We tested the stainless steel version of the LG Electronics LDF6810 built-in dishwasher. It also comes in two other styles -- white or black -- for about $100 less. The stainless steel model has hidden controls and a singular handle across the front in matching stainless steel.

The LG LDF6810 has a stainless steel tub insert, rather than the plastic insert found in some of its competitors at this price point. It has a top and bottom rack, but we wish the bottom rack tines were longer. The adjustable upper rack can hold 12-inch plates while the lower rack's tines can be folded to accommodate larger items. The adjustable tines work quite well, but it is the addition of a stemware holder that we love. The stemware holder -- as the name suggests -- is made to fit in the top rack and secures champagne flutes, wine glasses and the like. It can also work as a double-decker rack for small cups or other items that don't warrant much headroom. There's even an improvement on the standard cutlery tray; the three-in-one basket can divide into parts and be placed in the top rack, the bottom rack or a combination of the two racks.

All of these features may seem like relatively minor details, but they work together to create a larger-than-average capacity dishwasher. In fact, we were able to load 16 complete place settings into the LG LDF6810 at one time. We'd recommend this model to those who frequently cook or bake because of its large capacity and the flexible way in which the racks can be used. It's great for mixing bowls, pitchers, platters and other items that are generally difficult to fit in a dishwasher. Plus, this model is so quiet-running, it's easy to forget it's in the middle of a wash cycle.

The LG LDF6810 has a built-in food disposal, which is a feature we've come to expect at this price point. The food disposal helps eliminate the need to hand-rinse dishware before loading the dishwasher. This saves time and the headache of worrying about clogged dishwasher filters. It has three spray arms that shoot the water in multiple directions, but we still found stuck-on particles on the dirtiest of our dishes. We were a bit surprised to discover it only has five wash cycles. Wash cycles range from a high-temperature wash to a delicate wash designed for china and crystal. There is an internal water heater, and there is the option of an NSF-certified rinse to sanitize the dishwasher's contents.

Overall, while the LG Electronics LDF6810 has a sleek, luxury look, it doesn't perform as well as we expected. Despite some thoughtful extras -- such as a stemware holder and folding tines -- it just doesn't clean as well as we need it to.


Pros: Large capacity, adjustable racks, stemware holder
Cons: Can't remove top rack

Warranty
1 year, labor (limited); 2 years, parts; 5 years, control board and rack parts (limited); lifetime, stainless steel tub or liner