Panasonic (NN-SN65KB) Compact Microwave Oven Reviews

I have the beep turned off. And the buttons do not beep either. The microwave is very powerful - be careful because it is probably more powerful than your old one. I've had a few flow overs. I love the 30 second button.

I've not gotten the hang of the pre-set options in reheating things. They tend to overflow the bowl. And the sensor is not working like I would like.

However, I do really like it. Some reviewers complained about the light. And, I will say, that if the sun is backlighting things, it can be hard. But you will get used to it. You do have to look directly in.

Very easy to clean. I've not had a lot of stainless steel appliances until recently. Get the stainless steel wipes to avoid those fingerprints! Inside wipes clean easily.

I really like it. I could have got a cheap one but I like just buying one to last for a long time. My old one only broke because the wave plate came off. It lasted over 20yrs. So, buy quality and you should only have to buy every decade or so.

Our 20-year old 1500 watt Panasonic (1.5 cubic ft) finally died; it was a great microwave. I wanted something comparable, and this is it, only better. After a couple of weeks, I have tried out all the major functions by now.

The first (and easiest) was popcorn. It was the best I have ever seen, using the 3.2 oz setting for the 3.6 oz Orville Redenbacher bag. There were no burnt kernels, and very few unpopped ones.

The cooking times are comparable to the old one, even though this one is lower power. Maybe the old one was getting a little weak with age, or the new one is just more efficient. But the "inverter" technology (which actually refers to the power supply) is very good at controlling the heat and making more effective use of the power available. And the timing controls are the same as the old one, just with a few additional buttons for the new functions, so it is easy to use.

My real favorite is the "sensor" technology. If you do it right (choose the right setting for the type of food, and use a vented cover so that the steam can escape), it takes a lot of guesswork out of common chores. I have tried both large and small baked potatoes (split in half with bacon on them), and they came out great; better than I could do with manual timings. Also omelettes are perfect; I do egg burritos with salsa and sausage or whatever. It allows experimentation with recipes without worrying about the cooking time or power.

Vegetables are good too, though I use the "reduce time" button there to prevent them from being overcooked.

I have a couple of minor gripes: the push button to open the door is a little bit of over-design, and may push the microwave around. Why not a handle on the door like the old one? And as others have noted, the light is dim. But I only use it to check boiling water once in a while, and with the sensor technology, I don't even need to do that much anymore.

I just hope it lasts as long as the old one. It is a winner for me.

I like the simple touch pads; changing power levels is very easy. We have used this for 4 months and like it very much. On first time use, there was some minor vapor from burn-off of what I assumed was from coatings due to manufacturing process and this did not re-occur. The timer alarm is not loud and annoying as some other models that we have had. I had done a lot of research for the best microwave of this size and I am very happy with this purchase so far.

We've been using this microwave oven for a couple months now and like it just fine. Quiet, well-lit interior, defrost features are useful, and it's very compact for the size of the oven interior. The things that could be better--the printed labels are a bit hard to read (too small!) and would be nice if the quick 30 second button would auto-start after a brief delay. My holy grail :) for quick zap microwaving is a 1-button 30 second control (check), the ability to use it to add 30 seconds while cooking (check), and auto start after the 30 second button is pressed (not here). Other than that, perfect.

This Panasonic 1.2 cu. ft. 1200 watt microwave seems to have it all. It’s only a bit more than 20 inches wide, but the cavity is large and so is the turntable so there’s plenty of room for things like casserole dishes to turn freely. Inverter technology along with the Genius feature which senses steam so it can tell when you’re food is cooked makes this model stand out. I had a microwave with inverter tech before and it did make a difference, especially with denser dishes like frozen lasagna.

The exterior is sleek and almost mirror-like. I found it impossible to take a photo because all I could see was my kitchen and myself reflected in it. The keypad is a normal keypad with numbers which I like. My last microwave had a 1 minute button and I used it daily. I’m going to miss that. This one has a 30 second button, but that means, you know, that you have to press it twice to reach a minute. Not all that labor intensive. Just takes some getting used to.

This is a small thing, but it’s a longtime annoyance for me. When you press the button to open the door, the microwave doesn’t slide away from you! It has rubber feet so it stays in place. This is why I usually buy microwaves with a handle. Just so I’m not chasing it.

The only drawback I’ve found is the light inside the oven is minimal. I believe it’s a single LED which probably saves on having to change light bulbs, but is simply not enough light to see if the cheese on your pasta dish has fully melted or not. Two LED’s—one on each side--would be better if you’re going that route.

This microwave comes with one of the most thorough owner’s manuals I’ve ever seen. They cover everything from safety to what kinds of dishes to use; from arrangement of food to proper food temperatures for meat. You’ll want to keep it on hand to refer to. This model even has a keep warm feature for up to 30 minutes. Downside is you have to press the power level button 11 times to reach it.

I tried a boxed frozen entree—pasta in sauce with chicken nuggets throughout as my test. I followed the directions on the package for 4 minutes on high, stir, recover then 2 more minutes and it was cooked perfectly. Neither the nuggets or pasta was overdone. Sometimes in a mixed dish, the meat would have hard edges with the microwave this one replaced. Breakfast sandwiches fresh from an ice cold fridge came out perfect. One minute and boom! Done!

I’ll update my review if anything changes, but so far loving my new Panasonic.