The GE Profile Spacemaker II PEM31SMSS is a compact, countertop microwave oven that delivers far more than its small size suggests. Styled in black with stainless steel trim across the front panel, the PEM31SMSS offers a full 1.0 cubic foot of cooking space yet takes up minimal room on your counter. It comes with a rotating 11-5/16-inch glass turntable, which circulates foods for thorough cooking. We especially liked this unit's low profile, which can fit in tighter kitchen nooks or even be installed under a cabinet, with the purchase of an optional hanging kit.

The other outstanding attribute is the sensor technology, which amazed us with its fast, even cooking. There are six one-touch sensor buttons, each tailored to a specific task: popcorn, beverage, reheat, chicken/fish, potato and vegetable. The function starts automatically with literally one touch of the button; however, there are also some secondary options within a few of the settings that require a second or third press of the button. Pressing the vegetable button once sets the sensor for fresh vegetables; twice sets it for frozen vegetables; and three times sets it for canned vegetables. For best results, you need to follow the manufacturer's recommendation and cover the food with vented plastic wrap before cooking. It's also important to let the food stand in the oven for a short while after the cooking cycle has finished. This allows the foods to finish cooking.

We used the sensor potato button to cook a large baked potato in 10 minutes (5 minutes cooking time plus 5 minutes standing time). We also cooked chicken breast fillets in approximately 4-1/2 minutes (no standing time needed) and enjoyed moist, perfectly cooked pieces that were not a bit rubbery (as some microwaved chicken can be). The popcorn button is another winner. One touch yields a perfectly popped bag of popcorn in just over 2 minutes.

We suspect that the smaller internal cavity (7-7/16 inches tall by 16.5 inches wide by 11-1/4 inches deep) helps to concentrate the microwave energy and cook foods a bit faster than some of the larger models. The GE PEM31SMSS has an 800-watt motor, which saves energy, while delivering results that are as good, if not better than many higher wattage, larger-capacity models.

Besides the sensor controls, this unit also has six Express Cook settings. Numbers one through six on the keypad deliver their corresponding number of minutes at 100 percent power. An additional button lets you add 30 seconds to any operation. So, if you need 2-1/2 minutes, you can press the 2 pad, followed by the "add 30 sec" pad.

Defrosting is easily managed with the PEM31SMSS. You can defrost by time or by weight using the sensor technology. It took about 16 minutes to defrost 1.5 pounds of chicken. The digital screen shows the function in progress, counts down the remaining time, gives additional instructions (such as turning pieces midway through cooking) and beeps to alert you when the function is completed.

We loved the ease of use and exceptional performance the GE PEM31SMSS delivered. It is priced a bit higher than some others in its class, but its extra features and space-saving design make it worth the extra money. Additional features include the ability to change the power level, perform two-stage cooking (using the Time Cook option), set a reminder (e.g., alarm) or delay start operation, or simply use the countdown timer.


Pros: Six one-touch sensor cook buttons plus six Express Cook settings, auto defrost, space-saving design
Cons:

Warranty
1 year, entire unit; 5 years, magnetron tube