Buying New Microwave: Any to Look For or Avoid?

Our 11-year old Whirlpool Gold above-stove microwave quit last night. From what I've read the problem is either the circuit board or magnetron. This appliance was nothing to write home about...three magnetrons in the first 14 months after we got it (the third was installed by me because Whirlpool refused) and one new front panel trim piece that fell off onto my head (well-known safety issue and replaced for free). We don't need anything fancy because we're selling the house soon. Any ideas on what replacement microwave to buy or which to avoid would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Harold

After 35 years of full-size microwaves we decided it wasn't seeing enough use to justify the "largeness". We bought a smaller Panasonic "inverter" unit (not the "cheapo" units sold at Walmart !!). So here's the thing ... I've always hated reheated meat - the flavor changes and it tastes like crap. THIS unit has a reheat sensor that does an absolutely amazing job of evenly reheating stuff with NO change to the flavor.

I have no idea, we are still using the one we got as a wedding present 39 years ago, MONKEY WARDS!

I had a Tappan that went about 35 years.
Based on recent experiences I would avoid Kitchen Aid. First the M/wave took a dump only about 6 years old. Modified the opening and shoved another brand unit in there, Looked like it belonged there . Then at about 10 or 12 years the oven control board died. No longer available other than getting the board rebuilt with a 90 day warranty. Out the door it went. They USED to be a quality brand

If you can live with a countertop version, we bought a Sharp 1,100 BTU 1.3 CF countertop microwave many years ago that served us well and they are a lot less expensive then the above the stove versions.

We just did a kitchen cabinet and countertop remodel a few months ago, The wife just had to have an above the stove stainless steel microwave. I'm not impressed with the one we bought at all. Its slower and has about the same interior space as the old countertop and was 3X the money. The wife is happy though, so there is that.

We did the kitchen remodel between Thanksgiving and Christmas last year, I was surprised at how many places didn't even have any microwaves in stock at the time, we were not expecting that at all. We pretty much ended up with something someone had in stock. I wonder if that has changed for the better yet? Gene

That Panasonic inverter was a game-changer for me. I feel a lot more confident using a microwave and expecting a decent result.

Another vote for the Panny. Avoid the current GE microwaves. Cheap. Chinese. Junk.

We haven’t used a microwave for over 20 years, cant say we miss it at all.

Avoid GE Bad door interlocks they should have recalled but stiffed customers. Over $200 to fix.

panasonic inverter here as well. it has lasted many years, although i can't say just how long.

Never thought I'd learn about microwaves here...silly me...

All I know is 1,000 watts isn't much, most quickie-meals specify 1100-1200 watts.
I tend to view them as death-ray conveniences for when I just don't have time to do right by myself.

Another vote for panasonic. Ours has been great and like others have said the reheat feature works great. Its maybe 5 years old now and replaced a small Samsung one from the 80s.

I really like our GE convection microwave. Might be worth checking out.

I'd opt for a countertop unit but we're stuck with the above-the-range style due to our cabinet layout. I've heard Whirlpool, Kitchen Aid, and Sears are all the same product with different nameplates so they're all out. Lowe's is having a 'Black Friday in June' event so we'll see what they have.

several years ago when my one sister was still living, her microwave died, so i got her a new one and installed it. [one of those under cabinet units, but i forget the brand]
anyway, while the old one was in my pile of "stuff" waiting to be repurposed into whatever i could figure out what parts could be used for whatever, my one buddy stopped over.
seeing the microwave, he asked if i checked the internal fuse. huh ???????
we took the cover off [tamper proof screws], and looked around inside a bit, and discovered a 20amp [car style] glass fuse that was blown.
i replaced that fuse, and it came back to life ! my buddy is still using that thing today at his camp !
i don't know if all brands have those "secret fuses" inside, but i'll bet there have been plenty of microwaves junked because those fuses have blown.
15 minutes or so, and what are those fuses now, $1.00 maybe ? and some dollars are saved..........
of course today, it's just toss it and buy a new one.
growing up around depression era folks turned me into a weird kinda doofus i guess.

You can count me in to that crowd. or maybe I'm just a tight a-s

We found that fuse years ago in a friends old microwave when someone left a fork in there.

The dead microwave in my camper blows the fuse every time you try to start it.