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Cooking do’s and don’ts for your holiday feast

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Cooking do’s and don’ts for your holiday feast

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.

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5 steps to putting away your mower

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5 steps to putting away your mower

It's a helpless feeling watching the springtime grass grow wild while you try in vain to start your lawn mower. A little spent time now, before you stow your mower and other outdoor gear for the winter, will avoid trouble down the line. Here are the key measures.

Fuel matters most. Siphon off any remaining fuel in the tank and run the mower dry. From there, you can either put in fresh gas with added stabilizer, start up the engine, and run it a bit before storing the mower. (Some additives are especially designed to ward off the harmful effects of ethanol.) Or, for maximum protection, add a bit of ethanol-free fuel, start the mower up, and run it dry again. That way, no ethanol-laced fuel should be left in the lines. Be sure to empty the carburetor bowl.

Check the spark plug. Technically, spark plugs need changing every 100 hours or so of operation. But if you don’t remember when you last changed yours, replacing them now is a good idea.

Change the oil. Chances are you’ll need to flip a walk-behind mower to drain the oil; the best time is when you’ve run the engine dry, since fuel will otherwise spill. Look for the designated mark on the dipstick while refilling, as too much oil can be as bad for the engine as too little. You can take used oil to a local service station or recycling center for disposal.
 
Clean the underside. Many new mowers have a washout port, which can prevent buildup of grass clippings. Whether or not you’ve been cleaning the deck, you’ll need to spray or scrape off any remaining clippings to prevent rusting. (An old bristled pot scrubber might do.) Spraying the cleaned, dried deck with silicone spray can help prevent future build-up. And while you’re at it, remove the blade and have it sharpened. Keeping a spare blade on hand helps.

Air filter. To protect the engine, you’ll also need to replace the air filter, and the end of year is a good time. Not sure which one to get? Take your old one to your local dealer. That should give the technician enough information to supply a new one.  

If you have an electric mower, or even just a battery-powered starter system in a gas mower, you’ll need to periodically charge the battery throughout the winter. Otherwise, its ability to fully recharge will diminish gradually before failing altogether—and sooner than you expected. The batteries for some electric mowers can and should be brought indoors over the winter; check the manual for temperature specifics.

We’ll be heading south soon to test the next batch of walk-behind mowers, lawn tractors, and riders to add to our Ratings. The newest models start appearing in stores before the spring, so if you need a new model, be sure to read our buying guide as you wait out the last weeks of winter.

—Ed Perratore

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

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Consumer Reports’ Naughty & Nice list for 2013

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Consumer Reports’ Naughty & Nice list for 2013

Policies, like products, sometimes fall short of expectations. And for the fourth year in a row, Consumer Reports is releasing its annual Naughty & Nice list, a campaign to shed light on company policies or practices that help or hinder the public.

The list includes retailers, airlines, telecom companies, and others that we've dinged for fees, fine print, or punitive practices; others were lauded for generous and outstanding customer service, for instance.

Several Consumer Reports staff members who cover retailing, finance, electronics, and other beats contributed to the list, as did our Facebook fans. In each case, we verified the policy and/or practice either by direct contact or reading through the details on the company’s website. Although we cite companies by name, other businesses may engage in similar practices—for better or worse. And praise or blame for a specific policy doesn’t mean we give a thumbs-down or thumbs-up or for everything else that company does or the way it treats customers.

What company policies or practices make your personal Naughty & Nice list? Join the conversation via Facebook and Twitter (#CRNaughtyNice) and let us know what you think. And don't forget to watch our Naughty & Nice video below.

—Tod Marks

Check our previous Naughty & Nice lists: 20122011, and 2010.

Amazon

The world’s 11th-largest retailer, with more than $61 billion in annual sales, recently raised the requirement for free Super Saver shipping on eligible items by $10, to $35.
 

Best Buy

The electronics chain has a stern warning for customers who plan to make a return: Even if you have a receipt, you will need to present a photo ID and Best Buy retains the right to store information from your ID in its database to track future returns and exchanges. “Based on return/exchange patterns, some customers will be warned that subsequent returns and exchanges will not be eligible for returns or exchanges for 90 days.”
 

BJ’s Wholesale Club

The warehouse membership club, which charges customers $50 a year to shop online or at 200 stores, mostly in the Eastern U.S., won’t accept returns of perishable products such as food and flowers. That’s in contrast to the policy at the two largest clubs, Costco and Sam’s Club, which will take back any item for any reason, usually without time limit.
 

Fry’s Electronics

Retailers typically allow 15- to 30-day returns on most televisions, though the restrictions may be tighter on returns of large-screen sets. But Fry’s policy is tougher still. “Refunds cannot be given on televisions 24 inches and larger.”
 

Kmart

Once upon a time, merchants closed their doors on major holidays such as Thanksgiving, giving employees the day off to celebrate with family and friends. Then came Black Friday madness sales, with many chains whipping shoppers into a frenzy with doorbuster deals beginning Thanksgiving night or early Friday morning. This year, mass merchant Kmart has taken holiday shopping to a new low. The 1,200-unit mass-merchandise chain recently bragged that its stores would be open for 41 hours straight, starting at 6 a.m. Thanksgiving day through 11 p.m. Friday, making it just another marathon work day for those in the retail industry (though its parent company, Sears Holding Corp., says that stores are staffed with seasonal associates and those who volunteered to work).
 

Lord & Taylor

Hardly a day goes by that one department store or another doesn’t advertise the biggest blowout savings event of the year. But Lord & Taylor recently raised the hyperbole to new heights. “Save 25 percent at the ultimate one-day sale,” the ad proclaimed. But the fine print of restrictions was staggering. More than 70 brands and categories were excluded, including watches, certain jewelry, beauty products, cosmetics, women’s designer coats, fragrances, luggage and more. It makes you wonder what actually was on sale.
 

QVC

You’d think price transparency would be a good thing. But in the case of the home-shopping juggernaut QVC, there are so many categories of prices that it’s hard to tell whether you’re getting a great deal or a great spiel. QVC prices goods 20 different ways. For example, there’s the “QVC Price,” also known as the everyday great price, “Today’s Special Value,” a steep one-day markdown, the “Event Price,” another temporary deal, and “While Supplies Last Price,” identifying big savings on items in relatively short supply. Then there’s the “Last Clicks” category, featuring a limited quantity of leftovers priced to sell, which is not to be confused with “Clearance Price” products, whose prices have been reduced to make room for new inventory. That’s only six of the categories.
 

Raymour & Flanigan

Deferred-interest credit cards let customers pay for purchases interest-free for a set period. But there’s a heavy burden on borrowers who fail to pay down the entire amount by the end of the promotional period: the prevailing interest rate gets applied retroactively to the entire original balance, not just the remaining amount you owe. Raymour & Flanigan isn’t the only chain that offers deferred-interest plans. Many big players, including Apple, Walmart, and Best Buy, for instance, do, too. But the furniture chain (and the already “Naughty” Best Buy) features the option on its home page. Failure to comply with the terms would mean an APR of about 28 percent.
 

Toys ‘R’ Us

On the upside, Toys "R" Us last summer enhanced its in-store price-matching program to include 11 giant online competitors, including Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Sears, and Amazon. On the downside, the chain has suspended its price-match policy on Black Friday, nor will it match deals advertised online during the week of Black Friday (starting Nov. 25) or on Cyber Monday (Dec. 2).
 

United Airlines

Airlines have created so many “special” or privileged customer classes that even a low-boarding number can require a substantial wait. But one thing you can usually count on is preboarding for families with young kids. Not at United. “Families with infants or with children who are under the age of 4 may board the aircraft when their group number is called.”

Bed Bath & Beyond

Few shopping irritants are as annoying as purchasing an item just before the price drops. If you ask, many stores will adjust the price within a week or two of purchase. Bed Bath & Beyond’s policy is even more liberal. The chain periodically distributes 20 percent discount coupons that are often valid for a long time. A customer-service rep told us that customers can bring in their receipt and the coupon as long as it’s valid to obtain an adjustment.

 

Citibank

Late fees for being tardy on monthly credit-card payments typically run $15 to $35 for each infraction. The Citi Simplicity card from Citibank has built-in forgiveness and never assesses a fee for late payments. But remember, late payments may still be reported to credit bureaus, bringing down your score. And though the card doesn’t impose a late fee, a pattern of tardy payments is likely to lead to the closing of your credit card.

 

Consumer Cellular

Few services are weighed down with as many fees and penalties as the cellular communications industry: Early-termination fees (which can top $300), restocking fees for returned devices (starting at about $35), “upgrade” fees for simply buying a new phone, activation fees, and so on. Consumer Cellular, a highly rated service provider in Consumer Reports surveys, does business differently: “With Consumer Cellular there are never any contracts to sign, penalties for changing plans, activation fees or shipping charges.” And Consumer Cellular offers a 30-day money-back guarantee to cancel your service and get a refund if you’re dissatisfied.

 

Hampton Inn & Suites

The 1,800-unit brand, owned by Hilton, has a simple, straightforward pledge. “Friendly Service, clean rooms, comfortable surroundings, every time. If you’re not satisfied, we don’t expect you to pay. That’s our commitment & your guarantee.” The guarantee is “boldly etched” on the front desk so that it is constantly visible to employees and guests.

 

Lands’ End

The catalog merchant has an unconditional “Guaranteed. Period.” policy that entitles customers to return for refund or exchange any product at any time, for any reason. That largesse extends even to personalized items that have been hemmed or monogrammed.

 

Neiman Marcus

Taking a page out of Nordstrom’s playbook, the fancy department store chain this fall began offering everyday free shipping and free returns on most items.

 

Sony

The global consumer electronics and entertainment giant has leaped into social media (Google, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Foursquare, LinkedIn), using it as a tool to communicate with customers and respond quickly to questions and problems. “With tens of thousands of discussions mentioning Sony each day, we strive to take advantage of the global conversation to better service our customers, to learn from their experiences and to create better products and services,” the company says.

 

Southwest Airlines

Airlines typically allow flight cancellations within 24 hours of booking without financial penalty. Southwest offers greater flexibility if you need to switch flights. You can modify your itinerary without time restriction and simply pay the difference in cost between fares. At some other airlines, such changes can add hundreds of dollars in fees.

 

T-Mobile

The telecomm company earns kudos for bringing transparency to cellular pricing by explicitly separating the price of the phone from the cost of service. Contract carriers typically recoup the "free" or "discounted" cost of a phone through a charge buried in the monthly fee for cellular service. After 24 months, the carrier breaks even on its subsidy but keeps collecting the fee as long as you keep that phone. Not T-Mobile. After you pay two years of fully disclosed phone installment payments, T-Mobile stops collecting the charge for your paid-up phone.

 

Walmart

The mega merchant brought back its layaway program, but with a consumer-friendly twist: It eliminated the administrative fee typically required to open an account. Last year, Walmart charged a $5 service fee to open a layaway account. But you still need to put down $10 or 10 percent of the product’s price, whichever is more. And there’s a $10 cancellation fee if you change your mind, something Walmart didn’t impose last season. 

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

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5 tips for efficient holiday meal prep

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5 tips for efficient holiday meal prep

The kickoff of the holiday cooking season is nearly here, meaning you'll soon be spending a lot more time in the kitchen. Consumer Reports is working on a special feature about appliances, products, and techniques that can really facilitate meal prep. Here's a taste of the information and advice, with an eye to holiday cooking.

Look for speed-cooking technologies.
The end of the year is a great time to find deals on large appliances, since retailers are making room for next year's models. If you're in the market for for a new range or cooktop, consider one that uses induction technology, which was about 20 percent faster than that of conventional electric smoothtops in our tests. We also like ranges with double ovens, since they let you cook two dishes at two different temperatures at the sane time.           

Adapt a small appliance. Our latest tests of various small appliances found many inexpensive models that can seriously cut cooking times. That includes the Cuisinart Smart Stick CSB-75, a $35 immersion blenders that lets you puree soups right in the pot. The $50 Hamilton Beach Set 'N Forget 33967 slow cooker is great for make-ahead meals, and its built-in probe monitors internal temperature.

Follow point-of-use organization. Take a few minutes to make sure ingredients, cooking utensils, and the like are near where you use them. For example, baking supplies belong near the work surface where you do your mixing and kneading, while knives and cutting boards should be near the main food-prep station.

Stock up on staples. Nothing slows meal prep down faster than having to run out to the store for a missing ingredient. The basics include baking supplies (flour, sugar, and vanilla extract), oils (olive, canola, and peanut), and frozen foods (berries and vegetables). But tailor your staples to the types of food you cook the most.

Contain the clutter. The deluge of holiday cards and catalogues makes it especially hard to keep counters clear for meal prep. Create a separate landing spot for these and other papers, ideally just off the kitchen or along in it perimeter. A paper shredder, such as the top-rated Staples SPL-TXC122A, is a helpful accessory. If you have school-age kids at home, devise a system for handling the myriad notices, permission slips, reports cards, and the like that come home each week.

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

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Cabinet-depth and counter-depth fridges give the built-in look for less

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Cabinet-depth and counter-depth fridges give the built-in look for less

It's a great time to shop for a cabinet-depth refrigerator—or counter-depth, as they're often called. Consumer Reports’ latest refrigerator Ratings are filled with these models, whose flush-to-the-countertop design results in a streamlined effect valued by many consumers. As a result, we're seeing cabinet-depth models hit stores in a wider range of styles and sizes, including the popular French-door configuration. Here are five models to consider if cabinet-depth is your key requirement.

Bosch Linea 800 B22CS80SN[S], $2,700. Paying more for this 36-inch-wide Bosch gets you our top-performing cabinet-depth fridge, with solid temperature performance and energy efficiency and exceptionally quiet operation. Other pluses include through-the-door ice and water dispensers, touchpad controls, and pullout shelves.

DCS RX215PJX1, $2,500. This 36-inch-wide side-by-side delivers superb temperature control and solid energy efficiency, though it's a bit noisier than other cabinet-depth models. Convenience features include touchpad controls, pullout shelves/bins, and a beverage chiller.

Samsung RF197AC[WP], $1,100. Most cabinet-depth models are 36 inches wide, but this well-priced Samsung comes in at 32 inches, making it a great fit for compact kitchens. The French-door model offers top temperature performance and its dual evaporators should help keep food fresh by maintaining optimal humidity.      

LG LFX25991[ST], $3,400. The big tradeoff with cabinet-depth refrigerators is less capacity. But they are getting bigger, including this LG French-door bottom-freezer, with its 25 cubic feet of claimed capacity. The 36-inch-wide unit earned solid marks in our tests, offering superb temperature control and quietness plus solid energy efficiency and ease of use.

Frigidaire Professional FPHG2399M[F], $2,200. For maximum capacity in a cabinet-depth model, this Frigidaire French-door bottom-freezer is the way to go, boasting 15.5 cubic feet of usable capacity. The 36-inch-wide refrigerator also offers solid temperature control and superb energy efficiency. 

—Daniel DiClerico    

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

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Snow blowers that make easy work out of snow removal

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Snow blowers that make easy work out of snow removal

With a major snowstorm sweeping through much of the country, you might thinking about a new snow blower. Our current Ratings have a couple of dozen worthy models to consider. That includes the Cub Cadet X3 line, with its additional impeller to loosen tough snow and new Ariens two-stage models with a carlike differential that allows easy turning without levers. But for every model that passes muster in our tests, there are one or two that come up short. Here are details on winners to consider and losers to avoid.       

All snow blowers have at least one auger for loosening and throwing snow, usually out a chute. Two-stage models add a fanlike impeller to the auger that throws snow out the chute with more force, for greater distance. The 30-inch Cub Cadet 31AH57S,$1,500, and 26-inch Cub Cadet 31AH55T, $1,100, had some extra oomph thanks to the additional impeller in front. They didn’t throw our test's wet sawdust farther than others, but a higher percentage of what they threw went the maximum distance. The 26-inch Cub Cadet 31AH55T, in fact, ranked up with the 30-inch models for removal speed. (The photo above shows how we test snow blowers when there's no snow.)

The new stars in the Ariens lineup threw as far as other two-stage Ariens models we’ve tested. The auto-style differential on the 30-inch Ariens 921032, $1,300, and 28-inch Ariens AX254 921030, $1,000 at Home Depot, though, eliminates wheel-release triggers by letting the inside wheel spin more slowly during turns. This means a lot when you’re in a hurry to clear snow to get out of the driveway, as two-stage models typically weigh 180 to 300 pounds. These machines, as a result, turned more easily than any other large two-stage models we’ve seen.

For snow up to about 9 inches high, you might prefer to buy a single-stage model. Besides costing much less, these fit more easily into a tight garage and can also, with their rubber-tipped augers, clear snow from a deck. But the same Ariens that serves up such beefy, sturdy two-stage models also makes two 21-inch single-stage models that couldn’t cut it in our tests. The Ariens Pro Path 938033, $600, and Ariens Pro Path 938034 (shown above), $450 at Home Depot, both stalled repeatedly during use. The $600 model has a slightly larger engine and, when run with lots of care, stalled less often. But the two models were among the weakest at removing what municipal plows leave behind and had little throwing distance.

For about the same money, the 21-inch Toro Power Clear 621 38451, a CR Best Buy at $500, was impressive for quick clearing and chopping its way through plow piles. Still, not much more gets you a compact two-stage model such as the 24-inch Craftsman 88173, $680.

Before turning to our Ratings for snow blowers, check our buying guide and watch our testing video, below.

—Ed Perratore

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

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Has Black Friday lost its luster?

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Has Black Friday lost its luster?

Despite the barrage of ads touting one super sale after another, most Americans won’t be hitting the malls on Black Friday this year. In fact, 56 percent of adults surveyed for the latest Consumer Reports Holiday Poll* proclaimed that they have no intention of setting foot inside a store anytime during Black Friday weekend. (Read our first Holiday Poll, about Americans' mood at this time of year.)

When asked why, 70 percent cited a desire to avoid crowds, while 34 percent attributed their disinterest to overhyped deals. Other reasons (respondents could check all that apply so the figures below exceed 100 percent):

  • They'd rather do something else (33 percent).
  • They don't want to get up early (30 percent).
  • They'd rather spend time with my family (29 percent).
  • The deals are not usually very appealing (23 percent).
  • They're waiting to shop until after Black Friday (17 percent).
  • They'd rather shop online (13 percent).
  • Stores might run out of specific products they want to buy (10 percent).

The significance of Black Friday as the linchpin of the shopping season has diminished in recent years as the season itself has grown longer. Many merchants have been promoting doorbuster-type sales since October, making Black Friday seem almost ho-hum. In addition, deal-starved shoppers need no longer wait for a seminal shopping spectacle such as Black Friday to unearth bargains. Credit or blame the Internet for the turnaround in attitude. Between comparison-shopping sites and the willingness of big chains such as Toys "R" Us and Best Buy to match the prices of aggressive online competitors such as Amazon, there’s ample opportunity for consumers to find great deals and bargain prices throughout the season.

But for a lot of Americans, Black Friday is a ritual, and 44 percent of those surveyed plan to do at least some shopping, up significantly from the 30 percent who said they did so during the corresponding period last year.

Of those, 69 percent will shop at walk-in stores, while 58 percent go online. Twenty-nine percent plan to shop both outlets. Among respondents’ top reasons for shopping on Black Friday weekend:

  • Black Friday specials are the best deals of the year (55 percent).
  • The doorbuster deals (43 percent).
  • It’s tradition (23 percent).
  • They enjoy the energy of the holiday shopping season (19 percent).
  • They want to get items before they go out of stock (19 percent).
  • It's the best time to get holiday shopping done (15 percent).
  • They want to get their holiday shopping done all at once (12 percent).
  • They want to take advantage of the time off work to shop (11 percent).
  • They enjoy the shopping competition (10 percent).

How to get the best deals

Chances are, if you shop on Black Friday weekend, you won’t be disappointed. Of those who did so in 2012, 67 percent got the deals they wanted; 25 percent weren’t successful but said they found other good deals. If you plan to be out and about, Consumer Reports has this advice:

Be prepared. Study the ads before Black Friday. By now, many major chains have announced their in-store specials. Check either the retailer’s website or one of the aggregator sites such as bfads.net, blackfriday.info, theblackfriday.com, and GottaDeal.com. Some sites let you filter your searches by product categories, such as TVs.

Shop from home. Before braving the crowds, check to see whether the retailer is offering the same—or better—deals on its website. In past years, some major merchants have featured identical specials online and in stores, along with exclusive Internet promotions. The deals are often accompanied by low- or no-cost shipping.

Get appy. Before you head 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. (Read more about apps for holiday shopping.)

Tod Marks

Help with holiday shopping

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.

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Dyson Hard DC 56 and Swiffer Sweeper Vac review

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Dyson Hard DC 56 and Swiffer Sweeper Vac review

Hybrid sweeper vacs are meant for people who want something more out of the traditional Swifferlike cleaning tool. Consumer Reports’ tests show the Swiffer Sweeper/Vac and Dyson Hard DC56 at their best—and worst. Our video, below, demonstrates how we test not only how well the two models clean up the usual kitchen spills but also whether their built-in cordless vacuums can pick up dust and spilled cereal.

In our testing so far, we mostly liked how the $330 Dyson Hard DC56 (above, right) and $40 Swiffer Sweeper/Vac (below, right) picked up kitchen spills. Both models, though, cleaned more consistently with a wet-cloth refill than with a dry one. And both hybrid sweeper vacs had some trouble with fine dust. Overall, neither model vacuumed as well as the best stick or hand vacs we've tested.

We’re withholding final judgment pending our purchase and testing of a new version of the Dyson, which the manufacturer claims has improved suction over the one we tested. Stay tuned for an update to our head-to-head comparison. In the meantime, check our buying guide and Ratings for hand and stick vacuums and full-size upright and canister models

—Ed Perratore

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

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Claim check: Rustoleum NeverWet

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Claim check: Rustoleum NeverWet

The claim. “Imagine a surface being rained on but never wet, spilled on but never wet, submerged but never wet,” says an ad for Rustoleum NeverWet, which “causes liquids to form perfect spheres so they roll off surfaces like never before.” It’s designed to repel moisture on everything from cloth to concrete. You spray on a base coat, let it dry for a half-hour, then spray on a top coat and wait at least another half-hour before exposing the treated item to water.

The check. We used NeverWet on work gloves made of cloth and leather and on sneakers, boots, steel, wood, aluminum, glass, plastic, paper, paving stones, and cloth seat cushions. Our tester confesses that his “inner geek really wanted this product to work well.”

Bottom line. Call it Soon­Wet. The coating worked—water ran right off—but not for long in the real world, where life is a contact sport. As the instructions note, there are limitations. Rubbing a treated surface with a finger was enough to stop the coating from shedding water. It has poor adhesion and some opacity on plastic and glass, as noted in the instructions, and dries to a frosted color. It also has difficulty covering rough surfaces, and it gives off vapors when applied.

This article appeared in the January 2014 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.

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

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Best small appliances for the big holiday dinner

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Best small appliances for the big holiday dinner

With a roast beast filling the oven and side dishes on every available burner, a holiday host can quickly run out of space to cook a meal and all the trimmings. But with some creative use of small countertop appliances, you can coordinate your dinner so that everything's ready at the same time. Many of today's microwaves and toaster ovens have improved cooking capabilities and warming trays have given way to induction burners that can be used to cook as well as serve. Here are our picks of top holiday helpers.  

Microwaves
The most basic microwave can be used to reheat casseroles and side dishes made in advance. But a microwave with a convection mode is far more versatile and can be used to brown and crisp food. In our tests, at least one of our microwaves with a convection function, the GE Profile PVM1790SR[SS], baked biscuits adequately in a preheated oven.

One of the midsized countertop models, the LG LCSP1110[ST], shown above, features a pizza oven in a drawerlike oven beneath the microwave cavity, although it can't be used at the same time as the microwave. Still it has preset buttons not only for pizza but other baked goods. It scored very good overall as a microwave and baked biscuits to satisfaction.

At least two of the microwaves in our tests feature a grill—the Sharp Steamwave AX-1100S and the Maytag MMV6186W[S]—that capably grilled a steak. The Sharp Steamwave also had a steamer option. We steamed fish nicely, but fresh broccoli took longer than expected. Still, it's an option when the cooktop is otherwise employed.

Toaster ovens
A large toaster oven can serve as a second oven. Use one to bake muffins or bread and to warm up pie for dessert. Several of the toaster ovens in our tests have convection heating, which manufacturers claim is faster and cooks more evenly. At least one model, the Panasonic FlashXpress NB-G110P, also has infrared heating.

The Hamilton Beach Set & Forget 31230, a midpriced toaster oven, provides very good overall performance, especially when it comes to broiling. The interior is large enough to accommodate a 4-pound chicken, though in our tests the built-in thermometer wasn't as accurate as the Set & Forget label might lead you to believe.

192586-hotplates-waring-proict100.jpgInduction burners
Countertop induction burners are, basically, high-tech hotplates. They provide extra cooking space in kitchens that need it. They plug into standard 120V 15-amp outlets so are limited by their electrical supply to provide less heat than what is provided by induction cooktops or ranges, which use 240V 50-amp supply circuits. Still, the burners use magnetic coils to heat more quickly and efficiently than conventional electric hot plates by sending most of the heat to the pan rather than to the cooking surface, but work only with magnetic cookware.

The four burners in our tests are all ceramic glass, don't get as hot as standard radiant cooktop burners, are easy to clean and easier to keep clean (since they don't as readily burn spilled food). For typical cooking tasks, they offer plenty of power, above and beyond what a standard hot plate can offer. The Waring Pro ICT100 (shown) is especially attractive, with very good overall performance and the lowest price of the four models tested. We consider it a Best Buy.

Food processors
If you are mashing potatoes or squash, remove it from the pot to a food processor. Pulse it to get it to the right consistency but don't over mix it. Then place the veggies in a serving dish for reheating later. You can also purée winter squash soup. All four of the recommended food processors in our tests were very good at puréeing, including three Cuisinarts and a Breville.

coffeemaker_Krups_Silver_Art_Collection_KT600.jpgCoffeemakers
To save time after dinner, make coffee ahead of time and store it in a thermos. All the better if you already have a thermal carafe. In our tests, none of the recommended models comes with a thermal carafe—though the recommended Mr. Coffee BVMC-SJX33GT has one you can purchase separately. But at least 15 others that didn't do quite as well in our coffeemaker tests come with that feature, including the Krups Silver Art Collection KT600 (shown).

If time isn't an issue, use a single-serve coffeemaker to make everyone an individual cup of coffee. All three of the top models in our pod coffeemaker tests are from DeLonghi Nescafé. For Starbucks lovers, there's the Starbucks Verismo 580.

Don't blow it
Before plugging in your high wattage helpers, make sure they are running on separate circuits or at least not at the same time. You don't want to trip a breaker switch just as your guests are gathering around the table. 

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.

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Pricey washer produces lackluster laundry

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Pricey washer produces lackluster laundry

Spend $1,000 on a top-loading washer and you probably have a laundry list of expectations. At the top of that list is laundry so clean that even the tough stains are washed away. But that’s not what happened when Consumer Reports tested a $1,000 washing machine from Fisher & Paykel.

The manufacturer’s website boasts that their washers use world-first technology to deliver better clothes care and reliability. This technology helps boost the price. We tested the Fisher & Paykel AquaSmart WL4227P1, a high-efficiency top-loader, and found it was gentle on fabrics and relatively quiet, but mediocre in our washing tests and couldn’t completely remove some of our tough stains.

“It was excellent in our energy efficiency tests, in part because its uses a lot less hot water which could have affected how well it cleaned,” says Emilio Gonzalez, an engineer who runs Consumer Reports’ tests of washers and dryers. And when it comes to brand reliability Fisher & Paykel was among the most repair-prone brands of top-loaders. That’s what we found when we asked over 92,000 readers who bought a washer between 2008 and 2012 about their experiences.

Take a look at our washer Ratings and brand reliability information. There are nearly two dozen top-loaders that are recommended, including the top-rated LG WT1101CW,  $700, and the Samsung WA422PRHD [WR], $750.  And if you want a matching washer and dryer, here are some of the best from our tests.

—Kimberly Janeway

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

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The right air purifier can cleanse dirty indoor air

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The right air purifier can cleanse dirty indoor air

Cold weather means closed windows so it’s the time of year when allergy sufferers worry more about indoor air than outdoor air. And the season they start shopping for air purifiers. To help, Consumer Reports is preparing to test almost 20 portable and whole-house air purifiers that we’ve just purchased.

Portable models can be taken from room to room, while whole-house models replace a forced-air furnace's filter. Besides the new portable models from Kenmore, Sharp, and Whirlpool, one that seems to target allergy sufferers head-on is the $200 Allergy Pro AP350. This room model uses a replaceable HEPA filter and an ionizer to remove smoke, pollen, dust, animal dander, and dust mites from the air. Of course, as we’ve found in our air purifier tests, these machines are only effective against airborne pollutants, not what's settled on surfaces. The model has four fan settings, and there’s a 12-hour timer.

For every portable air purifier we test, we measure whether the unit (such as its ionizer) creates any ozone as a byproduct. Ground-level ozone is an irritant that can aggravate asthma and affect lung function. The State of California has even banned air purifiers that produce ozone levels greater than 50 parts per billion from being marketed or sold in the state for personal use in occupied spaces such as homes, businesses, and schools. We believe that models that emit even small amounts of ozone (less than 50 ppb) are not your best choice.

Primarily, however, we test air purifiers for how well they remove dust (similar in size to pollen) and smoke, along with how noisy they are at both their lowest fan speed and their highest, most effective setting. We also calculate the annual cost using the national-average cost for electricity as well as filter replacement. Models with washable filters should cost less to run.

Consumer Reports agrees with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about the many free or low-cost ways to improve your home’s air quality before you spring for an air purifier. But if you feel you still need one, you’ll find more information about selecting the right model  in our air purifier buying guide, worth a read before you visit our Ratings of more than 30 portable and whole-house models.

—Ed Perratore

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

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Sneak peek at this holiday season's hot gift ideas

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Sneak peek at this holiday season's hot gift ideas

Things don't seem to change a lot year to year when it comes to holiday shopping. Americans will spend a lot on holiday gifts—an average of $537, down a bit from last year. And the list of most desired gifts remains pretty much the same: Gift cards, clothing, electronics, CDs, DVDs, video games, and books have topped wish lists for the 10th year in a row, according to the National Retail Federation.

And, of course, budget-conscious shoppers are looking for deals or ways to hold down spending: Eight in 10 shoppers will clip coupons, make DIY gifts, or purchase joint gifts for family and friends.

One area that has changed is where people shop, as more Americans buy online. (Check our review of shopping websites.) No matter where you plan to shop, check our compilation of the top gift items of 2013.

From smart phones to big-screen TVs, electronics items continue to topic holiday wish lists. Shopping online for these products is a given—nearly half of all consumers who purchase electronics this season will get them online, according to the Consumer Electronics Association.

When should you expect to score best buys online? "Cyber Monday [Dec. 1] and the week before Christmas are good bets” for scoring deals, says Shawn DuBravac, CEA’s chief economist and senior director of research.

Tablets like the Amazon 7-inch Kindle Fire HDX and the Apple iPad Air are being promoted heavily this holiday season. Stereo headphones, such as beats by dre Beats Solo HD, and smart watches, including the Pebble, will also top some techies' wish lists. Bundles will abound, including the current offering of a Toshiba Ultra HD TV with a home theater, DuBravac adds.

The new Sony PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Xbox One—which Target and Walmart expect to be popular layaway gifts—are sure to be in high demand all season long. (Good luck finding one!)

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

One in five consumers want home goods this year, and retailers are paying attention. So if anyone needs a set of knives, a blender, or a vacuum, look for discounts around Black Friday. Target hinted that small appliance and cookware deals will be plentiful at its stores.

Among models to look for: the Ninja Professional NJ600 excels at smoothies, soups, and sauces, and the Keurig K45 Elite Brewing System single-serve coffeemaker is a convenient solution to suit every family member’s coffee (or hot chocolate) preferences.

On a larger scale, an energy-efficient refrigerator might be the perfect upgrade for your favorite chef. The roomy Samsung RSG309AA[RS] has a built-in LCD screen that displays digital photos, tracks your Google calendar, and delivers news and weather updates.

If the DIYer in your life prefers the workshop over the kitchen, consider a cordless drill, such as the Porter-Cable PCL418C-2.

Once the gluttonous fog of oven-roasted turkeys and sugarcoated side dishes dissipates, someone’s stomach is sure to cry “uncle.” Balance out that person's diet with a juicer, like the Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Pro 67650.

After the juice cleanse, a new piece of tech will whip muscles into shape. Wearable tech, like “smart” activity trackers, is gaining prominence on the health front. The Nike+ FuelBand and Fitbit One offer real-time results and wirelessly sync with a computer or smart phone. Couple the tracker with a new pair of athletic sneakers to show them you really thought it through.

Another bundle idea is pairing a new game console with a fitness game, like Just Dance 2014, which can give them the a real workout. Your fitness freak can dance the pounds away by moving to everything from Flashdance’s “What A Feeling” to Katy Perry’s “Roar.”

To round out the exercise routine, a folding treadmill that can easily be stored in an apartment such as the ProForm Pro 2000 may be the best fitness-related gift yet.

Even if buying yourself or a loved one the new luxury sedan you’ve seen advertised on TV isn’t in your price range, you can still make your current ride feel like new with the right accessories. A smart phone car mount adds the convenience of hands-free talking, while a GPS navigator comes in handy when you need to avoid toll roads, or find the nearest ice cream shop.

And if a new ride is in your budget this year, take a moment to consider the cars we'd place in the self-gift department: BMW 135i, Ford Mustang, or Porsche Cayenne—three of Consumer Report’s most fun to drive picks.

Don’t be surprised if someone asks for a gift card to his or her favorite store or restaurant—six in 10 shoppers would like to receive a gift card this holiday season, and Americans spend billions upon billions on these convenient gifts.

So gift card bundles are sure to appear this year. For instance, you add a gift card to the gift of a tablet so the recipient can buy apps, music, or accessories. Some retailers might offer gift cards as a bonus during peak sale dates.

Some e-gift card programs, including Starbucks’, allow the recipient to track, use and reload the gift card directly from their mobile device—without printing the barcode.

Read our advice on buying gift cards.

—Kaitlyn Wells

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

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Black Friday no holiday for plumbers

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Black Friday no holiday for plumbers

The day after Thanksgiving is Roto-Rooter's busiest day of the year. In fact, the folks at Roto-Rooter refer to it as Black Friday—an all-hands-on-deck day as plumbers repair drain pipes and garbage disposals done in by the remains of the day.

"Potato peels, rice, and pasta become very sticky and gel-like when they begin to break down inside a drainpipe or garbage disposal," says Paul Abrams, a spokesman for Roto-Rooter. Celery, pumpkin pulp, sweet potatoes, and other stringy and fibrous foods are culprits and so are grease, poultry skin and bones. Add in a house full of guests who push the plumbing to the max and you can see why the day after Thanksgiving keeps plumbers busy, especially since the drains are often partially clogged to start with. To avoid hanging out with your plumber this holiday weekend consider these clog-preventing tips from Roto-Rooter.

  • Don't put fats or cooking oils down drains.
  • Do remove grease from pans with paper towels then toss.
  • Don't put stringy, fibrous, or starchy waste in your garbage disposal.
  • Do make sure the disposal is running when you toss in food.
  • Don't wait until disposal is full to use it.
  • Do ask weekend guests to wait 10 minutes between showers so slower drains have time to drain.
  • Don't flush cotton balls or swabs down the toilet. They cause clogs since they don't dissolve.

And always ask your plumber if there's an extra holiday service fee. If you need a new garbage disposal, check our Ratings. Our past tests found some standouts. And in our toilet tests, we found some excellent models that resist clogging and still save water.

—Kimberly Janeway

 

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

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Find top-rated large appliances at low prices

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Find top-rated large appliances at low prices

Black Friday doorbusters may not appeal to everyone, especially if you don’t need another small appliance cluttering your counter. But this weekend is also a good time to buy a big appliance without spending all your holiday cash. Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Sears are all offering discounts on large appliances. We found some low prices on some of Consumer Reports' top-rated models. Here’s a sampling from each store.

Sears
Sears is offering up to 40 percent off some select appliances and also cutting prices on snow blowers and other gear. Here are some of the good deals we found.

Home Depot
Home Depot is also slashing prices on large appliances by up to 40 percent and has special offers on matching washers and dryers as well as kitchen appliance suites. Here are some of the deals we saw.

Lowe’s
You can save 10 to 40 percent on large appliances at Lowe’s. Here are some we found but there are plenty more so check your local store.

Keep in mind that inventory may vary from store to store. And don't forget to cross-reference any deal you find with our appliance ratings to make sure the model performed well in our tests.

—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.

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Best LED lightbulbs

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Best LED lightbulbs

The incandescent bulb’s days are numbered. It wastes a lot of energy to create light. The typical 60-watt bulb costs more than three times as much per year to run as a similar LED bulb. As of Jan. 1, most incandescents will have been phased out.

If sticker shock has kept you from buying LEDs, your procrastination has paid off. Store shelves are filling with less expensive LEDs from such brands as Cree, EcoSmart, Great Value (Walmart), Philips, and Sylvania. Because the market is changing so rapidly, we decided to report on our preliminary results of some of the newest and least expensive LEDs.

We’ve grouped them by the fixture you’d use them in to make shopping easier. All of the newer, cheaper bulbs were as bright as or brighter than claimed, and the light color matched what was claimed. We’ve also included fully tested LEDs that impressed us.

But watch out, there are still expensive bulbs being offered, such as the two Switch LEDs we’re testing that cost $50 and $65. There are better, less expensive options.

The full article is available to ConsumerReports.org subscribers. Sign in or subscribe to read this article.

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

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Holiday shopping? Don't forget that extra cash back

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Holiday shopping? Don't forget that extra cash back

When you’re using your credit card to buy holiday gifts, it’s easy to forget those cash-back bonuses that some card issuers offer.

Extra cash on rotating categories. Some bank-issued credit cards offer extra cash back of five percent or so on merchant categories that change every three months. So your card may give you additional cash when you shop at electronics and drug stores during one quarter and at home improvement centers and discount stores the next.

For instance, from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31, the Chase Freedom card is offering 5 percent cash back on a combined limit of $1,500 in purchases from Amazon.com and select department stores. Discover is offering 5 percent back on most online purchases now through Dec. 31. It also has a $1,500 combined limit.

So make sure you know which merchant categories are eligible during this holiday season. Unfortunately, card issuers typically require you to sign up each quarter, or you won’t get the benefit. One trick to remember the current eligible categories is to write them on a piece of paper and tape them to the back of your card. Otherwise, there’s a good chance that while you’re in that shopping frenzy, you’ll forget.

Check out Consumer Reports' Holiday & Gift Guide for more money tips, ideas for a healthy holiday, and gift suggestions.

Discounts from affiliated merchants. Some credit card issuers give you extra cash back if you buy through their websites at affiliated merchants. For example, at the Citi Bonus Cash Center, cardholders can earn unlimited cash back averaging 5 percent at hundreds of participating retailers, with some merchants giving you as much as double that. There are many free shipping deals as well. But as with rotating bonus categories, it's easy to forget about these offers. So write a reminder on a sticky note and attach it to your computer and maybe make a second one for your refrigerator, wallet, or anywhere else you'll notice it.

Anthony Giorgianni


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

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GE dishwasher's bottle-washing jets speed cleaning

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GE dishwasher's bottle-washing jets speed cleaning

Baby bottles that rolled under the car’s back seat, energy-drink bottles left in a gym bag over the weekend, and other artifacts from our busy lifestyles are the obvious inspiration for a new feature found in some GE dishwashers. In the top rack of select models, you can put containers with small openings, such as baby and sports bottles and other tall, narrow items, over four upright jets positioned on the right side. GE says the jets direct water deep inside the bottles during the special bottle-wash cycle.

Consumer Reports put the claim to the test on a dishwasher with that feature, the GE Café CDT725SSFSS, $1,000, using bottles we'd soiled and left to dry. In our dishwasher tests, the feature worked every time but the side without the special jets did almost as well on similarly soiled bottles. So it's up to you whether you want to pay more for this feature. If you have an infant or teens who use sports bottles, it may be worth it. But keep in mind that many plastic bottles, such as #1 (abbreviated as PET or PETE) plastic, should not be washed and reused.

Whether or not you’re impressed with this feature, there’s plenty to recommend the two bottle-washing models we tested. The GE Café CDT725SSFSS has impressive washing and drying, hidden controls, and a stainless interior. It also allows lots of flexibility with delayed start and an adjustable rack and tines.

The other model, the GE Profile PDT750SSFSS, $1,100, costs a bit more but overall has even more to like. It’s among our top dishwasher picks for its top-notch washing and efficiency, along with quieter running and most of the same features as the GE Café, including the stainless interior. But this model wasn’t as good at drying plastic items, and you’ll find no time-remaining display.

In all, you’ll find 223 models in our dishwasher Ratings, including the highly ranked Bosch Ascenta SHX3AR7[5]US, a relative bargain at $730. Be sure to check out our buying guide before shopping for a new dishwasher.

—Ed Perratore

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

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Cost of single-serve coffee pods adds up

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Cost of single-serve coffee pods adds up

Single-serve coffeemakers are one of the hottest gifts of the season, so there's a good chance that you or someone you know will give or get one. These so-called pod machines are certainly convenient, but the cost of replenishing the pods varies from one type of machine to another, and some types have very limited coffee options. Although some coffeemakers accept more than one type of pod, most of those in our tests do not. So before you buy a single-serve coffeemaker or plug in the one you received, here's a primer on the different types of pods and what they cost over time.

Another consideration when buying a single-serve machine is how quickly it dispenses the first and subsequent cups. You can find that out by checking the results of our coffeemaker tests. The sample prices below are estimated per-pod before shipping and sales tax; with some, so-called subscription plans (sometimes through “memberships”) could further lower your costs. "Brands using" is from among the single-serve models we've tested.

Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (CBTL) capsules
Brands using: CBTL
Price: About 70¢ each
Selection: About 33 varieties
Bottom line: These pods don't come cheap, but the selection might be enough. And the CBTL machine we've tested was fairly convenient to use.

Flavia Fresh Packs
Brands using: Flavia
Price: 50¢ to 70¢
Selection: About 60 varieties
Bottom line: Pricing and selection have improved over the past year. The Flavia we've tested is a mid-pack performer.

K-Cup packs
Brands using: Breville, Cuisinart, Keurig, Mr. Coffee
Price: 60¢ to 95¢
Selection: More than 230 varieties
Bottom line: The greatest selection, with many brands to choose among.

Nescafé Dolce Gusto capsules
Brands using: DeLonghi Nescafé
Price: 60¢
Selection: 16 varieties
Bottom line: The selection isn't as good as you'll find elsewhere, but machines of this brand have tended to do well in our tests.

Senseo
Brands using: Bunn, Hamilton Beach, Smart Café, TRU
Price: About 35 each¢
Selection: Seven varieties
Bottom line: Because of the soft, teabag-like form factor, any soft pod can fit in a machine made for Senseo, and both prices and selection are significantly better among non-Senseo soft pods and from other sellers besides the online Senseo store.

Tassimo T-Disc capsules
Brands using: Bosch
Price: 55¢ to $1.50
Selection: Aboutn 60
Bottom line: While the selection is large, you can get more convenient machines than the Bosch models in our Ratings. Note that the prices might be deceptive; some varieties make servings as large as 12 ounces.

Verismo
Brands using: Starbucks
Price: $1 to $1.10 for pod packages
Selection: About 11 varieties of coffees and teas you see at Starbucks
Bottom line: If you're a Starbucks fan, you might be okay with the selection, though keep in mind each pod makes less than 8 ounces—not the 16-ounce Grande you may be used to.
Extra tip: CBTL pods seem to fit in these, too.

Vue packs
Brands using: Keurig
Price: 70¢ to $1
Selection: Almost 70 varieties as of this date
Bottom line: This newer Keurig brand (as with another called Rivo) isn't part of the original K-Cup patent, so don't expect prices to come down anytime soon. Still, if you like the selection and the cost is okay, enjoy.

Before you start shopping venues, read our buying guide for coffeemakers, which includes a video on how we test, then check out our latest coffeemaker Ratings for drip, single-serve, and electric French-press machines. Our coffee Ratings include recent taste tests of coffee pods.

—Ed Perratore

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

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High-end Dualit blender makes a superb smoothie

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High-end Dualit blender makes a superb smoothie

Dualit is perhaps best known for toasters, which it's been making for more than six decades. But the British brand produces many other small appliances, including espresso makers and stand mixers. With the launch of the $250 Dualit Professional 83830, it's entered the high-end blender market, where it hopes to compete against the likes of Blendtec, Vitamix, and Waring. Based on Consumer Reports' latest blender tests, Dualit is definitely worth a look if you're willing to spend more on a high-performing blender with impressive styling.  

The Dualit Professional 83830 was especially impressive in our icy drinks test, which uses nonalcoholic piña coladas. The test is also our measure of how well a blender turns out smoothies. In the case of the Dualit, results were decidedly smooth, thick, and uniform. The highly durable machine also did a very good job crushing ice and we found its touchpad controls intuitive and easy to use. The blender's overall score might have been near the top had it not been merely average in our purée test. If this is something you plan to do a lot of in the blender, say for soups, you're better off with one of the other 11 models that make our list of recommended blenders.

A couple of other newly-tested models narrowly missed the winner's podium, but they cost less than the Dualit. The KitchenAid Diamond KSB1575, $150, earned solid marks across all of our tests. The Ninja BL770, $200, is also a very good machine, though it's a bit noisier than its top-rated brand mate, the Ninja Master Prep Professional QB1004, which sells for just $60.  

—Daniel DiClerico

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

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