User Manual Panasonic NN-SD681S Built-In/Countertop Microwave Oven

You actually have to push the button 8 times to get to 30 power. It really does not take much time or effort to achieve this level of power.

most of the buttons stick out about 1/4 cm. The large round button sticks out about 1 inch, however it can be pushed back in when not in use. Our whole family loves this microwave and being able to dial in exactly how much time you want is much easier than the press pads. To me all stainless steel is a little hard to keep clean--all the fingerprints show easily. The buttons themselves are not hard to keep clean. I just wipe them as I wipe the door.

Microwave ovens heat previously cooked foods the fastest, work via dielectric heating. I like to cook on weekends and reheat food for family over the weekday to save time. It's handy for other types of cooking - melting butter & chocolate, refreshing a croissant, defrosting frozen foods, steaming vegetables, etc. I liked the Culinary Institute of America and Good Housekeeping endorsement of this particular model. Toaster oven is limited in reheating/cooking different foods. Convection oven is basically an oven with a fan and allows for faster and more evenly cooked foods (vs traditional oven). Sensor checks temperature of foods, such as in meats.