Our recent ratings of dozens of dishwashers revealed that most excelled at cleaning the dried-on peanut butter, mashed potatoes, spinach and other post-meal glop we concoct to test their mettle.

So we got tougher and threw some cake mix at them.

Baked-on brownie batter is one of the new tests we’re conducting as dishwashers get better and consumers are more likely to include such messes in their loads. While not all the models we rated were subjected to the brownie battering, several that were did deliver superb results with just their normal cycles. Others powered through on special cycles with names like “Turbo Zone” and “Pro-Scrub.”

More and more, manufacturers are adding these cycles, almost daring you to put your worst baked-on messes in their machines. “No soaking, no scrubbing, no kidding” is the tagline for Kenmore’s $830 Elite 1626 with Turbo Zone. KitchenAid says the Pro-Scrub feature on its $1,100 Superba KUDSO2SR provides powerful bursts of water for large, hard-to-clean items. Are the special cycles worth the inflated cost? We’ll know more as our enhanced testing progresses, but initial results show that some models did well and some otherwise-fine performers couldn’t handle the tough stuff.

Meanwhile, as boastful as they are about their special cycles, dishwasher makers are downright mum on the subject of slower cleaning time. More than half of the models we tested with our usual dirty load took some two hours or more on normal cycle. Some models that cleaned as well finished 45 minutes sooner. Dirt sensors, which adjust water use and cycle time to the soil on the dishes, can lengthen a cycle’s span. As our tests demonstrated, some of these common fixtures don’t distinguish very well between slightly and very dirty dishes, increasing wash time and water use even if a load is lightly soiled.

Other interesting findings from our tests:

¢ Most dishwashers have deleted the bottom panel below the door, adding space for taller items inside and allowing sleeker styling.

The Whirlpool Gold GU2400XTP was listed by Consumer Reports as a good buy for most users because it combines fine cleaning with flexible loading and quiet running. It has a display showing how much time remains on the cycle. The dishwasher cost 00.

¢ Using rinse aids and enzyme-based detergents can yield cleaner results. Rinse aids reduce spotting, while enzyme-based detergents help dissolve food starches and proteins.

¢ Dishwashers tend to have a tough time drying plastic dinnerware – a growing concern as more of it winds up in the racks. A new plastics cycle on the GE Profile PDW9800L ($1,100) left our plastic cups drip-free, but so did some lower-priced models lacking such a feature.

In addition to washing prowess, our tests also measured a model’s energy use, its noise level, and its ability to hold extra place settings and oversized items. Three machines emerged as best for most users, combining fine cleaning with flexible loading and quiet running.

Consider the Bosch SHU43CO ($580) if you don’t mind regularly cleaning its manual filter (a self-cleaning filter saves work but adds noise) and paying extra for its stainless-steel tub, which adds style and won’t discolor, as some plastic tubs might. The Kenmore 1603 (at $500, from Sears, it’s a CR Best Buy) is notably quiet, while the Whirlpool Gold GU2400XTP ($500) has a display showing how much time remains on the cycle.

If a low price is more important to you than flexible-loading features, we recommend the Whirlpool DU1100XTP ($435) and the Amana ADB1500AW (a CR Best Buy at $330). The Amana gives up some energy efficiency and convenience to the Whirlpool, but is among the least-expensive models we tested.

The Amana also is one of the dishwashers that did especially well in our trial of baked-on brownie-mix tests using just their normal cycles. Other brownie-mix busters included the Kitchen Aid KUDP02CR ($800) and KUDIO2IR ($600); the Asko D3122XL ($850); and the GE Monogram ZBD0710K ($1,300).