An In-Depth Review of The Panasonic 4/5 Cubic Foot 800 Watt Microwave Oven

My family and I tested the Panasonic NN-SD377S 4/5 cubic foot, 800 watt stainless steel microwave oven for a period of three weeks. We did this so that I could provide a detailed review to those considering purchasing this microwave oven. I usually put my normal microwave oven into storage during a test period, but this Panasonic is a compact microwave oven and not meant to take the place of a full-sized microwave. Instead, I put this microwave oven into an upstairs room of our home to supplement our family's normal microwave, not replace it. Here is my review of the Panasonic NN-SD377S 4/5 cubic foot 800 watt stainless steel microwave oven.

This model is a relatively inexpensive, compact microwave oven that will cost you just under $100. Expectations should be formed accordingly. I unpacked my new Panasonic NN-Sd377S microwave oven from the box and examined it. It has a heavy, well-constructed overall feel to it. This microwave oven looks very sleek and quite modern, with the main finish being stainless steel accented with black. There is a control dial rather than a number keypad. I would have expected that to lend an old-fashioned feel to the overall appearance of this microwave oven, but in y opinion, it does not. This microwave is a bit on the small side, not nearly as large as the one I am accustomed to having in my kitchen. There is a rotating turntable, something very useful that is not always found on compact microwave ovens. Overall, this microwave oven is very stylish and esthetically pleasing; I think it would look great in any kitchen or office.

I plugged in my new Panasonic NN-SD37S microwave oven and noticed something strange. The cord for this unit does not come out of the back, unlike most microwave ovens I have used. Instead the cord is located on the right side of the microwave, about 2 inches from the front. This would mean running the microwave cord across the countertop in most situations. I had an open space in the corner of my office, with an outlet on the wall to the right. This is where I decided to put the Panasonic microwave oven, as it didn't make the cord placement awkward for me. But this is something to keep in mind if you have a specific place in mind for your new microwave oven.

We make a lot of popcorn in our home; that is probably what we used this Panasonic microwave for most often. We were very pleased with the results, for the most part. The popcorn was usually popped well, with very few unpopped kernels and no burnt ones. The only complaint my family had is that sometimes larger popcorn bags tend to get stuck and not rotate too well. This problem seems to be fixed by ensuring the popcorn bag is completely centered on the microwave turntable, but if you don't do that you are likely to get some burnt kernels.

This microwave oven works very well for small, one person frozen meals. I also loved using it to steam vegetables while a main meal was in my full-sized microwave oven. I was surprised by how much my entire family, including myself, loved the control dial instead of the normal keypad found on most microwave ovens. Sometimes something old-fashioned and simple is just better.

Overall, this Panasonic model is a good compact microwave oven. It is ideal for an office or a single person's home, where large family sized meals are never prepared. I also found it worked quite well as a secondary microwave oven, and I plan to continue to keep it in my home. I would not, however, recommend this as the sole microwave oven in a home where large meals for two or more people are often prepared. Visit Microwave Oven Reviews for more information on this microwave oven and many more, both compact and full-sized. You will find thousands of microwave oven reviews as well as a handy microwave oven buying guide to help you along the way.