Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SN686S Stainless Steel
$199.99
Product Overview
The Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SN686S combines sleek design with powerful performance in a compact 1.2-cubic-foot footprint. Crafted with a premium stainless-steel finish that resists fingerprints and complements any kitchen decor, this countertop or built-in microwave delivers professional-grade results for everyday cooking. Its intuitive Genius Sensor technology and 1200-watt inverter power make it ideal for busy households, singles, and professionals who value speed without sacrificing quality.
Whether you’re reheating last night’s leftovers, defrosting frozen ingredients, or preparing a full meal in minutes, the NN-SN686S ensures consistent, even heating from edge to center—thanks to its patented Inverter Technology. The result? Meals that are perfectly cooked, never overdone, and full of flavor. With smart features like auto cook presets, turbo defrost, and a keep warm function, this microwave simplifies your routine while saving valuable time.
Key Features
- Inverter Technology: Unlike conventional microwaves that cycle power on and off—leading to uneven cooking and hot spots—Panasonic’s Inverter Technology delivers a seamless, steady stream of cooking power across all temperature levels. This innovation eliminates guesswork and ensures meals are heated evenly from the outside in, preserving texture, nutrients, and taste.
- Genius Sensor Cooking: Say goodbye to undercooked edges or soggy centers. The Genius Sensor detects the moisture released during cooking by monitoring steam levels inside the cavity. Based on real-time data, it automatically adjusts both power output and cooking duration, eliminating the need for constant monitoring and manual adjustments.
- Turbo Defrost Function: Frozen ingredients can be frustratingly slow to thaw. With Turbo Defrost powered by Inverter Technology, you can defrost meats, vegetables, and casseroles up to 30% faster than standard defrost cycles. It works intelligently by varying power levels to gently thaw food evenly without starting to cook the exterior.
- 14 Auto Cook Options: From pizza and popcorn to pasta, soup, oatmeal, and more, these preset programs are engineered for optimal results. Simply select the food type, press start, and let the microwave do the work. Each setting is calibrated to deliver restaurant-quality outcomes with minimal effort.
- Keep Warm Feature: Need to serve dinner late? No problem. This feature maintains soups, gravies, sauces, and desserts at an ideal serving temperature for up to two hours without affecting quality. Perfect for hosting or when your main dish finishes earlier than side dishes.
- Compact Exterior, Generous Interior: Measuring just 12-1/4″ high x 20-11/16″ wide x 15-13/16″ deep, this model fits easily on most countertops or flush into standard cabinets. Yet its internal dimensions—9 15/16″ H x 13 15/16″ W x 14 3/8″ D—and large 13.4-inch turntable accommodate family-sized plates and taller containers with ease.
- Child Safety Lock: Designed with families in mind, the child safety lock prevents accidental activation, ensuring peace of mind whether you have curious toddlers or energetic children at home.
Technical Specifications
- Model: NN-SN686S
- Capacity: 1.2 cubic feet
- Power Output: 1200 watts
- Turntable Diameter: 340 mm (13.4 inches)
- External Dimensions (H x W x D): 12-1/4″ x 20-11/16″ x 15-13/16″
- Internal Dimensions (H x W x D): 9 15/16″ x 13 15/16″ x 14 3/8″
- Clock Display: 12-hour format
- Child Lock: Yes
- Operating Frequency: 2,450 MHz
- Power Source: 120V / 60Hz
- Power Consumption: 1480W
Benefits & Use Cases
This microwave shines in daily kitchen routines where speed, consistency, and convenience matter most. The Genius Sensor removes the anxiety of guessing cooking times—ideal for someone who wants perfect results every time without watching the clock. Reheat a bowl of soup or leftover pasta with confidence, knowing the sensor will adjust power to prevent splattering or drying out.
The Turbo Defrost feature transforms meal prep by significantly reducing thawing times, making it easier to go from frozen to fried chicken or stir-fry in under ten minutes. And with 14 one-touch auto cook menus, even beginner cooks can prepare popular favorites like instant oatmeal or soft-baked potatoes with professional precision.
Its slim profile makes it a great fit for small apartments, condos, dorm rooms, or office kitchens where space is limited—yet the generous interior accommodates large casserole dishes, multiple servings, or oversized drinks cans. Whether you’re warming milk for cereal, steaming vegetables, melting chocolate, or defrosting fish fillets, this microwave handles it all efficiently and quietly.
Additionally, the keep warm function is invaluable when entertaining—keeping appetizers and sides at the right temperature until guests arrive. The durable stainless-steel exterior not only looks elegant but also wipes clean easily, maintaining its sleek appearance with minimal effort.
Important Notes
This product includes only the microwave oven unit; no additional accessories such as racks, trays, or manuals are listed as included in the original specifications. For best performance, ensure adequate ventilation around the appliance and avoid placing flammable materials near the front vent. While the stainless-steel surface is resistant to stains, it may develop smudges over time and should be cleaned regularly with a damp cloth and mild cleaner. Designed for both countertop use and built-in installation (flush mounting), verify cabinet compatibility before purchase. Operating frequency complies with U.S. household appliance standards (2,450 MHz). Always unplug and allow the microwave to cool before cleaning or servicing.
7 reviews for Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SN686S Stainless Steel
Add a review
Related Products
GE GCST11X1WSS Microwave Oven, 950-watt 6 Auto Cooking
Panasonic Microwave Oven, Stainless Steel
GE Countertop Microwave Oven, 1,200-watt Capacity, 2.0 Cubic
Phoebem –
Best Microwave on the Market
The best part about this brand of microwave is that it works – no hassle. My first Panasonic Inverter lasted 15 years. Replaced it b/c I wanted a smaller one. Gave it away to a coworker who says itâs still working 5 years later. Still looks new. So, instead doing the smart thing + buying another one, I bought a Toshiba based on the over 15k reviews. First one came dented. Sent back. Reordered and hated it. Cheaply made, door was noisy to open + close and within a year had to throw it in a dumpster. The back blistered and the inside was stained (could never get any food stain to go away). Idk if I just got a bad one or not, but this Panasonic is hands down a superior machine.Pros: minimalist look, no handle, easy to use, reheat option – did I mention it works??? My fridge + stove are black stainless, but my dishwasher is reg stainless, and the microwave sits right above it on the counter.I was thinking about replacing the dishwasher to match the rest, but the microwave kind of pulls it together, + the look is aesthetically pleasing now, so saved some $ there.Cons: in dim light, the operating panel is harder to see, and I still havenât figured out how to permanently disable the child lock, but tbf, I havenât spent any time reading the manual other than having to press 0 to open the door. I think that a child safety lock should be something you have to purposefully activate, not come already enabled.So, if you want a reliable, attractive, microwave that has an inverter and multiple cooking options, I cannot recommend Panasonic enough. The LG models are more expensive and arenât nearly as attractive. I was tempted to buy the small Breville, but reviews were mixed. Btwâ¦if it matters, Panasonic is one of the few microwave brands that isnât made in China. That was a nice bonus for me.Iâve had this model a month with no issues. Some ppl didnât like the dark gray interior, but I do. Itâs different and makes it look more expensive than it is. Honestly, if I became a millionaire overnight, Iâd still buy Panasonic microwaves. Theyâve never let me down.
Amazon Customer –
Awesome Read This If You Need Help
I just got the Panasonic Genius Microwave NN-SN68KS without all the numeric buttons and you don’t need them once you read the manual.This is a 1200 watt microwave with 12.4 amps so you have to have common sense and give it its own dedicated power outlet. I have mine running smooth with a common house lamp on the circuit and it’s doing great. If you have an old outlet be sure to ground it with a grounding screw and grounding wire with the adapter to put it in the wall. A standard 13 amp extension cord will work if you have to use an outlet in the next room like I did. If you try and run this on the same outlet as the refrigerator you’re pushing 19.5 amps and could have some issues. Same goes for a toaster oven which would be 21.4 amps which is a big no no for most common house outlets running at 15 amps max. I saw some guys review on here and he didn’t know much about electricity and was having breaker issues but just needed to use the next nearest power outlet to resolve his issue. This needs it’s own power outlet with maybe a common one bulb lamp hooked at the max.The food cooks awesome. It is genius!!!I love how you just have to press 2 buttons and listen for beeps to cook the food and it does everything for you.Learning to use this only takes about 10-15 minutes reading the manual. The notes are on the inside of the microwave when you open the door so you don’t have to memorize 16 codes.If you properly read the manual and use common sense you will love this microwave. It is so freaking amazing and my food cooks perfect with the Genius sensor.Tips: If you go manual be sure to adjust the power settings. If it doesn’t come out all the way cooked use the Reheat button and let the sensor cook your food the rest of the way for you. Works for me.Listen for the beeps and check the food if the Genius hasn’t stopped cooking it yet and your Frozen Food Entree is still in there and it smells good; check it if the Genius sensor tells you there is 5:30 remaining. I checked mine and the food was done and I stopped it early. If you let it go without common sense after beeps you might overcook your food. So far we haven’t overcooked anything and everything is all smiles and perfect.For some people it might seem a little overwhelming at first but if you read the manual and forums you understand the idea of how the sensor needs to detect steam and work and how it needs some of your attention sometimes when it’s cooking and everything comes out great.I literally have chills and goosebumps by how amazing this microwave works and how simple it actually is to use.Never microwave anything frozen on full power or you can break the magnetron. It needs you to either lower the power or turbo defrost or use the frozen food button.I think some people didn’t read the manual and freaked out.You don’t need all the numerical buttons with this microwave because it is high powered with an inverter and cooks fast and evenly. That’s why there are only 3 sets of numerical buttons in logical increments if you decide to cook it the old way manually without the Genius sensor. Anyone who complained is just behind the simple learning curve of a 15 minute manual read. In reward you get a microwave oven that cooks everything for you after you hit 2 buttons and don’t have to guess the times.F-ing awesome. I love it.So far so good.
DAVID –
excelente horno. todo lo calienta muy rapido y bien solo hay que calcular el tiempo de calentamiento de alimentos si te pasas te puedes llevar una no muy grata sorpresa. SOLO PRODUCTOS INVERTER
Jamie –
This is the second Panasonic microwave that has failed in less than a year of ownership. Both units saw very little use. The first unit died in under a month and was refunded but because this unit is almost a year old they will not refund the purchase.
carrie cartile –
Very happy with microwave. Works great, looks great. Exactly as I expected. Great and efficient service
Cliente de Amazon –
Lo he tenido por un mes y ha funcionado bien.
Daniel RodrÃguez –
Es un microondas compacto, pero muy funcional. Tuve uno mucho más grande de la misma marca y me funcionó perfectamente durante más de 10 años, por lo que me decidà por este. Su teclado digital hace muy fácil programar el tiempo de cocción o recalentado con precisión de minutos y segundos, por ejemplo 2 minutos y 13 segundos. Su interior es relativamente pequeño, pero suficiente para cocinar algo como para 4 personas, quizá no más. Calienta muy bien en un menor tiempo que el anterior horno que tuve, ya que es más moderno. Estoy muy satisfecho con mi compra. Supongo que tendrá larga vida útil como el anterior. Este tiene escasamente un mes. Recomiendo desconectarlo cuando no esté en uso o conectarlo a un multicontacto que tenga apagador. De esta manera se protege contra fluctuaciones de la corriente cuando est+a apagado, y no consume electricidad.