The best GE microwaves offer plenty of reliability for long-lasting performance, as well as a host of features and functionalities sure to make any kitchen enthusiast happy. With features ranging from sensor cooking to convection cooking and large interior capacity, these are the best microwaves to cook frozen foods on dinner plates of any size without a problem.
Plus, with a high-quality build and user-friendly control panels, you won’t need to read a book to learn how to use GE microwaves. You’ll also be able to choose from a wide variety of different types of microwaves, including smart microwaves, OTR microwaves, and countertop microwaves.
Read on to learn more about the best GE microwaves and how they stack up against other brands in the market.
Top GE Microwaves
#1 GE JVM3160RFSS 1.6 cu. ft. 30-Inch Microwave
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: Advanced functions such as a turntable switch and 300-cfm venting system enable precisely customizing the cooking experience. The device has a stylish silver finish that complements a variety of kitchen appliances.
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- Stylish silver finish
- Effective 30-cfm venting system
- Spacious interior
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- Keypad lacks backlight
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The GE JVM3160RFSS 1.6 cu. ft. 30-inch microwave is an over-the-range model with a stylish appearance. This microwave oven has a suite of advanced features that add speed and convenience to food preparation. Auto and time defrost functions simplify heating up frozen foods. This device has a turntable on/off switch, enabling users to customize the turntable’s operation. However, the control panel on this unit doesn’t have backlighting.
This GE JVM3160RFSS 1.6 cu. ft. 30-inch microwave has a two-speed, 300-cfm venting system that efficiently eliminates fumes and odors. It has presets for popcorn, beverages, and potato, offering convenient operation. This microwave oven has a detailed digital control panel that enables in-depth customization. An Add 30 Sec function allows users to prolong cooking at the touch of a button. The microwave oven has a delightful stainless finish that matches GE ranges and other kitchen appliances.
#2 GE Profile PEM31SFSS 1.1 cu. ft. 18-Inch Microwave
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: This device has a versatile design that supports both counter and built-in installation. The device features a stainless steel finish, which adds a touch of sophistication to the kitchen.
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- Awesome stainless steel finish
- Supports countertop and built-in installation
- Built-in presets
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- Buttons are hard
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The GE Profile PEM31SFSS 1.1 cu. ft. 18-inch microwave features premium materials. This appliance has a stainless steel finish, blending in easily with kitchen cabinets and appliances. It has an 800W heating element that cooks and boils very fast. Featuring a freestanding design, this device can be placed on counters, offering flexibility. It’s also supports built-in mounting, allowing users to integrate it into various kitchen design schemes. However, the buttons on this model require some force to operate.
This GE Profile PEM31SFSS 1.1 cu. ft. 18-inch microwave has a 1.1 cu. ft. capacity, accommodating a reasonable amount of food. It has preset buttons for popcorn, beverages, potatoes, and vegetables. A defrost function simplifies heating up frozen foods. This device has a turntable switch and Add 30 Sec button for convenient operation. It has a digital timer and detailed number pad to enable hassle-free management and monitoring.
#3 GE JES1072DMBB 0.7 cu. ft. 18-Inch Microwave
Award: BEST COMPACT
WHY WE LIKE IT: This microwave oven has a compact design that’s suitable for tight spaces and small families. It has a powerful heating system and high-quality turntable, cooking food and beverages fast.
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- Outstanding power
- Compact design
- Detailed control panel
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- Not ideal for large families
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The GE JES1072DMBB 0.7 cu. ft. 18-inch microwave is a compact model that is ideal for compact kitchens in apartments, dorm rooms, and similar settings. This microwave uses a 700W heating element to cook food fast. It has a black finish that complements most kitchen design schemes. With 10 different power levels, this device allows users to cook a variety of meals, including fast boiling and simmering recipes. However, this microwave is not big enough to prepare family-sized meals.
This GE JES1072DMBB 0.7 cu. ft. 18-inch microwave oven has a number of built-in preset programs to enable fast operation. The detailed number pad on this model allows users to precisely adjust cooking duration easily. This device has a control panel lock, preventing accidental operation by children and pets. A high-quality glass turntable offers reliable performance. It also has an Add 30 Sec button to enable adjusting the cooking settings easily in real time.
#4 GE JNM316DJBB 1.6 cu. ft. 30-Inch Microwave
Award: BEST FOR FAMILIES
WHY WE LIKE IT: This microwave oven has a spacious interior that will appeal to families that frequently prepare large meals. It has an intuitive control panel with a number pad to enable managing settings fast.
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- Enormous size ideal for families
- Built-in 300 cfm venting system
- Comprehensive control panel
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- Loud
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The GE JNM3163DJBB 1.6 cu. ft. 30-inch microwave is an over-the-range oven tha boasts plenty of space for cooking. This device installs in 30-inch-wide cabinets, providing a seamless look. It has a black color scheme, blending in well with black ranges. This device has automatic and time defrost functions, melting ice and frozen food fast. With a capacity of 1.6 cu. ft., this microwave oven is ideal for families. However, this device produces more noise than the typical microwave oven.
This GE JNM3163DJBB 1.6 cu. ft. 30-inch microwave runs on a 950W heating element, providing enough heat to boil water and warm up food fast. With a two-speed 300-cfm venting system, this appliance eliminates fumes, debris, and odors rapidly. A turnable switch enables controlling the operation of the turntable. This device has a number of presets, allowing users to prepare meals such as popcorn, potatoes, and beverages fast. Its control panel with a num pad facilitates simple operation.
#5 GE JEM3072SHSS 0.7 cu. ft. 18-Inch Microwave
Award: BEST FOR DORM ROOMS
WHY WE LIKE IT: This appliance is compact, making it a good choice for installing in kitchens where space is at a premium. It has a freestanding design for placement on the counter but it also supports built-in installation.
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- Stylish design
- Supports countertop and built-in installation
- Intuitive num pad control panel
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- Too small for families
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The GE JEM3072SHSS 0.7 cu. ft. 18-Inch microwave is a versatile oven that takes care of common cooking and reheating chores. This compact design has a capacity of 0.7 cu. ft., so it’s a good choice for people in dorm rooms and apartments. It has an auto defrost function, allowing users to save time and effort when thawing frozen food. Presets for potatoes, popcorns, and beverages enable effortless cooking. However, this microwave oven is too small for families or entertaining.
This GE JEM3072SHSS 0.7 cu. ft. 18-Inch microwave has a stunning stainless steel finish that adds a touch of contemporary charm to any kitchen counter. This device has a freestanding design for flexible countertop installation. It can also support built-in installation with an optional mounting kit. This GE microwave oven has an intuitive control panel with a detailed num pad that enables setting precise cooking durations and power levels easily.
#6 GE JES1095MSS 0.9 cu. ft. 18-Inch Microwave
Award: BEST PRESET PROGRAMS
WHY WE LIKE IT: This microwave has a powerful heating element that enables cooking a variety of recipes at speed. With presets for meals like pizza and vegetables, this appliance offers convenient control.
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- Impressive selection of preset programs
- Powerful 900W heating element
- Control panel lock
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- Poorly lit control panel
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The GE JES1095SMSS 0.9 cu. ft. 18-inch microwave uses a 900W heating element to cook food fast. This device has a 0.9 cu. ft. chamber that’s ideal for preparing moderate quantities of food fast. The appliance has an automatic defrost function that helps users to take the guesswork out of melting frozen foods. This microwave oven has a reliable turntable to help cook food evenly. However, the control panel lacks lighting, so it’s difficult to see in low-light kitchens.
This GE JES1095SMSS 0.9 cu. ft. 18-inch microwave features a control panel lock to prevent accidental operation. It has a freestanding design for countertop installation. This device is available in stainless steel, white, and black variants, blending in easily with a wide variety of design schemes. It has a number of useful presets for dishes such as pizza, popcorn, and vegetables. The appliance has a number of power levels for cooking fast and slow dishes.
Beginner’s Guide to GE Microwaves
The General Electric Company – GE for short – is an American company founded in 1892 due to the merger of the Edison Electric Company and the Thomson-Houston Electric Company. In those first days, the company focused on producing electric motors, sockets, and light fixtures. In 1986, GE became one of the original 12 companies to list on the Dow Jones Industrial Average stock market index.
Throughout the years, GE has expanded into multiple different industries, producing a wide variety of other products. In 1919, the company branched into radio sales. This eventually led to the co-founding of the National Broadcasting Company, also called NBC. Then in 1927, GE started selling televisions.
In the 1940s, during World War I, GE partnered with the United States Army Air Corps to develop the country’s first jet engine. They also produced turbo superchargers for aircraft during the war. In the 1960s, GE moved into the computing industry, producing computers for both individual consumers and the U.S. government.
Throughout nearly the entirety of GE’s history, the company has also produced home appliances. The company started with heating and cooking products but has since expanded into additional kitchen appliances, laundry appliances, and more.
In 2016, Haier purchased GE’s appliance division. Haier is a Chinese appliance and consumer electronics manufacturer. As a part of the purchasing agreement, Haier kept the rights to the GE name. Today, the company produces a vast range of appliances, ranging from refrigerators and microwaves to coffee makers and laundry machines. Their products focus on reliability and a variety of design choices to fit into any home setting.
How GE Microwaves Compare to Other Brands
(Pro 1) Excellent Smart Features and Advanced Functionality: Many GE microwave ovens offer plenty of smart functionality and advanced features, which increases their overall utility and user-friendliness. Some of the best smart and advanced features on these microwaves include:
- Scan-to-cook technology, which allows you to scan the barcode on the back of frozen dinners with your phone to get accurate cooking times and power levels.
- Advantium technology, which uses light to cook the outside of your food like a conventional oven and microwave energy to cook the inside of your food.
- Sensor cooking control, which senses the type of food you’re trying to reheat or cook and adjusts power levels and cooking time accordingly.
- Voice commands, which allow you to use your microwave oven with your smart devices like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
- Control lock, which disables the control panel, so children and pets don’t accidentally get into your microwave while you’re heating food.
(Con 1) Microwaves with Advanced Features Are More Expensive: With the addition of extensive advanced and smart functionality, GE microwaves, on average, can be more expensive than the competition, especially when compared to competitors like the best Whirlpool microwaves.
(Pro 2) Wide Variety of Different Models: GE offers a truly impressive lineup of different types of microwave ovens in their product catalog. Whether you need a built-in microwave oven, convection microwave oven, or standard microwave oven, GE has you covered. However, you’ll get the most options if you’re looking for an over-the-range model to save on counter space or a countertop model for compact cooking power.
(Con 2) Can Sometimes Be Difficult to Find the Right Match: With such a wide variety of different models from which to choose, it can sometimes be challenging to find a model that matches your exact needs. If you don’t know what to look for, you may spend a long time perusing GE’s catalog of appliances.
(Pro 3) Long-Lasting Reliability and Good Build Quality: GE appliances are well known for their reliability and refined build quality. Finding a stainless steel microwave here is common, but GE also produces different colors and finishes to fit a wide range of kitchen styles. These microwave ovens also feature user-friendly control panels with dedicated buttons for preset cooking options. Some models even have a knob to control cook time more easily. No matter which model you purchase, you’ll be sure to get a high-quality product with minimal issues.
(Con 3) Some Units Are Louder than the Competition: Some users complain that GE microwaves are louder than alternatives you can purchase from competitors, like the best LG microwaves. However, this problem seems to only be limited to options with higher power levels, as one might come to expect from microwave ovens.
Why You Should Buy a GE Microwave
If you’re in the market for a new microwave, you’re very likely to run into a GE model at some point during your shopping. No matter what you need, whether it be an over-the-range microwave or a countertop microwave, a GE model will give you the quality, reliability, and functionality that you need.
From basic features like preset cooking mode options and different power levels to advanced features like convection cooking and sensor cooking, a GE microwave oven is sure to fit your needs. Whether you’re simply looking to replace a broken microwave or find a model that fits your new kitchen, you typically can’t go wrong with a GE model.
How Long Will a GE Microwave Last?
Like those at Ocean Appliance, professional appliance technicians and industry experts alike agree that your microwave should last an average of seven years before needing repair or replacement. Of course, the specific lifespan of your microwave oven depends on the manufacturer and model you decide to purchase. GE is one of the most reliable appliance brands and may last longer than the average seven years.
There are a few things that can directly impact the overall lifespan of your GE microwave oven, including the way you use it and how you install it. For a GE countertop microwave, we recommend installing it on a countertop away from the sink with plenty of space to allow for food preparation. For a GE OTR microwave, we recommend allowing a professional to install it properly.
When it comes to using your GE microwave, you should avoid cooking metal or foods like eggs and potatoes. This way, you’ll avoid damage to the appliance. You should also clean the appliance regularly to avoid staining.
GE Microwave Warranties
All GE microwaves carry a standard 1-year warranty that covers parts and labor for any manufacturer defects. If you ever encounter any problems with your microwave oven, GE will cover the costs of parts, labor, and in-home service to fix it.
GE microwaves also carry an additional 9-year warranty that specifically covers the magnetron inside the appliance. This component is responsible for creating the microwave radiation that cooks your food. Please note that this part of the warranty will only cover the cost of the part and not any of the labor or in-home service fees related to the repair.
