Microwave Oven with Cyclonic Wave Inverter Technology, 1250W, 2.2 cu.ft. Countertop Microwave with Genius Sensor One-Touch Cooking – NN-SD975S (Stainless Steel/Silver)

The controls are wonderful and the ability to disconnect the door safety lock is a major plus. It heats evenly as promised with no hot spots. I only have two areas in need of improvement: 1) the interior light is bright but poorly placed leaving a large unlit zone and 2) the timer function only beeps several times and then remains silent - meaning you must remain near the microwave to know the alarm has gone off. A continuous alarm works much, much better as a timer. Very large. I am very happy with this Panasonic Microwave Oven.

I hate the membrane keypads most microwaves use even though as a long time engineer, I've designed a bunch of them into various stuff. They are hard to beat from a cost-performance perspective, but they tend to look tired and tattered after a while and they often are the first thing to fail. Admittedly, the spinner knob scheme this thing uses can be a bit slower to use, but I'm finding it has gotten very natural and quick after some experience with it and it just looks so much classier. As for performance, this thing beats the many others I've purchassed over the years. I often do stupid things in a microwave when working long hours at the office since I have no other way to heat anything there. One thing dumb thing I do is cook scrambled eggs in a small ramiken. I heat them for a minute, mix them up and then give them additional 30 second blasts mixing again each time till they are cooked through. I wasn't sure this thing's cyclonic heating was anything more than a gimmick or one of those marginal features that has so little effect it means almost nothing. But I decided to go for it anyway. Well I'm convinced now that it does heat more evenly than all the other microwaves I've used. In my other microwaves, the eggs cook only at the extreme edges of the ramiken. This thing does better. Although the eggs don't cook through, the cooked area is considerably thicker and less harshly cooked after the first minute. Also, this thing defrosts more evenly than any other I've used. Is the difference massive? No. But I'm satisfied it was worth a few extra bucks. I like it.

I would like to start off by saying for anyone considering buying this microwave, I truly do believe most of the negative reviews of this product are due to either a small number of defective units, or just a lack of understanding on how to use the appliance properly, it is not the fault of the product/manufacturer/seller if you neglected to read the provided instructions or don’t make an attempt to exchange a defective item. Now for my review of the microwave. In terms of looks and quality it is absolutely top notch. Its VERY pretty to look at and it feels just as nice as it looks, I have no worries about it’s reliability and I’m sure it will last at least 10 years before needing any repair. To add to that it can be built in or on the counter. These things are all huge bonuses to me as I plan on keeping it a long time and I will be able to accommodate it into many different living situations. As for it’s performance, I have never seen anything like it. It is super powerful and truly heats so much more evenly then ANYTHING I’ve used to cook. It doesn’t turn vegetables to mush or make meat chewy. A good item to test a microwaves performance is a frozen burrito, if the outside gets super dry, or the outer layers are very hot with either random cold spots or a cold center it’s not a good one. This microwave achieves perfectly even heating throughout, no super hot or cold spots and the tortilla was perfectly cooked without getting dried out. The sensor seems to be very accurate as well but there are certain things it doesn’t do so well with and that’s clearly pointed out in the instructions, it may take a little to learn how to use it and get used to the different way it cooks, keep in mind it’s very powerful. To conclude my review that’s way to long, I consider this microwave an amazing investment and a great value. I absolutely recommend buying it.

A little part of me feels like this review is a tad unfair. First up - this is a perfectly nice, decently performing microwave. Nice functions, works great, reasonably easy on the eye for a big steel box. If I were rating this product on its "microwave-yness" then I'd give it 4 or 5 stars. But most of me thinks that this oven, and Panasonic, throroughly deserve a 1 star for two reasons. First, there are the key words "built-in" in the description and spec, which is exactly why I bought it, as I need a replacement built-in microwave. This oven pairs with the NN-TK932SS trim kit, which I confirmed with Panasonic customer support is the right one. And when I look at the Panasonic website (see picture) there's a nice tight finish. But when fitted, there is actually a 1/2" gap on all four sides of the microwave through which you can see the duct work and cabinet cavity. Seriously - the trim hole is exactly 3/4" bigger than the oven. Ugly. I thought I'd bought the wrong kit, but no. Second, the customer support from Panasonic is ATTROCIOUS. Here's a fun transcript from my chat with them: Levon S (1/3/2018, 7:26:55 AM): Welcome to Panasonic Microwave Support Live Chat Group! How may I assist you? Me (1/3/2018, 7:27:19 AM): Can you confirm the correct 30" trim kit for an NN-SD975S microwave? Me (1/3/2018, 7:27:49 AM): I bought the NN-TK932SS but it has a 1/2" gap all around the microwave, looks ugly. Levon S (1/3/2018, 7:29:17 AM): NN-TK932S Me (1/3/2018, 7:30:22 AM): Really? And its supposed to have a big gap around the microwave? It looks terrible. Me (1/3/2018, 7:31:07 AM): Look at the picture at http://www.abt.com/product/64796/Panasonic-30-Stainless-Microwave-Trim-Kit-NNTK932SS.html Me (1/3/2018, 7:31:25 AM): With the 975S microwave it doesn't look like that at all. Levon S (1/3/2018, 7:32:15 AM): Then you need to contact a installer for unit was installed wrong Me (1/3/2018, 7:33:43 AM): Are you serious? Levon S (1/3/2018, 7:33:43 AM): yes Me (1/3/2018, 7:34:26 AM): There is no installing it wrong. Its a trim... it fits over the microwave. The hole in the trim is bigger than the microwave. "Fitting" it won't make the hole bigger or smaller. Me (1/3/2018, 7:34:51 AM): I'm not talking about the hole in the cabinet. I'm talking about the hole in the trim which fits over the oven. Levon S (1/3/2018, 7:35:30 AM): That is the correct trim kit as I have stated to you and you have enter it wrong because there is no spacing on it Me (1/3/2018, 7:37:17 AM): Is there a phone number I can call to talk to someone else. Either you don't understand me, or the product I was sent is defective. I can fit my entire finger between the trim and the microwave. Me (1/3/2018, 7:37:26 AM): All the way around. Levon S (1/3/2018, 7:37:34 AM): You can call 1-800-211-7262 but you will be charged $9.95 to speak with agent over the phone. Me (1/3/2018, 7:38:02 AM): You guys suck. I'm returning the microwave unless you give me a number to speak to someone for free. Me (1/3/2018, 7:38:27 AM): You call this customer service? Levon S (1/3/2018, 7:39:36 AM): Sorry there is no free number I discovered that there IS a free phone service during the warranty period, but what the number is escapes me. The phone line that told me this hangs up before giving you the option of talking to someone about warranty. A second chat had similar, almost comedic results. The second guy had ME google product dimensions for his own products, in order to confirm that this isn't a fitting issue, and yes indeed the trim is 3/4" bigger that then microwave.

Its a big oven and plenty of watts (1250). The blue LEDs go good against the stainless steel. I am so glad I selected the rotary control dial (vs the old number/keypad). Its easier, faster, and far less effort to control and interface with. The oven cooks noticeably faster than my former 1100 watt unit, but not sure about the “cyclonic inverter” buzz words. Heating is evenly dispersed as one expects for current tech models. I deduct a fraction of a star for the push button used to open the door - Id prefer logic - (to open you “pull” not “push”). A door handle would have been ok with me, but my wife differs! Another fraction off because the cooling fans are noticed when you start the unit to cook. Thesound isnt loud at all - and all microwaves have/use fans while they are on - but you do notice them. But again - these are fractions - not cons. I am very satisfied with the looks, styling, design, and overall performance of this model. I believe it is the best available unit at this time and I would recommend it to anyone wanting a larger size oven. Notice that the “keypad vs dial control” is the only difference between this and its sister model. Panasonic gives you your choice!

My former MW was a Montgomery Wards unit, but I've used a wide variety of units. That old unit was simple and worked for 40 years, until the door began rusting. I had my doubts about replacing it, but this unit is great. It is about the same outer size, but holds larger containers. The rotating platter is of heavy construction, and I like the way the MW looks/functions. I thought II wouldn't use all the functions, but the more I play with them, the better I like the oven. Cooking: I don't fully understand how all the sensing works, but the cooking sensor works for simple items. It does have problems with frozen veggies in a bowl, but does well when they are spread flat. Those, and frozen dinners, rice, and a few other items have all worked well (though white rice is slightly dry at 1.5 to 1, water/rice). I especially love cooking meat using meat defrost. It beeps at the halfway mark. I generally use the defrost to thaw, then use the same setting to finish cooking it. Timed correctly, it cooks evenly and the meat is still tender. The only difficult part is learning/remembering all the buttons. I've been using the unit for 4 months now, and don't miss the old unit. It was fine, but this unit makes it easier to fine tune settings. The MW is easy to clean, too. The company needs to add a "vent" option, though. Steam and smells collect on the inside of the box, so I have to leave the door ajar after cooking. If I don't, the smell of the previous food is still inside up to 24 hours later. The only drawback is the build-in fascia from Panasonic. Set in place, its opening is 3/4" wider than it needs to be.

There were so many mixed reviews of this microwave that I waited several months before reviewing it. First, I had a Wolfe microwave which was built into my kitchen when I bought the house (new). The unit cost well over $1,500 to replace and, worst of all, the reason I needed to replace it was a cheap component that went out over and over and over- at a retail cost of $300 to replace & have installed each time... SO... after giving months worth of thought to what to do THE NEXT TIME, I finally decided to buy a "lesser" microwave and use it on the counter. After less than a month we were so crazy about this one that we took out the built-in unit. Now we're having trim made so it will look like it was designed for the house. This is simply the easiest, fastest, best microwave I've ever used, cleaned, or owned. I don't know if perhaps a change was made to the part some people said was "paper", but there's definitely nothing on the reachable area of my unit that is less than solid materials... and I would have noticed... with two teenaged boys and a five-year-old girl, I've cleaned every square millimeter of the inside and probably the outside multiple times. So just in case you're considering this unit, I can tell you it will defrost a pound of ground beef in about three minutes, make 4oz of popcorn in less than 3 minutes- and that's like two of the bags of popcorn. It cooks a corn dog in 40 seconds from frozen and everything else I've needed it for I've actually needed to REDUCE the time I would have used for my designer Wolfe microwave even when it was brand new... The bottom line, in this case, is the price isn't the whole story. This really IS a terrific buy. If you read my other reviews you'll see I'm fairly stingy with these kinds of compliments.

Our previous Panasonic microwave with similar inverter technology, size, and most of the same features died for good after 20 years of service. RIP So, we purchased this unit, happy with the reliability and performance of the old one and expecting the same from this new one. I will report here with an edit to this review at a later time should we experience a reliability issue. If you don't see an edit, then be assured it is still working. I saw numerous reviews here about poor reliability that I have doubts about the reliability of the reviewers. We'll see. This unit has the dial interface, which I thought would be nice, just for a change, if for no other reason. I have to say, I like the dial more than the keypad, for sure. Just spin the dial to the desire cook time and press START. Only one button press, no matter what time you set. Also, If you mistype and enter the wrong time when poking a keypad, you have to reset and start all over again. Not so with the dial. Just rotate the dial clockwise to increase and counter-clockwise to decrease the time until you get the time set right, then press START. We like the blue colored display better than the old green one. The stainless steel front better matches our kitchen than the old one. Overall, very happy so far. The only nit I have is the interior light is from a single white LED that is only half as bright as the incandescent bulb in the old one, making visibility of what's going on inside definitely worse, and just barely adequate, in my opinion. I hope this reviews helps others. That's the only reason I posted it.

I love how this microwave works and all it's features. I totally recommend this oven. So nice how it cooks or reheats food so fast.

Buen producto