Combination Microwave Convection Oven

Review by Jordan Brown:

[ Dec 2006 ]

We've had this microwave for a couple of months now, so I can't comment on its long-term reliability.

Good:

Mostly, it's been fine. It meets my primary requirement for a microwave, which is that you can put food into it, press 3 0 START, and it cooks for 30 seconds at full power. (It's amazing how many microwaves fail that test, requiring some other key before the time. Easy enough if you know how to use it, but not for visitors.)

It can do relatively complex sequences like:

- Wait 5 minutes (to line up completion time with other foods)

- Cook 4 minutes

- Wait 20 seconds (to give me time to stir)

- Cook 3 minutes

- Wait 2 minutes (post-cook "let stand" time)

It'll prompt you through most operations, though ... the ... prompting ... is ... kind ... of ... tedious.

The Sensor Reheat feature seems to do a pretty good job of warming food up to a good serving temperature. It overwarms frozen corn dogs a little, but only a little.

I haven't used it much, but the Sensor Cook feature did a good job on baked potatoes.

Complaints:

It's going to sound picky, but my biggest complaint with this microwave is that its beeper isn't loud enough. It's a little chirp-chirp that you could easily miss if you're in the next room. It does repeat the chirp every few minutes until you open the door.

The child lock is too hard to use. My other child-lockable appliances have a button with a lock icon on it; if you hold the button for about 5 seconds it locks or unlocks the device. For this one, though, the sequence is Function, 5, 1 to lock and Function, 5, 2 to unlock. (I had to go check.) Too hard to remember, and if you don't know that it starts with "Function" you're just hosed.

Nits:

There are a few features I don't use yet (and so at the moment they represent unnecessary complexity) - Popcorn, More/Less. "Quick Minute" doesn't seem like enough of a win to be worth a dedicated button - 1 0 0 START vs QM START? 6 0 START if you optimize a bit means QM only cuts out one keystroke. If you need three minutes, QM QM QM START is the same as 3 0 0 START.

I'd like a "hard pause" feature, where it would stop a cook sequence and beep, and then resume the cook sequence when I press "Start" after I stir the food.

[ July 2009 ]

Still happy with it, no problems.

[ October 2009 ]

At right about 3 years... just started smoking and shutting itself off. That's not good.

Review by Joe M:

I bought this 6 months ago to replace a ten-year-old GE 1000W microwave. I have it installed in the same cabinet opening as the old GE, but with a different third party grillwork.

Plusses:

The oven cavity is gigantic.

It has lots more functions than I have used and probably more than I will ever use. I bought it for the size and color.

It boils water and cooks/heats thing substantially faster than my old GE. The defrost seems to be more even, but this is not a major change from my old GE.

Minuses:

The timer/done beeper is not loud enough. If I have the stove exhaust fan running on low, I cannot hear the beeper unless I am listening intently for it. If nothing is running in the kitchen, I can hear it at a much lower volume level than the old GE. The beeper does NOT repeat with reminders unless you turn the option on in the functions menu.

This microwave is electronically noisy. It kills my wireless WIFI connection whereas the old GE barely slowed it down. It also causes a noticable garbling of cordless phone calls. Again the GE did not do this. I don't know if the GE was abnormally good or if the Panasonic is abnormally bad, but the transition was downhill.

If I try to do anything complicated, the microwave prompts me through it with scrolling pormpts on a display that is too small for the purpose. The information is there, but it is a slow process. I would have prefered more info on the decal inside the oven so I didn't have to wait while things scroll by 6 letters at a time. The fact -- that there is help -- is good.

The exterior of the oven door is a high-gloss, soft plastic. The softness makes it easy to get small scratches on it. The high-gloss makes it easy to see them.

ENJOY YOUR MEAL

Review by CQ DX:

I conducted a good amount of research before deciding on this Sharp microwave oven. I wanted my new oven to meet the following important criteria and have the following features:

* a carousel and be able to fit a dinner plate

* at least 1000 watts of heating power (this has 1100) to heat food fast

* classy looking, compact stainless steel design

* name brand reputation for reliability

* around 100 dollars or so, give or take a little

I've had good luck with the Sharp brand. My previous microwave oven was also a Sharp unit, I had purchased way back in 1995. It was a full-size unit though, and I wanted to get something smaller, in stainless steel, since we recently re-did our kitchen in stainless steel. 'Luck would have it' that our old 1995 Sharp unit broke down shortly after we re-did our kitchen in late 2005, so I jumped at the opportunity to get another Sharp. The new R-305KS works flawlessly, and cooks even faster and more even than my older, larger unit! I must have reaped the benefits of improved microwave technology over the last 10 years or so that i've owned the older Sharp oven. All in all, a SUPERB VALUE and a SOLID PERFORMER!

Review by Gene T. Blakely:

I had another brand which did magnificently for 12 years. I couldn't find one similar in the same brand, so went to the Sharp. It is the size that a couple almost 80 years old can use best. We do little cooking in the microwave - more reheating coffee, or warming up food that has already been cooked on the stove. Oh, it does cook our oatmeal daily - generally 3 min at 50% power. Price was right, and shipping was included. Why not 5 stars? -- we prefer the door with a handle like our previous microwave had. For those who prefer "push" over "pull" - it is a 5 star.Sharp R-305KS 1-Cubic-Foot 1100-Watt Microwave Oven, Stainless

Review by Lincoln R. Sander:

To the best of my knowledge this is the largest Microwave/Convection oven available that can be used counter-top or built in. We purchased one for our old house 20 years ago and it just died after much use. We were glad they still make the same product size wise but with many updates.

LRS-- Sandy Hook, CT

Review by Philip Donahue:

but it does everything it's supposed to do, and it does it beautifully. I have to put on my glasses to read the button labels but less subtle labels would detract from the overall attractive appearance. Besides, the controls are intuitive and I almost have them memorized anyway. This is a terrific unit.

Review by RabiysRhyme:

Pros:

It is a compact, lightweight microwave.

It does an above average job of thawing frozen foods.

It does an above average job of reheating uncovered entrees.

It appears to be one of the most uniformly heating microwaves that I have ever used.

Cons:

1) It emits so much radio frequency noise that it shuts down the 2.4GHz (802.11G) wireless router for our computers that is 40' away. A call to Panasonic had a technician that stated this was normal(!), and suggested if we were concerned we could have it check for stray microwaves.

2) It does not deliver as much heat into a cup of liquid as an older GoldStar microwave of ~1100W, i.e. heating takes longer despite a higher power.

Minor annoyances: The light only comes on when the klystron is active, and the grill is difficult to see through so it can be difficult to judge when items are sufficiently heated.

The display is not visible when standing next to the keypad, unless you are 5' or shorter at normal counter height. (It appears to show 88:88 until you bend down.)

The wheels supporting the plate don't have a track, so it is pretty common not to have them perfectly centered around the drive. This can lead to some squeaking until you get it recentered.

Review by M. Hyatt:

AFTER DAYS OF RESEARCHING MICROWAVE OVENS I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS MICROWAVE OVEN TO REPLACE MY 7 YEAR OLD SHARP. I HAVE ONLY USED IT A FEW TIMES BUT IT SEEMS TO BE AS GOOD AS MY OLD SHARP OVEN.

THIS OVEN IS A NN-SD967S Luxury Full-Size 2.2 cu. ft. Microwave Oven with Inverter Technology, 1250 Watt High Power and Easy-to-Use Pop-Out Dial, Stainless. PANASONIC MAKES A SIMILAR MODEL FOR ABOUT 0 MORE AND HAVE YET TO FIND ANY DIFFERENCES EXCEPT THE COLOR OF THE LED READOUT AND A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT BUTTON STYLE.

I LIKE THIS OVEN BECAUSE OF THE EASY TO USE POP OUT DIAL AND THE INVERTER TECHNOLOGY WHICH ALLOWS IT TO COOK,DEFROST,ETC FOOD WITHOUT CYCLING ON AND OFF. THE INVERTER USES A VARIETY OF CHANGING FROM LOW-HIGH POWER AND DOES NOT CYCLE ON AND OFF WHEN USING DIFFERENT MODES, SUCH AS SENSOR COOKING, REHEATING,DEFROST.

THIS OVEN WOULD BE TOO LARGE IF YOU HAVE A SMALL KITCHEN(SEE MY IMAGES ABOVE). IT HAS A NICE LOOKING STAINLESS FRONT. THE CONTROLS ARE EASY TO USE THE DOOR LATCH IS STURDY AND DOES NOT FEEL CHEAP. I HAVE NOT NOTICED ANY CHANGE W/ MY WIRELESS INTERNET AND PHONES AS NOTED IN OTHER REVIEWS(It may be the router).

IF YOU NEED A LARGE COUNTER-TOP MICROWAVE THEN THIS IS A HIGH QUALITY OVEN AT A GOOD PRICE, UNDER 0. (AS WELL AS FREE SHIPPING AND NO TAXES)

+++UPDATE 5-23-09...MICROWAVE WORKS GREAT...NO PROBS AT ALL!!!

Review by VLG:

After several years of fantastic service, our GE microwave caught fire. (Upon further research we found we were lucky it had not done so sooner, but it cooked to perfection while it worked.) I read reviews for the Panasonic NN-H965WF 2.2 cu. ft. microwave and decided to purchase it. I was really looking forward to having a large oven. However, I have been very disappointed in its performance. First, it takes much longer to cook foods,or even heat water, for that matter, than any other microwave we have owned. Also, the auto popcorn setting either undercooks or burns the popcorn. The auto sensor cooking does a poor job. In short, I have used cheap microwaves of much less power in offices and other places that out perform this machine. Also, placing the glass plate correctly in position can take a bit of time. By "time" I mean seconds, but much longer than I have ever experienced with other machines and when one is trying to cook in a hurry, having to fuss with the plate is irritating. And speaking of time, the clock and other readings are not very clear. The background with the unlit portions of the digital read-out shows so brightly that there is not much contrast between it and the lit numbers. In short, I wish I had purchased a different microwave and would not recommend this one to a perspective buyer.

Review by Alwin:

Purchased August 20, 2006. Failed within 19 months (March 2008). It makes an electrical arcing sound (similar to a Jacob's Ladder, often seen in cheesy Sci-Fi flicks) and emits a burning smell from an unknown source, and shuts itself off before even 10 seconds pass of cooking on high. No foreign metal has been placed inside, instructions have been followed to the letter, and very little shaking has been done to it.

Putting the sensor reheat/sensor cook (a must) together with the good reviews at the time, I bought it.

Unfortunately it seems not enough work was put into solidifying the electrical system, due to what essentially was a fire in my case, and I suspect exactly the same for reviewer VLG "VLG" (Enid, OK).

Due to my experience, VLG's review (fire), John H. Stoufer's review (died), and Deb's comment on said review (2 in less than 3 years), I would advise AGAINST purchasing this model, as all units seem built to fail within 2 years.

Review by S. Hudgin:

I bought this Microwave to replace an older Sharp model. I have had very good luck with Sharp Microwaves and this new one is no different. It's a very good compact microwave for one or two people. It was very easy to set the clock and use right out of the box. I love the look of it. The buttons are very simple to use. I don't use my microwave for cooking that much, I use it mostly for reheating and defrosting. I am a single mom with one teenage son who never eats at the same time as I do so it comes in very handy. I do sometimes cook bacon and pototoes in it. It makes great baked potatoes. It you have more than two people in your family you might want to get a larger oven. I have been using Sharp microwaves for many, many years, they make a great product. I highly recommend this model and all Sharps for that matter.

Review by June Cheatwood:

Power-level settings of 100%, 90%, and right on down--I am amazed. I think the very-low settings are for drying food; can you imagine being able to do dried foods yourself? Then quick-buttons for nearly everything. It'll take a while to learn all the features but even right out of the box it was just so easy to use! All I wanted was a small simple one that wouldn't take much counterspace and never dreamed it would have all this, not for this price. My old microwave had just given out--after 23 years of daily use--and the one thing I wanted was defrost, that's all. I'd always used the microwave, on defrost, to simmer foods that needs long, slow cooking--with no pot-watching and no chance of burning. You ought to try that! Much better than on the stove--and this does have defrost, of course of course--but so many other settings that will be even better for slow cooking. Then you can choose to defrost meat according to how much the chunk of meat actually weighs, of all things--there's a setting for that too! Never heard of that! One more feature I especially wanted was for the light to go out when the door is open and here's why: The way to make a microwave last simply forever is to leave the door open a while after each use and let it dry out. Then it will last for decades--like my old one did. But wouldn't want to leave it open if the light stayed on, no; so another highly desirable feature right there. I just don't think a better microwave could be bought at any price, period--many more features aren't even listed here. The more expensive ones seem to only have features I'd never use anyway--a built-in toaster or something--so why pay for that! No, if it's microwaving you're after, this is just IT. Also, if you're wondering about size, it says compact but holds a regular-size Pyrex loaf pan with room to spare as it turns, or a big mixing bowl with a pretty big hen or whatever in it, so that's plenty big for most people. It's the design--there are scooped-out places in the inner walls that allow space for the rim of a bowl or a pan to turn. That's why it holds so much. And hey, it looks nice too--and is light enough that I can easily move it to clean under it yet it does feel as heavy and solid as can be. My hat is certainly off to the designers! (And as always, to Amazon! It got here in no time with Amazon's free SuperSaver shipping--days before I was told it would arrive!) I don't have a single negative to say after a week's use and every day am still discovering yet more wonderful things about it that save a busy person's time and energy--as well as money. Thought I'd let other shoppers know!

Review by D. He:

I purchased this microwave as an addition to my dorm room. I would have liked a high-powered microwave, but restraints on space and money stopped me. For the price and for the size, this microwave works rather well. There are some extra functions, but I just use the regular microwaving. The only thing that I do not like about the microwave is that its internal rotating dish is not very stable, and is prone to shifting off its base with even a slightly unbalanced load. Even so, it was a worthwhile purchase.

Review by MarkB:

This microwave oven worked fine for 7 weeks.

I used it to heat soup, and for oatmeal in the morning.

One morning it just broke.

The door closed, the light and fan came on, but there was no heat.

It emitted a burning plastic smell.

Sharp service told me that I needed to have a Sharp-authorized technician examine it before it could be replaced.

Unfortunately, the nearest Sharp-authorized service location is a two-hour round trip drive for me. They don't accept shipments, nor are they are not open on weekends.

This means that in order for me to obtain warranty service on this relatively new product I would have to *take a day off work*, as it is too far to drive on my lunch hour.

Also, one cannot return a product to Sharp for examination; as per the warranty you must "hand carry" or ship the item to a service location

(if the service location accepts shipments; mine doesn't).

So I believe my current options are:

1) find a local microwave service place, and pay for the service myself

or

2) throw the oven away

I recommend not purchasing this microwave oven because it may break soon after purchase.

I recommend not purchasing any Sharp appliance unless you know that a Sharp-authorized service location is close by.

Best Regards and Good Luck!

Mark

Review by Light Pebble:

Amana has spent a long time listening to their customers and this microwave has many nice features that would make a difference in how much you like using it. The sound level is adjustable and you can turn it off completely. Or even have melodies as end signals apparently. The speed at which the prompts go by is adjustable. If the sensor cooking is cooking foods the wrong amount of time you can add or subtract minutes from it. Etc etc.

It's louder than I'd like - but it's my first microwave so I don't know how it compares to other microwaves. And I'm a serious disliker of noise.

The microwaved food is very tasty. Vegetables are very flavorful because they aren't cooked very long. It's a powerful microwave so it cooks food fast. I was losing so much flavor, cooking things on the stovetop.

Review by elliewriter:

This is a fantastic microwave.

I bought it for my boyfriend about 1.5 years ago as a "sort of" gift. (I'd insisted he get rid of his old one that was leaking light and probably radiation and replaced it with a cheapie extra that was around the house, only to find the replacement was peeling paint and leaking water every time he used it. So I felt a little obligated to get him a better one).

The Amana is lightyears ahead of any other microwave, in my opinion. There have been no problems with it at all. He doesn't cook pot roasts in it but does cook dishes such as jasmine rice and whole artichokes and finds it handy for reheating his coffee and melting butter too.

While neither of us can claim to have used all the functions (does anybody really ever take the time to figure all that out?) it works beautifully, doesn't leak, is easy to clean and has been reliable. He likes that he can set it so it doesn't beep every time you push a button.

The size of this model is nice too, in that you can fit a large bowl, casserole dish or plate in there but it doesn't hog all the space on the countertop. In his case, that means the coffeepot fits next to his sink too. Plus it doesn't eat up so much power that you're going to blow a fuse.

My own microwave recently died after I realized its wiring must be melting and unplugged it. It was a fairly new one that my teenage son left when he got his own place and I'm really thankful that the burning didn't happen when he wasn't watching it, or when my other son was home "cooking" on his own.

When this one gets replaced, you betcha it's going to be with an Amana.

My only problem with the Amana was I couldn't find a local dealer who sold this size countertop model and had to order it from A.J. Madison in New York. It was pretty expensive to ship. But I'd do it again instead of buying another junk model from a local dealer.

Update, July 2009: I recently found this model can be ordered online through Home Depot, with free shipping. Woo-hoo!

If you're debating between an Amana and another model, I'd definitely recommend the Amana.

Review by d-18v:

I got this model because it was inexpensive and GE has a good reputation. Also, microwave ovens are a pretty much a commodity. It really doesn't matter which one you get. All units with the same amount of power work the same way. They all have carousels.

The problem with this model is that the keypad is very stiff. I have to press each key very firmly, sometimes more than once to get it to register. If I can find the packing, I may return it. I should have gotten a comparably sized Kenmore, like the one we have in the office.

Review by K. Fowler:

I purchase a Panasonic Model NN-T984 4 years ago. It was suppose to be a top model. It sure cost like one. Four years later, it is dead. I just bought a GE PEB2060, another one that was suppose to be one of the best. It was bad right out of the box. I have heard bad news about Sharp, so now it's what to buy? None seem to be very well made. I think that they all come off the same assembly line in China. When heating a beverage in the GE, after about 10 seconds, it stops with F4 in the display with 4 beeps. Of course the printed in China manual doesn't cover this error. It goes back to Home Depot tomorrow.