Karen Wiggins on July 10, 2016 0 Comments Clever Cooking Right On Your Countertop Table of Contents Get to Know the Unit List of Features Customer Reviews What I Liked About It What I Didn’t Like About It Specs & Warranty Info It can be difficult to choose the right microwave oven. As one of the most popular kitchen appliances, microwaves come in a variety of different types, with an even larger selection of features, sizes, finishes and cooking styles within each type. On top of all this, you have to still worry about finding the best microwave within your budget. It can feel a bit overwhelming. This is something a lot of people struggle with, be it a first time homeowner to professional chefs. A microwave is no longer used just for heating things up quickly, after all, and most people also want to be able to use them to roast a chicken or bake something in it. Microwave ovens can be used for a range of different cooking activities. I recently came across a popular model from Panasonic. After a few weeks of using it, I believe it to be one of the best microwaves out there. It is one that suits every cooking style – as well as every budget! Find The Best Price: [dfrcs name=”NN-SN661S” brand=”panasonic”] Meet the Panasonic NN-SN661S The Panasonic NN-SN661S is a modern looking microwave, as expected from Panasonic. It is also a bestselling microwave through Amazon, and one of the most common units that you will come across in both Brick & Mortar stores and online shopping. The microwave uses ‘inverter technology’. This enables it to cook evenly throughout, as well as deliver delicious flavor. Furthermore, it comes with ‘inverter turbo defrost’, which allows you to quickly defrost your food, an intuitive feature not available in all microwaves. The microwave is powered by 1200W of cooking power. It also has a One Touch Genius Sensor Cook and Reheat, which allows you to cook certain dishes automatically. Uniquely, the microwave comes with a ‘Keep Warm’ feature, a popular feature that is commonly found on crockpots and slow cookers. Designed to sit right on your countertop, this unit weighs a mere 25 pounds, which means it is can easily be moved around. Along with its sleek stainless steel and silver appearance, it is guaranteed to fit into the decor of just about any kitchen. This is one microwave that will make sure you don’t waste any time, heating up really quickly. It is easy to clean, has innovative technology, a variety of features and has a sleek and modern appearance. According to Panasonic, the 1200W of power helps to deliver far quicker than average cooking times. Considering that the majority of microwave ovens are between 600W and 800W, it is easy to deduce the logic behind this claim. The inverter technology that the microwave is equipped with ensures cooking power is delivered in a seamless stream, and defrosting time is even and quick, without starting to cook whatever is being defrosted. It also has an automatic sensor, which enables the user to adjust both the power and times depending on the food. This is an important consideration, because the microwave instructions on many foods are provided for 600W, 700W, or 800W of power, which means you will need to adjust your cooking times accordingly. Panasonic, being an international brand, also provides cooking instructions in Spanish and French, as well as English, which is its standard language. Furthermore, while the microwave is designed to be a countertop, it can also be included as part of a built in installation. Trim kits can be purchased separately and affordably as well. List of Features: Here’s a quick list of the most popular features. A stainless steel exterior design. Inverter technology for even cooking and quick defrosting. Internal sensor to adjust cooking times for different types of food. Various microwave cooking modes, including keep warm, turbo defrost, sensor reheat, sensor cook technology, and even the popular popcorn setting. Turntable is included with this microwave. Customer Reviews: The Panasonic NN-SN661S microwave is one of the bestselling microwaves on Amazon, where it has received a huge number of positive reviews. A lot of people have mentioned that it is the first time they have bought a microwave with really good technology, usually opting for cheap models that tend to break down rather quickly. Some people also pointed out that the size of the appliance is just right, ensuring that the kitchen is not dominated by it, yet large enough to work for a variety of different foods. This is, indeed, a great benefit because the majority of microwave ovens that have a lot of functionality tend to take up a great deal of space. This may work for over-the-range units, but countertop space is a valuable commodity in every kitchen, no matter how large or small it may be. The microwave, people say, is perfect for everything. Not only does it enable them to cook a quick and “healthy” TV dinner, this unit is commonly touted as being able to heat them to perfection. I tested it out with a variety of different foods, from popcorn to paninis. All of which came out evenly cooked. The paninis, even came out crispy and toasted, something that doesn’t often happen when using a microwave. But, don’t take my word for it, see what others are saying. At the date of this publication, there were over 3,000 reviews with 72% of reviewers giving it either 4 or 5 stars. Click here to read all of the customer reviews on Amazon. What I Liked About the Panasonic NN-SN661S It is a Panasonic microwave, a trusted brand when it comes to home and kitchen appliances. It comes with innovative technology that few other microwave ovens can replicate. It has a number of excellent features and settings that make cooking simple and quick. It is an affordable option, especially when you consider the brand and all its features. It doesn’t take up a lot of space on the kitchen counter, while at the same time being large enough for various meals. It cooks evenly and quickly. What I Didn’t Like About the Panasonic NN-SN661S Because this is a 1200W microwave, there are often no cooking instructions for many foods, as their instructions are provided for lower-powered microwave ovens only. This is going to pose a bit of a hurdle for some, but with a little bit of trial and error, and perhaps a few over-cooked meals, it is easy to adapt to the higher cooking power. You can also adjust the power on the microwave itself. I read a few reviews about the door latch breaking. While I didn’t experience this, it is still a concern for me as I use the unit. Replacement parts are easily attainable and the unit itself comes with a decent warranty, but let’s be honest, nobody wants to deal with that. The Final Verdict People tend to realize that they have to go through quite a few microwave ovens before they find one that really works for them. With so many different units to choose from, not to mention brands, features and price-points, it is understandable that finding the right microwave for your lifestyle may be a bit difficult. The Panasonic NN-SN661S microwave is an exceptional unit that will be a great fit for the majority of people, especially families that need quick and simple cooking. After using it for the last few weeks, it’s easy to see why the Panasonic NN-SN661S microwave is so popular. It’s really a no-brainer. This is a microwave oven that everybody is going to love. It is affordable, it has innovative technology, and it does a whole lot more than simply heating up TV dinners. You have the backing of a solid brand behind you as well. Technical Specs & Warranty Info Model: NN-SN661S Power Consumption: 1480 Watts Capacity: 1.2 cubic ft. Power Supply: Inverter Height: 12 1/4 inches Cooking Power: 1200 Watts Width: 20 11/16 inches Interior Light: Yes Depth: 15 13/16 inches Interior Color: White Weight: 25 1/2 lbs. Interior Light: Yes Door Finish: Stainless Steel Owners Manual: Download PDF Body Color: Silver Warranty Info: Download PDF