Bosch, Sharp Cook Up New Combos

New York— The cooking category is heating up this fall with the introduction of two new design solutions by Sharp and Bosch.

The former is debuting its Insight Pro Cooktop+Microwave Drawer, a unique cooking configuration that combines Sharp's first-to-market Microwave Drawer with a smooth glass ceramic cooktop for a stylish and convenient kitchen solution.

The introduction expands Sharp's Microwave Drawer line, which is presently offered within the Insight and Insight Pro Range platforms, and also as a stand-alone unit.

The new 30-inch-wide combination model is built-in ready and will be available in stainless steel, black and white to offer consumers an all-in-one complement to an existing wall oven.

The 1000-watt Microwave Drawer, exclusive to Sharp, is especially suited for open-plan kitchens, islands and tight spaces. Located at a convenient height, the drawer opens automatically with a touch of the control panel, and is large enough to hold a 9-inch by 13-inch oblong dish.

The electric cooktop features infinite heat controlled by easy-to-use knobs and has four ribbon heating elements, including a dual-use 6-inch or 9-inch element, an 8-inch element, and two 6-inch ribbon elements. A warming zone located in the rear of the cooktop enables easy meal coordination when preparing multiple dishes.

The Cooktop+Microwave Drawer also features Sharp's LCD touch-screen technology, which simplifies the cooking process with step-by-step instructions and helpful tips.

The product will hit retail floors in January with a suggested retail price range of $1,690 to $1,800.

Meanwhile, Bosch has enhanced its freestanding convection range series with a new titanium option that adds stainless steel accents to a white color base. The white design option provides an alternative to conventional steel ranges that feature black elements as a secondary color, and can compliment all-white or light wood kitchens for a clean, modern and more integrated look, the company said.

“The addition of the Bosch Titanium freestanding convection range to the Bosch cooking portfolio offers consumers a unique opportunity to blend stainless steel into the light and airy kitchen designs that are becoming so popular with our customers,” said president/CEO Franz Bosshard.

The units, available in gas and dual-fuel models, are hitting retail floors this month with a suggested retail price range of $2,100 to $2,200.