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Easy-care finishes and smart appliances, such as the Smart Kitchen Suite from Whirlpool, are among the products that piqued reader interest this year. (Photo: courtesy Whirlpool)
This article first appeared in the August 2018 issue of Pro Builder.

To see products in the other 2018 Top 100 categories, click here.

Range / Thermador

Thermador’s 60-inch Pro Grand Ranges are available in various configurations. The steam range model (shown) offers a steam and convection combination oven, plus a full-size convection oven. The ranges feature Thermador’s patented Star Burner, which the company says provides 56 percent more coverage and greater flame spread. Additionally, the ExtraLow Simmer feature allows temperatures as low as 100 degrees.

2018 Top 100 Product_Thermador_Pro Grande range

Easy-care finish / Frigidaire

Designed to suit different room styles, from vibrant kitchens with high-contrast details to traditional spaces with wood cabinetry and granite countertops, Frigidaire Gallery’s Smudge-Proof Black Stainless Steel Collection features refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, microwaves, and built-in ovens in an easy-to-clean and fingerprint-resistant matte finish.

2018 Top 100 Products_Apppliances_Frigidaire smudge-proof black stainless fridge

Smart Appliances / Whirlpool

Homeowners can use their mobile devices to select ideal cooking settings for their Smart Front Control Range in Whirlpool’s Smart Kitchen Suite via the company’s Scan-to-Cook technology. Family members can also send personalized recipe suggestions from the Yummly recipe app straight to the oven. Also in the suite, the Smart Door-within-Door Refrigerator offers more space and increased setting-control with its touchscreen.

Whirlpool Smart Kitchen Suite Bronze

Dryer Vent / In-O-Vate

Created to add safety and free up space in the laundry room, In-O-Vate’s Dryerbox model DB-480 is made of 22-gauge aluminum and is taller and wider than previous models to safely collect a dryer’s transition hose that would otherwise lay on the floor or on a pedestal. The DB-480 is installed on the bottom plate for all homes, and can be inverted to vent up or down.

Dryerbox by In-O-Vate

Induction Cooktops / Frigidaire

From European home appliance manufacturer Electrolux’s subsidiary Frigidaire comes a line of induction ranges and cooktops for under $1,000. Induction cooking is popular in Europe and other parts of the world but hasn’t been affordable in North America—until now. Induction’s benefits include: faster meal prep; even heat across the surface of the pan for even cooking; and easier cleanup and greater safety because the surface around the cookware stays cool to the touch.

Frigidaire Professional Built-In Induction Cooktop

Refrigeration / Sub-Zero

Two of Sub-Zero’s latest product offerings are the 24-inch integrated column refrigerator and freezer with ice maker—the slimmest from the manufacturer—and the 30-inch integrated wine storage system (shown) with left-hinge refrigerator/freezer drawers, accommodating wine, beer, cheeses, snacks, and frozen items. The unit has UV glass to prevent light exposure, and a NASA-inspired air purification system that eliminates ethylene gas, discouraging food spoilage and removing bacteria, viruses, and mold.

Sub-Zero 30-inch wine storage system

Black Stainless Finish / Bosch

This year, Bosch launched its first line of Black Stainless Steel appliances for an entire kitchen suite. The nine appliances across seven product cat­egories were created to support an active home, using special scratch- and fingerprint-resistant material. The 800 Series Dishwasher (shown) includes the RackMatic adjustable rack, Flexspace Tines, and runs at a quiet 42 dBA.

Bosch Black Stainless Finish

Smart Refrigerator / Samsung

Samsung’s Family Hub refrigerator was designed to embrace and digitize the concept of the kitchen as the home’s command center. Controlled via mobile app and touch screen, users that have Samsung’s SmartThings Hub to wirelessly connect to hundreds of compatible smart devices can see what’s inside their fridge from the grocery store, leave a note on the door, pull up a recipe online, and more.

Samsung Smart Refrigerator

Washer-Dryer Combo / Whirlpool

Designed for homes with limited space, the 24-inch-wide ventless Smart All-in-One Care washer and dryer can be controlled via mobile app or using Amazon Alexa. Homeowners can download cycles for special-care loads for the washer/dryer, which includes automatic dispensing functionality for detergent.

Whirlpool Washer Dryer Combo

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