The one I have now is Amana and about 20 yrs old. Works perfectly. It's a counter top model but set in an opening with trim kit so it appears built in. I didnt buy it, was here in the house when we purchased. My very first microwave was Amana, back when they were newly introduced and about $600. I used that one many years - in a pantry. They were big then, and heavy.

I asked my serviceman's suggestion when he was here for something else and he said buy whatever looks good to you for the price if this one quits. Just about all are meant to be disposable these days.

Sharp is the premier microwave producer. Look at their models for the features and size. But I don't use a micro anymore. An airfryer/toaster oven does many things even better than the range oven. Ninja and Breville are among the best.

Just cooking Lamb Weston fries is a breeze for crispy soft inside.

Morz8. It does look like many microwaves aren't made as well as they use to be. Our new Panasonic microwave is lighter weight than the one that just broke!

Dan, I'll look into Sharp microwaves. I don't think I am ready for an airfryer/toaster oven yet. We are a family of 4 adults. It works better for us if we have separate appliances.

Many microwaves now are so large, and take up so much space on the counter. I don't plan to microwave a whole bird, just reheat a plate. So I got a small microwave, and they are out there - mine is a Whirlpool, of all things. There are also microwave-toaster oven combos - sort of countertop speed ovens - but they don't get the best reviews (e.g. Breville CombiWave).

I have a Breville microwave (not a combo) and it’s been great. I pretty much only use it for reheating, or melting butter once in a blue moon, etc. Mine is on a shelf below the countertop.

My airfryer/toaster is a smaller separate oven. It's incredibly convenient for individual use for reheating many things. The timer handles the time like a micro. It can also do anything a range oven does, often better.

"Most annoying is that I have to push the buttons twice sometimes"

Sometimes that's required, for example, to change the power level.

"Also set the power level lower to defrost, and then it stayed at that power and wasn't heating our food! Isn't it supposed to reset itself?"

• Event 1: You defrosted an item using Turbo Defrost. The oven turned off, you removed the item, and closed the door.
• Event 2: You placed an item in the oven, entered the cook time, pressed 'Start'.

Are you saying that the item cooked in Event 2 was not cooked at Power Level 10?

What happens if you Press 'Power Level'? Doesn't the display show "PL 10"?

I bought a small commercial unit by Solwave almost seven years ago. I have not been disappointed. Works great-and quiet. It's rated at 1000 watts.

wdccruise. When I said I have to push the buttons twice, it is because my pressing the button didn't register and I had to press again. The buttons are not as sensitive as my last Panasonic similar model microwave.

Yes I am saying that it seemed like the food was not cooking at full power because it was not as hot as expected. Today is the second time my family made microwave popcorn and it took twice as long because the kernels did not begin to pop until several minutes. It is completely different than our last model.

I believe our older model and our new model are the same wattage. I will check that to make sure.

Getting to think we got a dud. I'm thinking this microwave is a piece of junk!

malba, which Breville microwave have you tried? I was going to put in an order to have shipped one of the Breville microwaves that was on sale, but they must have run out of them, so I was too late to get one.

Louise Smith, I haven't heard of the Solwave microwave. It is quite expensive here in Canada.

I have a Toshiba. Bought it because you can turn the annoying beeping when done and when pressing the buttons beeping off. Works fine like any microwave.

I also have a Ninja toaster oven that I use daily.

"Yes I am saying that it seemed like the food was not cooking at full power because it was not as hot as expected."

I would try pressing the 'Power Level' button, confirming that that the power level is "PL 10", set the time to 5 minutes, and note the actual time elapsed for popping to cease. For comparison, a microwave popcorn bag completes popping in 2 to 2-1/2 minute in my microwave oven.

wdccruise, my previous Panasonic microwave popped the same corn from the same container in half the time! Total time it took for half a cup of popcorn was about 8 minutes with my new microwave!