Samsung brings black stainless-steel finish to kitchen appliances

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The kitchen appliance industry is going back to black. Samsung is the latest manufacturer to debut a line of appliances with a black stainless-steel finish that promises to resist fingerprints better than its traditional silver counterpart.

The Samsung Black Stainless Steel Collection, which became available this month, includes existing products from Samsung such as the four-door refrigerator , the Flex Duo Range with dual door , the top-control dishwasher and the over-the-range microwave.

We've seen other appliance companies debut darker finishes in an attempt to find the next hot thing in kitchen design.

LG's Black Stainless Steel Suite, formerly called the Diamond Collection, includes multiple refrigerators, a microwave, a dishwasher, and both gas and electric double ovens that boast a similar smudge-resistant finish in a dark gray color.

KitchenAid's black stainless-steel line includes refrigerators, wall ovens, a dishwasher and vent hoods in an ebony finish.

And the appliances in the GE Slate line, which include refrigerators , wall ovens, ranges, dishwashers and microwaves, have a matte finish inspired by stone.

Along with the new finish, Samsung has also released a new version of its Chef Collection Flex Duo range, a versatile appliance we reviewed after its debut in 2013 . The updated version of this range includes a gas cooktop and electric oven, a change from the all-electric original.

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Samsung ovens with the Flex Duo insert have already been a game-changer in giving home cooks more choices in the kitchen: When you put the insert into the oven, it creates two separate oven cavities to allow simultaneous baking at different temperatures without having to commit the space and money to a full double-wall oven. The addition of the gas cooktop will appeal to avid home cooks who like the adaptability of the Flex Duo but dislike smooth electric stovetops.