This GE Profile J2B918WEK range combines a gas cooktop with an electric oven and can be obtained in stainless steel for ,900 - thousands less than what you'd pay for a pro-style model that doesn't perform any better.

Whether you’re updating your appliances or planning a full kitchen remodel, seeing past the hype can be rough when everything looks so good. Mistakes can be costly as well as disappointing because the most loudly-hawked products often are the most expensive.

To help you avoid these nightmares while assembling your dream kitchen, Consumer Reports has compiled a list of the most-hyped kitchen products and the smarter options that beat them.

¢ Pro-style ranges. CR’s tests found that $4,000-plus pro-style ranges perform no better than less-expensive, conventional models. What’s more, some professional-style ranges still lack common features and have higher repair rates. Smarter option: CR advises that consumers opt instead for faux-pro-style ranges from mainstream manufacturers. They combine stainless-steel style, performance and reliability for thousands less.

¢ Speed cooking. Found in some microwaves, ranges and ovens, speed cooking combines microwaving with convection or baking and broiling to cut cooking time.

But speed-cooking performance proved spotty in CR’s tests, with some foods coming out great and others undercooked. Smarter option: Ovens and ranges with convection cooking, which use fans to circulate hot air, allowing you to bake and roast at lower temperatures for shorter times.

¢ Turbocharged dishwashers. Most regular dishwashers tested by CR do a very good job of cleaning dishes, even with baked-on food. Ignore manufacturers’ high-pressure claims of superior cleaning through turbo cycles. Not only do these cycles fail to perform any better than a regular wash, some only work in part of the tub. Smarter option: Pick a lower-priced dishwasher that blends top cleaning with quietness and shorter cycle times.

¢ Pricey faucets and sinks. American Standard gushes that its $500 faucet “provides a lifetime of smooth handle operation and drip-free performance,” while Kohler claims its thick, 18-gauge stainless sinks provide “exceptional resistance to stains and corrosion.”

CR found few performance differences between the least and most expensive versions of faucets and sinks from major brands. Smarter option: Faucets in chrome or with physical vapor deposition (PVD) finishes performed best in CR’s tests – regardless of price. And all the stainless sinks tested resisted dents, stains, scratches and heat similarly, whether they were thick or thin.

¢ Trendy counters. One countertop manufacturer heralds concrete as “practical artwork” that requires “virtually no maintenance other than normal cleaning.”

Another describes limestone as “velvety smooth” and “unique.” CR’s tests, however, found concrete to be fragile and susceptible to scratches, chips and hairline cracks. As for limestone, it might start out smooth, but CR’s wear tests left it scratched, stained and dinged. Smarter option: If you crave the stone look for your countertops, granite or quartz should prove more rock solid.

¢ “Green” flooring. Bamboo is a fast-growing grass, cork is made of tree bark, and linoleum is mostly linseed oil and wood products. All are considered renewable alternatives to standard hardwood and vinyl flooring.

But tests show that some of these environmentally-friendly options don’t hold up to the usual spills, scratches, dropped plates and sunlight in a typical kitchen. Smarter option: You can get more toughness for your buck with plastic laminate or vinyl, while solid wood flooring can be sanded and refinished several times.