Dishwashers
Unless you want a very high end Miele, best to buy these in Israel without rights. In Israel you can also buy the very good quality Fisher and Paykal, which has compartments, one for meat and one for milk. Most dishwashers have stainless steel interiors and a capacity of 12 place settings. The water in Israel is full of minerals, so a water softener is important, as is a self-heating capacity. Do not buy US-made dishwashers for use in Israel. Integrated dishwashers have frame kits that allow you to fit them with whatever material you are using for your kitchen cabinets. Dedietrich, Siemens, Bosch, and Miele have fully integrated models where even the controls are invisible when the dishwasher is closed.
Most dishwashers models can be free-standing or fit with wheels and quick-attach, quick-release plumbing for about $100. Bosch is the best bargain in a high quality dishwasher, and is a familiar brand in Israel. The English consumer magazine Which rates Bosch as one of the Best Buys. The Bosch as well as the Whirlpool are German made, have an encapsulated heating unit, and water feed from the back.
Unless you are buying very high-end the savings are not dramatic for importing tax-free from the US. With or without rights, if you are buying very high quality dishwashers it is worth doing a Kef Personal Import from Europe. Miele and Bosch have very high end down to mid-range models. Miele high end has a special 3rd rack for silverware, which some people love and others not.
Slim (45 cm.) dishwashers accommodate eight place settings and are available from most European brands. They cost as much as the full-size machines and may have frame kits to allow you to put on your own cover. You can also get machines that accomodate 14 instead of the usual 12 place settings. For Miele 14 place settings, the range of possible heights for an semi-integrated panel is 540-694mm.
Microwave Ovens
GE, Amana, and Panasonic are the most commonly selected brands of microwave. They are 850-1000 watts, 9.0-1.1 cubic feet inside, with rotor plates. Amana in stainless steel is now sold in Israel. As with most appliances, the savings of importing a microwave tax-free compared with buying with full taxes in a store in Israel are not as much for entry-level microwaves as they are for high-end. High-end Bosch, Miele and Dedietrich are available from Europe via personal import.
Mixers
Kitchen Aid is still worth bringing from the US. Kitchen Aid—the baker’s choice—makes the most solid and powerful mixer-kitchen center, using a design which has not changed in 40 years. Sold with stainless steel bowl, wire whisk, pastry beater, and dough hook, options include: grinder, spaghetti maker, vegetable strainer, slicer shredder, citrus juicer, and can opener. It is big—too big for some Israeli kitchen counters. The 4½ qt. model has the tilt-back head as does the Ksm150, which is 5 qt. and comes in colors. The K5 comes only in white. The head does not tilt, but the bowl goes up and down.
See also: Appliance Sales, Appliance Info
