Customer Reviews

Panasonic NN-ST479SBPQ Family Solo Auto Sensor Microwave Oven, Stainless Steel

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

Did a fair amount of online research before plumping for this microwave in stainless steel, and Amazon offered the best price - better than the 'sale' price in our local 'Panasonic' dealership outlet. I've been using it now for three months
On the up side:-
Really like the brushed stainless steel construction - top quality - and the design offers clean, smart lines. It looks 'sharp'!
The easy-to-clean stainless steel interior is deceptively large. The rear and side internal surfaces are cleverly recessed outwards, increasing the effective internal dimensions - and therefor the size of the largest dishes that can be accomodated - without increasing the overall external footprint.
The large rotating glass platter upon which one places the item(s) to heat is pretty meaty (forgive the pun) - much as was the one in my old Sharp. This one is four or five cm larger in diameter, due to the large internal dimensions of the oven cavity, mentioned above.
The 900w power output, with 1000w temporary boost option, is certainly more than adequate for my microwave needs, and with selectable settings of 250, 270, 440 and 600w, this unit offers great versatility.
I like the auto-cooking features, whereby selectable types of food can be cooked through without me setting the cooking time myself. To decide when to stop cooking, sensors measure the weight of the food on the platter and then constantly assess the steam output produced from the food as it heats up. I find I'm using these settings more and more.
On the down side:-
My two main criticisms concern the electronic display and the printed legends that identify the control panel buttons. Like most people will, I suspect, I have the microwave on my kitchen worktop. This means I am looking downwards when stood viewing the panel. For me at least, this makes both the electronic display and the legends impossible to read! The viewing angle for the lighting elements of the vertically mounted electronic display is completely wrong - one's viewing angle has to be quite near perpendicular to the panel before it becomes readable; and the legends, which are printed in a shade of grey, directly onto the (grey) stainless steel, disappear completely into reflections off the surface of the panel. I find I have bend down so that my eyeline is level with the panel before I can read the legends. This problem was briefly mentioned in one of the buyer reviews I read before buying, and I'd certainly now agree with that reviewer, that this oven would be best placed up as close as possible to normal eyeline. It's really quite a light item so shouldn't pose any problem being shelf-mounted.
As also mentioned in other reviews, the fact that the fan continues despite cooking time having expired, and even after having opened the door, is a bit disconcerting at first if you're used, as I am, to silence in those circumstances. But in fairness, one soon becomes immune that 'feature' of the oven's operation.
I perceive this oven to be rather noisier overall in operation than the 30-year-old Sharp that this unit has replaced in my kitchen, but then, I'm not using in a library reading room, so ......
The warning that heating has finished (5 beeps) could be louder, too (selectable volume?).

Overall we're very pleased with the Panasonic. It has a quality feel about it that's missing from most of the other makes available. Well worth the extra money. The only slight niggle is that the LCD display is difficult to read from above, so if it's on a low shelf it's not too good. The Amazon price was well below that of the usual large electrical stores. I ordered it about lunch time and it arrived the morning after. Incredible service from Amazon.

We had the previous model to this (the nn477) and that has been a complete pain. Noisy, unreliable (2 breakdowns in 4 years), seemingly inefficient at times. Luckily we took the extended parts and labour insurance policy so when it finally became "uneconomic to repair", we were able to reconsider our next purchase with a little head start on funding.

Reading some of the negative reviews here, I strongly suspect others had the nn477. It looks identical but is so different in operation.

Our new nn479 is so quiet, with no fan run-on after heating. Heating is much more efficient, consistent and in keeping with its "E" rating.

I did loads of research on our options. We need a good family sized capacity with easy cleaning of stainless steel interior, did not want a combi/grill, and reliability was important. The combi equivalent of this model was indeed tempting, but unless you only cook jacket spuds it sounds like there are big issues when using the grill/convection functions.

On balance this 27L Panasonic still top the leader board.

In fact the engineer who came out to see us pretty much said they are still the best, but that a few years back they tried to add too many whistles and bells which may have caused problems around the time we bought our failed unit. Have a look in the likes of John Lewis (who tend not to stock any rubbish) - they mainly stock Panasonic.

In terms of value for money, this one is hard to beat for a straight microwave. Time will tell whether they have solved the reliability issues, but so far we're very pleased with the upgrade.

Got this Microwave a few weeks ago which does a really good job, simple to use and looks great. Only problem I find is that the motor and fan continue to run when its finished which is a little confusing as it does it sometimes but not every time. Other than that a good buy!

Ordered this microwave aboutlunch time one day and paid extra for delivery next day. Delivered 7:45am next day, so no waiting around. The microwave works brilliantly, at the moment although the cooling sysym is slightly disconcerting. The microwave appears to continue working but it is just cooling down. So far so good and yes at the moment I fully reccommend this product. I hope I do in 10 years time!!

I have bought several Panasonic microwaves over the years and this is one of the best. I bought a combi Panasonic 3 1/2 years ago because I was having a new kitchen and I would have something to cook on. It was a nice microwave but only lasted 3 years and then it died. I thought that I didn't need a combi anymore so I bought a 800 watt - can't remember the model, last November 09, about £70. What a disaster that was - the vibration when it was powering was very loud. I tried standing it on underlay under its feet on the working surface - the only way to quieten it was to push on the door. It is now in the loft just in case I need a spare should this one decide to demise. When I plugged this one in and set the clock I couldn't believe the difference it was so much quieter when running. It being so much bigger I can use all my microwave equipment/dishes etc. The buttons don't bother me I think one has to be a little more careful not to use fingers covered with food when operating the buttons. I haven't tried all its facilities yet, but what I have tried I am very happy with. I seem to have picked a winner - long live this microwave.

This microwave was a replacement for my old Panasonic which had survived for 15 years and which had plastic covered touch keys. This microwave has mechanical keys, which is a significant minus as it's always possible to get food and debris stuck in them. It is superior in a number of respects including a better defrost program which seems to produce a more even heat. The continuation of the fan when cooking is completed has been mentioned by others but it was present on my old one so nothing new. It's worth more than 4 stars, say 4.5+, and I will be very interested to see that I get the same reliability.

This was a *replacement* for my previous Panasonic which unexpectedly passed away. Upon inspection I realised that the air intake for my *old* microwave was at the rear of the machine and, therefore, difficult to observe. What had happened is that this air intake had become 95% blocked with dust over the years, unbeknownst to me, and since this is critical in cooling the electronics and magnetron I had obviously "cooked it":-(

So beware: inspect the air *intake* at the *rear* of this machine at least once every year, and make sure you clean it. That way you will not unduly "cook" your lovely Microwave and send it to an early recycling centre.

The air vents along the side of the machine, and some at the back, are *outlets*.

If you do know which is which, the *intakes* will be the ones covered in dust! Clean them. If there isn't any dust anywhere, you do not have anything to worry about.

If you cannot remember to do this at least once a year, write a message to yourself on the front cover of the Operating Instructions as a reminder.

That was a Public Broadcast Information Message.

I very quickly realised that the NN-ST479SBPQ is an *improvement* on my old Panasonic. It has a nice, light weight, stainless steel carcass. This makes it reasonably easy to lift and move about. Nothing should ever be placed on top of it, so it is plenty sturdy enough, but without unnecessary weight. Stainless steel means it will not rust, inside or out. It is easy to clean.

Its door window was bigger than my old machine, and the internal light brighter, so I can see inside easier, too.

It is designed to be mounted close to eye height, so you may have to bend a little to read all the buttons, but I can read mine easily enough, especially the display.

It has finer controls than my previous machine, with extra power settings (including "Turbo") and timings down to single seconds if required.

Its cooling fan is actually quieter than my previous machine, but it does make a noise.

In Which? tests it cooked more evenly and thoroughly than other microwaves, and is, therefore, a Which? Best Buy. Panasonic products have a good reputation for reliability.

Here comes my second Public Broadcast Information Message.

It clearly states in the Operating Instructions that the cooling fans continue to run for about one minute after the timer has stopped. This does *not* mean it is still producing microwaves! It is running the fans to make sure the warmed interior of the oven does not then go on and "cook" the electronics or the magnetron. You can, and should, open the door and remove the food while the fans are still running once the timer has stopped. (All microwaved food needs to "stand" a short while to allow cooking to continue by conduction, because microwaves do not penetrate dense material very far. That is why some liquids need to be stirred half-way through the heating process: to improve conduction.)

We have had 3 Panasonic microwaves in the last 10 years, all 3 have stopped working after about 3 years of use.... they are noisy when they are working, this last one a 900W inverter model has started smelling like it's burning inside, the turntable carries on turning even after the time is over and the door is open, the light is flickering on and off throughout the cooking.... and it's stopped heating food up..... not going to risk switching it on again.....won't have another panasonic microwave, will try another brand.

Excellant delivery received within a few days. Microwave performs very well althought never had one with a cooling fan on before and at first thought it wasn't working correctly when the fan carried on after cooking finished but have got used to that now and it only last about 30-40 secs. Won't operate unless time is set but now find it doesn't matter what time you put, press clock press 1 min press clock and bingo away you go. I use a microwave everyday for heating as well as cooking and find just like any other I have used you can adapt to your own personal taste as far as settings are concerned. Can't fault it at all.