The Insignia NS-MW09SS8 is a small, budget-friendly countertop microwave. While it lacks some bells and whistles you find on more expensive microwaves, like a steam sensor, it has the functions you'd expect on a microwave, like a defrost mode, and you can also mute the controls, which isn't always a given.
Our Verdict
The Insignia NS-MW09SS8 is a 900-watt microwave and isn't the fastest. Most 1000-watt microwaves can heat your food a bit faster.
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Has a mute function.
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Compact design.
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Somewhat slow.
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No steam sensor.
Compared To Other Microwaves
The Insignia NS-MW09SS8 is a small countertop microwave. It's a budget-friendly option that has a mute function, which gives it an edge over some other small microwaves, like the Cuisinart CMW-70 and the LG LMC0975ST. However, it doesn't have a steam sensor, which would allow the microwave to automatically calculate the cook time. If you want a small microwave with that feature, the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS is a bit bigger but comes equipped with a steam sensor.
If you're looking for a recommendation, check out the best microwaves and the best over-the-range microwaves.
Test Results
It has a small cooking chamber, so it's best suited for smaller containers like mugs and bowls. The light inside isn't very bright, so it can be difficult to see into.
The microwave has simple controls. It's easy to start a 30-second cycle with one button push, and it has a defrost function as well as programs for specific foods like 'Pizza,' 'Popcorn,' and 'Beverage.' It doesn't have a steam sensor, so you always have to manually select the cooking time or input the weight of your food. However, it has a mute function, so you can switch off the end-of-cycle buzzer.
Microwaves all perform similarly when it comes to evenly heating food in shallow dishes. Evenness depends on factors like what kind of food you're heating, in what amount, and what container you're using. If you're interested in reading more about microwave performance, check out our investigation here.
Like with shallow dishes, all microwaves heat food in deep dishes similarly evenly. Evenness depends on what food you're heating, how much of it there is, and in what container, instead of which microwave you're using. Check out our investigation into microwave performance here.