Consumer Reports Is Calling This Microwave One Of The Least Reliable

According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), approximately 118 million households across the U.S. had at least one microwave in their home in 2020, proving just how important this appliance has become in our everyday lives. Whether you're using your microwave oven to reheat leftovers or defrost a frozen protein for dinner, it's important to have an appliance that is reliable, effective, and doesn't give you a headache every time you use it. But finding the top-rated microwaves based on reviews can be tricky, given there are so many brands and models available.

Thankfully, Consumer Reports recently released findings outlining the 25 products that scored the worst based on its independent research and member reviews. Based on its research and testing, the least reliable microwave is GE's Profile PEM31SFSS. At a $550 price point, this countertop microwave scored only 36 out of 100 points for reliability and 44 out of 100 points in owner satisfaction.

Consumer Reports frequently conducts independent testing to help readers find the best products, whether that's the most reliable fridge brand or the best air fryers on the market. Its scoring criteria can vary depending on what its experts are testing, but each category factors in the overall performance of the product and customer reviews. When testing the GE Profile PEM31SFSS, Consumer Reports considered heating evenness, defrosting evenness, speed of heating, noise, and ease of use.

The GE Profile PEM31SFSS scored an abysmal 1 out of 5 points for heating evenness when Consumer Reports reheated a bowl of mashed potatoes. It also scored very low for speed of heating, with only 2 out of 5 points. Consumer Reports did note that this microwave received full marks for noise, but called out in its report that a low noise level doesn't make up for the fact that this model is unreliable and relatively ineffective.

Historically, GE has been considered one of the most reliable microwave brands. But if you're in the market for a new microwave, the GE Profile PEM31SFSS might not be the best option. Thankfully, one model's poor performance doesn't knock the entire brand out of the running when it comes to quality products. Consumer Reports pointed its readers to GE's JES1109RRSS microwave as a top-rated alternative that scored extremely well in defrosting, noise, and heating evenness.