Panasonic NN-SN975S  Microwave Review

Reviewed Jul 10, 2024 at 10:13am
Tested using Methodology v1.0 
Panasonic NN-SN975S
 0

The Panasonic NN-SN975S is a big countertop microwave. Its cooking chamber is bigger than other microwaves we've tested, including over-the-range models. Its controls include sensor cooking programs and a mute option. It has physical buttons instead of touch-sensitive ones, which you might like but they can also be more difficult to wipe clean.

Our Verdict

9.7
Power 

The Panasonic NN-SN975S is a very fast microwave. It has a high 1250-watt output power and heats food faster than some microwaves with similar power output, like the Breville the Smooth Wave.

Pros
  • Large cooking chamber.
  • Heats food fast.
Cons
  • Takes up a lot of space.

Performance Usages

  • 9.7
    Power
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Jul 10, 2024: Review published.

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    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    The Panasonic NN-SN975S comes in one stainless steel variant. You can see the label for the unit we tested here.

    If you encounter another variant, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.

    Popular Microwave Comparisons

    The Panasonic NN-SN975S is a large countertop microwave. Its cooking chamber can accommodate big dishes, and it reheats food quickly. Unlike most microwaves, it has physical buttons. This microwave has all the usual features, like reheat and defrost modes, sensor cooking options, and a mute function. If you don't need a big microwave, the Panasonic NN-SN77HS is a good mid-sized option with similar features.

    If you're still looking for a recommendation, check out the best microwaves and the best over-the-range microwaves.

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
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    Category:
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    Design
    Body
    Installation
    Countertop
    Height14.0" (35.5 cm)
    Width23.9" (60.6 cm)
    Depth Without Handle
    19.3" (49.0 cm)
    Depth With Handle
    N/A
    Power Cord Length3.63 ft (1.11 m)
    Cooking Chamber
    Advertised Chamber Volume
    2.2 cu. ft.
    Turntable Diameter
    16.5" (42.0 cm)
    Chamber Height
    11.1" (28.1 cm)
    Chamber Width
    18.4" (46.8 cm)
    Chamber Depth
    18.5" (47.0 cm)
    Measured Chamber Volume
    2.2 cu. ft. (0.06 m³)

    It has the biggest cooking chamber of all the countertop microwaves we've tested by a pretty significant margin, making it suitable for heating food in casserole dishes or mixing bowls. The light inside makes it decently easy to see into the chamber.

    Controls And Functions
    Door Release
    Button
    Cooking Sensor
    Yes
    Popcorn Button
    Yes
    Defrost Button
    Yes
    Add Time Button
    Yes
    Kitchen Timer
    Yes
    Mute Sounds Button
    Yes
    Lock Controls Button
    Yes

    Unlike most other microwaves, this one stands out a bit because it has real buttons instead of touch-sensitive ones. You might like their feel better, although this design makes the control panel a little harder to wipe clean. The button layout is a bit different, but you have most of the same options as other Panasonic microwaves, like the Panasonic NN-SC67NS or the Panasonic NN-SN67HS. There are sensor cooking, reheating, and defrost modes that detect steam and automatically calculate the cooking time. There are also 'Standing Time,' 'Keep Warm,' and 'Delayed Start' modes. Unlike the NN-SC67NS, it doesn't have a dedicated 'Beverage' button; instead, the 'Keep Warm' function has its own button.

    In The Box

    • User Manual
    • Turntable
    • Turntable roller
    Performance
    9.7
    Power
    Inverter Technology
    Yes
    Advertised Microwave Output Power
    1,250 W
    Tested Heating Rate At 100% Power
    756 W
    Shallow Dish Heating Uniformity
    Area Of Underheated Dinner Plate
    0%
    Grayscale Range Dinner Plate
    32
    Area Of Underheated Turntable
    0%
    Grayscale Range Turntable
    58

    Microwaves all heat food in shallow dishes quite similarly and evenly. Heating evenness depends on factors like what kind of food you're microwaving, how much of it, and in what container. If you're interested in knowing more about microwave performance, check out our investigation here.

    Deep Dish Heating Uniformity
    Min. Food Temperature (100% Power)
    97 °F (36 °C)
    Food Temperature Range (100% Power)
    106 °F (59 °C)
    Min. Food Temperature (50% Power)
    84 °F (29 °C)
    Food Temperature Range (50% Power)
    118 °F (65 °C)

    Like with shallow dishes, you won't notice a difference between how different microwaves perform when evenly heating food in deeper dishes. Evenness depends on what you're heating, not what microwave you use. You can read more about our investigation into microwave performance here.