Just in time for the holidays, Consumer Reports culled a year’s worth of product testing for the cream of the crop in kitchen appliances. CR also identified common goofs and came up with ways for shoppers to avoid making mistakes.

Microwave ovens

¢ Believing oven-capacity claims: Manufacturers measure capacity by including wasted, unusable space in the corners: The actual cubic feet of usable space can be a fraction of those claims.

¢ CR Best Buys include two over-the-range models: the LG LMV2053, $300; and the roomier Kenmore (Sears) Elite 8083, $530, which uses a sliding tray that moves from side to side to handle larger plates.

Refrigerators

¢ Forgetting to measure the kitchen space: Consumers should know ahead of time that they need a 33-inch-wide fridge between the countertop and wall before the store delivers a 36-inch model.

¢ Consider: The GE Profile PFS22MIS, $1,600 (33-inch), provides the convenience of a bottom freezer with French-style doors.

Vacuums

¢ Buying Into Allergy Claims: While a growing number of vacuums claim to filter allergens, practically any vacuum should be able to handle pollen, mold spores and other such particles.

Check Consumer Reports ratings for models that did well at cleaning carpets and floors as well as dust-emissions scores for models that don’t spew out what they pick up.

¢ CR Best Buy: The Eureka Boss SmartVac Ultra 4870 upright vacuum, $150.

Washing machines, dryers

¢ Smart Move: Consumers who want more than just mediocre washing should count on spending at least $700 for a top-loader and $1,000 or more for a more efficient front-loading machine.

¢ CR recommends: the Bosch Nexxt 500 Series WFMC3301UC, $1,100, a front-loading washer that outperformed the latest high efficiency top-loading machines; and the GE DBVH512EF dryer, $700, has a moisture sensor, which accurately gauges when laundry is dry and shuts off the dryer.