REASONS TO BUY
Impressive defrosting
High performance in every aspect
Doubles as an air fryer and broiler
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Some users may find buttons challenging to read
GE JES1109RRSS Review
A well-rounded and reliable appliance that offers versatile functionality and excels in heating and defrosting
Some might find the buttons hard to see.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
By Genaveve Bradshaw ⋅ Senior Review Analyst ⋅ November 14, 2023
Contributions From: Ryan White
RELATED: The Best Microwaves of 2025
Our Verdict
The GE JES1109RRSS earns a spot among the top-performing microwaves for a good reason: it excels in nearly every test, especially when it comes to defrosting. While the price is a bit high, we firmly believe it justifies its somewhat elevated cost. This unit not only performs standard functions exceptionally well but also offers advanced features like air frying and broiling. When considering the value you get for the price, it's challenging to find a better appliance in this range. One of our minor concerns was the button layout, which can be challenging to see in low lighting due to the limited contrast in the button design.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Though expensive, the GE JES1109RRSS is a top performer across all our varied tests. From defrosting to user-friendliness and providing additional functions not found in many other microwaves, we were quite impressed with this model.
Nearly perfect lasagna every time.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Heating
The GE had a great start in our initial heating metric assessments, achieving promising results time and time again.
After two minutes in the GE JES1109RRSS, the marshmallow fluff was cooked evenly across the diameter of the parchment. There was a consistent tone throughout the fluff, with only subtle variations in the center, which appears slightly lighter in color. With outcomes as consistent as these, it's evident that this product is capable of evenly heating a wide range of food items.
Even tone throughout, if not a tad pale in the center.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
The GE didn't exhibit remarkable speed, as its performance was more or less average in this regard. It increased the temperature of our water by 71 degrees, reaching a total of 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
Not the fastest, but not the slowest either.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
Leftovers Heating
The “reheat” preset demanded three minutes and 30 seconds to achieve the desired warmth. Impressively, a significant portion of the food reached elevated temperatures. This was particularly notable with the green beans, with temperatures between 180 to 183 degrees Fahrenheit. While this might be considered slightly too hot for immediate consumption, it's a testament to the microwave's heating ability.
Our leftovers test with the GE.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
After cooking the canned chicken noodle soup for the recommended amount of time, it reached a temperature of 156 degrees Fahrenheit, which is just about perfect for consumption. Any warmer and the soup would've needed time to cool off, so we were pretty pleased with these results.
Throughout all of our tests, we were impressed with the GE JES1109RRSS.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
After 45 seconds, our two slices of pizza were sufficiently heated. At 180 degrees Fahrenheit, this is possibly even a bit too hot for some. The overall temperature range varied between 120 to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, but it was largely even across the entirety of the pizza slices.
Though it's hard to see what's inside, the GE did a great job cooking just about anything we threw at it.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Frozen Foods
If you heat up a lot of frozen items, you'll be pleased to know the GE did quite well here. This appliance cruised through the tests, scoring high with every single food item. The lasagna performed exceptionally well in this test, maintaining a relatively even temperature across the dish, with only a 9-degree Fahrenheit variation. Usually, with dense items like lasagna, you'd anticipate a significantly cooler center, but the GE managed to heat the entire dish thoroughly.
Nice and hot, and more importantly; evenly cooked.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The Hot Pocket was slightly too hot on the sides, but the temperatures were consistent across the board. The microwave generated some steam while cooking the Hot Pocket, resulting in a softer texture rather than crispy. Next up was another microwave staple — the frozen burrito. We prepared the burrito following the package instructions (one minute and 30 seconds on high). The center reached 170 degrees, and the left and right sides registered 188 and 189 degrees, respectively. All things considered, this outcome is quite satisfactory.
Nearly perfect in the center, but a tad too hot on the sides.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
Defrosting
The GE JES1109RRSS truly shined bright in our defrosting assessment, delivering one of the most exceptional performances we've witnessed from any microwave to date.
The defrosting function of the GE JES1109RRSS is solely based on weight rather than time. The appliance did exceptionally well in this evaluation, leaving little room for improvement. Nearly all the beef was perfectly thawed and ready to cook. Only a small portion of the meat was still frozen, but it wasn't enough to cause concern. The weight of the defrosting function is capped at 5.9 pounds, but we don't see that as a limitation, especially for a small appliance.
Defrosting is a major selling point.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
An everyday appliance should be easy to use, and thankfully, the GE is intuitive and straightforward.
The buttons are easy to use, with plenty of functions quickly accessible. This unit provides essential features for swift reheating, including add-time buttons and a timer that can be used alongside other functions. The only minor gripe pertains to the button contrast, as they share the same tone, making them challenging to see in a dimly lit kitchen. However, this won't be an issue if your kitchen has sufficient lighting.
Grey on black doesn't provide the best contrast.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Often, the preprogrammed popcorn function overcooks the kernels. This isn't a significant issue, as most popcorn bags recommend avoiding the designated button altogether and using manual timed settings instead. However, we still tested this preprogrammed setting with a bag of popcorn. The JES1109RRSS didn't disappoint. It has three options for bag sizes: 1.75, 3, and 3.5 ounces. It nearly popped a perfect 3-ounce bag, though some kernels were still slightly overcooked.
We popped up a nearly perfect bag of popcorn using the preprogrammed settings on the GE JES1109RRSS.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The GE was stable throughout our tests, never slipping around on our countertop. It also features two unique functions: an air fryer and a broiler. One minor thing to keep in mind is the stainless steel interior, which might make it a bit challenging to monitor your food while it's cooking. Thankfully, the appliance's solid performance ensures that it doesn't demand constant attention.
Among its many features, the GE includes air fryer and broil options.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Should You Buy the GE JES1109RRSS?
If you're in the market for a high-powered microwave that excels at handling frozen foods, the GE JES1109RRSS should rank high on your list. It easily aced our defrosting tests and demonstrated impressive uniform heating for most food items. Nevertheless, individuals with compact kitchen spaces and budget constraints might want to explore alternative options better suited to their needs.
What Other Microwaves Should You Consider?
The Comfee EM720CPL-PMB comes to mind if you're looking for something more affordable. It scored well in many of our test metrics and has a smaller footprint. Keep in mind you won't get access to the large array of features that the GE has. The Toshiba EM131A5C is also an impressive microwave worth your consideration. At an accessible price point, the appliance excels at defrosting meat and cooking frozen items.
—Genaveve Bradshaw and Ryan White
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