Introduction of Panasonic Inverter Microwave NN-ST696S Guide

The Panasonic Inverter Microwave NN-ST696S is a versatile and powerful kitchen appliance that combines the convenience of a microwave with the precision of an inverter. This 1.5 cubic foot microwave features a sleek stainless steel design, a 1000-watt inverter, and numerous cooking options to help you prepare your favorite dishes with ease. With an estimated price of $250 and a launching date of January 2021, the NN-ST696S is a great investment for any home cook looking to upgrade their microwave game.

Specifications

Trim Kit

Oven Components Diagram

1. External Air Vent
2. Internal Air Vent
3. Door Safety Lock System 4 Exhaust Air Vent
4. Control Panel
5. Identification Plate
6. Glass Tray
7. Roller Ring
8. Heat/Vapor Barrier Film (do not remove)
9. Waveguide Cover (do not remove) 
10. Door Release Button
11. Warning Label
12. Menu Label
13. Power Supply Cord
14. Power Supply Plug

Note: The illustration is for reference only.

Control Panel

Beep Sound: When a pad is pressed correctly, a beep will be heard. If a pad is pressed and no beep is heard, the unit did not or cannot accept the instruction. When operating, the oven will beep twice between programmed stages. At the end of any complete program, the oven will beep 5 times.
Note

• If there is no operation for 6 minutes after setting cooking program, the oven will automatically cancel the cooking program. The display will return to clock or colon display.
• If no beep sound is heard, check "beep ON/OFF" function feature (see page 14).

Starting to Use Your Oven

Setting the Clock

Example: To set 11:25 a.m. or p.m.

Child Safety Lock

This feature prevents the electronic oper-ation of the oven until cancelled. It does not lock the door.

NOTES

1. To reset the clock, repeat step 1-3.
2. The clock will retain the time of day as long as the oven is plugged in and electricity is supplied.
3. Clock is a 12-hour display.
4. Oven will not operate while colon is flashing.

NOTES

1. You can set the Child Lock feature when the display shows a colon or time of day.
2. To set or cancel child safety lock, Start or Stop/Reset button must be pressed 3 times within 10 seconds.

Description

The Panasonic Inverter Microwave NN-ST696S boasts a spacious 1.5 cubic foot interior that can accommodate a wide variety of dishes and containers. Its 1000-watt inverter provides consistent and precise heating, ensuring that your food is cooked evenly and thoroughly every time. Additionally, the NN-ST696S features a sleek stainless steel exterior that is both stylish and durable, making it a great addition to any kitchen.

Quick Guide to Operation

Function Features

This unique function of your Panasonic microwave oven allows you to establish the initial non-cooking features of your Oven.
This microwave oven has the functions below:
LB/KG CHOICE: The oven has both imperial and metric weight measurements.
BEEP CHOICE: The oven has both Beep On and Beep Off mode.

NOTES: These choices can be selected only when you plug-in the oven. 

Set LB/KG and BEEP by following the steps below:

Selecting Microwave Power & Cook Time

Example: To cook at P 6 (MEDIUM) power for 1 minute 30 seconds

NOTES

1.  For more than one stage cooking, repeat steps 1 and 2 for each stage of cooking before pressing Start Pad (see right side for reference).
2. When using P10 (HIGH) power for the first stage, you may skip step1.
3. When selecting P10 (HIGH) power, the maximum programmable time is 30 minutes. For other power levels, the maximum time is 99 minutes and 99 seconds.
4. For reheating, use P10 (HIGH) for liquids, P7 (MEDIUM-HIGH) for most foods and P6 (MEDIUM) for dense foods.
5. For defrosting, use P3 (MEDIUM-LOW). DO NOT OVERCOOK. This oven requires less time to cook than an older unit. Overcooking will cause food to dry out and may cause a fire. A microwave oven's cooking power tells you the amount of microwave power available for cooking.

3-Stage Cooking

This feature allows you to program 2-3 Stages of cooking continuously.

NOTES

1. The maximum number of stages for cooking is 3.
2. When selecting P10 (HIGH) power for the first stage, you may skip step1.
3. When operating, two beeps will sound between each stage. Five beeps will sound at the end of the entire sequence.
4. Inverter turbo defrost, sensor or other auto features can not be used with  3 stage cooking.

Quick 30 Feature

This feature allows you to set or add cooking time in 30 seconds increments up to 5 minutes.
To Set Cooking Time

NOTES

1. If desired, you can use other power levels. Select desired power level before setting cooking time.
2. After setting the time by Quick 30 Pad, you cannot use Number Pads.
3. Quick 30 Pad can be used to add more time during manual cooking.

To Add Time using Quick 30

Keep Warm Feature

This feature will keep food warm for up to 30 minutes after cooking.

Example: To keep 2 cups of gravy warm

NOTE: Keep Warm can be programmed as the final stage after cook times have been manually entered. It cannot be used in combination with inverter turbo defrost  sensor or auto features.

Inverter Turbo Defrost Feature

Example: To Defrost 1.5 pounds of meat

Place food on microwave safe dish.

Note: The maximum weight for Inverter Turbo Defrost is 3 kg (6 lb).

Conversion Chart: Follow the chart to convert ounces or hundredths of a pound into tenths of a pound. To use Inverter Turbo Defrost, enter the weight of the food in lbs. (1.0) and tenths of a lb. (0.1). If a piece of meat weighs 1.95 lbs. or 1 lb.  14 oz., enter 1.9 lbs.

Defrosting Tips & Techniques

Preparation for freezing

1. Freeze meats, poultry, and fish in packages with only 1 or 2 layers of food. Place wax paper between layers.
2. Package in heavy-duty plastic wraps, bags (labeled “For Freezer”), or freezer paper.
3. Remove as much air as possible.
4. Seal securely, date, and label.

To Defrost

1. Remove wrapper. This helps moisture to evaporate. Juices from food can get hot and cook the food.
2. Set food in microwave-safe dish.
3. Place roasts fat-side down. Place whole poultry breast-side down.
4. Select power and minimum time so that items will be under-defrosted.
5. Drain liquids during defrosting.
6. Turn over (invert) items during defrosting.
7. Shield edges and ends if needed. (See "Cooking Techniques").

After Defrosting

1. Large items may be icy in the centre. Defrosting will complete during STANDING TIME.
2. Let stand, covered, following stand time directions on page 19.
3. Rinse foods as indicated in the chart.
4. Items which have been layered should be rinsed separately or have a longer tand time.

Sensor Reheat Feature

This sensor feature allows you to reheat food without setting time. The oven simplifies programming.

Example: To  reheat a plate of food

NOTE

• Casseroles
  Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of liquid, cover with lid or vented plastic wrap. Stir when time appears in the display window. 
• Canned foods
  Empty contents into casserole dish or serving bowl, cover  dish with lid or vented plastic wrap. After reheating, let stand for a few minutes. 
• Plate of food
  Arrange food on plate; top with butter, gravy, etc. Cover with lid or vented plastic wrap. After reheating, let stand for a few minutes. 

DO NOT USE SENSOR REHEAT

1. To reheat bread, meat pie and pastry products. Use manual power and time for these foods.
2. For raw or uncooked foods.
3. If oven cavity is warm.
4. For beverages.
5. For frozen foods.

Sensor Cook Feature

This sensor feature allows you to cook food without setting time. The oven simplifies programming.

Example: To cook Frozen Entrées

For the best results with the GENIUS SENSOR, follow these recommendations. 

BEFORE Reheating/Cooking

1. The room temperature surrounding the oven should be below 35 °C (95 °F).
2. Food weight should exceed 110 g (4 oz.).
3. Be sure the glass tray, the outside of the cooking containers and the inside of the microwave oven are dry before placing food in the oven. Residual beads of moisture turning into steam can mislead the sensor.
   1. Cover food with lid, or with vented plastic wrap. Never use tightly sealed plastic containers—they can prevent steam from escaping and cause food to overcook.

DURING Reheating/Cooking: DO NOT open the oven door until 2 beeps sound and cooking time appears on the Display Window. Doing so will cause inaccurate cooking since the steam from food is no longer contained within the oven cavity. Once the cooking time begins to count down, the oven door may be opened to stir, turn or rearrange foods for some menus.
AFTER Reheating/Cooking: All foods should have a stand time.

Setup Guide

To operate the Panasonic Inverter Microwave NN-ST696S, follow these steps:

1. Plug in the microwave and turn it on.
2. Choose the desired cooking option (e.g., defrost, reheat, cook).
3. Enter the cooking time and select the power level (if applicable).
4. Press the start button to begin cooking.

To assemble and configure the microwave, follow these steps:

1. Place the microwave on a stable, level surface.
2. Insert the turntable and close the door.
3. Connect the microwave to a power outlet.
4. Set the clock and other preferences.

Cookware Guide

CONTAINER TEST
TO TEST A CONTAINER FOR SAFE MICROWAVE OVEN USE: Fill a microwave safe cup with cool water and place it in the microwave oven alongside the empty container to be tested; heat one (1) minute at P10 (HIGH). If the container is microwave oven safe (transparent to microwave energy), the empty container should remain comfortably cool and the water should be hot. If the container is hot, it has absorbed some microwave energy and should NOT be used. This test cannot be used for plastic containers.

Care and Cleaning of Your Microwave Oven

Caution: After cooking, the oven should be cleaned with a soft cloth moistened with soapy water. If the oven is not cleaned occasionally to eliminate grease, it can accumulate and cause the oven to "Smoke and fire" during use.

BEFORE CLEANING: Unplug oven at wall outlet. If outlet is inacces-sible, leave oven door open while cleaning.

AFTER CLEANING: Be sure to place the Roller Ring and the Glass Tray in the proper position and press Stop/Reset Pad to clear the Display.

1. Label: Do not remove, wipe with a damp cloth.
   Inside of the oven: Wipe with a damp cloth after using, mild detergent may be used if needed. The use of harsh detergents or abrasives.
2. Glass Tray: Remove and wash in warm soapy water or in a dishwasher.
3. Outside oven surfaces: Clean with a damp cloth.  To prevent damage to the operating parts inside the oven, water should not be allowed to seep into ventilation openings.
4. Oven Door: Wipe with a soft, dry cloth when steam accumulates inside or around the outside of the oven door. During cooking, especially under high humidity conditions, steam  is given off from the food. (Some steam will condense on cooler surfaces, such as the oven door. This is normal.) Inside surface is covered with a heat and vapor barrier film. Do not remove.
5. Outside oven surfaces: Clean with a damp cloth.  To prevent damage to the operating parts inside the oven, water should not be allowed to seep into ventilation openings.
6. Do not remove waveguide cover: It is important to keep cover clean in the same manner as the inside of the oven.
7. Control Panel: Covered with a removable protective film to prevent scratches during shipping. Small bubbles may appear under this film. (Hint -To remove film, apply masking or clear tape to an exposed corner and pull gently.) If the Control Panel becomes wet, clean it with a soft, dry cloth. Do not use harsh detergents or abrasives.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE OVEN CLEAN AND DRY. FOOD RESIDUE AND CONDENSATION MAY CAUSE RUSTING OR ARCING AND DAMAGE TO THE OVEN. AFTER USE, WIPE DRY ALL SURFACES-INCLUDING VENT OPENINGS, OVEN SEAMS, AND UNDER GLASS TRAY.

Sensor Cook Chart

Timer Feature

This feature allows you to program the oven as a kitchen timer. It can also be used to program a standing time after cooking is completed and/or to program a delay start.
CAUTION: If oven lamp is lit while using the timer feature with door closed, the oven is incorrectly programed. Stop oven im-mediately and re-read instructions.
To Use as a Kitchen Timer

Example: To count down 5 minutes.

To Set Stand Time

Example: To cook at P6 power for 3 minutes, with stand time of 5 minutes.

To Set Delay Start

Example: To delay the start of cooing  for 5 minutes, and cook at P6 power for 3 minutes.

NOTES

1. When each stage finishes, a two-beep signal sounds. At the end of the pro-gram, the oven will beep five times.
2. If the oven door is opened during Stand Time, Kitchen Timer or Delay Time, the time on the display will con-tinue to count down.
3. Stand time and Delay start cannot be programmed before inverter turbo defrost, sensor or other auto features. This is to prevent the starting temper-ature of food from rising before de-frosting or cooking begins. A change in starting temperature could cause inaccurate results.
4. The maximum programmable time of Standing Time, Kitchen Time or Delay Time is up to 99 minutes and 99 sec-onds.
5. The Standing time or Delay start feature can only be added to a 2-cycle cooking sequence.

Microwave shortcuts

Panasonic Inverter Microwave NN-ST696S Troubleshooting

Warranty

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Spacious 1.5 cubic foot interior
• 1000-watt inverter for precise heating
• Sleek stainless steel design
• Numerous cooking options and presets
• Easy to use and clean

Cons

• May be more expensive than other microwaves
• May not fit in some smaller kitchens or spaces
• Some users may find the touch controls difficult to use
• May not have as many advanced features as some high-end microwaves

Customer Reviews about Panasonic Inverter Microwave NN-ST696S

Customers have praised the Panasonic Inverter Microwave NN-ST696S for its spacious interior, precise heating, and easy-to-use controls. However, some have noted that the microwave can be loud compared to other models, and that the exterior can become hot during use. Additionally, some users have reported issues with the touch controls and the turntable.