GE Profile PEM31SFSS Countertop Microwave
$479.00
Product Overview
The GE Profile PEM31SFSS Countertop Microwave combines sleek design with practical functionality, making it a solid choice for home kitchens that value both form and performance. With a 1.1 cubic foot interior capacity and 800 watts of cooking power, this microwave delivers reliable heating and defrosting capabilities suitable for everyday use. Its stainless steel finish offers a modern aesthetic that blends seamlessly into contemporary kitchen décor, while the freestanding design allows for flexible placement on any flat countertop surface—no installation required. Ideal for small households, renters, or those seeking a supplemental microwave, the PEM31SFSS is engineered to handle common tasks like reheating leftovers, warming beverages, and defrosting frozen foods with consistent results.
This model features a turntable system that ensures even heat distribution throughout the cavity, promoting uniform cooking and reducing cold spots. The digital control panel provides intuitive operation with clearly labeled buttons for time, power levels, and preset functions. Whether you’re preparing a quick snack, warming up dinner, or defrosting vegetables, the microwave responds efficiently to user inputs. While not designed for high-volume meal prep or large dishware, it performs well within its intended scope, offering dependable performance without unnecessary complexity.
Key Features
- 1.1 cu ft Interior Capacity: Offers sufficient space for standard-sized plates, bowls, and casserole dishes, accommodating meals for one or two people comfortably. This size strikes a balance between compactness and usability, avoiding the limitations of smaller models while remaining manageable in tight spaces.
- 800-Watt Cooking Power: Delivers efficient energy output for faster heating and defrosting compared to lower-wattage alternatives. The consistent power level supports everyday tasks such as reheating pasta, steaming vegetables, or melting butter without excessive wait times.
- Stainless Steel Exterior Finish: Provides durability and resistance to smudges and fingerprints, maintaining a polished appearance over time. The brushed stainless steel surface complements modern appliances and enhances kitchen visual appeal.
- Turntable Rotation System: Promotes even cooking by continuously rotating food during cycles, which helps prevent uneven heating and ensures meals are warmed thoroughly from all angles.
- Countertop-Only Installation: Designed for freestanding use without requiring hardwiring, venting, or cabinet integration. This makes it ideal for apartments, dormitories, offices, or secondary kitchen setups where permanent fixtures aren’t feasible.
Technical Specifications
- Interior Capacity: 1.1 cubic feet
- Cooking Power: 800 watts
- Exterior Finish: Stainless steel
- Heating Mechanism: Turntable-based
- Installation Type: Freestanding/countertop
- Control Interface: Digital keypad with preset options
- Dimensions (approx.): [Insert if available based on source]
- Weight (approx.): [Insert if available based on source]
Benefits & Use Cases
The GE Profile PEM31SFSS excels in environments where space is limited but reliable microwave performance is essential. It serves well as a primary appliance in compact living situations or as an additional unit in busy households with multiple cooks. The turntable ensures that dishes like pizza slices, leftover stir-fry, or mugs of soup heat evenly without hot or cold patches. Users appreciate the clear display and responsive buttons, which simplify operation even for those unfamiliar with advanced microwaves.
This microwave is particularly useful for reheating pre-cooked meals, warming baby bottles, popping popcorn, or quickly defrosting ingredients before cooking on another appliance. Its modest footprint allows placement on narrow counters or beside other appliances without crowding the workspace. Because it doesn’t require electrical upgrades or structural modifications, it’s a convenient option for renters or anyone transitioning between living spaces.
While it may not replace conventional ovens or convection models for complex recipes, it reliably handles the majority of daily microwave needs with speed and simplicity. The combination of stainless steel construction and moderate capacity makes it a practical addition to kitchens seeking efficiency without excess bulk.
Important Notes
Customer experiences with the GE Profile PEM31SFSS show varied perspectives on several aspects of ownership. Some users praise its clean look and adequate capacity, noting that it fits well in their kitchen layout. Others express concerns about noise levels during operation, describing it as louder than expected—particularly when running at higher power settings or defrosting dense items. A subset of reviews also mentions perceived inconsistencies in heat transfer, suggesting that certain foods may not warm uniformly despite the turntable feature.
Build quality appears to vary among units, with some buyers reporting minor issues like loose door seals or flimsy interior racks over extended use. To maintain optimal performance and safety, ensure proper ventilation around all sides of the unit during operation. Avoid placing flammable materials nearby and never operate the microwave empty, as this can damage internal components.
It is important to note that this product is intended exclusively for countertop use and does not include mounting hardware, wall brackets, or installation services. Always refer to the included manual for operating instructions, cleaning guidelines, and troubleshooting tips. For warranty claims or technical support, contact GE Profile directly using the information provided in the documentation.
5 reviews for GE Profile PEM31SFSS Countertop Microwave
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Alesia A. –
Fits a narrow 12 inch shelf and works great!
Our new kitchen cupboards provided only enough space for a 12â deep microwave. I did a lot of research and this GE Profile model was the only one that fit. I was disappointed that there werenât more options especially after I read some of the reviews. I felt skeptical I would be happy or even satisfied with this choice but there were no other options so I ordered it. I was wrong! I have no complaints whatsoever, and in fact, this slim microwave has completely outperformed my best expectations. I am so impressed with the job it does. It cooks potatoes perfectly every time! Not only does it function well, and runs quietly, it looks fantastic too! I should mention it arrived quickly and was packaged securely so it came out of the box in perfect condition. Personally, I have no idea what the critics were talking about, because I couldnât be happier with this purchase.
N Dye –
great product
Ordering a microwave on line is a bit nervewracking. This was an easy purchase. Product arrived earlier than expected. It came very well packaged and works like a it’s supposed to. Second purchase from this vendor. So far so good!!
Clark –
Will not last!
Bought in October of 2022, stopped working in May of 2024. GE provides a one-year warranty on this microwave and designs the microwave to last 18 months. 14 months after purchase, the microwave starting making strange popping noises. Customer service from GE was worthless, beyond confirming that the one-year warranty period had expired. 19 months after purchase microwave completely failed. Was re-heating rice and the power just cut out and the microwave no longer functions. The microwave looks nice, mounts under cabinets nicely, and is a small size which are all great features. However, spending $400+ for a microwave that is only going to last a year and a half is ridiculous. Stay away from this model unless you want to buy a new one every 18 months or so.
Laura C. –
Doesn’t auto cook very effectively
We purchased this microwave as a replacement for another GE Profile model that finally wore out after 10 yr. Our original model was no longer made & GE said this was its replacement. The appearance is different from the old but that is OK. Old model had a curved frame & glass shape (arched). This is very rectangular & looks more sleek & modern. The old had a nice, small, discreet GE logo decal on the door. This one has a big raised metal round GE logo stuck on the bottom part of the door about the size of a half-dollar coin. I find that unattractive.This model doesn’t seem to cook food as good as the other. It takes longer. Both had auto cook buttons & the new doesn’t cook food “done” when using those special keys. Potatoes are the worst. I have to cook them twice. The older model had easy, 1-step cooking….Push “potato” & it cooked a potato completely. If I cooked 1, 2, 3, or 4 potatoes it compensated for that & cooked any quantity correctly. This one takes at least 2 cycles or else the potatoes are hard & not completely done….. Old model, Vegetables – push one button & keep pushing once, twice, thrice, for “fresh” “canned” or “frozen”…this new model, push vegetable button & look at chart in door & then press another number key for 1 – fresh, 2 – canned, or 3 – frozen….. Old model push “reheat” & it cooked the food done, hot & ready, no matter a single item, or plate or liquid……This one you push “reheat” & then 1 for pizza, 2 for plate, 3 soup, 4 pasta, etc…tedious & you have to look at the chart sticker inside the door b/c you can’t remember all the choices. For that reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because I was comparing it to the original model we had…This may function like a lot of similar microwaves but my old GE Profile model had easy 1-button commands that cooked the food as it should be cooked.A big complaint we have is there is one very WEAK (dim) light in the interior so you can’t see inside the oven while cooking. If something is bubbling over, good luck b/c you will have a hard time seeing it.We purchased this & the other for a specific reason. I wanted a built in microwave oven. Due to double convection wall ovens there was no cabinet space in a standard oven cabinet. I needed a smaller size. This is a counter top model with a trim kit (purchased separately – approx. $18. Not available on Amazon). Original purchase for old model incl trim kit was from Lowe’s Home Improvement. The Amazon price for this microwave is the same price as Lowe’s & delivers fast. Lowe’s was 2-week delivery & had to do store pick up. This came a day earlier than promised, on Easter Sunday no less, but was promised 3-day delivery & it was here in 2 days, front door delivery, yay, Amazon!As mentioned, this is a counter top model with a trim kit available to give the appearance of a built in microwave. It is very attractive in that sense. It will fit in a 12″ overhead cabinet. Instead of just having a cabinet box hole or shelf to set a microwave on, you can put this one in the hole & use the trim kits that is similar to a picture frame & surrounds the oven with a nice frame making it “built-in”…..If I can take a photo with my phone & come back to this review I will add a picture. I’m typing the review from my laptop.
Richard A. Nardi –
Replaced Original GE Profile Undercabinet Microwave
My previous GE Profile (Spacemaker II) microwave lasted 25 years. I think the cabinets were designed specifically for it. So, it was nice to able to replace it with a comparable item. The 4 top mounting screw locations are different on the new unit. They are not in a rectangular pattern. I decided to make a 3/4″ rectangular spacer so the microwave wouldn’t be snugged up against the flimsy trim. This actually made for a handy template. I cut the spacer until it fit the space. I temporarily bolted it in with one bolt in the center. I put m5 x 16 cone point grub screws in the four mounting locations. These are pointy and can leave a small “center punch” dimple. Briefly (skipping over some steps), I raised the oven on my motorcycle scissors jack until I dimpled the spacer. I drilled holes in the spacer. Double checked spacing with metal straps and paper template. Used the spacer as a template to drill holes in the bottom the cabinet. I had some problems along the way, but all were solvable. Miracle, all four mounting screws went right in. Microwave installed.