The GE JES1072SHSS is exactly what most people would imagine when thinking of a typical countertop microwave. Compact, stylish, and costing less than $100, it's a decent machine, but it isn't quite one of the best compact microwaves on the market.
The GE JES1072SHSS was only good, not great, in our testing and didn't quite prepare food as well as some of the others we tested. As this unit was tied for the smallest one we tested then, you might want to check our recommendations for the best microwaves to look for a larger countertop microwave.
A contracted writer for TTR, Angie has covered all kinds of devices from countertop appliances and other home goods to vacuum cleaners and mold testing kits for more than eight years. Her spare time often goes to planning improvements for her quirky 103-year-old home or hiking in the gorgeous Utah mountains. In her past role, she was a newspaper journalist and she has a bachelor's degree in Technical Writing.
The GE JES1072SHSS may have been tied for being one of the smallest we tested, but it didn’t have a problem fitting dishes and glasses inside. We put a large dinner plate and glass inside to see if they could reheat, and they did. If you use your microwave to prepare large meals, this might seem too tight.
As for the outside, we think the design is sleek and stylish and will fit nicely into most kitchens if you wish to update your appliance.
All the microwaves we tested were able to prepare food, but the JES1072SHSS just didn't do it as well as some of the others.
The GE JES1072SHSS did an ok job cooking potatoes, but there were some hard spots here and there. Other microwaves performed better at this task. The same story was true for the consistency tests. There was quite a big difference in temperature from one side of the tray to the other.
The unit's small size also may have been part of the problem in our popcorn test. The JES1072SHSS left more unpopped kernels than any of the other ones. The rest of the bag looked fine, and we were surprised it could even handle one of the full-sized bags, but other microwaves did a better job of finishing the popcorn.
This one had fewer food-specific buttons than others, but there was a specific popcorn, potato, and beverage button. At the press of one button, you also get express keys for 1 through 6-minute cooking times.
The JES1072SHSS just comes with a standard 1-year warranty on everything, which is not great. There are lots of contenders that offer more coverage.
The GE JES1072SHSS is attractive and truly compact. It might not be the best at cooking evenly, but that probably won't be noticeable on most tasks. It could be the perfect addition to a stylish kitchen update.
Would I buy the GE JES1072SHSS?
The GE JES1072SHSS microwave offers decent heating efficiency but falls short compared to other models. While it effectively reheats large dinner plates and glasses, it struggles with tasks like cooking potatoes and shows inconsistencies in the popcorn test. In the microwave, there are noticeable temperature differences across the tray, which leads to uneven cooking.
The control panel is straightforward, with basic presets and express keys, but it lacks advanced features and food-specific buttons. The Magnetron is good for basic tasks but isn't great for advanced cooking.
| Attribute | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Heating Efficiency | falls short compared to other models; managed to reheat a large dinner plate and glass effectively; struggled with tasks like cooking potatoes | 6/10 |
| Time Consistency | a weak point; noticeable temperature difference across the tray during tests | 5/10 |
| Control Panel and Functionality | straightforward, offering basic presets; express keys for quick cooking times; lacks advanced features; limited number of food-specific buttons | 7/10 |
| Magnetron Functionality | provides adequate power for basic tasks; performance is average | 6/10 |
| Size and Space | compact and stylish; accommodates standard dishes and glasses | 7/10 |
