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Consumer Reports Tested 18 Major Kitchen Appliances. This $2,825 Cooktop Won.

From induction ranges to budget microwaves, CR's lab put six categories of kitchen gear through controlled testing — with one notable dud.

By THRYV Reviews Desk·Published September 22, 2026·Updated September 22, 2026·5 min read
Consumer Reports Tested 18 Major Kitchen Appliances. This $2,825 Cooktop Won.
Reviews · Illustration commissioned for THRYV. Photography is replaced with original imagery as each story is produced.

The takeaway

Consumer Reports tested 18 kitchen appliances across ranges, refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, cooktops and wall ovens. The LG Studio CBIS3618BE induction cooktop, at $2,825, earned the top overall mark for its heat control, while the $373 LG MVEL2033F microwave was the best budget pick. Samsung's $749 top-freezer refrigerator scored poorly for crisper performance, letting produce spoil faster.

Consumer Reports put 18 kitchen appliances through lab testing across six categories — ranges, refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, cooktops and wall ovens — and the results split sharply between a standout winner and one notably weak performer.

What Was Tested

  • Ranges: LG Studio LSIS6338FE induction ($2,800); LG LSEL6335FE electric smoothtop ($1,200); LG LSDL6336F gas ($2,200)
  • Refrigerators: Miele KFN4776ED bottom-freezer ($3,199); Samsung RT70F18LRSR top-freezer ($749); Whirlpool WRFF3136SZ French-door ($1,698)
  • Dishwashers: Bosch Benchmark SHP9PCM5N ($1,999); Bosch 800 Series SHX78CM5N ($1,549); Bosch 300 Series SHE53C85N ($1,099)
  • Microwaves: LG MVEL2125F ($699); LG MVEF1337F ($499); LG MVEL2033F ($373)
  • Cooktops: LG Studio CBIS3618BE induction ($2,825); KitchenAid KCES550HBL radiant ($1,150); LG CBGJ3623S gas ($850)
  • Wall ovens: Café CTS70DM2NS5 ($3,510); Café CTD70DP2NS1 ($4,350); Frigidaire FCWM3027AD ($2,600)

The Winner and the Standout Dud

The LG Studio CBIS3618BE induction cooktop, at $2,825, earned the top overall mark among all 18 appliances tested, thanks to excellent heat control. On the other end, Samsung's $749 top-freezer refrigerator posted poor crisper performance, with produce deteriorating faster than in competing models.

Best budget pick

The LG MVEL2033F microwave, at $373, was the least expensive appliance in the entire test group and still delivered solid results — Consumer Reports' pick for shoppers on a tighter budget.

Sources

This article is original writing by THRYV. We link to primary reporting and official documents rather than reproducing them.

  1. From cooktops to wall ovens, 18 kitchen picks tested by Consumer Reports — Quartz

Why you can trust this article

Written and edited in-house by the THRYV Reviews Desk. We do not republish or reword agency copy, and we do not invent quotes, statistics, testimonials or ratings. Where figures move frequently, we point you to the primary release rather than printing a number that will be out of date. Advertising and affiliate partnerships have no influence on our reporting — see our editorial standards, fact-checking policy and affiliate disclosure. Spotted an error? Write to newsroom@thryv-news.com.

General information only. Not personalised financial, medical or legal advice.

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