Sharp SMC1464KS 1.4 Cf Countertop Microwave Oven Orville Redenbacher's Certified

Got this Sharp Carousel countertop microwave as a gift. It replaced another Sharp microwave of similar dimensions/power that was at least 30 years old and still working fine. The new inverter technology definitely allows this version to cook/reheat items better. My absolute favorite preset is the sensor reheat. Reheated meals, no matter whether they go in at room temperature or cold from the refrigerator come out at a perfect temperature and not burned or overcooked. The defrost function also works better than the old oven which would sometimes start to cook portions of the food while other parts were still frozen. That doesn't happen with the new one. The popcorn preset works well but you definitely have to monitor the popping carefully and stop the popping immediately when the popping slows down. If you do this you will get perfect popcorn. If you don't you will get scorched popcorn. The melt/soften preset leaves something to be desired especially when trying to soften butter. There are better ways to soften butter (set the power level to 10% and microwave for a minute or two). The extensive operation manual needs improvement. It takes a lot of reading and rereading. Parts of it are quite confusing and sometimes downright contradictory. I still on occasion take it out and reread about a certain function usually coming away with an improved understanding. All in all I am absolutely delighted with this microwave. I give it five out of five stars. I give the instruction manual 2 1/2 stars.

This microwave was an upgrade from an older identical model that had been used for so many years I can't recall. The old one was breaking down, and the new one works perfectly and has features galore. By basically replacing a microwave I was already familiar with, there is hardly any learning curve, except for the nifty new controls.