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Read our R&D Article to see how we test microwaves and what we've learned from hundreds of hours of testing!

Panasonic NN-SN975S Microwave Review

Tested using Methodology v1.0
Reviewed Jul 10, 2024 at 10:13 am

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
  1. Updated Jul 10, 2024: Review published.

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.

Compared To Other Microwaves

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
Design
Design
Body
Installation
Countertop
Height 14.0" (35.5 cm)
Width 23.9" (60.6 cm)
Depth Without Handle
19.3" (49.0 cm)
Depth With Handle
N/A
Power Cord Length 3.63 ft (1.11 m)
Design
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.

Design
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.

Design
In The Box

  • User Manual
  • Turntable
  • Turntable roller

Performance
9.7
Performance
Power
Inverter Technology
Yes
Advertised Microwave Output Power
1,250 W
Tested Heating Rate At 100% Power
756 W
Performance
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.

Performance
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.