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  • Introduction

  • Design & Usability

  • Features

  • Performance

  • Conclusion

  • Science Introduction

  • Performance

  • Efficiency

  • Other Tests

  • Introduction
  • Design & Usability
  • Features
  • Performance
  • Conclusion
  • Science Introduction
  • Performance
  • Efficiency
  • Other Tests

Introduction

Design & Usability

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In person, the shiny plastic control panel just looks cheap.

As far as design goes, the SHE3AR55UC is somewhat frustrating. The black control panel is so shiny that you can watch yourself choose a wash cycle. If you’re okay with a smudge-laden black control panel over stainless steel, then this design won’t bother you a bit. If you’re a stickler for simple, clean design—like we are—the Ascenta might not be for you.

If you’re okay with a smudge-laden black control panel over stainless steel, then this design won’t bother you a bit.

Among the more frustrating—or at least counter-intuitive—control flaws, the wash selector scrolls only to the left and right and does not cycle back, which would allow for more instinctual operation. Furthermore, turning the machine on and off involves a confusing three- or four-second operational delay.

Inside, there's a stainless tub, two well-designed racks and room for eleven place settings including serving pieces.

{{photo_gallery "Front Closed Photo", "Fingerprints Photo", "Controls 1 Photo", "Controls 2 Photo", "Front Open Photo", "Interior Detail Photo", "Top Rack Photo", "Top Rack Detail Photo 1", "Top Rack Detail Photo 2", "Top Rack Detail Photo 3", "Bottom Rack Photo", "Bottom Rack Detail Photo 2", "Bottom Rack Detail Photo 3", "Cutlery Basket Photo", "Cutlery Basket Detail Photo 1", "Cutlery Basket Detail Photo 2", "Cutlery Basket Detail Photo 3"}}

Features

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Four main cycles. Lots more buttons.

The SHE3AR55UC includes a Heavy Wash, Normal Wash, Auto Wash and Half Load. While there is no “quick clean” cycle, the Normal Wash or Half Load should meet most washing needs.

Delay Start allows users to postpone the start of their wash by three, six or nine hours (not much considering some washers offer up to 24 hours), and the Sanitize option adds a high-temperature disinfectant rinse for especially dirty loads. There is also a child lock.

The filtration system includes three filters for different sized objects: a Large Object Trap, a Fine Filter and a Micro Filter. Although the system is self-cleaning during normal use, each of the devices can be easily removed for manual cleaning.

Performance

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Be prepared to pre-rinse, and to wait. At least it's efficient.

Overall, the SHE3AR55UC performed well among dishwashers in its immediate price range, with one major exception: redeposits. That's when clean dishes end up dirty after a dishwasher redistributes waste food particles all over the load, and it's usually indicative of an ineffective filter. If you scrape your dishes or even pre-rinse them, it should be less of a problem.

We don't pre-rinse our test dishes, and they were still stained after an hour and a half of a Normal wash. The Heavy Duty wash did a marginally better job, but it took more than two hours.

At least this Bosch is efficient.

At least this Bosch is efficient. According to national averages, the SHE3AR55UC should only cost about $25.60 per year to operate, well below what you'll pay to run most competing dishwashers.

Conclusion

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A little more money gets you a lot better dishwasher.

Found at sub-$600 sale prices, the Bosch SHE3AR55UC is one of the cheapest European dishwashers on the market. What it claims in pedigree, however, it lacks in style and performance—like a broke, distant relation of a royal family who chews with his mouth open.

Unless you intend to do most of your dishwashing in your own sink, we say skip the SHE3AR55UC. Spend a little more, and you'll find a much better machine.

Science Introduction

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We test all our dishwashers with a standardized load of stained plates. This machine does its job after a little help from the user, but given its price tag and lackluster design we were hoping for something better.

Performance

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Redeposit, rinse, repeat.

The SHE3AR55UC boasts a relatively quick wash cycle. However, the mere 92 minutes it took to complete a Normal Wash was reflected in its meager performance. Accordingly, the extra half-hour needed to complete a Heavy Wash results in a more thorough clean. The Half Load, which uses more water and electricity than the Normal Wash, completed in 76 minutes.

The SHE3AR55UC had particular trouble in our spinach and lipstick tests, and the oat flakes left a noticeable imprint on white plastic. This underscores the importance of scrubbing dishes before loading them for a Normal Wash—something to consider if you’re not interested in manual dishwashing.

Glass and silverware were cleaned fairly well, but we noticed that spinach flakes seemed to collect throughout the interior of the machine. This was pretty frustrating considering their presence tarnished otherwise clean dishes.

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Efficiency

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Doesn't use a lot of water or electricity.

The SHE3AR55UC consumed, on average, 0.54 kWh for the Normal Wash and 0.95 for the Heavy Wash. Surprisingly, the Half Load consumed more electricity than the Normal Load, requiring about 0.64 kWh. That makes for a electricity cost of about $0.05 to $0.09 per wash and is on par with most washers of its size and price.

Water consumption was pretty low, with only 2.49 gallons of hot water used on a Normal Wash and 7.51 on a Heavy Wash. That will add to your water bill between $0.11 and $0.20 per cycle, respectively. However, given the clear superiority of the Heavy Wash, your averages may weigh toward the more expensive end of the spectrum.

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Other Tests

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Meet the tester

Tyler Wells Lynch

Tyler Wells Lynch

Contributor

@tylerwellslynch

Tyler Wells Lynch is a freelance writer and journalist whose work has appeared in Vice, Wirecutter, Gizmodo, The Rumpus, Yes!, and the Huffington Post, among others. He lives in Maine.

See all of Tyler Wells Lynch's reviews

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