Sharp R-331ZS Microwave (1.1 cu.ft.), Stainless Steel, Standard

It's tough to find a powerful microwave that doesn't take up the entire kitchen counter, but this one fits the bill. It tucks discreetly away in the corner but is pretty roomy inside. It's much more powerful than our previous microwave so we need to get use to covering food to prevent splattering and sometimes hot handles and dishes.Couple of downsides - the light comes on when you're cooking but not when you open the door. Not a big deal, but it seems kind of odd. Also, it's a bit cumbersome to set the timer - you have to hold your finger over a button for what seems like a long time. And finally, the presets are a bit confusing -- but we generally don't use them.

I needed an oven with a small footprint which would not take up a lot of counter space. This is a mid sized oven with a carousel and a full 1000 watts of cooking power. It has many automatic features such as auto cook which works with popcorn, beverages, diner plates, pizza and defrost settings. It boasts ten power levels. While it feels light weight and a bit flimsy, it performs reliably and gets the job done every time with a minimum of fuss or bother. The carousel is a real convenience feature which saves you from stopping the cooking process to turn the dish, ensuring even heating. This is a decent product that works well.

The front trim is stainless, which matches the rest of my kitchen. It cooks quickly, and defrosts extremely evenly, unlike my old microwave. I believe that others have commented that it slides around. Mine does a bit, but not to the point where I can be bothered doing anything about it. Also, I think someone wrote that the light does not come on when you open the door, and that this was a big problem. Indeed it doesn't, but I keep the unit in a well-lit area, so it's not a problem for me. Actually, I think it's an advantage, because if you leave the door open, you're not wasting energy and bulb life.

I'm pleased with this product. It cooks a bit faster than my old microwave that was about 13 years old. The popcorn setting is too long, so I don't use it but opt for 1 min 40 seconds instead (if popping your own kernels in a brown paper bag--it might be perfect for microwave bagged popcorn). I wish the light would go on when the door is open, rather than only coming on when it is actually in use, but I can live with the minor inconvenience.

After considerable research, I purchased this microwave because the dimensions seemed to be perfect for our new kitchen (as a semi-built-in appiance, in the lower cabinet in this picture) Also, our old Sharp microwave lasted an impressive 14 years. When this microwave arrived, it turned out to be a bit too big (front to back) so I began the return process (at my expense, of course). Seller wanted a whopping 30% restocking fee (against Amazon rules) but that's a tale for a different day.I was going to just keep it and sell it at a loss locally. But, my contractor, carpenter and electrician were able to make this work - it looked much better than I thought it would! And after they worked their magic, and plugged it in, we got our real surprise. Dead. As in - nothing. Tried different outlet, checked breakers. Nothing. So now I've begun yet ANOTHER return process.Meanwhile, I bought this microwave locally because the kitchen has already been built around it. If it turns out to be a good purchase, I will update this review.Oh, and Amazon? Fabulous, courteous, prompt service, as alwayis.

I expected better things from Sharp and did not read the reviews.The unit mechanically performs well as expected. However, the design in the lighting was very disappointing. The light does not come on when the door is opened, nor is the keyboard backlighted, making it extremely difficult to see the keys. I live in an apartment with a small kitchen. To use this unit, I must turn on the light over the stove and have the microwave turned towards the light to see the settings.

I would give it a 4 because the microwave does not sit level and there is no way to adjust the front feet. I had to put a small sticky pad to level the front of the microwave or it would tip when touched on the top. Otherwise it is a great microwave as far as cooking and ease of use.

It has the right look for a kitchen with stainless appliances, but the quality is not the best. The door seems flimsy and there is no light inside when the door is open. Strange, most other microwaves always have a light that goes on when the door is open so you can see the food.