An excellent choice for busy families, the 1.2-cubic-foot Panasonic NN-H665 offers some of the best performing features you can find on a microwave oven of this size. Many medium-size microwaves skimp on features, but that's not the case here. On the NN-H665 you will find an outstanding sensor that makes easy and accurate work of cooking and reheating plenty of your favorites. Simply select the category of food you're preparing and let this microwave do the rest. The NN-H665 will program the cooking time for you, automatically adjusting for portion size and shutting off the power when the sensor signals that heating is complete.

In addition to an accurate sensor, we can't help but applaud the inverter defrost system that this Panasonic model offers. Quicker and more accurate than most automated defrost systems, this inverter program thaws foods while greatly limiting undesirable pre-cooking. A more accurate type of defrost program, an inverter defrost limits the amount of microwave energy that enters the cavity during each step of the defrost program. Limiting the energy in this manner allows for gentle thawing and limits pre-cooking and the hardening of many food's delicate edges.

Five full stages of cooking can be programmed into this model. Although multiple stages can be used to enhance cooking performance, users typically don't bother to set the multiple times and power levels needed to take advantage of this feature. Where it does matter, however, is in the accuracy of an automated defrost program. Quite simply, the more stages of cooking a microwave offers, the better it will defrost and the more useful it will be for preparing sensitive foods.

Like many other current models, the NN-H665 offers a keep warm feature. Honestly, we don't see the benefit of this feature. Repeatedly microwaving foods to keep them warm makes little sense. Instead, preserve the food's quality and microwave it quickly just once, when ready to serve.

On the other hand, we do find the add-a-minute key to be very useful. When foods appear to need just a bit more cooking, this is a quick and easy way to add a bit of time to the cycle.

Panasonic's NN-H665 may cost you a bit more than the other models on your dealer's shelf, but we believe the benefits outweigh the slightly higher investment.


Pros: Excellent sensor controls both cooking and heating of many foods, outstanding inverter defrost system
Cons: Keep warm setting is a silly feature

Warranty
1 year, full; 5 year, magnetron tube