5 large appliances that save lots of time

Chores like laundry and dinner prep are probably chewing up more of your day than they need to. That's what Consumer Reports learned when our testers timed hundreds of appliances in six categories, including washers, dishwashers, ovens, and coffeemakers. Pick the right machines, and you can cut laundry time by a third and churn out clean dishes in less than half the time. The appliances shown here are among the fastest and slowest. The time saved information is the difference between the speediest models and the slowest ones.

Dishwashers

Slowest: Electrolux Wave-Touch EW24ID80QS, $1,950, 200 minutes
Fastest: Blomberg DWT54100SS, $750, 85 minutes
Time saved: 115 minutes
The top-rated Blomberg is the fastest dishwasher we've tested and is also tops in energy efficiency. The normal cycle takes 85 minutes, and the quick cycle, designed for lightly soiled dishes, takes a mere 35 minutes. The slowpoke Electrolux takes more than 3 hours using the normal cycle.
Testers' tip: Before turning on any dishwasher, run your kitchen faucet until the water is hot. That's faster than having the dishwasher heat up the water.

Top-loading washers

Slowest: Frigidaire Affinity FAHE1011MW, $550, 115 minutes
Fastest: LG WT5680HVA, $1,200, 75 minutes
Time saved: 40 minutes
Normal wash time for the LG is just an hour and 15 minutes on the heavy-soil setting, and the superfast TurboWash cycle shaves off 20 minutes without sacrificing performance. That can save you a full hour over slower machines such as the Frigidaire. The LG also has a jumbo drum that can wash more laundry—up to 26 pounds (other machines we tested hold as little as 15 pounds)—in fewer loads. And it's one of the few top-loaders that got top scores for cleaning power. The Frigidaire is also great at cleaning, but it doesn't hold as much, is tough on clothes, and uses more water and energy.
Testers' tip: Always measure your detergent. Using too much can prolong the rinse cycle.

Front-loading washers

Slowest: Kenmore 41382, $800, 110 minutes
Fastest: Samsung WF45H6300AG, $1,050, 80 minutes
Time saved: 30 minutes
The Samsung takes 80 minutes on the heavy-soil setting, but the SuperSpeed option shortens that by about 20 minutes for the same great cleaning results. So you could save up to 50 minutes. Like most front-loaders, it spins out more water than top-loaders, so dryer time is also shortened.
Testers' tip: Use the longer heavy-soil setting only for the dirtiest stuff.

Cooktops

Slowest: GE PP912SMSS electric smoothtop, $800, 13 minutes
Fastest: GE Profile PHP900DMBB induction smoothtop, $1,400, 8 minutes
Time saved: 5 minutes
We timed how long it takes to bring a pot of water to a boil. Saving 5 minutes might not sound like much, but when you're trying to get dinner on the table and you're waiting for the pasta water to boil, every minute counts. The GE is superfast, thanks to induction technology. But it requires magnetic cookware: Look for induction-ready stainless, cast iron, or enameled steel. Though slower, the other GE smoothtop is a lot cheaper and is still very good at simmering and high-heat cooking.
Testers' tip: No matter what cooktop you use, match the pot size to the burner size. Heat and energy are wasted when the burner is bigger than the pot.

Wall ovens

Slowest: Frigidaire FFEW3025PW, $850, 18 minutes
Fastest: Whirlpool WOS92EC0AH, $1,500, 10½ minutes
Time saved: 7½ minutes
In addition to being quicker to preheat to 350° F than the Frigidaire, the Whirlpool is better at baking and broiling. Its convection feature can also speed up cooking time, though the Frigidaire's interior is roomier.
Testers' tip: Skip preheating any oven when you're cooking foods that take an hour or longer to cook, such as roasts and casseroles. It's not necessary.

—Adapted from ShopSmart