Laminate countertops have gotten a lot better looking from the day-glo orange days of old, with subtle hues and patterns made to look like natural stone. But you still have to settle for the unsightly black line along the edge of the countertop, which gives away even the most convincing faux designs. Formica's IdealEdge, on display at the International Builders' Show, eliminates the black line by creating a virtually seamless decorative edge on all sides of the countertop.

While human error is a common cause of residential appliance fires, the equipment itself is often to blame as well, according to a months-long investigation by Consumer Reports. Faulty refrigerator compressors, defective dishwasher circuit boards, and self-starting cooktops and toasters are just a few examples of the design flaws identified in our report. In fact, more than 15 million appliance units have been recalled in the past five years for defects that could cause a blaze. And our analysis of nationwide fire reports suggests the problem may run even deeper.

When it comes to pro-style ranges, the claims are big and bold, just like the ranges: “The ultimate in performance and design,” says Viking. “Kitchen artistry” boasts Wolf. Thermador touts its “state-of-the art functionality.” With claims like these, it’s no wonder people are tempted to spend $7,000 for a range. But, as Consumer Reports' testing suggests, you may want to think twice before going pro.

Consumer Reports tested a bunch of can openers to find the very best model on the market. Alas, we found there's no absolute number one, given the vagaries of personal preference and safety requirements. But the following pro-and-con-based reviews from our panel of testers should lead you to the right opener for you.

The newest refrigerators sport lots of features that promise to be family friendly and energy efficient. Kenmore’s Grab-N-Go has a door-within-a-door for easy access to the items you use most. LG just introduced a refrigerator with a “blast chiller” that can cool a can of beer or soda in a matter of minutes. And both Samsung and LG have “smart” refrigerators that can scan your grocery receipt or tell you when you’re low on milk. While these whiz-bang features may be convenient, they can’t replace good old common sense when it comes to proper food storage.

A range’s “self-clean” feature has always been something of a misnomer. Considering the stifling 800-degree temperature and myriad odors, with the need to keep small children away, you can’t avoid feeling you’re very much a participant—and an unwilling one. That’s why, according to appliance maker Whirlpool, people tend to run the cycle only once during the product’s life. What if the process could be made less onerous?

The right peeler can make life a whole lot easier, especially if you're partial to mashed potatoes, apple pie, and any other dishes that call for skinless fruits and vegetables. Consumer Reports evaluated 10 peelers on comfort and competence and found some real differences.

Consumer Reports has a new top-rated food processor—if you’re willing to spend top dollar and have plenty of storage space in your kitchen. Introducing the Breville Sous Chef BFP800XL, a $400 model that aced most of our tough tests, vaulting it past Cuisinart to the top of the latest Consumer Reports food processor ratings.

A new “must have” kitchen gadget seems to emerge each week, especially on TV infomercials. We asked our Facebook fans what basic gadgets they actually use, then tested several variations—some 40 products in all. More often than not, old reliable designs pleased most of our testers. We did, however, discover some clever twists on the tried-and-true, as well as a few brave new variations that could warrant a spot in your kitchen drawer.

As of earlier this week, one in four people had not begun their holiday shopping, according to the most recent Consumer Reports holiday poll. Those same procrastinators told us that as desperation sets in they’re less inclined to look for bargains. With shoppers in grab-and-go mode, products branded by celebrities may be tempting but from our testing we’ve discovered that some make good gifts and some don’t.

Towers of treats and other eats are popular mail order gifts. But if they aren’t packaged correctly or delivery is delayed, the parcel may include another surprise—bacteria. Perishable food must be handled properly to prevent foodborne illness. So if your steaks or cheesecake arrive at room temperature, don’t even take a taste. Most mail order companies have good safety records and will replace your gift or refund the sender. Here are some safety tips from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.

If you go through a lot of garlic, you know how annoying it can be peeling all those little cloves. A viral YouTube video, compliments of Saveur magazine, shows how to peel an entire head in ten seconds flat using two stainless steel bowls. But unless you like your garlic whole, you'll need to then do some chopping or mincing. That’s where Consumer Reports comes in, with our current Ratings of kitchen knives and soon-to-be-released review of kitchen gadgets.

The most expensive toaster in our Ratings is the four-slice Breville BTA840XL, which typically sells for $180. But Thomas Thwaites, a graduate student at London's Royal College of Art, spent 10 times that trying to build a toaster from scratch. The results are hilariously detailed in his book “The Toaster Project,” which begins with him reverse engineering a six dollar toaster from the local drugstore and ends with the toaster’s element overheating and melting.

Undercooking frozen or refrigerated convenience foods could make you sick. And if you use a microwave to prepare packaged foods, as 71 percent of Americans do, according to a recent Food & Health Survey , it’s crucial that you get one that heats food evenly. Consumer Reports latest tests of microwaves found fewer models that aced our evenness test.

With all the roasting, baking and food preparation that takes place around the holidays, the kitchen isn’t the easiest place to be miserly. But you might want to try—including the cost of refrigeration and washing dishes, as much as 15 percent of the energy costs in the average home are related to the kitchen, according to the Department of Energy. With a few tricks from the DOE’s Energy Savers program and the Environmental Protection agency, you can reduce that cost and still serve all your family’s holiday favorites.