Stainless Microwave

Stainless Microwave

By Anne Ahira

Nothing says classy and smart like stainless appliances. The silver look just sets a kitchen off, and makes it look ultra modern and sleek.

Of course, no kitchen is complete without the handy microwave oven, and it comes in stainless too.

A stainless microwave is a nice addition to any kitchen, however with all the choices available which one is the best?

Some of that will depend a lot on your budget, so here we will look at three stainless microwave examples from different price ranges.

Sharp Stainless Microwave (R305KS)

Many people are operating on a strict budget these days and need something stylish but affordable. That is the Sharp stainless microwave in a nutshell. Some features include:

• 1100 watt
• 1 cubic foot capacity
• 12 5/8 inch turntable
• 4 defrost, 6 cook and 6 reheat options
• Price- $138

You can likely find cheaper microwaves at a local retailer but not in stainless steel! This microwave has good price, decent wattage and size; overall, this is a great budget unit.

Sharp – R-530ES

If you are looking for a bit more cooking space and have a little, more to spend there is the Sharp R-530ES stainless microwave. Features include:

• 1200 watt
• 2 cubic foot capacity
• 16 inch turntable
• Interior lighting
• 13 cooking settings
• Price – $263

What may look like a great increase in size and wattage for the money apparently is a lemon. Of the fourteen people who have evaluated this unit on Amazon, half have had problems with this microwave.

Some were shipping issues but a good number actually had functionality problems with this stainless microwave. Since some customers have actually had the microwave catch fire this unit is probably not a good investment choice.

Panasonic

At the top of the food chain is the Panasonic stainless microwave. This unit is actually a microwave and convection oven combination that can be used as a built in or countertop model. Features include:

• 1100 watts
• 1.5 cubic feet capacity
• 15 inch turntable
• 10 power levels, 5 cooking stages
• 3 speed fan
• Price -  $647

Top of the line products command top of the line prices and this Panasonic stainless microwave/ convection oven is living proof. One big difference between this model and the ones previously reviewed is customer satisfaction.

While the first was pretty even and the second was overwhelmingly negative, the Panasonic gets rave reviews. One customer comments that the first one of this model they purchased lasted 20 years!

Bottom Line

Your budget and purpose will determine the best stainless microwave for you. If you are remodeling a home you plan on spending several years in the Panasonic is probably the best investment.

Of course, the amount of money you have to spend will be the final determining factor.

Here's Stainless Microwave Selections:

Panasonic NN-SD688S Prestige 1300-Watt 1-1/5-Cubic...	Customer Review: I purchased this microwave due to its power to size ratio. That is, we wanted a powerful microwave that did not take up a lot of space. For daily use it's plenty big, it looks nice. And yes, it is easy to use. All you need to do is spend 5 minutes lo... Read More	(20)
Panasonic NN-SN657S 1300-Watt 1-1/5-Cubic-Feet Sen...	Customer Review: I purchased this Panasonic microwave because it appeared to be identical to one I had owned for 9 years. Appearance, yes....quality NO!. The compartment lite only comes on when the oven is running, the display can not be read at an angle, the keypa... Read More	(39)
Haier MWM10100SS 1-Cubic-Foot 1000-Watt Microwave ...	Customer Review: I got this Haier microwave today and the I am inpressed with both the lay out and the design, the alarm is loud and clear the pad is user friendly and the 1 CF is nice, so far so good, I hope it will withstand the test of time.... Read More	(4)
Sharp R-305KS 1-Cubic-Foot 1100-Watt Microwave Ove...	Customer Review: We bought this microwave based on having had good luck with Sharp products and its appearance and its price. The microwave was a disappointment from the start. The motor sounds like it's about to die. We are unable to get microwave popcorn popped ... Read More	(136)
Panasonic NN-SD997S Genius Prestige 2-1/5-Cubic-Fo...	Customer Review: After looking at many microwaves I ended up selecting this one and have been very pleased with the purchase. The reasons I chose this one were: 1. The size..... It is quite large, which is just what I wanted. 2. The outer case...... It is stainless s... Read More	(42)