Panasonic NN-GN68KS 1000W 1.2 cu.ft. 2-in-1 Inverter Microwave Oven
Customer Reviews Summary
The Panasonic NN-GN68KS 1000W 1.2 cu.ft. 2-in-1 Inverter Microwave Oven has been well-received by users for its versatility, modern features, and overall functionality. Most customers appreciate the inverter technology , which allows for consistent and even heating , addressing one of the main shortcomings of traditional microwaves. Many reviewers highlight the grill feature , which adds versatility to this microwave, enabling it to function somewhat like a conventional oven. Users find this grill feature effective for reheating or lightly crisping items such as bread or pizza , though some note that mastering the feature can require a bit of a learning curve .
Another frequently mentioned aspect is the compact size and sleek design , which makes the microwave suitable for various kitchen layouts without occupying too much space. The soft close door and easy-to-use interface also stand out as favorable features, making it user-friendly and preventing the loud slamming noise of traditional microwave doors.
However, not all feedback is positive. The button panel is a recurring point of critique, as many customers find the buttons hard to read due to poor contrast or lighting . Another notable limitation is the inability to set precise cooking times to increments less than 10 seconds, which some users find inconvenient for specific heating needs. Despite these drawbacks, the majority of reviewers find this microwave to be a worthwhile investment , especially due to its added grill functionality, even heating performance, and easy cleanup .
PROS
- Versatile Cooking Options: Users love the combination of microwave and grill capabilities, allowing them to reheat, cook, and even grill foods effectively. One customer said, “The grill feature is great for making crispy sandwiches and reheating pizza .” The ability to use the microwave for both traditional heating and grilling makes it a multifunctional appliance that saves space and adds convenience to the kitchen.
- Inverter Technology: Many reviewers appreciate the inverter technology that ensures food is cooked evenly. Unlike traditional microwaves that use on-off power cycling, this one uses continuous power, which prevents overheating of certain areas while others remain undercooked. This feature is particularly useful for cooking delicate items like fish or reheating leftovers without making them rubbery or overcooked.
- Compact and Modern Design: The compact size , soft-close door , and sleek appearance make it a great fit for small kitchens or limited counter space. A user described it as “a nice compact microwave that fits beautifully on a shelf and doesn’t take up too much room.” The stainless steel finish not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also makes it easier to clean, as it resists smudges and fingerprints better than other finishes.
- User-Friendly Interface: The simple controls are easy to use for most functions, and many users appreciate that it doesn’t have an overwhelming number of buttons, which makes it less complicated than some other models. The preset cooking options are also highlighted as a positive feature, allowing users to quickly select cooking settings for common foods like popcorn , pizza , or beverages without needing to manually set the time and power level.
- Energy Efficiency and Safety Features: The microwave’s energy-efficient design is a notable advantage for those conscious of their electricity usage. It delivers powerful performance while consuming less energy, making it an eco-friendly choice. Additionally, the child lock feature provides an extra layer of safety, ensuring that young children cannot accidentally operate the microwave.
CONS
- Hard-to-Read Button Panel: Many users find the button panel difficult to read, especially in low-light kitchens. The poor contrast between the button labels and the microwave’s surface makes operating it challenging without proper lighting . One user mentioned needing a light source to read the buttons properly. This issue is particularly frustrating for those who rely on the microwave for quick and easy use, as it can slow down the cooking process.
- Limited Time Precision: The inability to set cooking times in increments smaller than 10 seconds is a limitation for users who like to have precise control. Some customers noted that heating items like donuts for an exact time is not possible, which they find inconvenient. This limitation can be especially bothersome for users who are accustomed to more precise microwaves that allow for exact timing to achieve the desired texture or temperature of certain foods.
- Grill Learning Curve: While the grill function is popular, some users report that it takes time to learn how to use it effectively. The rack placement and figuring out the optimal combination of microwave and grill settings require trial and error. One reviewer mentioned, “The auto-sensor cooking features are complicated and rarely get things perfect without some adjustments.” Additionally, some users have noted that the grill rack can be awkward to position correctly, and it requires some experimentation to get the best results, particularly for dishes that need a crisp finish.
- Dim Interior Light: The interior light is another area of concern for some users. They find that the light is too dim, making it difficult to see the food while it is cooking. This can be inconvenient, especially when trying to monitor food to prevent overcooking or spills. Users have suggested that a brighter light would significantly improve the overall cooking experience.
Who Should Buy?
The Panasonic NN-GN68KS is ideal for individuals looking for a multifunctional appliance that combines a traditional microwave with added grilling capabilities . It is particularly suitable for those who want to save counter space, as this unit can replace the need for a separate grill or toaster oven for simple grilling needs. The inverter technology ensures that food is heated evenly, making it perfect for people who are tired of unevenly heated leftovers. Additionally, those who appreciate a modern and sleek design will find this microwave aesthetically pleasing and a good match for a contemporary kitchen.
This microwave is also a great choice for individuals or families who prioritize energy efficiency and want an appliance that helps reduce electricity costs without sacrificing performance. The child lock feature makes it particularly appealing to families with young children , as it provides added safety. However, those who frequently need very precise cooking times or struggle with hard-to-read button panels may find it frustrating. Additionally, users who are new to using grill functions in microwaves should be prepared for a learning curve to fully utilize all of the features.
Do Users Recommend This Product?
Most users recommend the Panasonic NN-GN68KS, especially for its versatility and effective cooking performance . The inverter technology provides even heating, while the grill feature adds another layer of functionality that many users appreciate for lightly crisping foods. Despite minor inconveniences like the button panel and limited time precision , the overall satisfaction with the product’s performance, quality, and design makes it a popular choice for many households. The compact size , modern design , and energy-efficient operation further contribute to its appeal, making it an excellent addition to a variety of kitchen settings.
For those seeking a reliable microwave with additional cooking features, this model comes highly recommended. Users appreciate the fact that it offers multiple cooking options in a single appliance, which helps save both space and money . The soft close door , easy cleanup , and user-friendly controls make it a practical choice for everyday use. While there are some minor drawbacks, such as the button panel visibility and limited precision, the overall benefits far outweigh these issues for most users. As a result, the Panasonic NN-GN68KS stands out as a versatile and dependable microwave that meets the needs of a wide range of consumers.
Customer Reviews
Updated on November 19, 2024
Not thrilled. Demands its own CIRCUIT. Complicated. Not suitable for blind/low vision. Heavy
I haven’t had a stove or an oven for over 20 years, so I’m a microwave expert. I was excite to try this one because of the grill function, but I was shocked to find an admonition on page 6 of the owner’s manual that “[the] oven must be operated on a SEPARATE CIRCUIT [capitals are theirs]. No other appliance should share the circuit with the microwave oven.” What?!! There’s no other way to plug it in in my house right now that it can even have its own receptacle, much less its own circuit. I don’t know about new construction, but many old houses have problems like this. I have no way of knowing how valid this instruction is, so I haven’t used the microwave for fear of burning down my house. I don’t think this unit is very suitable for blind or low vision people because of the many rows of buttons and the tiny font, but I think it could be adapted with the use of sticky labels if a user wished. Lastly, operation of some of the functions doesn’t seem efficient to me, such as having to push the power level button *11* times to activate the “keep warm” function; frankly, that’s a little fussy for me. SO…I think I’ll give it 3 stars, and we’ll see.
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Looks Good, Better than prior Reviews State!
PROS
1) Heats evenly and extremely fast!
2) Defrosts very quick, and more evenly than my prior Panasonic microwave models.
3) Have yet to trip the 20A breaker on a manufactured house wiring, with apparent 12AWG wiring.
4) Beverage/Coffee reheat works extremely well, especially with the included up/down add/minus setting.
5) The glass tray has yet to fall off the tracks! Awesome! Even after cleaning, the glass plate still adheres to the track!
CONS
1) The grill function browns/cooks, but needs more heat for quicker browning/cooking. It can take up to ~3 minutes each side of bread for making toast, and the watt usage is quite a bit for which can be accounted for by the usage of the heavy duty fan. However, this maybe adequate for tossing the old toaster in the garbage can. For dormitory residents, the grill feature will likely be adequate to substitute, and a long desired feature!
2) Keypad seems much easier to use versus a 10-key digit pad. However, would be nice to have keypad names back-lit!
3) I hate having to press Start after each entry. Wish I could just enter the settings and upon closing the door, the microwave would start. (Hopefully next to go is the Start key. I hate telling something twice to perform a task!)
4) The pre-programmed sensor cook works for some items and still seems as buggy as my 10-20 year old Panasonic microwave models. Sensor reheat seems to over-cook slightly (~190F) even with the reduced feature minus/down key enabled. I tend to just use the Grill, Combination Grill/Microwave and standard microwave function manually, rather than constantly looking-up cook times/instructions in the paper manual.
5) Lighting seems OK, could be a bit brighter, however the microwave window is screened deterring easy viewing. (Personally, I think the lighting is adequate for ensuring butter is not boiling, and about the only task I look inside the microwave window.)
NOTES ON PRIOR REVIEWS
A humorous note here, all reviews since the product was first on the Amazon.com market, March 14, 2019, are Vine Amazon.com reviews. This is likely the first review of somebody actually purchasing the product. (What’s even funnier, most of the reviews just reiterate what is printed within the product nomenclature.)
INTERIOR LIGHTING
The LED tiny light does adequately light the interior for cleaning, and lights shadow areas only. However, I rarely look into the microwave to look at food while it’s cooking, due to the masked transparent Plexiglas obstructing view for examination of such burning/smoldering instances. Regardless, one can usually smell the burning/smoke much sooner. So I’m at an impasse as to whether or not the light is bright enough.
Just tried melting butter/margarine using the defrost setting (at 1-2 oz.), and I can clearly see through the window of the microwave the item melting, including the rear/shadowed areas with the current light levels. Shrugs where prior reviews stated it was too dim while using. One reason why I can likely see the butter/margarine melt with the dim LED lighting, the LED lighting is a very cold or blue spectrum light and promotes vivid contrasts/details using a lot less light compared to warmer spectrum LED light.
VENTING
Buyers should note that there is a vent, likely for the infrared cooking, at the top rear of the unit, as well as the usual fan area to the rear side of the unit. (See photo.) Not known if this venting of the infrared heating feature will cause smoke/odor/accumalation damage to the underside of a cabinet while positioned directly below the cabinet over an extended period of time.
BUTTONS
I’ve used a microwave 35+ years, or that I can remember, and have no problems using the buttons on the front of this microwave. In other words, simply adding time rather than pushing additional buttons for including specific numbered integers for time values (such as multiple zeros) is not needed. I do not see what people are talking about within their reviews as far as needing a full 10 digits keypad for entering a time value. And I’ve only used the microwave for a few minutes for performing some initial tests! I never really liked the flat faced number pads and always liked to feel for push buttons instead, but nowadays, all buttons usually contain plastic engineered parts, and always fail after extended usage anyways. Buttons are also nice for those with inadequate vision. As far as cleaning them or dirt problems, I’ll likely have to update my review.
ELECTRICAL POWER REQUIREMENTS
I happen to have a watt meter, for measuring voltage/watts/amperage. The watt meter indicates, using the combination infrared/microwave feature for one minute, intermittent ~12-13 amps, with an average ~10-11 amps. This is very close to NEC’s 80% rule on circuit amperage ratings. (eg. 15 amp circuit, 80% use is 12 amps.) You’re 15 amp circuit/receptacle maybe able to handle this microwave without problems, depending on the quality of electrical cabling, receptacles, breakers in your house. (I’m not a licensed electrician, but read a lot of technical manuals in my spare time.) Fortunately, this manufactured house happened to wire the refrigerator and the wall outlets (for the microwave) for 20 amps. Regardless, NEC code nowadays requires a 20 amp dedicated circuit for microwave, and another dedicated separate circuit for the refrigerator. If your wiring is not adequate enough, likely for the combination grill/microwave feature, the house cabling may over heat and/or microwave internals may emit more heat then usual and the result is likely an early electrical failure for your microwave and/or house breaker, etc. (I just pray somebody didn’t simply pull the 15 amp breaker from a 15 amp circuit, and replace the breaker with a 20 amp breaker. I’ll need to pull the breaker/receptacle and check the gauge of the house cabling and verify it’s 12 gauge cabling instead of 14 gauge cabling.)
GRILLING/INFRARED
Grilling/infrared feature works great so far! See attached photo for the evidence of some nicely browned buns!
Infrared/grilled heating of a frozen Whole Food French Light Hamburger Bun:
1 minute = thawed
2 minute = warmed/toasted to within cancer free guidelines.
3 minutes = toasted
4 minutes = well toasted
Next toasted cheese…
Added another photo of a piece of Whole Foods Sourdough bread, toasted using grilled feature, flipping half way through.
Added another photo of a piece of Whole Foods Fire (Wheat) bread, toasted using 10 minute grill feature, without flipping over. (Guessing, should use medium/low grill, 10 minutes each side. And each type of bread will likely require it’s unique toasting times. Shrugs.)
My only real gripe, the microwave seems to use ~10 amps for 5-10 minutes to toast bread, while a two slice toaster only uses ~7-8 amps for likely less time. The microwave has the added benefit of easier cleaning when toasting.
TIPS
I freeze a lot of meal portions and have never had much success with the Panasonic pre-programmed cooking settings. (Although, the coffee reheat seems to be the best pre-programmed option so far!) This microwave model suggests fully defrosting before any cooking. As such, I quickly guess the weight of the frozen item meal portion, about 1-2 oz, and simply tap Defrost and increase the setting to 2 as needed. Cooking/reheating, I perform similar using either the Grill or Combination key and increment the time as needed or guessed, and tap start. I usually under estimate the weight/time slightly, while checking at half-way points.. Having a laser thermometer is essential, as well as a small kitchen scale for weighing heavier/larger items.
- 217
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Broiler and microwave works well, small footprint, button are hard to see
I’ll keep this simple:
Pro:
-Sleek design
-Microwave and broiler work well, it’s a nice combination that adds a lot of utility and value to the unit
-Bright clock on the exterior
-Heavyweight build quality
-Fast to heat coffee, left over food and broil nachos
Con:
-Button are hard to see, especially for these 60+ year old eyes. I added a 12″ external LED bar light over my microwave that turns on when you open the door or wave your hand. NOW I can read the buttons! But that might not work for a lot of folks and this is a BIG miss by Panasonic!
-Not as intuitive as I’d like, wish Panasonic had added a laminated “cheat sheet” for use. I keep the quick start guide nearby for reference.
-Pricey, even with a $50 instant coupon
-Wish Panasonic had an online video teaching tutorial explaining all the functions of this machine. I looked all over Google and can’t find one. I’m using the quick start guide (oxymoron) and it’s slow going.
Overall, this is a slick machine and it works well but I have to dock Panasonic a star because of the small font and no back lighting on the control buttons. I fixed that but it cost me another $25. I do like the sleek looks, small footprint, easy to clean interior and bright clock. I also like the fact that I caught this unit on sale with a $50 instant coupon from Amazon.
Note the added light bar in the photo – it really helps with the control buttons and seeing the interior with the door open.
- 216
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Excellent machine but with a few design issues
I had been using a Sharp Carousel microwave (with a power rating of 1100 W) for over 20 years. The Panasonic differs in 3 respect: it uses the newer “inversion” technology, the microwave is rated at only 1000 W, and it has a grilling element on top. It’s taken me a while to adapt (and I’m still modifying my old recipes) but I’ve reached some conclusions. First, the inversion technology really does heat the food more evenly, and makes the device much more useful. I was often reluctant to defrost food with my older machine because the surface 1-2 inches would get too warm while deeper food remained icy. And for the same reason, I rarely cooked any food in it (even homogeneous items like a hamburger). With inversion technology the food heats more evenly and I’ve started to use it for simple meals. At only 1000 W, it takes a little longer to cook food than I would like, but I assume that they reduced the power of the microwave to divert power to to grilling elements. It used to take me 1 min 20 sec to heat water for instant coffee – now it takes 1 min 40 sec; and I could make one potato in 7 minutes while now it takes 7 min 30 sec. This is not a big deal, but I would have preferred a 1100 – 1200 W microwave. Finally, the grilling element is a really nice feature. Previously (in my old microwave), frozen fish fillets came out watery. If made in my toaster oven it took 22 minutes (as specified on the fish carton). With the Panasonic, using combined grilling and microwaving, the fillets cook in 4-1/2 minutes and come out fully cooked and crisp!
I’ve noticed many complaints about the machine’s power – especially with the grill. It’s not really discussed in the user manual (but a it was discussed in the manual fro another Panasonic device and it appears to apply to this model as well) – when one selects “combined microwave + grill” the microwave power is reduced to 40% and only one of the 2 grilling elements glow. I assume that this was done to prevent too much power from being used, and possibly to slow the cooking rate down – but it does reduce the power. I have found that for some foods it’s better to use the microwave and grill sequentially rather than simultaneously (For example, I cook frozen french fries using the microwave at power 8 and then brown them with the grill on high power). But for some foods it’s simpler just to use the combination. It takes a bit of experimentation to figure out the best settings for each meal – but having the grill available really does help. It’s simpler than using 2 appliances and foods come out evenly cooked and crispy.
On the down-side, the keyboard is poorly thought out. I am used to a numeric keyboard. If I want to cook a thing Power 3 I would press “Power” and the number “3”. With this machine you have to press the Power button repeatedly as it counts down from 10 to 3 with each push. And there are 3 buttons to set the time – one for units of 10 min, one for units of 1 min, and one for units of 10 seconds. (You can’t heat something for 8 seconds or 15 seconds – you can only enter time in 10 second intervals!) Again, it would be so much simpler to press “Time” and then 1-4-0 (for 1 min 40 sec) than to press the 1 min button once and the 10 second button 4 times. I have a few other minor issues with the keyboard, but they are less important. Also as noted, the interior light is too small.
All in all, I think this microwave has proven to be more useful than my older machine and I am very happy with the purchase. But due to the reduced microwave power and it’s complicated keyboard system, it gets only 4 out of 5 stars.
- 177
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slow heating takes 15 mins for a deal usually taking 4 mins
I do not know where the wonderful reviews came from. I was attracted by the feature with broiler and combined heating. After I purchased it, however, it did not work well. I had an older Panasonic microwave, which works well but the door has an issue. I have a cold meal which I wanted to heat by the new microwave. I first heated 5 mins using ‘Grill’ but found it was too cold. I then changed to ‘combination’ for another 5 mins. But it was still cold. Next, I added 5 more minutes. It was now barely warm. Using my old microwave, it usually takes 4 mins; but this new microwave took 15 minutes! I want to mentioned that I used the highest power level.
Another issue of this microwave is, as some people mentioned, that it has a strange smell in air when I used ‘grill’. With ‘combination’, the back became very hot, during this 15-min use. Overall, I did not really find why this microwave is worthy of such a high price and so many positive reviews. I have returned it and had my refund back. I originally wanted to throw away my old microwave after 10 years of use. Now, I have to continue to use the old microwave given the frustration to purchase and return this microwave.
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You Will Need Hearing Protection and Patience
It’s pretty. The user manual is thorough and easy to understand.
Nothing, however, prepares you for how loud the unit is while operating. There is a genuine risk of hearing loss over time.
The grill unit is disappointing to say the least. I can get hot dogs done faster in a simple toaster oven.
The microwave function is no worse or better than my old one (which I am very glad I held onto until i ran this one a few times.)
That said, Amazon made returning it quite easy and painless. Thumbs up for that. 🙂
- 94
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No Labels
UPDATE: Interior paint peeling and exposed metal is rusting.
Replacing it today $300 and only3 1/2 year lifetime 🙁
I purchased this unit October 2020 ( a little over 2 years ago). This issue is that the labels are no longer legible (see image). My previous microwave was > 10 years old and all of my other appliances are 15 years old and none of them show any signs of label wear. This microwave sells for $300. I would expect better than 2 year lifetime out of it. I contacted Panasonic customer service but they were unwilling to do anything since the warranty is only 1 year. In all fairness the unit still works but it is becoming unusable with no idea what function the unlabeled button is supposed to do?
Panasonic Customer Service Dialogue:
Robert T (11/10/2022, 10:08:44 AM): Hello and thank you for choosing Panasonic. My name is Robert and I am happy to assist you today, it will be just a moment while I review your request. Rest assured that if our chat disconnects, we will contact you via email to gather feedback for possible issues. If you want to share additional details about your inquiry, please feel free.
Robert T (11/10/2022, 10:09:11 AM): Would you please be so kind as to further detail a bit ?
Me (11/10/2022, 10:10:27 AM): the labels for the buttons on the front are worn off (Start, Quick 30, Stop/Reset, …etc) are not readable anymore
Robert T (11/10/2022, 10:11:05 AM): Thank you very much. And would you please tell me your zipcode so that I can check for the nearest partner service center to have it replaced for you?
Me (11/10/2022, 10:11:07 AM): do you have a solution? replacement labels
Me (11/10/2022, 10:11:22 AM): The microwave is not that old
Me (11/10/2022, 10:11:33 AM): XXXXX (removed for privacy)
Robert T (11/10/2022, 10:12:11 AM): Thank you once more, the nearest partner one is :
Xp Electronics
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Me (11/10/2022, 10:12:48 AM): OK. will you contact them?
Me (11/10/2022, 10:12:54 AM): is this warranty service?
Robert T (11/10/2022, 10:13:36 AM): It will need to be you which will have to make an appointment as per your free time and if the product was acquired within the last year, yes, it will be under warranty. If this is the case, please have a copy of the receipt/invoice in handy.
Me (11/10/2022, 10:14:37 AM): The unit is 2 years old so I guess out of warranty, but it’s kind of ridiculous that the labels are already worn off
Me (11/10/2022, 10:15:07 AM): my last microwave I had for 10+ years and there was never a problem reading button labels
Me (11/10/2022, 10:16:08 AM): is there anything Panasonic is willing to do to help
Robert T (11/10/2022, 10:17:02 AM): We completely understand the situation and you are right, however the unit being out of warranty we are afraid we cannot offer anything for this particular case.
Me (11/10/2022, 10:17:27 AM): ok. I guess this is the last Panasonic purchase I make.
Robert T (11/10/2022, 10:18:12 AM): We are sorry to hear that and hope that in the future you might find it to give us another chance, perhaps on another line of products, if the microwaves did not perform as expected.
Me (11/10/2022, 10:18:34 AM): I will be sure to leave a review online
- 79
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Turn a pizza into a frisbee!
Where to begin….impossible to clean inside the top, there is a grate so splattered food is blocked by the grate. The “light cooking” is a joke. Put a frozen pizza in there and after a while you have a frisbee! Hard as a rock and awful tasting. I’m not even donating this, it’s going to the landfill.
- 70
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Note my model is made in Canada, therefore it cannot be registered in US
Only models made in the US can be registered. Tried to register NN-GN68KS, support said my model was made in Canada. According to the owner manual, limited warranty (Only for U.S.A). Was not aware of this when I purchased it. Worried about future issues. To date I’ve had almost 2 weeks and there have been no problems. Rating only based on disappointment with warranty.
- 30
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Impossible to see and use controls, interior light is awful too.
The controls are so hard to read, I had to make readable labels with a sharpie on masking tape.
The black on silver controls are virtually impossible to see at virtually any angle and in all lighting conditions.
At first I thought it was my aging eyes, until my daughter, and nine year old granddaughter asked “how can anyone see what the buttons say?”
Additionally, And just as frustrating, is the very dim interior light that barely illuminates the interior, so it’s impossible to see if cheese is melting, or soup is bubbling.
Finally, the setup is so confusing, that without the manual, it is impossible to set clock, or turn on the “I’m finished beep”.
Maybe the built in grill works, but I have yet to determine how. And I have a technical masters degree.
Ps. Yes, the microwave oven heats up my coffee. But the beverage button doesn’t turn on the temperature sensor, so it boils my coffee.
Very bad usability and operations design. For Panasonic this is an unbelievable “fail”
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