If you're looking for a microwave with just a bit more to offer, the General Electric JES1288SH is a worthy selection. But if you're in the market for a combination microwave/convection oven, this model won't meet your needs.

Don't be misled by claims that the GE JES1288SH microwave oven offers convection. A convection oven uses a high-speed fan to blow hot air around and speed up the cooking process, but the JES1288SH lacks this feature. This is not the oven for those looking to bake cookies and breads, or one that will turn out a fine roast beef or a tasty holiday bird. A model like that is far more expensive.

What the JES1288SH does offer is a feature GE calls double grill technology, which lets you brown the tops and/or bottoms of foods for a more attractive appearance. This feature adds a brown surface to a microwaved pizza, burger, or chicken breast. For an oven of this type, the price is quite fair. The oven includes a tray for use in browning foods that have finished the microwaving process. Changing this tray can be a bothersome task when switching to the browning mode.

While the microwave oven performs fairly well, its controls are somewhat limited. The time controls consist of a simplified dial that sets time in increments of 15 seconds. In microwave cooking, 15 seconds can be a lot of time - enough extra time to turn a roll into a rock. Apart from the dial, we liked the oven's easy-to-use preset button controls for convenience foods and reheated items. However, these convenience programs would be improved by the use of a sensor for more accurate cooking times.

The GE JES1288SH is attractively designed in stainless steel with a black and stainless-steel door. But its simplistic and somewhat cumbersome performance won't appeal to anyone looking for a truly versatile oven.

Pros: Attractive design, will brown tops and bottoms of microwaved foods, offers convenience programs
Cons: Simplistic dial timer limits user control, cumbersome trays, does not utilize sensor for convenience programs

Warranty
1 year, full; 5 years, magnetron tube