Coming up on the Appliance Geek

With the overwhelming choices of espresso machines and the amount of consumer review data out there, how does one go about choosing their first machine?

I am planning an upcoming series of posts on the various home espresso technologies and types of machines that are out there, and what you can expect from your hard earned money. I will also make a strong case for getting the most out of basic semi-automatic machines such as the Saeco Aroma, which I have been using now for a bit more than 2 years.

Stay tuned!

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Panasonic NN-SD297 Over the Range Microwave Review

The choice of an OTR microwave should not be taken lightly. These appliances are in the most hostile places in the kitchen and subject to extremes of heat and humidity, often while being in use. A poorly engineered oven that doesn't last very long in a permanent installation is not a great move, especially if its primary function as a range hood exhaust fan can't perform.

Followers of this blog are aware that we recently renovated our kitchen. They also know that we own mainly Samsung appliances, including our range, refrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine and dryer. So it may seem a bit odd, given our preference for Samsung, that we went with Panasonic.

Since we decided to go with an OTR (Over the Range) microwave in our kitchen design in order to maximize space, choosing the right appliance took on new importance. Basically this is not a microwave, but a range hood that happens to do double duty as a microwave. Any OTR microwave must be an excellent range hood first and having good microwave performance is just a bonus. To put it another way, microwave ovens have become commodity items used mainly to reheat food and make the occassional bag of popcorn, something that even a basic $50 tabletop could handle no problem.

Basing our criteria on ventilation power, we were quite surprised to learn that only 2 manufacturers, Samsung and Panasonic, met our minimum requirement of 400 cubic feet per minute. We thought this was going to be a no-brainer: A Samsung OTR microwave would give us the fan performance we wanted, and it would match our other appliances. We went off on a tour of the usual appliance retailers in search of the higher-end model SMH8187 (SMH8187STG) to see what it looked like.

We were actually very disappointed, mainly because the unit did not harmonize very well at all with Samsung's other appliances. This was most apparent in the rather cheap looking membrane touch panel, whereby the Samsung range and dishwasher both have smooth glass touch controls. Build quality was nothing to write home about either: about on par with any commodity microwave. Just the same, I did my research about Samsung OTR microwaves in general, and I did not like what I found: lots of issues with reliability and durability, with some people reporting exhaust fan and electronic failures under daily use in a scant 8-9 months.

We had no qualms about going with Panasonic. Our very first microwave was a huge Panasonic Genius that we bought for nearly $800 in 1985. This was a great performer that saw daily use until 2002. We gave it away when we sold our condo and would not be surprised to learn that it is still faithfully chugging along. After looking at the available OTR models, we settled on the top-end NN-SD297 mainly due to its beautiful all-metal design with a partially mirrored glass door, and its huge 2.0 cu. ft. capacity. After shopping around over the summer (we were in no rush as the reno was to start in September) we negotiated a 15% discount and 24 months no payment at the Bay and took delivery. We had the microwave professionally installed by the renovation team's electrician, and have been using it for about 2 months.

So far, we are extremely satisfied with this unit. Its primary function as a range hood has been more than adequate
in terms of power and noise. This unit has twin "squirrel cage" fans like the type you find in most car ventilation systems, which are relatively quiet given the amount of air they can push.

After comparing with other OTR microwaves, we are convinced that most manufacturers either over-rate their fan performance or Panasonic under-rates. This microwave seems to be pushing a lot more air than its 420 CFM rating. The only thing we find odd is that there are 3 sets of buttons for the exhaust fan. Two buttons control fan speed (one for "Super" and "Turbo" and one for "High-Low-Off") and one controls an auto-off timer. I fail to see why a single fan speed control wouldn't be better, as there are only 4 speeds. The true test of the effectiveness of the exhaust fan came when using my son's rather tall boil kettle (30 qt capacity) used for brewing beer. This generates a lot of steam very close to the range hood. This did create quite a bit of condensation on the door and underneath, but the fan actually picked most of it up.

This appliance has not failed to disappoint as a microwave, either. First, it is very user-friendly. Since microwave controls are generally a multistep process (time, power, start) it can often be confusing what goes first (was that time first, then power? or set the power level then the time?). The Panasonic makes this much simpler by putting primary functions on top with buttons, and menu choices done underneath with rotary knobs. The oven even prompts by lighting up the next option! For example, when you press the power level button, the Time/Weight knob flashes, and once you set that, the Start button flashes. This is a bit hard to describe, but in use it is very logical and even gratifying to use.

In terms of features, we had previous experience with Panasonic's Genius sensor cook technology, and it works quite well. This is a humidity sensor that when triggered, determines the remaining time depending on what program was selected and how long it took to trigger the sensor. With our old microwave, we would use perhaps 3 or 4 of the 20 available programs mainly for reheating food and cooking fresh and frozen vegetables in a very consistent way regardless of quantity.

Things have been much simplified in 25 years. We have tried about 7 of the 15 available programs and have been very impressed with the results. We are also quite amazed at the Inverter Defrost function, which does an excellent job of defrosting just about everything we have thrown at it (except bacon...which no matter what will cook around the edges). The Sensor reheat has taken all the guesswork out of warming leftovers.

One thing we have not mastered are some of the more advanced programming functions that involve multiple steps. With this oven, you can set a 4 stage cooking program that can include a combination of multiple power levels, delay start and stand times.

On the downside, there are a few annoyances. First the 2-level hood light is a great idea, but the nightlight is much too dim. The other is that setting the cook time with the knob is a bit hard to get used to due to a feature that accellerates the faster you turn the knob. It either increments the time too slow or too fast, and finding the right time usually involves going back and forth somewhat.

In conclusion, we are very pleased with this microwave and are beginning to get more use out of it with its advanced functionality. This is mainly that the sensor and inverter defrost actually work as advertised. It is also an excellent range hood. We have no hesitation in recommending Panasonic OTR microwaves. Our only real complaint is that some of the more advanced features of the Dimension 4 (convection) are not included in any of Panasonic OTR offerings.

Samsung RF265ABRS French Door Refrigerator

Faithful readers of this blog are aware that Samsung appliances, even though they look great on paper, can be sometimes a hit or miss proposition. I can safely say that Samsung refrigerators are definitely a home run (especially with their French Door models). However like all high-performance appliances, you have to be prepared for some compromises, and they must be factored carefully before making a buying decision. Following the jump is my review of our RF265 (RF265ABRS) French Door stainless steel refrigerator.Along with our recent kitchen renovation, we had planned on increasing the space for the refrigerator. This was to accommodate a larger 25-27 cu. ft. unit that are typically 36 inches wide and up to 74 inches tall.

We were leaning strongly towards Samsung. Not only because it would match our other appliances, but due to features, performance, price and reputation. While planning, we had plenty of time to shop around and compare, and we were willing to give a fair shake to other manufacturers. We began to establish our criteria by size, and then concentrated on making an initial selection based on the most energy efficient units using National Resources Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency database. Curiously, Samsung was leading the field in the 24-26 cu. ft. category with the RF265-266 between 462 and 470 KwH per year for units at the higher end of capacity of 25.8 cu. ft. These are amazing numbers considering our (trashed piece of junk) Kenmore 18 cu. ft. bottom mount was rated at 650 KwH per year (and our ancient Eaton Viking 18 cu ft in the basement at 1200 KwH). What is really astonishing is how much energy efficiency has improved even in 8 years...especially when put into the perspective that you can get 50% more capacity and a 30% energy saving at the same time!

Comparing other manufacturers, such as the GE Profile, Kitchen Aid or Maytag, the Samsung came out on top for capacity, superior build quality, appearance and mainly price. We were also looking at $1000 to $2000 savings (mainly due to unneccessary gadgets like touchscreens), and to top it off, Samsung refrigerators have been getting glowing reviews both from consumers and publications like Consumer Reports.

To top it off, we found a brand new unit with exactly the features we were looking for at the Brault & Martineau liquidation centre in Brossard at about a $1000 discount when we factored in the free extended warranty that we dealed for. We ended up with the RF265ABRS Stainless Steel French Door Refrigerator with no water dispenser as with the RF266ABRS (but with an ice maker). Because it was a liquidation model, we had to take delivery within a week, which meant keeping the unit in our garage for a few months until the renovations were complete.

This is one big mother*** of a refrigerator, and having it sit there seemingly taking up all the space in our garage, we began to have second thoughts... is this thing going to be too big for our kitchen? Not only that, we had quite a time getting it into the house.

After getting a strong enough dolly and with my son and son-in-law helping, we found out the damn thing would not fit through the front door. we began by removing the doors, then the freezer drawer and it still wouldn't go through (this thing also weighs in excess of 300 lbs.). After a bit of nail-biting, with this sinking feeling that it was definitely too late to return the unit, I removed the front leveling feet, and it (just barely) fit through the door.

Installation and Setup

After putting everything back together, we rolled the fridge in place, and let it settle for several hours (always a good idea for the refrigeration system). We breathed a sigh of relief as the cabinetry we designed perfectly accommodated the fridge, and it did not look anywhere near as imposing as we had originally feared. Not only that, the huge expanse of high-quality stainless steel was simply stunning, in perfect harmony with our dark grey polished granite countertops. It is definitely the showpiece of our kitchen! It looks considerably more expensive than the $1800 we paid!

Setting up was straightforward. I put a T splitter on the outlet of our under-counter reverse osmosis water filter system. With an inexpensive ice maker installation kit from the hardware store, I then ran a poly water line around the back of my kitchen cabinets to the fridge. This negated the need to use the built in Samsung filter system (let alone have to find and pay for replacements). However I could not find out from the manual if the internal water system would work without the built-in Samsung filter. A quick call to Samsung customer service, where they told me it runs fine without the filter in place, and to just throw away the first few batches of ice to purge. (For anyone not familiar with reverse osmosis filtration, ice doesn't get that gross freezer taste, and I highly recommend going this route).

After plugging in and turning on the unit, you are presented with pretty blue LED display of the current temperature of both the freezer and refrigerator. Controls are very simple, with simple up/down for desired temperature of both compartments independently (due to the twin cooling system), Power Freeze and Power Cool buttons, an "energy saver" button and a button to shut off the ice maker. Additionally, there is a 3-level control for the "Cool Select Pantry," which keeps temperature in the tray slightly warmer to slightly cooler than the fridge compartment.

Nothing else needed to be done except turn on the icemaker, and load the beast up with food. While our old refrigerator was packed and it was always a chore to get things pushed to the back, this refrigerator appeared positively empty with the same amount of food. The freezer compartment is particularly well designed, with a storage shelf mounted to the inside of the drawer, and a pull-out drawer that comes out automatically over the main storage bin that can be used for lighter items. The icemaker is particularly compact and does not take up much room. The ice capacity is huge.
Day-to-day with the refrigerator - and some pretty geeky features

After a couple of months of use, we are very impressed at the even and stable temperature in the refrigerator compartment. In our old Kenmore, it was always a struggle to find that sweet spot where items in the vegetable crispers wouldn't freeze while maintaining a sufficiently cold temperature on the shelves above. Some areas were noticeably warmer (door shelves) and this is no longer the case. It is hard to believe that this simple thing would make such a huge difference, but I would recommend this refrigerator for this alone.

Another nice feature is the door ajar warning. Since it can be hard to tell if a door is slightly open, a gentle chime starts chirping after a couple of minutes. Other features I appreciate are the independent temperature readouts for both the fridge and freezer, which eliminates the need for an interior thermometer, and the Power Cool system, which is useful when loading up the fridge or freezer with warmer items (thus preventing existing items from warming up or thawing).

Often stainless steel appliances can be very troublesome to clean (such as with the Samsung DMR77 dishwasher) but this unit is not only resistant to fingerprints, it polishes up beautifully with the 3M mineral oil based stainless cleaner and polish.

Not everything was rosy

Despite the accolades we are giving this appliance, we did encounter a problem. After about 6 weeks of use, we notice ice was building up in the freezer. This indicated either a blower fan or defrost malfunction. It was serious enough to require a manual defrosting. After emptying out the freezer and letting it completely defrost and dry and then resetting, evertything went back to normal. We haven't had any more problems with ice buildup after 4 weeks of this happening.. I suspect that the drain tubes or other parts of the defrost system iced up and blocked, or somehow the vents were blocked. This will be something that I will monitor closely, and if it happens again, I will call service.

Summary
Samsung entered the North American appliance market with refrigerators, and along with their washing machines and ranges provide top level performance, high-end build quality all at a lower cost. While customer service and parts availability remain issues to resolve in many areas, I can recommend this refrigerator without hesitation.

Strong Points

• Even cooling throughout the refrigerator compartment
• Huge capacity, no need for a second fridge
• Independent temperature controls for refrigerator and freezer compartment, with current temp readouts
  
• Door ajar chime
• Energy efficiency - the least energy consumption in its class
• Innovative hinged and magnetic door seals will not wear as quickly as standard seals
  
• Easy to clean stainless steel. Stunning fit and finish.

Weak Points

• Icemaker a bit slow (runs faster on Turbo Cool however)
• Possible problem with ice buildup in freezer means manual defrosting and reset
  

Cleaning the DMR77 dishwasher

We just reinstalled our DMR77 after our kitchen renovation, so it was a good time to figure out if a thorough cleaning would improve wash performance. My main complaint is that the filtering system performance seemed to have degraded after a year, and we often get little bits of dried food on plates and glasses (and yes, we do use a rinse aid). The Sears tech who came to replace the upper rack adjusters recommended Dishwasher Magic or Glisten powder to bring performance back, since the spray arm jets or the filtering system might be clogging up.

An interesting post on Lifehacker (referencing another post on Real Simple) said that using a packet of unsweetened lemon Kool-Aid was a great way to clean the insides of a dishwasher. This is due to the fact that the main ingredient of lemon Kool-Aid is citric acid.

After a little research, I discovered that not only was Dishwasher Magic and Glisten made up primarily with citric acid, but so was coffee machine descaler. Since I had some packets of descaler for my espresso machine, I thought it might do the trick.

After cleaning the thick layer of black tar-like gunk from the bottom of the door seal (disgusting), I put one packet of descaler in the detergent cup and closed it, and put another half packet in the tub, then ran a normal cycle (with an empty machine, of course).

The results were pretty good, and the first load came out with no food particles stuck to anything. We will see after a couple of loads....

Samsung Service

There have been a lot of comments on this blog regarding the unresponsiveness of Samsung Customer Service. This has ranged from long delays in getting a service call, service call appointments not respected or in some cases useless telephone support.

As a general observation, all of the "mainstream" appliance manufacturers (GE, Whirlpool, Frigidaire, LG) generally provide poor or minimal service and support direct to the consumer. This is because support and service traditionally takes place at the local level, through the dealer where the appliance was purchased. It is simply less expensive to support dealers than to deal directly with consumers, and they rarely, if ever, have retail-level service organizations.

(the exception to this rule is with manufacturers that have a strong commercial business, such as Hobart or Miele).

Generally I always recommend buying appliances from retailers that have committed and strong service organizations (such as Sears), where buying an extended warranty is usually worth it. Seeing as how it price is no longer an indicator of quality (witness the junk compressors they put in Jenn Air refrigerators) and how more and more custom electronic controls are showing up, it is now essential to cover one's bases and purchase a service plan.

So for those who have experienced poor service from Samsung, stop banging your head against the wall, and go back to the store where you bought your appliance. Consider buying an extended warranty if it is not too late.

Also don't forget that registering a Samsung appliance extends your warranty by 3 months, and this can come in handy, especially if you are just off-warranty.

So far, my Samsung appliances have been reliable, they appear to be very well built, but not a reason to take the risk of not buying an extended service plan. Caveat Emptor.

Samsung Induction Range now available

We have always coveted gas ranges but our neighborhood doesn't have gas distribution. This means that if we really want a gas range or cooktop, it means propane conversion and a 200 lb tank as well as overhauling our ventilation.

While doing some consulting work for the Institut de Hotellerie du Quebec (our national chef's school here in Montreal) a couple of years ago, I was introduced to induction, and I was suitably impressed. Since we had begun to design our new kitchen, I began to look into the costs of an induction cooktop. I was not only surprised at how expensive they were (over $2000 for just the cooktop), but also the requirement to upgrade the house electrical. In our case we would have to upgrade our 200A entrance and the wiring to the cooktop (ouch).

But now (finally) Samsung has introduced a standard range with an induction cooktop! And it is quite impressive. Looking very much like my FTQ386, the FTQ307 offers true induction with very slick rangetop touch controls (SelectTouch), and the very obvious elimination of knobs on the range panel. The only other difference I can make out is an increase (!) in the oven capacity from 5.7 to 5.9 cu ft., (with the space saving coming from the induction surface). This range looks like it plugs into a standard 220V range outlet.

I am totally gushing over this and I can't wait to see one (or even get to try one out). However I am concerned that the surface "elements" have been compromised in order to make this compatible with standard range wiring and current limits. There is one large element, but the other three seem to be on the smallish size.

Pricing in Canada at Future Shop is $2900, which seems a bit pricey (suggested retail in the US is $1999).

160,000 litres of water saved due to HE appliances

In our municipality, our water meters are read every May, and we receive our water tax bill in September. I was quite pleased to see our consumption drop from 463 cubic metres to 303. This saving converts to 160,000 litres or 43,000 U.S. gallons of water.

Virtually all of this water savings was due to our higher efficiency Samsung washer and dishwasher that we put in July 2008, so this is only 10 months of actual reduction in consumption.

This year in August we replaced 2 of our original 16-20 litre per flush toilets with American Standard Flo-wise dual-flush (3/6 litre), which should result in another significant drop in water consumption.

What does this work out to in $ terms? We saw an immediate reduction of $52 on our bill, but since rates have risen significantly, we actually saved $125 over what we would have paid had we consumed as much water as the previous period.

Having done all this, there will be now a declining return on our investment, as our water consumption is charged on a progressive basis (the more you use, the more you pay). We will likely drop consumption to below 200 cubic metres next year, which is charged the lowest rate.

At this point, the swimming pool and our reverse osmosis water system add significantly to water consumption, but we are not about to give up either.