Panasonic NN-SF550W

Biggest piece of rubbish we have ever had in the kitchen other than the rubbish bin!!! – We had this microwave just over a year (Just out of warranty if I recall) when it started doing strange stop/start routines. As in, enter the cook time, press start and nothing would happen except 'click', we had to clear the settings and re-enter them, then we discovered a hit to the side of the box with a firm hand actually triggered the cooking… Read more

to start. The door also was difficult to close and open one handed, I discovered that a small wipe of vaseline on the door catches helped that fault to become more tolerable.

To be fair I did contact Panasonic, and they offered to sell us something else from their web-site at a reduced rate, but they declined to nominate a discounted rate. After looking through their web pages we declined to buy another Panasonic product, once bitten twice shy they say.

Well tonight the wife was cooking some veges, and fortunately she was in the kitchen nearby when she let out a scream for help, and the microwave was spewing smoke from the casing on both sides, and the back.

She opened the door and the inside was also full of acrid dark smoke. Then the smoke alarm started sounding, all very exciting to say the least.

No she hadn't burned the veges dry, the Panasonic had crapped itself. I pulled the power plug out of the wall, and got it outside asap, still spewing out smoke. Fortunately it didn't burst in to flames. But it was mighty hot underneath near the feet on one end. Maybe the power supply is in that area.

So for a machine that should have lasted more than 10 years, we got just over 4. Our trusty sharp went 25 plus years.

What a piece of rubbish the Panasonic is/was, now will be consigned to the Sims bin at the tip. I will open the case tomorrow and have a look at what caused the smoke.

I love this microwave! – I don't understand why this appliance is getting 1 star reviews?!?!? If people read the manual and thought about how they used their previous microwaves (where you'd put things to the outside of the turn-plate for it to cook more consistently with heat) you'd also know to put your items to the sides of this flatbed microwave - that's how… Read more

microwaves work...

If you just use the timer on high - the re-heating isn't perfect - but if you use the dedicated reheat settings, the temperature is perfect.

I agree, the door is pain - because you're getting things out of it, you use a finger or an elbow to throw the door back, but it rarely closes that way - you have to use intent and close it properly...

However, it's hardly a reason to give this microwave a 1 star review!!

The cool-down function is fantastic - it does help remove smells from the microwave, and it means the internal ambient temperature is lower again, if you have to put different foods one, after the other into the microwave...

Flatbed - great innovation – I recently bought this product and can highly recommend it. The flat-bed technology is a meaningful innovation and a game-changer. It is great for fitting in larger dishes and oblong dishes and the cooking is very even. With a flat bed and no glass tray and ring, spills are easy to clean and placing dishes in and out is also much easier. It makes… Read more

life easier.

There is a lot of bad feedback about the flat bed innovation and the poor cooking performance, I can not say that I have had the same experience.......it is probably other manufacturers bad-mouthing an innovation.

The auto cook programs have worked very well. The rice and vegetable programs all worked well and the food was cooked perfectly. The cooking speed is equal to other microwave ovens. I am glad I gave this product a go and would recommend it to others. flat bed - ie. no glass tray on rotating ring, means spills are easy to clean up, oblong and large dishes fit easily, dishes are easy to lift and slide into the microwave no sensor, auto cook menus require the manual to help program

Perfect microwave – Had my microwave about 6 years.. it’s going great no problems. Easy to clean without a turntable , you can put bigger dishes in it. Bought it from Bing Lee Thornton ! Love it Show details

Long lasting – Bought this microwave new in about 2010 or so and still going strong. Having no turntable makes it really easy to clean. Pretty solid unit but will be selling it for a smaller one so it fits in a cupboard. I will buy Panasonic again if they have a smaller one on the market. Show details ·  1

Great – This is the best microwave that we have ever had, I like the non turn table design which allows any shape dish or plate to be used. the unit heats very efficiently, the programming is use full. the unobstructed design allows for easy of cleaning. I presume that the new model would have these features.  Show details

A little disappointed – Never performed as well as my former microwave which was a fraction of the cost. After a short time error code H98 occurred-time for a new microwave-most likely NOT Panasonic

Dead at 5 years old – Dead. This microwave lasted 5 years at best and has died. Such a waste. Is it any wonder we are in a climate emergency when companies like Panasonic are selling us disposable white goods?! They are killing our planet for profit. Designing obsolescence so they can sell us more of their rubbish to replace their rubbish. Well guess what, Panasonic,… Read more

you’ve lost me as a customer! I thought you were a good brand. Apart from this dying early, the paint on the onside had long ago cooked and blistered. Microwaves are not new technology, you should know how to make them last for decades!!!

Sorry Panasonic, Not your best product. Slow to heat an door jams constantly – Very slow to cook stuff. Thought the flatbed would be a winner, but sadly, not. Also door has NEVER opened close smoothly. Have to really press the button hard to open, and also to close. Sorry Panasonic, always thought a very good brand, but I am disappoionted. Will be dumping and buying a new one very soon. Suprised I have kept it this long, just couldn't afford a new one. Purchased about 3 years ago. Show details

Mine is still going great after 11 years.. and always love the microwaves without the turntable..I had a 2nd hand one before this as I preferred that cos it had no turntable as well.. but that also lasted years

Still amazing after 11-years! – I have had my Panasonic Inverter Flatbed for going on 11-years and it was my first microwave when I moved out of home, and it’s travelled from Brisbane to Perth and to Sydney in moving trucks each time and it’s still going strong! I’ve (luckily) not experienced ANY of the issues mentioned by other reviewers, it’s been even to heat, the door works… Read more ·  1

well (it takes a good push to shut it, but I’ll say that given the 11-years of near slamming it shut, it’s still working perfectly!), and it’s superbly easy to clean without the turntable! Given it’s a flatbed and I assume that the heating element is turning, rather than the turntable, I still place my food towards the edges (like you would on a turntable), and it’s my secret to having evenly heated food every time! And the Auto-Reheat setting is the best way to guarantee an evenly reheated meal. Honestly, have no complaints about this lasting microwave (I didn’t think any appliance was built to last this long anymore, and I’m glad it has!).

Great longest owned Microwave – This is my 1st ever Panasonic Inverted Flatbed M/Wave which Ive had now for over 11yrs it's actually still working quite well Ive not had any problems at all it fits large dishes cooks evenly Everything still is in good working condition I have been very impressed with it & I will definitely get another inverted Flatbed M/wave there's no way Id go… Read more ·  1

back to having one with a turntable Update:As of 28/6/25 this microwave finally died but the Original light was still working & I just purchased a Newer model Panasonic Inverted Flatbed Microwave from Appliances Online I ordered it on 28/6 & it was delivered 30/6 & they took the other one to dispose it for me Cool

Unreliable Microwave Waste of Money – Worked well at the start. Then after 3 years started hanging intermittently at the end of the cook time. The inside walls rusted. So now we need a new one Show details

Cooked itself after 5 years – Firstly we had to slam door to get it to close.. After 5 years it just stopped, couldn't open the door and had strong smell of burnt electrics. Not impressed and we were loyal Panasonic buyers. Our old Panasonic Nova lasted 20 years. It was quite loud and the cooling fan was annoying.  Show details

Waste of money. Never again Panasonic – I have the same comment that is echoed on here numerous times. "This thing does not work like an ordinary microwave" All of a sudden it developed a terminal problem; timer starts counting down but the motor does not kick in, then the timer goes blank. 3 years into it's life and it has given up. Something I should have done after it continuously failed to do it's job.  Show details

Excellent performance – This is a Flat base, so no awful round plate, so your food heats/cooks evenly. and not from the inside out. So you never get cold spots. Many one press USEFUL Functions, rather than things you would never use. I've had this for over 5 years and it still looks and works like it's brand new. The only Con I can think of is when closing the door, you… Read more

have to really push it hard, causing the Microwave to move often if not on a non-slip surface. It also has the added protection of Cooling itself down if used for long periods, saving your motor

Almost burned our house down! – We thought there was a problem with this mocrowave when we bought it a couple of years ago as sometimes it wouldn't heat the food properly. This was especially true if something had just been in the microwave and it was the next round of heating. Then completely out of the blue, smoke started pouring from it and a really strong smell of… Read more

burning plastic. Of course we quickly neutralised the power and carried it outside where it will remain. One of the worst purchases ever made and hands down the worst microwave ever! Not sure that i'll ever buy panasonic again.

I thought I was the only one....it's terrible!!! – From the first day we always thought we were operating this thing the wrong way as nothing would heat properly, but in the end we were right.....it was the microwave!! We went through the manual and checked and re-checked everything we did...but it didn't heat anything properly from the first day we bought it. Time to get a new one!!  Show details

Bloody Great Microwave – This is he very best Microwave we have ever purchased, it has performed to our great satisfaction. Some of the best points is that it's very easy to clean and use, it doesn't have a turn table, which allows you to place rectangular dishes into it. We have had for over four (4) years, and still working great. I would only Recommend and Purchase, a Panasonic Inverter Microwave GOOD ON YOU PANASONIC.  Show details

Absolute piece of rubbish – It was great for a couple of weeks and then never worked properly again. It is the worst appliance I have ever bought. The cooling fan is loud and annoying and stays on forever. It heats unevenly and incrediably slowly. Do not buy this piece of rubbish. I was sold a line from Harvey Norman and it was such a waste of money.  Show details

Not satisfied – Takes longer to cook & all food is not hot. This was after about 10 months. Then not long after it stopped while cooking. Then not long after you would set time press start it would start but not heat & counter would not move. Then you would haveto press hard again & again for it to work. Very frustrating. As we have an older parent who reheats food he is finding it near impossible to start. Love the flat table.  Show details

worst microwave ever – Continually stops mid cycle, up to 3 times in a 10 cook. drives me crazy. i think it's cooking as it still makes a noise have to press start button continually can't wait to get a new one. can't believe i've been putting up with it for 3 1/2 years  Show details

Worst Microwave know to Mankind – Bought this as it didn't have a turntable and was touted as having much bigger volume inside. Cannot heat for crap, and constantly runs the COOL function. If you have used the microwave and then wish to heat something afterwards then the power is probably less than half. Even when working at full power provides way less heating compared to a LG microwave at my work. Overall extremely disappointed with this crap microwave!  Show details

Takes forever to cook – Decided it had it's day when we repeatedly had to put food back in 3 times ... 30 mins cooking time does not make sense. It was advertised for 1000W - there is no way that is accurate, but I have no means to check. Easier to throw it away. There is no turntable, so the space is always ample even though it is 27 L but it seems to have started… Read more

out with low power and has got worse over time. Panasonic should have compensated people who purchased this model. Hours of life that can't be returned. I am not going back to them for my new oven.

Yep started smoking with an acrid smell – I agree that this product should have lasted a lot longer. Just on three years old and not used a lot only for defrosting and rice. Glad we were close by as this was a massive fire potential. Sure easy to clean and just as easy to throw out. Recommend buying a Meile. After reading the reviews on this discontinued model, shove Panasonic in the bin. I have to abide by the terms and conditions to post this review.  Show details

Worst microwave we've ever had! – This is the worst microwave we've ever owned. The door is really hard to close and noisy. It takes a good 16-20 minutes to cook our vegetables & trying to heat from frozen is like watching paint dry. It's not gone bung yet but we're going to replace it anyway as we just can't stand it anymore.....we won't be replacing it with another Panasonic!  Show details

Horrible Product!! – Died in just over 2 years. Never seen a microwave perform so poorly. Door has to slammed shut for it to work. And sometimes did not run even after repeated opening and shutting. Sometimes stopped working midway through a cycle. Disappointed Panasonic! No great warranty on th this product either.  Show details

Dies just before it is 2 years old! – I loved the flat bed idea which is why I bought it but just on 2 years old and it has died! I steam my veg in it but it only manages to run for about 3 mins before it cuts out. The screen flashes 88:88 on and off and once it stops flashing, I try to continue cooking but then it only goes 1 minute and cuts out again. Super frustrating!  Show details

Worst microwave I have EVER owned!!! – I didn't think it possible for a microwave to perform so badly. Had leftover lasagne for dinner tonight and had to spend THIRTY minutes reheating. Standing by the microwave constantly having to poke my fingers into the middle of everyone's food to see if it's hot enough...drives me mad....happens all the time. Cannot wait to afford a new microwave.  Show details

Door issues – Had issues with it turning off mid cycle, light/timer shut off fan runs still, ripped cover off bottom screw on door locking assembly loose, adjusted along with top screw while i was there, All good! why??????? Spring on Door catch extremely heavy well in comparison for purpose, Whole locking assembly moves on closing and the violent action of… Read more

this loosened screw i suppose, replaced spring inside door, the door doesn't open as vicious as it did yet still opens. Please note this is simply my experience! I would not recommend taking microwave apart unless qualified to do so!