I cannot yet comment first hand about the cutlery tray, b/c my dishwasher has yet to be installed. But I loved the thought of the third tray and those I know who have them have convinced me they are great. I like the added room for more dishes b/c there is no utensil basket taking up space. However, if you do not think you will use yours b/c you do not want to separate the utensils, where will you put them? Your dishwasher may be different, but mine (Miele) has no where else to put the utensils (i.e. utensil basket), and I have not yet seen any models with both. Just something to think about. Good luck with your decision.

I have the cutlery tray on my KA DW, along with a cutlery caddy in the bottom, and I find that I use the try for large utensils and Gladware lids (dirty side down) only. Is it worth it? It's an okay feature (although lids collect water) but I would NOT want a DW where this was the only space available for cutlery. Like you said, I would never have the patience nor want to spend the time loading all our knives, forks, and spoons into individual slots each time I load the DW. My friend has this setup in her Miele and hates it. However, if you do a search, many on this forum love it.

Here's a recent discussion on the cutlery tray in the Miele

Here is a link that might be useful: discussion

We love the cutlery tray in our Miele Excella. The cutlery is consistently cleaner, and we have the entire bottom pullout available for plates, glasses, & big items.

Not every tool fits in the cutlery tray--we put things like tongs & soup ladles in the middle pullout.

We bought a Miele dishwasher three years ago, and had to resolve the same issue. We looked at the cutlery basket and the cutlery tray, and my wife and I reached accord in only a couple of seconds. We have a big family, and we run several loads every day, and we were not prepared to load each piece of cutlery separately into the cutlery tray! So we chose the model with the cutlery basket, and we are very pleased with it.

Takes an extra second or two at most to load the tray, but unloading is so much easier and quicker than using a basket IMHO. I designated zones or sections for forks, spoons, etc., early on, so now it's habit to place items in certain places in the tray (of course DH always "messes up" my system!).

One thing I've found, and I don't know if our flatware design contributes to this, but sliding in the tray with any amount of force (thereby whacking the back of the tray into the back wall of the DW) causes utensils to go flying out of their slots. I'm not too thrilled with that, but I still wouldn't trade that tray though!

I was the OP on the thread that olchik linked to: FWIW, I was sold by the feedback on that thread to the degree that I now have two Miele Excellas sitting in my garage waiting to be installed. I'll post back later as to whether I truly do like the tray. Let's hope so!

I have a Miele and the cutlery tray is one of the things I like most about it. Placing the silverware in there is really not a big deal though it may seem like it if you've never used it. It does make it much easier to unload in my opinion and I like that I can pick everything up by the handle not the end you eat off of - just seems more sanitary. It's also great for little things that don't fit well any where else - caps, covers and other small things.

I have a KA DW with cutlery tray. I have had this machine for about 3 months. I agree with ZOENAPP on these points:
- I find that I use the tray for large utensils and Gladware lids (dirty side down) only.
- It's an okay feature (although lids collect water) but I would NOT want a DW where this was the only space available for cutlery.
- I would never have the patience nor want to spend the time loading all our knives, forks, and spoons into individual slots each time I load the DW.

Adding to this, I figured out after I bought the dishwasher that our silverware doesn't fit in the cutlery tray! The handles of our silverware are square instead of flat so the don't fit. Go figure. I took my plates, cookie sheet, and favorite pan to the appliance store to ensure they fit in the DW but didn't consider the cutlery! So if you are leaning this way, I strongly suggest you take a few pieces of silverware to the appliance store and make sure they fit.

I like that I can remove the cutlery tray in the event I need to put tall items on the top rack.

In short, the cutlery tray hasn't worked out as well as I hoped. I spent a little extra for this particular DW model because I really thought the cutlery tray would be invaluable. Do I wish I had purchased the cheaper dishwasher that didn't have the cutlery tray? Not necessarily. Instead, I find myself considering replacing my silverware so that I can use the cutlery tray!

Good luck!
try_hard
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tyr hard - your cutlery will still fit in the tray "wrong side" in, yes?

Meaning the fork tines or spoon bowl can slip between the upstands in the tray with the square handles pointing outwards. This is not the prefered Miele position, but will work 99% of the time. My spouse, babysitter, and houskeeper load ours that way anyway. Almost always come out clean. Just about every knife in the marketplace will get loaded that way out of saftey.

We load our flatware handles pointing out. The handles aren't overly thick, but I don't think stuff was seated well when we tried them the other way around.

Antss,

Yes, I have loaded my cutlery the 'wrong' way before, but I noticed water spots on the tines and spoons and a few spoons didn't come clean so I gave up on that option.

try_hard
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We have a Miele Incognito and love the cutlery tray...it doesn't take more than a few seconds to load it and unloading it is so much faster since everything is separated (we also have separate 'zones' for spoons/forks/knives). And having the bottom rack completely open for dishes is a major plus for us.

We have had a Miele Icognito for 3 years or so and will probably get another one if we move to a house that does not have one. The cutlery tray is awesome. Some comments have been made that you can't/won't sort the silverware on the cutlery tray. Do you sort it when it comes out of the dishwasher??? My point is we sort it sometimes before loading and it does not take a long time. But when it is washed,it is removed by the handles and put away. All the silverware is dry and clean. I highly reccommend the cutlery tray hands down. Good Luck.

DJ

whirlpool dishwashers have the cutlery basket attached to the door. It is removble.

my dishwasher is 12 years old without any repairs done. When i bought it came with 2 panels. one white the other black.

cost $250 for everything..

The machine is headache free but not sophisticated but easy to use.

I agree with most of the posters above. I have a Miele with a cutlery tray above it. I was dubious initially because I thought that I wouldn't want to have to fuss with loading it. Now, I really like it and would buy it again. I sort the cutlery into different areas when I load it (forks in front on left, spoons in front on right, etc.) and it really takes minimal time. Then, when it is time to inload, I can grab them and put them away faster. As yourchef51 says, you have to either sort the cutlery when you load or when you unload. Net time is about the same, and with the tray the cutlery gets cleaner.

I am debating whether or not to get the cultery tray also. The salesman at the appliance store said if you do get it, it will take away room from the top rack, so if you have tall glasses it might be a problem.

I hate making all these decisions on appliances!

glorydays I don't think I agree with your salesman but here's what you can do (Its what I did). I brought my biggest and tallest glasses, pots and plates into the showroom and loaded the dishwasher along with my wife so we could see what fit. I am sure we looked funny dragging our stuff in but I had to know for sure. I guess I am visual and not trustworthy of salepeople sometimes. If the salesman won't let you find someone who will. Our Miele has an adjustable top rack (non cutlery) that we raise when we bring out our oversized plates and it works great. Good Luck. BTW you should be able to try out any appliance if they have a good showroom. Did the same with my double oven and now I have drunk the Miele Cool Aid.

DJ

I have a miele and initially thought the cutlery tray was a gimmick - but after using it I would never buy another DW without the cutlery tray. It is so much better

My top rack is adjustable; I can lower it and still load tall wine glasses below the cutlery tray. However, doing this then lowers the height capacity for the bottom rack so yes, you do lose vertical space regardless. Opinions will differ on the cutlery tray - from personal experience, I would not want that to be the only loading option in my DW for knives, forks, and spoons. Just my opinion of course, as others have posted their preference for this feature.

Having lived with a split cutlery tray for about two months, I have to say I prefer the original single tray. I hope I can get one for not too much money.

Love the cutlery tray....I too have zones for similar items. Unload is a breeze - grab a handful of spoons in one hand, forks in the other - done, their put away. Repeat with knives and other. So, yes, a minute or two longer up front, but no sorting on the back end. It's a wash (no pun intended) and the silverware is ALWAYS clean!
Love, love, love it! Wouldn't go back.

Well, since my original post on the older thread, we have been living with our two Miele Excellas for a few weeks now. Agree, the work putting cutlery into the tray is made up by the rapid unloading. Still figuring out the best way to load these machines, after years of using Bosch DW's and having that pretty well figured out. Biggest issue unresolved is large utensils--spatulas, chef's knives, spoons, that are too wide to fit in the tray. I'll figure it out.

But, when all is said and done, the real reason this is the clearcut winner in the DW wars is that my dishwashers have CHEESE cycles!! I feel sorry for those with DW's without this essential option :-)