Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SD372S Stainless Steel

Works great

I just received this microwave and after 3 days of using it, these are my first impressions.

It’s small / compact.
Perfect if you have limited counter space and don’t have a large family. A regular sized dinner plate fits without any problems.

It’s light-weight.
Compared to the 16 year old SANYO I replaced, this is awesomely light weight. I have mine sit at a 45 degree angle “wedged” to where it touches two walls, so I can open it without it moving. If it’s free-standing, it will move.

It’s powerful.
Despite its small size, it’s surprisingly powerful. Unlike my old wave, this one does heat the food more evenly, thanks its Inverter technology.

It’s quiet.
My old wave made a bit of a ruckus, so I was pleasantly surprised that this one is not much of a noise maker.
Sometimes it will keep the fan running after a longer cycle but you’d have to almost put your ear on it to hear it.
The beep is noticeable – as it should be – but not annoyingly so.

It looks great.
But… you can see every fingerprint on it. 🙂 The interior is a bit sparsely lit by an LED that comes on when opening the door and during cooking cycles. But it’s bright enough to see what’s happening.

It’s easy to use / intuitive.
The controls are clear and easy, the manual is handy to help you with any questions.

While it is a bit on the pricey side for under 1000 watts, I didn’t mind because of the size and its Inverter technology. Most smaller waves do not have it.

Now comes the test of time. Let’s see if it holds up. I’ve already bookmarked the page for replacing a fuse, should that become an issue. I’ll update this review at a later time.

Aug 2020 UPDATE:
Four and half years later, it’s still going strong. Haven’t done anything to it other than cleaning and using it almost daily. Still love this thing. :))

This microwave is replacing a 20 year old (still working, but aesthetically awful) Sharp carousel, 700 W. I was looking for a small microwave with a little more power. They’re hard to find. This one did the trick. I don’t use the microwave to cook; I only reheat leftovers in it. It’s perfect for the one-plate reheat. If you’re looking for something that cooks a meal for the whole family, this is not the right microwave for you.

Aesthetically, I really like the look of this microwave. It’s all stainless, with a nice, simple control layout.

Speaking of the controls, it’s a little different than what most people are probably used to, but I think this is one of the coolest features. There is no number pad. (There still is a “Quick Min” button, which will get frequent use!) Instead, there’s a retractable “dial” that when you push it, it pops out. You then turn the dial to as many seconds/minutes as you need. You can push it back in when you’re done so it’s not sticking out (it doesn’t stick out that far anyway.)

Upgrading from a 700W microwave, I love the faster reheating times of my new Panasonic. I also really love the “Inverter” technology. This keeps the microwave at a more constant power level (which also means it’s a more consistent volume). It’s much quieter than my old Sharp was, but then again that was a 20+ year old microwave.

I’ve experimented a little bit with the “sensor” reheat. It’s inconsistent, but I don’t find this to be a big deal. I generally use the “Quick Minute” button for most reheat jobs (I’d say 3 minutes for most plates of cold food, a can of soup, etc. is typical.) Like anything else in a microwave, you usually need to adjust times for every different job. Even popcorn never really is the same time twice. (I go by the popping sound, not by time.) So, even though the sensor heat wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t a big deal to me. If it is for you, you might need to look at higher end devices.

I have not had a need to try the defrost setting yet. I generally try to avoid using the microwave to defrost because it invariably actually ends up “cooking” a little bit of the food anyway, which I find to be a problem. If I try defrosting, I’ll update this review.

Overall, I’m very happy with its appearance and function. Hopefully I can get 20 years out of this microwave, too.