At the top of most of my client’s “wish lists” these days is a microwave drawer. The Sharp microwave drawer KB-6001NS is a tough one to beat. Considering Sharp makes the internals for virtually every other microwave drawer on the market, it’s usually only competing a another variant of itself.
The Sharp microwave drawer is one of those appliances that, at first, might seem a bit odd. Very quickly though it becomes an indispensable cooking tool, especially for those who are limited in their kitchen space. The counter space saved becomes immediately apparent, while those who might have otherwise had to build in a microwave into an oven column gain 16″ more inches of storage space. Easily enough to add another drawer or an additional shelf.
The microwave drawer itself is extremely well built, with a sleek stainless door and trim. The handle is painted a gray color that matches the stainless steel, probably to keep fingerprints away. The touch controls are well laid out, though the screen is a typical LCD panel that could have been traded for something a bit more flashy. This isn’t the 90′s.
You can get a different version of the same Sharp microwave drawer with an automatic opening and closing drawer. I prefer the manually operated one (this version) as it leaves one less thing to go wrong. The drawer action is strong, if not a bit stiff.
Interior space is a factor. If you’re used to over-the-range microwaves you’re going to immediately notice the height restrictions. Some items you may have been able to squeeze into the microwave before (e.g. tall baby bottles or glasses) will no longer make the cut. It’s not a deal breaker by any means, but it is something you should be warned about.
The 1.o cu. ft. Sharp microwave drawer interior will fit most 9″ x 13″ casserole dishes. At 1,000 watts, it comes pre-programmed with a Sensor Reheat, Defrost, and Popcorn setting. Because the front of the unit is already “framed” it doesn’t need a kit to look right and sit flush. However, it does require a bit of retrofitting to most cabinetry. The unit itself is 26 3/16″ deep and so in order to sit flush within the cabinet, the unit must be snug against the wall. This requires you to have the back part of the cabinet cut out. Otherwise you end up 3/4″ (or 1/2″) short by hitting the back of the cabinet. This is a detail virtually EVERY kitchen designer overlooks and so don’t be alarmed if you see them cutting up the cabinet on your job site – there is simply no way around it.
At under 0 dollars the Sharp Microwave Drawer is now a staple of the modern American kitchen. Its convenience and simplicity make it hard to pass up.
Pros: Beautiful look, concealment / placement, 1000 watts cooking power in a tiny drawer
Cons: Size still requires retrofitting most cabinets, interior height limited.
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While the induction top of the unit is one of the best on the market (and we won’t go into the specifics of induction science here), the real draw for this unit is the oven below. By far, this is the best oven in any induction range on the market in our opinion. The extra-large capacity oven features Vari-Speed Dual Flow Convection, essentially a large fan with two speeds and the ability to switch directions. The glass enclosed infrared broiler is a cut above the rest and gets to temperature extremely quick. The Rapid-Ready pre-heat system and Concealed Bake Element round out the feature-set
It makes ice extremely quick for a stand alone machine, filling our bin completely within 10 hours of powering on the unit. The Scotsman SCCN60MA1SU produces 60 lbs of ice a day, which means recovery time is quick. In fact, within 20 minutes of turning on the unit, it was dispensing ice. A built-in timer informers you when to run the cleaning cycle, so there’s no need to remember (or if you’re like me, forget) when to clean the unit.
We’ve tested the unit on all different types of beverages, and over all the results have been extremely positive. The only thing of note is that due to the smaller size of the ice “nuggets”, pouring boiling hot tea into a glass full of this ice will melt most of it. Its best to stick with room temperature or cold beverages with this ice. If you like large ice cubes that don’t melt, what we call “rocks” ice, this probably isn’t the unit for you. Ice melts fast and quickly becomes soft round pebbles to chew on. This brand new model starts shipping at the end of the summer, and will retail for around ,000. at your local Scotsman dealer.
Miele has been making professional laundry equipment for quite some time and this product, much like the washer and dryer, really shows how much of that professional design and build quality trickles down into the residential unit. To put it mildly, this thing is a beast. When open it takes up quite a bit of space, space you never knew you needed to iron your cloths. Luckily, when not in use, it folds down, reducing its size immensely, and becomes easy to store in a corner somewhere.
I have to admit that after a my few tries with not-so-perfect results I was getting a bit skeptical. But then with a little practice, I got it down pat. Now, in all honesty, it seems easier to me than using the old iron. And now I run everything through its “wide-width” roller – tablecloths, bed linens, jeans, shirts, you name it. No more starching either. My clothes no longer have those white starch flakes I used to get from over-starching.
The Wolf Induction Cooktop comes in three different sizes: a 15” module for those with a lack of space or those who wish to extend the cooking space further, a 30” cooktop with four burners, and a 36” with five burners. Now while some manufacturers try to fit an extra burner at the different size levels, it ends up limiting your cooking ability rather than expanding. I mean, really – when was the last time you had six pots cooking at the same time?
The Wolf Induction Cooktop is also one of the most quiet induction cooktops out there. It’s High Power mode diverts power from the other burners to generate a whopping 3000W of power – perfect for boiling water in record time. While its purchase price isn’t advertised, I can tell you it is indeed one of the most expensive induction cooktops on the market.
One thing GE touts is it’s “Reveal” interior lighting system, but as far as we can tell there is nothing special about the lighting of this unit. In fact, we’ve seen better from Samsung at a much lower price range. The unit has humidity-controlled drawers to help preserve your fruits and vegetables and a full size deli drawer, making easy storage for things like party trays and larger item storage. The larger than life door bins are a welcome addition, but the wire rack at the bottom meant for soda can storage is a bit odd and seems like a waste of space in our opinion.
GE has introduced a sleek stainless steel free-standing range in the Cafe line – with a load of features for everyone from the restaurant chef to the family cook. Utilizing a free-standing range allows for a full array of features to be condensed into a smaller kitchen space, while not skimping on any functionality or usability.
One incredibly useful feature found in the GE Cafe is the additional griddle that can be attached directly to the stove. This is incredibly useful because you no longer require an external griddle and any potential issues are covered by the warranty of the range. To use the griddle, you simply remove the large fifth burner, set the griddle in its place, and use the knob that you would normally use for the fifth burner to set your desired temperature.
The Whirlpool Latitude refrigerator also sports Spillguard shelving and non-slip door bin mats – a welcome new feature if you are a messy, disorganized individual like me with a propensity to overstock your fridge door so that things tend to slip all over the place.