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MODEL OVERVIEW
About this model: GE PEM31SFSS
PEM31SFSS is a stainless GE Profile 1.1-cu-ft countertop microwave with 800-W output, sensor programs and an exact-model optional trim-kit listing. The PEM31 guide identifies F3, ERR and LOC.
Check the stainless model and optional kit
PEM31SFSS is the stainless steel GE Profile member of the PEM31 family, listed as a 1.1-cubic-foot countertop microwave with 800 watts of IEC microwave output. Its 24-inch overall width and 12.875-inch depth describe this case, not a universal opening for every older compact microwave. GE's exact product page permits countertop and built-in configurations. More unusually, the owner's PDF itself explicitly names the full PEM31SFSS suffix in its accessory chart, pairing it with optional JX827SFSS and JX830SFSS built-in kits. Check the separate installation instructions and clearances before selecting either kit or an under-cabinet position. The case is stainless at the door with a gray body. These finish and kit details distinguish this article from other PEM31 colors that share most operating pages and error messages; the family cover alone does not establish every cosmetic variant.
Use timed power and the removable turntable
Inside is a 10.625-inch glass turntable with a user on/off setting. The manual allows turning rotation off for a large dish, yet the removable support and turntable must still sit correctly for microwave operation. This is a useful distinction when a container is too long to rotate but the oven must remain safe to use. PEM31SFSS offers ten power levels: higher power heats faster, while a lower percentage cycles energy and can warm a delicate or overflow-prone dish more evenly. Cook Time accepts an entered duration and level, and Cook Time II can switch to another level after the first stage. Weight/Time Defrost supplies a different route for frozen food. An oven that pauses after the door was opened may simply require Start/Pause after closure. None of those manual time settings depends on sensor steam detection, making them useful when a sensor program cannot complete.
Give the humidity sensor a fair test
The exact listing includes sensor Popcorn, Reheat, Beverage, Vegetable and Potato. The humidity system waits for rising steam before calculating the rest of the cook. With Reheat, choose the recommended single serving rather than a large platter; the troubleshooting table directs larger quantities to Cook Time. For Vegetable, select the food code and cover in a microwave-safe vented container. Keep the exterior of the dish and oven interior dry so stray moisture does not mislead the sensor. Do not open the door before a sensor countdown starts. If an early opening causes ERR, press Cancel/Off and begin again; if no steam was detected by the program's maximum, finish with Cook Time. The guide warns against running consecutive sensor cycles on one portion, because that can badly overcook it. Let the oven cool before another sensor attempt.
Separate keypad fault from the lock state
F3 is different from ERR. The physical PDF page twenty says F3 appears when a control key remains active for more than sixty seconds. Press Cancel/Off to clear it, then dry the touch panel thoroughly: spilled liquid or moisture left after cleaning can hold a key signal. If the error remains on a clean, dry panel, a service assessment is more appropriate than repeatedly pressing controls. LOC instead means the controls are locked; hold Cancel/Off for about three seconds to unlock them. A lighted panel that will not start also calls for checking the closed door, a completed cooking entry and the Start/Pause key. For routine care, let the hot turntable cool before washing and avoid rough cleaners on the stainless finish; wipe gently along its grain. Note the exact displayed letters before clearing anything, because F3, ERR and LOC lead to separate user actions.
Verified model details
The PDF explicitly names PEM31SFSS beside compatible optional JX827SFSS and JX830SFSS kits.
Source for this detail · Source page: 1F3 is a long-held key condition; ERR concerns steam detection during sensor cooking.
Source for this detail · Source page: 20A 24-inch case still needs its own installation and clearance checks.
Source for this detail · Source page: 13
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GE Profile™ 1.1 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave Oven - PEM31SFSS - GE Appliances
Open official sourceIf there is a safety risk, stop using the appliance and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.