Customer Ratings & Reviews

I purchased this item after reviewing many different microwaves and reviews and decided this one sounded the best… I’m really glad I did. I am very happy with this microwave! I really like the sensor feature, which I wasn’t sure I would… It’s great not to have to worry about something being done or not…every time the potatoes are perfect! I like the size and capacity. It fits on my counter nicely without being too overwhelming, It’s quiet and I have been extremely happy with this purchase!

Loved this stainless steel microwave, big capacity and the trigger on the handle made it safe for child’s.

Beautiful Microwave everything works perfectly it blends well with the whole kitchen

This is a very nice looking microwave.  The front is stainless steel with black accents.  The top and sides are painted black, which helps to make it a little less inconspicuous as it sits on the counter.  It has a fair amount of features that make it a good buy for people that use microwaves to cook a wide variety of foods and not only to heat stuff up.  At 1200 watts, it's a pretty powerful microwave. Cook settings include a lot of the standards that people expect and are used to using.  Both time, and weight defrost, cook time and power for more manual cooking, and some specialty modes that include melt/soften, potato, frozen vegetables, beverage, dinner plate, pizza and popcorn.  There's also a sensor reheat.  The keypad is laid out well, where everything is easy to find and nicely labeled.  The numeric keypad also has the first six digits as express cook buttons. Microwaves are notoriously tricky to use correctly.  Everyone has their own tricks for how they like to use them, but understanding a few basics will go a long way to getting good results.  While many people feel that the "extra" cooking modes are a waste of space and only want the standard time and power cook buttons, a lot of thought has gone into these extra buttons to help people get good cooking results, no matter what kind of food they're using it to cook. You may not of heard of Inverter Technology on a microwave, and it may sound like a brand buzz phrase, but it's actually a cooking method that's used by a lot of brands and actually has to do with how the heat is applied to food. Standard technology microwaves cook the food by always using the 100% power setting.  Even if you choose 50% power to cook with, that only means the microwave will use the 100% power setting for half of the time, and then no power for the other 50% of the time.  So the power level is actually based on how long the microwave uses the 100% power, it doesn't actually decrease the power level. Inverter technology however, does cut the power down.  So when you choose 50% power for 4 minutes, your microwave will actually cook your food using half the power for the full 4 minutes.  This is a more even way of cooking and heating food.  This method seems to work best for low power cooking (like softening butter), but to me it just seems like a better way to cook food at any level. Sensor technology is another mode that's included.  And like the name implies, it uses sensors to monitor the food you're cooking, and adjusts the power and time automatically to heat the food to a perfect temperature, which helps to eliminate hot spots and cold spots in the final result. The Insignia offers both sensor and inverter cooking methods, so you get the best of both worlds.  It's still up to the user to understand the different modes and select the one that will work best for your food, but at least the options are there for those who choose to use them. The 1.6 Cubic foot size is a medium to large size, and even acknowledging that, the Insignia is a bit larger than most in its size class.  It's by no means a small microwave, but with that said, it has ample space inside to cook a lot of different foods in a variety of dishes, bowls and plates.  It also includes a good sized turntable.  The door has a safety feature on it, making it a safer choice for those with small children.  This involves pressing up on a button in the handle before it will allow you to pull open the door.  It's a bit of an awkward motion, but I've seen this on other brands as well, so I guess this is a safety feature that the industry is adopting. My cooking experience with this microwave has been primarily using it for re-heating, and small frozen items like veggies. This is just how we use our microwaves. I can say that for the items we have used it for, it cooks very evenly and thoroughly. The food comes out at a more uniform temperature and I didn't notice any hot spots, or cold areas. So for me, I'll attribute this to the inverter cooking method. The microwave performs very well overall, and is easy to operate and get a feel for where your favorite buttons ended up. The cooking results have been very positive and I'm anxious to explore heating other foods in it. This microwave promises to be a staple in the kitchen and has made me rethink the way I want to use a microwave in general. Really nice product.

We never have been much of a family to actually cook in a microwave. We had your basic no frills microwave before this one. It was the occasional dinner reheater, water heater and popcorn popper. This Insignia has many features that have shown me already this is a much more versitile countertop appliance. It for sure has plenty of room for a full size dinner plate or a medium size cassorole dish. So far we have used it several times trying out the features that are new to us to have in the kitchen. I used the sensor cook feature this last time on a huge russet potato. It was a hands off set it and forget it kinda thing and it cooked the potato to a near perfect doneness the first time around and did it in a very short time. No checking and guessing and restarting required. Still not as good as a oven baked potato but still quite good. It also has Inverter Technology that regulates the power of the microwaves as needed and that also is how throttles down the power to a level other than 100 percent. Without that technology if you select 50% power, it will actually run at 100% but cycle on and off so it runs only 50% of the time. This microwave actually regulates the microwaves to 50% power for the entire cook time. That cooks the food the way it should be cooked without over cooking it or drying it out.

I feel good about this purchase because I got it for $185 including a 4-yr extended warranty, which is a way better deal than my Panasonic Inverter which cost A LOT more and up and died after 3 short years. Most of the functionality is identical to the Panasonic. This is also a lot more powerful than the Panasonic (which actually had higher wattage), so I now have to lower my power levels when I cook. It doesn't cook as evenly as the Panasonic, and the bottoms of my cookware really heat up. And yes, the door latch is slightly annoying even after 4 weeks of use. This is advertised as the same 1.6 cubic feet as my (dead) Panasonic, but the interior and plate are definitely smaller. This is not a problem for my needs. The exterior dimensions are the same. The control panel and black detailing show fingeprints more than the Panasonic. Bottom line, I liked my Panasonic more, but the expense of the Panasonic plus its crappy warranty, its short life, and lousy customer service...downsides that many other reviewers have also documented...these all made buying the Insignia a no-brainer. I'm still getting used to it, but it definitely does the job. I love that it's quieter. I love that you can turn off the beeps, And I love that you can turn off the display.

The Insignia - 1.6 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave with Sensor Cooking and Inverter Technology is an excellent choice for your next microwave. I remember when microwaves were first introduced amid uncertainty about what the effects of this new, mysterious radiation would be. Today, a microwave is an essential kitchen appliance. Most of us would be at a loss to imagine how we’d function without it. Over the years there have been a number of improvements and added features. The thing with microwaves is they’re a rare purchase because a good one just keeps on doing what it does and I take it for granted - until I need a new one. So, with the Insignia - 1.6 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave with Sensor Cooking and Inverter Technology, I have been impressed by a number of refinements. PROS * The stainless steel and black finish is easily cleaned and looks classy. * The adjustable legs make for easy leveling on a less-than-perfect counter or other surface. * The nineteen preset functions streamline cooking/reheating. * The popcorn setting includes amount options from 3 ounces to 1.75 ounces for more accurate popping—no more handfuls of unpopped kernels or burnt popcorn (unless you like it that way). * The child—lock increases your options for oven placement for comfortable wheelchair access. The lock could possibly prevent misuse from persons with dementia - as well as curious children. * The “sound off” feature means the whole house (or a baby) will sleep through the reheating of coffee—a huge plus for us “mourning doves” or okay—“night owls”. * I appreciate that the ‘How To Use’ guides for various languages come in separate booklets rather than one single (and bulky) form. * The 1.6 ft. size is good for large quantities. Especially nice when cooking for large groups. * The butter-softener setting was a big selling point for me - along with the 1–6 minute express mode. * Having a reference guide displayed inside the microwave for quick programming of a variety of menus is a big convenience. CONS * I can’t, honestly, think of anything I did not like. However, it did take me a little time to get used to using the door latch. It’s very simple and easy-to-use, but I had to remember to stop instinctively pulling on the door without sliding my hand up to release it first. Eventually it became automatic for me. The Insignia - 1.6 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave with Sensor Cooking and Inverter Technology is an excellent choice for your next microwave.

I picked this up for our basement wet bar so guests can heat dips and snacks without running upstairs. After a week, it’s doing exactly what I wanted, heating food. Looks-wise, the stainless-and-black combo fits in great. The Insignia logo is a bit bold for my taste, but the overall look is clean. It’s a bit bigger than I hoped for a 1.6 cu. ft. unit, It does fit on my countertop but doesn't leave as much room as I'd hoped. For my purpose though it swallows dinner plates easily and the turntable is plenty large. Day to day, it’s simple. The touch panel is clear, the display’s easy to read, and the express buttons are perfect—tap 1 for a minute, 2 for two minutes, or hit Start for 30 seconds. Heating has been even and quick. I’ve had to shave a few seconds off my usual times (a slice of pizza is about 50 seconds here), which I take as a good sign. The melt/soften preset surprised me—I'd never encountered an "Ice Cream" button on the microwave , but instead of half-melted edges and a frozen middle, it softened my Americone Dream evenly, like it sat on the counter for 10 minutes. Win! Noise from the microwave itself is normal, but the beeps were loud and shrill out of the box. You can mute them by holding the “8” key for about five seconds—a tip that was inconveniently missing from the owners manual. Build feels a little hollow/light, and the trigger-style door release works fine but may confuse guests. Normally the first thing I do when I buy any product is remove all the stickers, but I left on the little “how to open” sticker on the front so that I wouldn't have to explain to my grandma how to open the door. Who am I kidding...I'm still going to have to. Overall, easy to use, easy to wipe down, and cooks evenly. For a basement/bar setup, it’s a win. I'd probably give 4.5 stars, but on a 5-star system I'll round up, because at the end of the day - it's a microwave that cooks and that's really all you can ask for.

Nice high powered microwave at a good price. It's easy to use, and even the clock is simple to set. It's also big enough to put all kinds of stuff in- like the half a ham or turkey so a "starving" pup doesn't snatch it off the counter! No complaints, would recommend.

I received 2 defective ones, before finally getting a good one on the 3rd try. I’ve only had it about a week but so far it’s great. It’s so much quieter when running than my last microwave that it replaced. it heats/cooks everything perfectly.

This is a very good microwave. Having a potato and frozen vegetable buttons for sensor cooking was a plus for us. Very impressed also with the 1400 watts which makes defrosting and cooking faster. Highly recommend this microwave.

I can't believe how quiet it is and easy to use, the child lock out on the handle is something to get used to but may a good idea if you have little ones.

The microwave if quiet compared to my last one and it evenly heats my food

This microwave works very well. I do not care for the door latch. Right out of the box it was hard to get closed (the light inside stayed lit). As we used it that improved. It is a very good value. Overall I would recommend it.

I like this microwave door as my son has previously broken the push to open ones, and this has a handle with a release button that I think will last longer. it is a good size for items I normally microwave. I am still getting use to the 1200 wats cooking in less time than my old 1000 wats. Got this one delivered 11-9 after the last one just stopped working.

Great microwave, nice size, works well out of the box

Most microwaves have a similar look, function, and performance, so why pay more for the name on the front? (They are all probably made by Midea anyway.) This Insignia microwave looks nice, works well, and feels like reasonable quality.

I’m so satisfied with this new microwave. Was getting sick of using a 1000 watt when most of the frozen food says 1200. Now this one is 1400 so had to experiment how much time could be saved but overall I like it a lot. Also very easy to use with lots of great settings

My 12-year-old GE microwave has started acting up. It rattles like something inside is loose, and the turntable works, but makes a clunking sound. I was really dreading having to replace it because it looks built-in. It’s actually just sitting on a shelf in the cabinetry and has a stainless-steel bezel to give it a built-in look. I removed it and measured it, and went looking for a replacement that would fit. I found this Insignia microwave oven that is the exact size I needed. I ordered it, and sure enough, it’s a perfect fit. But that’s not the best thing about this microwave. First of all, it’s very quiet. Even when my existing microwave was not making its odd sounds, its normal operating volume level was fairly loud. This Insignia microwave is near silent in comparison. The turntable is totally silent. The controls are easy to use and very intuitive. I like the one-touch operation of being able to press and number from 1 through 6 and have it start and run for than many minutes. A single touch of the “Start” button runs a quick 30-second cycle, and each additional press adds another 30 seconds to any cycle. The buttons are responsive and clearly labeled. Plus being flat, they are very easy to clean. The LED display is large, bright and easy to read. The 1.6 cubit foot size is perfect for my needs. It holds most anything I need to cook. With 1400 watts, it’s powerful and cooks quickly. I was able to bring 1 cup of water to a rolling boil in well under a minute. The sensor cook works very well. I’ve been able to perfectly cook every plate of leftovers with its “Reheat” mode. Defrosting works well, too. I have absolutely no complaints about the cooking capabilities of this microwave. I only have two minor complaints, and they are really insignificant and did not affect my overall rating. First of all, to open the door, you have to press a small interlock “trigger” inside the handle. I didn’t realize this and thought the door was stuck. I guess this is some sort of child safety feature, but it’s the first microwave I’ve used in decades that didn’t just open by pulling on the handle. Like IO said, it’s a minor issue, and I have quickly become accustomed to pulling on the trigger to open the door. My other issue is that the turntable does not have an off button. If it’s in place, it rotates when the oven is on. Sometimes I’ve needed to cook some odd-sized plates that I don’t want to rotate as they will hit the front or back of the inside, so I am used to switching off the turntable. Again, this is a minor complaint, and I rarely need to use this missing function, so I don’t count off because of it. Overall, this is a great microwave. It has decent capacity and power in medium-compact package. It’s easy to use and cooks very well. It also looks sleek and modern. This is a great value for a microwave oven and I highly recommend it.

By far the most powerful microwave I have ever owned. I usually end up reducing recommended cooking times by 10 to 20%. Extremely quiet too. Buttons are well laid out and easy to.