Breville BMO850BSS Smooth Wave Countertop Microwave Oven Brushed Stainless Steel

I'm originally from Ireland, so I've known Breville, or Sage as he's known over there, for most of my life. They've always had a reputation for quality and reliability, and this microwave really lives up to that. We bought it a few months ago to replace a standard mid-range model, and the difference is immediately noticeable. It looks great, but more importantly, it feels high quality and well built. The controls are clear and responsive, and the door has a smooth, quiet closing that makes it feel like a premium product. You can soften all the beep, which I didn't know I needed until I had it. The reheating and cooking sensor presets work better than I expected. I usually don't trust those kinds of features, but this one gets it right more often than not. The "A Bit More" button is simple, but it's actually something we use regularly. The light inside is bright, and you can clearly see your food while it's cooking, no guess if it's about to boil over. It's not the cheapest microwave, but it doesn't feel cheaply made either. We haven't had a single problem with it so far, and it's one of those appliances that you don't have to think about, and that's what I want in a kitchen appliance. Breville gets the basics right and then goes above and beyond, and for me, that's what makes this a great buy. Read more

Bought this on Amazon and returned after I read it needed clearance of 8in on all sides and top. I didn’t even take the microwave out of the box! I also thought it was too big. Both were incorrect. The next microwave I bought was horrible. Frozen dinner was over cooked in some areas and other areas not cooked at all. Returned that microwave oven too. Went to Best Buy and didn’t realize but we purchased the Breville I bought in the first place on Amazon!!!! My husband and I love this Microwave oven. Cooks frozen dinners to perfection. The size is perfect. Fits perfectly under and cabinet on the counter top. I love the care that was taken in to developing this Microwave oven. Only con is the light color on the small lights. I keep a pair of cheap glasses near by to help if needed. Other than that the microwave oven is perfect. I have the Breville smart oven that sits next to it. They look great together. Love the all stainless steel. I also like that you turn knobs to adjust the time of cooking and power. Much better than touching a pad. As the pad over time gets very dirty and hard to clean without turning on the machine. Turning a knob is much cleaner and safer and easy to use. It is the perfect wattage of 1250 wattage of power. I highly recommend this microwave oven. For its ease of use and great results in all the foods we have tired . Read more

UPDATED: So after fixing this thing two years into its working life, the transformer blew out today, three years after I bought it. Despite the design touches and user interface that make this such a nice microwave, it’s hard to justify 400 bucks for such an unreliable appliance, especially when so many others are afflicted with the exact same problem. I’m revising my rating to one star and searching for a replacement. ORIGINAL REVIEW: This is a beautiful countertop appliance, and the interface is super clever and intuitive. The soft close feature was my favorite detail of this oven, but it stopped working in the first six months I owned it. Didn't want to deal with returning it, so I just ignored it. Then, after two years, I got the dreaded E-05 error so many people have reported and it stopped heating, even while all other features worked just fine. After some research, I narrowed the cause of the problem to two possible causes: the magnetron (an expensive and time-consuming fix), and the lower door switch (a cheap and easy fix). I bought a set of door switches (12 for $7.99 on Amazon) replaced the culprit in about 5 minutes, and all is well again. I'm very happy with this microwave, but I realize taking it apart and fixing it is both dangerous and difficult for most people, and would be unnecessary for most other brands after just two years of use. So despite my satisfaction with the unit, I find it hard to give it more than 3 stars for anyone looking for a quality high-end microwave. I hear Panasonic makes some impressive units. Read more