Brand & Model OveScorrall e Price Test ResultsFeaturesRecommendedRank Heating evennessDefrosting evennessSpeed of heatingNoise Ease of useUsable capacity (cu. ft.)Claimed capacity (cu. ft.)WattsDetailed promptsConvection modeSensorStainless/ SS-look option
LARGE COUNTERTOP MICROWAVES! 0 1 Panasonic NN-SE785S^88 $290 05 40 50 40 05 0.9 1.6 1,250^000
! 0 2 GE Profile JES2251SJ[SS]^85 $280 05 40 50 40 05 1.5 2.2 1,200^000
! 0 3 Panasonic NN-SD975S^83 $250 05 40 50 40 05 1.5 2.2 1,250^000
! 0 4 GE JES2051SN[SS]^83 $250 05 40 50 40 05 1.2 2.0 1,200^000
! 0 5 Panasonic NN-SN966S^81 $250 05 50 05 40 04 1.4 2.2 1,250^00
! 0 6 Panasonic NN-SD945S^81 $215 04 50 50 40 05 1.4 2.2 1,250^000
7 Panasonic NN-SD745S^77 $195 03 40 05 40 05 0.9 1.6 1,250^000
8 LG LCRT2010[ST] 76 $200 04 40 05 40 05 1.2 2.0 1,200^000
9 Kenmore Elite 79 393 76 $250 04 40 05 40 04 1.4 2.2 1,250^00
10 Panasonic NN-SN7 36 B^75 $165 04 40 05 40 04 0.9 1.6 1,250^0
11 Whirlpool WMC50522AWS^74 $270 03 30 05 40 05 1.3 2.2 1,200^00
12 LG LMC1575^73 $200 04 50 05 40 03 0.8 1.5 1,200^00
13 GE JES1656SRSS 73 $150 04 30 05 50 04 0.9 1.6 1,150^000
14 GE Profile PES7227SLSS 72 $350 03 30 04 50 04 1.3 2.2 1,100^00
15 Frigidaire FFCE2278L[S]^72 $190 04 50 05 30 02 1.3 2.2 1,200^000
MIDSIZED COUNTERTOP MICROWAVES$ 0 1 LG NeoChef LMC1275SB^82 $160 05 50 05 40 04 0.8 1.2 1,200
$ 0 2
Panasonic Genius Prestige
NN-SD681S^81 $180^0450053005 0.7 1.2 1,200
0! 0 3 Panasonic NN-SA651S^79 $200 04 50 05 40 04 0.7 1.2 1,200^0
4 General GEW1000E^78 $310 05 NA 04 50 04 0.8 1.0 1,000^0
5 Summit SCM1000SS 74 $250 04 NA 05 40 04 0.8 1.0 1,000^0
6 Frigidaire FFCM 113 4L[S] 70 $120 04 50 04 40 04 0.5 1.1 1,100^0
7 Samsung MG11H2020CT^68 $160 04 30 04 40 04 0.7 1.1 1,000^0
8 Westinghouse WCM11100SSB^67 $105 04 40 04 40 03 0.7 1.1 1,000^0
9 Samsung MC12J80^3 5CT^67 $500 03 50 30 50 04 0.8 1.2^90000
10 Danby DMW111KBLDB 65 $90 03 40 04 40 04 0.6 1.1 1,000
All-Access or Digital members can find the latest ratings at CR.org/microwaves1218.HOW WE TEST: Heating evenness
reflects how evenly a model reheats
a dish of cold mashed potatoes.
Defrosting evenness is based on
how well the auto-defrost program
defrosts a pound of frozen ground
beef. Speed of heating is based on
the temperature rise of water that’s
heated. Noise reflects how quiet the
appliance is while it’s on high. Ease
of use includes how easy it is to set
the microwave without referring to
the instructions. Venting (airflow) is
based on the volume of air drawn
in by the internal fan on the highest
setting of an over-the-range model.
Usable capacity is the usable space
based on our measurements and
excludes the corner spaces for
models with rotating turntables. Note
that most over-the-range models
allow you to turn off the rotation to
fit large dishes. With the rotation off,
measured capacity approximatesclaimed capacity. The Overall
Score for over-the-range models
combines lab test results with survey
data for predicted reliability and
owner satisfaction, and is based on a
100-point scale. Predicted reliability
estimates the likelihood that newly
purchased models from a given
brand, not under service contract,
will break within the first five years.
Owner satisfaction is based on the
proportion of CR members who areextremely likely to recommend the
microwave they bought. In cases
where we have insufficient survey
data to provide a brand-level rating,
which we indicate by a dash (—),
we assume the model has average
reliability and satisfaction. The
Overall Score for countertop models
is based on lab test results only. Price
is approximate retail.DECEMBER 2018 CR.ORG 25