The Amana ADB1500AW built-in dishwasher sports a tall tub design with a white exterior and white handle/control panel. It's not the most -- or least -- expensive model we've tested, and we were anxious to discover how it would perform.

We initially noticed the lack of features on this dishwasher. There are models made by competitors at this same price point that have more convenience and performance features. This Amana model has only a three wash cycles, including a high-temperature wash, heavy wash and normal wash. Despite the lack of wash cycles, there are a surprising number of wash options -- five. One such option allows the user to program an accelerated cycle that cleans and dries the dishwasher's contents more quickly than a standard cycle. There is a delayed start option that has a choice of two-hour, four-hour or six-hour delays.

Like most dishwashers, the Amana ADB1500AW has a removable top rack and a stationary bottom rack. The tines are not adjustable. This can make it more difficult to fit odd-shaped items into the dishwasher, such as tall pitchers or large platters. The addition of a built-in food disposal saves time otherwise spent pre-rinsing dishes. The food disposal also saves us from constant worry about the state of the Amana's filter -- no more digging around in the bottom of the dishwasher attempting to ferret out lost food particles.

One thing that sets the Amana apart is that it has an internal filter for the water used in the wash cycles. Another non-standard item worth mentioning is the in-door silverware holder, which can also be placed on the upper or lower rack. While we thought the dishwasher might seem roomier by stacking the silverware in the door, it really doesn't help. It's still tough to fit a family dinner's worth of dishes in this model, and placing silverware in the holder is awkward. We prefer placing them in the standard in-rack version. The Amana does have a heated dry option that we like, but it doesn't really prevent water droplets from building up on clean dishes. It's still necessary to towel dry them before placing dishes in the cabinets.

After testing, we've determined the Amana ADB1500AW is a middle-of-the-road model. Not too expensive, not too inexpensive. Not a great performer, not a bad one, either. The Amana ADB1500AW built-in dishwasher is also available in off-white, bisque or black. A stainless steel version costs about $50 more, while a silver metallic unit costs $100 more.


Pros: Quick wash cycle, five wash options, food disposal
Cons: Awkward in-door flatware rack

Warranty
1 year, limited