtop, sold at Sears for $1,764. We also like innersprings from Serta and Stearns & Foster. Our top-rated memory foam is the Tempur-Pedic Tempur Simplicity, $1,200, but we also liked memory foam mattresses from Novaform, sold at Costco, and Sealy.

Before you go shopping for a mattress, take a minute to read our buying guide and watch the video. Doing so may result in many sweet dreams.

—Ed Perratore

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

Paper towels lead a brief and unglamorous life, absorbing spills, wiping away messes, and substituting for napkins and even tissues. Sponges are the most frequently used item for kitchen cleanup, but unless they’re kept scrupulously clean, they can become germy and smelly. Ditto dish towels. A fresh paper towel is a better choice. But you can’t use them for everything. Here are five “aha!” uses for those handy helpers and four things you shouldn’t use them for, even in a pinch.

Great for grills and fighting germs

• Wash and dry fruit and vegetables with paper towels before peeling to help keep dirt and bacteria from transferring from the knife to the produce.
  
• Wrap food in wet paper towels to steam-cook in your microwave, creating healthy meals and snacks.
• Cover bathroom door handles with a paper towel before turning them to reduce exposure to germs during cold and flu season.
• Make a tight pad from two folded paper towels, add some vegetable oil, and use tongs to drag it across your grill’s grates just before cooking to prevent food from sticking.
• Clean the rubber edge of your car’s wiper blades with a paper towel dampened with glass cleaner or water and a little dish detergent to extend the life of the wipers.

But don't scratch your glasses or TV screen

• Avoid scratching your furniture by dusting with a microfiber cloth or other soft cloth rather than a paper towel’s rough surface.
  
• That roughness also makes paper towels a no-no when cleaning TV screens and camera lenses. Use a dampened microfiber cloth instead.
• Clean eyeglass lenses with warm water and a drop of dish detergent, then dry with  a soft hankie or microfiber cloth, not a paper towel.
• Use a squeegee to wash windows; paper towels can leave lint behind.
  

The best from out tests
If you rely on paper towels for cleaning up tough spills, wiping up mud tracked in by the dog, or handling greasy messes in a garage or workshop, the Bounty DuraTowel is for you. It will be available in a select-a-size version in February, according to the manufacturer. But if you use paper towels for lesser messes, such as spilled juice or for routine wiping of counters, the lower-priced Bounty Extra Soft is a better value.

Though these economical choices didn’t score as high as our top picks, Walmart's Great Value Strong & Absorbent and Bounty Giant are strong, absorbent, and strong when wet. Costco's Kirkland Signature was excellent at absorbing spills and is the least expensive paper we tested, but it wasn’t as strong.

—Kimberly Janeway

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

More than half of your utility bill is devoted to heating and cooling your home. And with temperatures dropping, homeowners are cranking up their heating systems. Whether you heat with natural gas (the most common method), electricity, or oil you can save money by keeping your equipment maintained and upgraded.  But the Department of Energy says that it takes more than an energy-efficient furnace alone to realize savings. Adding proper insulation, sealing leaks, and adjusting your thermostat can cut your energy use in half. Here’s advice from the agency on how to save energy this winter.

• Set your programmable thermostat as low as is comfortable and lower the setpoint when you're sleeping or away from home.
• Clean or replace the filters on your furnace once a month or as recommended.
• Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or curtains.
• Eliminate trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if you don’t know how to do it, contact a professional.
• Put heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.
• Turn off kitchen, bath, and other exhaust fans within 20 minutes after you finish cooking or bathing. If replacing exhaust fans, consider installing high-efficiency, low-noise models.
• Keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow sunlight to enter your home and closed at night.

One of the easiest ways to save is to set your thermostat to  68°F when you're awake and set it lower while you're away from home or sleeping. By turning your thermostat back 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours, you can save 5 to 15 percent a year on your heating bill, according to the DOE.

The best thermostats
In Consumer Reports tests of 30 thermostats, we found 10 to recommend. Three top-scoring models were excellent overall, simple to adjust, and had displays that were easy to read. They include the Venstar ColorTouch Series T5800, $170, the Honeywell Prestige HD YTHX9321R, $250, and the ecobee EB-STAT-02, $300. For much less, you can buy the Lux TX9600TS, $70, a CR Best Buy, which was very good overall. For more models, see our full thermostat Ratings and recommendations.

—Mary H.J. Farrell

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

Soon it’ll be time to get out the good dishes and glassware for holiday entertaining. If you have hard water in your home, chances are your dishware is hazy or covered with a whitish film. If so, don’t despair, there are some dishwasher detergent additives on the market that can make your glasses and dishes sparkle again. And switching to a top-performing dishwasher detergent will keep them that way.

Consumers started seeing residue on their dishes and inside the dishwasher after polluting phosphates were banned from dishwasher detergents a few years ago. Manufacturers responded by reformulating their dishwasher detergents to prevent such hard-water buildup and also developed additives to get rid of it. Consumer Reports tested three additives and, after some trial and error, all removed the haze from dishes and glassware and cleaned the dishwasher too.

We tested Finish Power Up Booster Agent, Glisten Dishwasher Cleaner & Hard Water Spot Remover, and Lemi Shine Original. When we used the same amount of each product—about 50 grams—all three worked splendidly. But when we followed Finish’s directions for machines with a prewash-detergent dispenser, the product didn’t work nearly as well. It did get the job done when we placed two tablespoons directly into the bottom of the dishwasher (following instructions for machines without a prewash dispenser). Glisten and Lemi Shine did their job as directed, though you may need a second wash cycle to completely eliminate buildup.

The best dishwasher detergents
Choosing the right dishwasher detergent can also help. In our dishwasher detergent tests, we found that Cascade Complete With Dawn ActionPacs was excellent at resisting mineral buildup while getting dishes and pots clean. And a rinse agent can help eliminate water spots, a less severe condition than white haze. We also recommend three detergents from Finish, including Finish Powerball Tabs, Finish Gelpacs, and Finish Quantum Powerball Capsules. Of the four, the Finish tabs and gelpacs cost less and are CR Best Buys.

Keep in mind that not every glass or dish on your holiday table can be put in the dishwasher, including the following.

• Gold-plated dishes or dishes or flatware with gold trim can become discolored or the trim may even wash away.
• Fine crystal is sensitive to heat and may crack. The detergent may also etch the glasses, causing them to lose their brilliance.
• Expensive china, especially pieces with a pattern, may become worn with repeated washings.
• Keep anything made of pewter, brass or bronze out of the dishwasher as it will tarnish.

For more information on how to treat your best dishes with a little TLC read, "Don't put Granny's glassware in the dishwasher."

—Mary H.J. Farrell

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

It would be understandable if Americans weren't overly excited about the holiday season, given the seemingly endless economic recovery, the partial government shutdown in October, and the uncertainty over the new health care law. But the first Consumer Reports Holiday Poll of 2013* reveals that most Americans are in anything but a sour mood as the festivities near: More than eight in 10 say they expect the holiday season to be at least as happy as last year's. What's more, nine in 10 Americans are looking forward to the holiday season.  

“Never underestimate the power of the holidays to revitalize our collective spirit,” says Tod Marks, a senior editor for Consumer Reports who covers the shopping beat. “Even though many families continue to struggle financially, and there’s seemingly a never-ending state of contentiousness in our nation’s capital, our Holiday Poll shows that the vast majority of Americans perceive this time of year as a beacon of cheer and optimism.”

Other signs of Americans’ optimism heading into the year-end holidays:

• 66 percent of gift givers will spend at least as much as they did last year.
• About 50 percent of Americans plan to stick to a budget this year. (Good luck with that. Thirty-six percent admitted to spending more last year than they budgeted.)

The Holiday Poll also revealed a bit of sobering shopping news: 10 percent of shoppers who used a credit card to purchase gifts last holiday season have yet to pay off that debt. If you're looking to avoid card-related surprises, check our reports on the best and worst prepaid debit cards and credit cards.

—Maggie Shader

Check out our Holiday & Gift Guide, and visit our Money page to find reviews of appliance stores, electronics stores, shopping websites, and much more.

The Consumer Reports Holiday Poll, designed by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, is a nationally representative survey of more than 1,500 randomly selected adult U.S. residents. It was conducted in November 2013.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

During the upcoming holidays, you're probably going to use a ton of paper towels for chores around the house. But unless you’re willing to sacrifice performance, you might want to think twice about buying paper towels made from recycled paper.

Seventh Generation Right Size, which the maker claims is made from 100 percent recycled paper, earned only good scores across the board in our absorbency, scrubbing, and wet-strength tests. (By contrast, the top towel we reviewed received three excellent scores.) At $2.74 per 100 square feet, this Seventh Generation product is also among the priciest towels we tested.

Another recycled option is the Scott Naturals Mega Roll Choose-A-Size, made with a claimed 60 percent recycled fibers. At $1.60 per 100 square feet, it costs less than the Seventh Generation and was stronger when wet, although it too wasn’t very absorbent.

Get more details in our paper towel buying guide, and check our Ratings to find out which paper towels did best in our tests. Hint: The top three towels come from the same big brand. Plus learn how to clean up common holiday messes.

—Consumer Reports

Paper towels and your pet

Paper towels are ideal for cleaning up after your lovable pet’s puddles or other messes. But don’t throw the paper towel in the toilet after cleaning up. Sure, flushing away that smelly mess is quick and easy. But paper towels take much longer to disintegrate than toilet paper does and can cause your toilet to back up, especially if you have a septic system or older cast-iron or concrete sewer pipes.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

This year callers to Butterball’s Turkey Talk-Line will hear something new—a man’s voice. Yep, for the first time since the talk line began in 1981 men will also be helping panicked cooks prepare their holiday feasts. Joining the more than 50 women at the hotline will be R.J. Jaramillo, 49, of San Diego, as the talk line’s first official male spokesman, and several men from Chicago, where Butterball is based.

“Cooking is a huge passion of mine, so I’m looking forward to sharing my expertise,” Jaramillo, who runs the blog Cook Like A Dad, told ABC News. “I’m most looking forward to helping everyone at the Thanksgiving table have the best Thanksgiving.” He’ll be busy: The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line (800-288-8372) gets thousands of calls a season.

One of the most common problems bedeviling callers is how to defrost the turkey. Typically they don’t leave enough time. The rule of thumb, according to the talk line, is one day of thawing for every four pounds of turkey. Put it in the refrigerator on a tray to catch any drips. Callers who skipped that step are advised to use the cold water method, which entails putting the bird breast side down, in an unopened wrapper, in enough cold water to completely cover the turkey. Change the water every 30 minutes to keep the turkey chilled. Figure on 30 minutes of thawing time for every pound of turkey.

When the Butterball operators are trained, they learn how to roast turkeys 10 different ways so they’ll have first-hand experience from roasting a turkey in a conventional oven to deep frying one outdoors. No matter what method you use, you’ll want to know how to best carve the turkey for serving. Here’s what Butterball recommends.

How to carve a turkey
Let the cooked turkey sit for about 20 minutes before starting to carve. For breast meat, begin halfway up the breast and slice straight down with an even stroke. When the knife reaches the cut above the wing joint, the slice should fall free on its own. Continue to slice breast meat by starting the cut at a higher point each time.

For the drumsticks, cut the band of skin holding the drumsticks. Then grasp the end of the drumstick, place your knife between the drumstick/thigh and the body of the turkey, and cut through the skin to the joint. Remove the entire leg by pulling it out and back, using the point of the knife to separate it. Pull apart the thigh and drumstick at the joint. And for the wings, insert a fork in the upper wing to steady the turkey. Make a long horizontal cut above the wing joint through the body frame. The wing can then be disjointed from the body.

The best knives from our tests
To get the cleanest cuts, you’ll need a good carving knife. After testing dozens of knife sets, Consumer Reports recommended nine sets ranging in price from the $75 Ginsu Chikara, a CR Best Buy, to the Kyocera Kyotop Damascus HIP ceramic set for $785. Two manufacturers dominate the list of top knife picks, including Zwilling J.A. Henckels and Wusthof. But don’t buy by brand alone. When shopping for knives, go to the store and try them out to make sure they feel comfortable in your hand. Happy carving.

—Mary H.J. Farrell

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

You don’t have to wait until Black Friday to get a top-rated small appliance at a good price. Some of the best performers in Consumer Reports tests cost $80 or even much less including a $30 hand mixer and a $40 coffeemaker. Of course, if you want to spend more, we also test small appliances with big price tags. Here are five CR Best Buys and five splurges that did great in our tests.

Hand mixers
CR Best Buy: Cooks 10-Speed HM820, $30
Exclusive to JC Penney, this 10-speed mixer combines excellent mixing and whipping time, outperforming much pricier models. It has a digital speed indicator, interchangeable beaters, and a separate dough hook. On the downside, its center-post beaters aren’t as easy to clean as the wire beaters found on some other models. And it doesn’t have the slow-start feature that’s helpful for containing spills and splatters.
Splurge: KitchenAid KHM926, $100
The $100 KitchenAid costs more than many other hand mixers, but it performed very well in our tests, combing very good mixing and whipping time. It also scored points for versatility, thanks to its dough hooks, whisk attachment, and liquid blender rod, which is designed to blend soups, smoothies, and more. On the downside, this mixer is noisier than other recommended models.

Blenders
CR Best Buy: Ninja Master Prep Professional QB1004, $60
Superb performance and outstanding value combine to make the Ninja Master Prep Professional an extremely worthwhile blender. It features a unique top-mounted motor that you press down to operate, and it comes with smaller chopping and processing containers, in addition to the 48-ounce blending jar. In our tests, it excelled at all the main blending tasks.
Splurge: Vitamix 5200, $450
From one of the biggest names in premium blenders, the $450 Vitamix has long been our top-scoring blender. Besides acing our frozen drinks, puree, and ice crush tests, it's one of the few models that makes hot soup and blitzes whole fruits and vegetables into smooth, creamy juice. While you’re paying a premium, there are even more expensive blenders on the market, from Vitamix itself as well as other manufacturers.    

Coffeemakers
CR Best Buy: Mr. Coffee BVMC-SJX33GT, $40
This 12-cup Mr. Coffee is among the best all-around drip coffeemakers we’ve tested. It brewed at industry-recommended guidelines of 195° F or more, maintained for five or six minutes. Setup, operation, and cleanup were fairly easy, and we found its carafe easy to use, hold, pour from, and empty. (A thermal carafe is available separately.) And among attractions for the bargain price are a water filter, special cleaning cycle, and two-hour auto-shutoff.
Splurge: Cuisinart Crystal SCC-1000 Limited Edition Perfec Temp, $200
This Cuisinart drip coffeemaker is gussied up with Swarovski elements for a jeweled look, but it was a gem in our Ratings as well. First, it's the only model that can brew a full 14 cups. And while it's expensive, it had top-notch brew performance matched by a carafe we found easy to hold and pour from. It's also programmable, with both a small-batch setting and brew-strength control.

Toaster ovens
CR Best Buy: Oster TSSTTVMNDG, $80
Oster is known for making inexpensive small appliances that often perform well, and this toaster oven is another example of that. It proved particularly adept in our tests at baking and broiling, and it's roomy enough to accommodate a 4-pound chicken. It was very good at toasting one slice, full batches and at making consistently toasted bread time after time.
Splurge: Breville Smart Oven BOV800XL, $250
This Breville toaster oven is priced higher than other models in our Ratings, but its top performance and sleek, sturdy design might justify the cost. It was very good at baking and broiling, and it's can accommodate a 4-pound chicken. It was excellent at toasting full batches and successive batches and very good at toasting just one slice.

Steam irons
CR Best Buy: Rowenta Effective Comfort DW2070, $50
The least expensive Rowenta steam iron we tested was also the best. It was excellent overall and delivered superb ironing and lots of steam. The steam surge button provides a burst of steam when trying to remove stubborn wrinkles and the vertical steam feature lets you remove wrinkles from hanging garments and drapes. The sole plate is stainless steel and the ready light indicates the iron is hot enough to use. There's a self-clean feature and auto-shutoff. This handy safety feature turns off the iron when left stationary for a short time.
Splurge:  Panasonic NI-W950A, $220
The top-rated Panasonic was excellent overall, delivers superb ironing and produces plenty of steam, which helps eliminate wrinkles. The vertical steam feature lets you direct steam to hanging items such as clothing and curtains. Other features include an alumite sole plate, ready light that indicates the iron is hot enough to use, steam surge for removing stubborn wrinkles, and self-clean. The auto-shutoff is a handy safety feature that shuts off the iron when left unused for a short time.

—Mary H.J. Farrell

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

Q. I like to run for exercise, but lately I’ve been experiencing pain in my lower back (not necessarily when I run, just in general). Should I stop running, or even quit exercising for a little while?

A. Don't retire your athletic shoes. It might seem counterintuitive, but physical activity can actually be an important part of relieving back pain. It’s smart, however, to consider lower-impact alternatives to running, which puts stress on the joints and can cause pain in the back, hips, and knees. Good options may include Pilates, swimming, walking, water aerobics, and yoga. Or explore functional fitness, a new exercise trend that focuses on making your body stronger for everyday tasks. Check with your doctor if pain persists for more than several weeks. 

Learn which treatments worked best for more than 14,000 readers with lower-back pain in our recent survey. And watch our video on beating back pain, below. 

A version of this article appeared in the December 2013 issue of Consumer Reports on Health.

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

Apparently, this Saturday, Nov. 23, is National Espresso Day. We'll leave the business of coming up with these special days to Hallmark and corporate marketing mavens—what's next, National Half Caf, Half Decaf Soy Latte Day? If you're a genuine espresso aficionado, here’s how to make every day an espresso day.

Using premeasured, filtered pods is an easy way to get a consistently good espresso. But to get a delicious shot or cappuccino, you’ll want to grind your own beans and follow this advice we got a few years back from John Fischer, a professor at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y.:

• Buy dark-roasted beans—you'll often see an "espresso" roast in stores. You can also use beans with a French roast. Stay away from beans that are shiny. A glossy coating indicates that the beans have begun to lose the essential oils that add to the flavor and color of the espresso.
• Store coffee beans at room temperature in an airtight container out of direct sunlight. For optimal taste, buy only the amount of beans you will use within a couple of weeks. This will ensure freshness and create a drink with the vital crema.
• Set your grinder to the extra-fine setting to grind the beans to the texture of beach sand or table salt, not to a powder. (Try different grinds before you find the right one for your machine and your taste.) Fischer recommends grinding the beans immediately before using them each time you brew espresso.
• Don't overpack the filter with coffee.
• If you're going to make a drink with milk, use skim or low-fat. You’ll save some calories and your froth will also be better. According to Fischer, your drink will taste better if you use whole milk.
• Use a metal pitcher when frothing or steaming. It will allow you to sense the temperature, which should be 140° to 150° F.
• Always warm your cups beforehand—the coffee will stay warmer.

Check our coffee reviews to find the best Colombian, Sumatran, and Ethiopian coffee as well as coffee blends and pods for several different types of machine.

We’ve tested five espresso makers, here in alphabetical order: DeLonghi EC155 ($100), DeLonghi EN680 ($600), DeLonghi ESAM 5500 ($1,800), Krups XP5240FR ($300), and Saeco Odea Giro ($700).

If espresso isn't your everyday coffee, you don’t need to have a separate drip or pod machine to make regular coffee. The DeLonghi BCO320T ($150) and Krups XP160050,  ($120) are multifunction models that can deliver both types of coffee.

With the holiday-shopping season here, you're bound to find deals on the aforementioned makers, as well as traditional drip and popular pod machines. We've rated more than 100 models that will perk up your celebration, including three newfangled electric French-press machines.

One thing to keep in mind as you savor a demitase of espresso: The idea behind espresso came from a man who wanted to speed up coffee brewing. Downing a shot surely has its place, but we think sipping the dark-rich brew during a moment of leisure, say with dessert after a holiday meal with friends and family, is the best way to enjoy an espresso.

—Ed Perratore

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.

Incandescent bulbs are cheap until you flip the switch. CFLs use about 75 percent less energy; LEDs use even slightly less energy and were the top performers in Consumer Reports’ tests. Here are three good reasons to switch to LEDs.

You can save money. Edison’s invention is terrific except that 90 percent of the electricity used is given off as heat so it requires a lot of energy to create light. Replace a 60-watt incandescent with an LED that provides the same brightness and you’ll save about $125 over its life. The Samsung A19 60-Watt Warm White, $30, tops our Ratings of 60-watt replacements and is claimed to last 25,000 hours, that’s nearly 23 years when used 3 hours a day. 

Incandescents are going away. They waste energy and the average U.S. household has more than 40 sockets so you can see how all this adds up, and that’s why as of January 1 60- and 40-watt bulbs can’t be made in the U.S. or imported, but remaining stock can be sold. Then it’s the end of the incandescent era as 100- and 75-watt bulbs were already phased out. For an LED that’s even brighter than the Samsung, take a look at the Philips A21 17W 75W Soft White. It replaces a 75-watt bulb, costs $31, and has a claimed life of 25,000 hours.

Some CFLs are really good, but LEDs are the top rated. The CFLs we tested are a lot better than earlier versions and cost $1.25 and up. But CFLs, unlike LEDs, take at least 30 seconds to fully brighten, contain a small amount of mercury that’s released when a bulb breaks, and most can’t be dimmed. The highest rated LEDs scored an impressive 99 out of 100.

The drawback is their price. You do save money over time, but you have to shell out a lot of money up front. Some utilities offer in-store rebate coupons that knock up to $10 off and you’ll find rebates at energystar.gov and dsireusa.org. We’re testing 60-watt LEDs that replace incandescents and cost $14 or less—a Cree has an unusually long warranty of 10 years—and will tell you what our preliminary tests show in about two weeks. Until then see our Ratings to find out how the best LEDs and CFLs compare.

—Kimberly Janeway

Consumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on this website. Copyright © 2007-2013 Consumers Union of U.S.