Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SD372S Stainless Steel Countertop/Built-In with Inverter Technology and Genius Sensor, 0.8 Cu. Ft, 950W

This microwave is replacing a 20 year old (still working, but aesthetically awful) Sharp carousel, 700 W. I was looking for a small microwave with a little more power. They're hard to find. This one did the trick. I don't use the microwave to cook; I only reheat leftovers in it. It's perfect for the one-plate reheat. If you're looking for something that cooks a meal for the whole family, this is not the right microwave for you.Aesthetically, I really like the look of this microwave. It's all stainless, with a nice, simple control layout.Speaking of the controls, it's a little different than what most people are probably used to, but I think this is one of the coolest features. There is no number pad. (There still is a "Quick Min" button, which will get frequent use!) Instead, there's a retractable "dial" that when you push it, it pops out. You then turn the dial to as many seconds/minutes as you need. You can push it back in when you're done so it's not sticking out (it doesn't stick out that far anyway.)Upgrading from a 700W microwave, I love the faster reheating times of my new Panasonic. I also really love the "Inverter" technology. This keeps the microwave at a more constant power level (which also means it's a more consistent volume). It's much quieter than my old Sharp was, but then again that was a 20+ year old microwave.I've experimented a little bit with the "sensor" reheat. It's inconsistent, but I don't find this to be a big deal. I generally use the "Quick Minute" button for most reheat jobs (I'd say 3 minutes for most plates of cold food, a can of soup, etc. is typical.) Like anything else in a microwave, you usually need to adjust times for every different job. Even popcorn never really is the same time twice. (I go by the popping sound, not by time.) So, even though the sensor heat wasn't perfect, it wasn't a big deal to me. If it is for you, you might need to look at higher end devices.I have not had a need to try the defrost setting yet. I generally try to avoid using the microwave to defrost because it invariably actually ends up "cooking" a little bit of the food anyway, which I find to be a problem. If I try defrosting, I'll update this review.Overall, I'm very happy with its appearance and function. Hopefully I can get 20 years out of this microwave, too.

I had an older Panasonic microwave from the 90's which still worked but was taking up a little more counter space than I wanted so I replaced it with this smaller and newer technology Panasonic and I am so glad I did!It fits so much better on my counter giving me some precious space on top and an front back, just what I wanted.Another feature I really love is the inverter technology which basically allows me to adjust the cooking power and make more delicate foods like scrambled eggs perfectly. Since the power levels with the inverter technology are constant, I can watch the egg fluff up thru the window until it reaches the point I know is fully cooked yet still fluffy and not overdone. I couldn't do this on a lower setting on my old one because the way it achieved lower heat was different, it would heat the food up at full power then cycle off, then hit it again with full power then cycle off etc...Watching scrambled eggs cook in the old one was hard as each time it cycled off the egg mixture would deflate as the carousel would continue turning creating cold spots. This no longer happens with this new technology!Also, I am so glad I didn't pay attention to the few negative reviewers stating they sent theirs back because the microwave would continuw working even after they opened the door and claiming it was defective or in any way unsafe, Hogwash!That is the design of this newer technology to allow the cooling fan to continue working even after you open the door sometimes (depending on the amount of use and the temperature of the internal electronics) but it is in no way the actual heating portion of the microwave continuing to work (that would be insane!).The reason these people probably made this mistake is because the actual cooking part is almost silent unlike the older technology which made a loud vibrating noise when cooking. This unit is fairly silent which is another plus.Anyway, I have had it now for a few months at least and it's working perfectly. I highly recommend this model for style and affordable price. The only complaint I agree with is the door does show finger prints mainly because you touch the door to close it since there is no handle but I got use to closing it by touching the plastic trim around the door top and avoid making that many fingerprints. It's not that big a deal compared to the overall satisfaction in cooking it delivers.