Sensor cook and auto cook
The oven sets the time and power for you: with a humidity sensor it watches for the steam the food gives off as it heats and stops when the food is ready.
What it is for
Pick the food type and press start; the remaining time appears once steam is detected. Cover the dish (lid or vented film), and make sure the dish and the oven are dry — Panasonic says leftover drops of water can mislead the sensor, and asks for more than 110 g of food.
Makes differ, check your microwave’s manual: the same drawing can start a different programme on another brand, and only your model’s manual gives its exact watts, weights and times.
- What it looks like
- A bowl or plate with steam rising and small arcs beside it, a key marked SENSOR, or a maker’s own name such as 6th Sense.
- Names makers use
- Sensor Reheat and Sensor Cook, Genius Sensor (Panasonic); Sensor Cook and Sensor Reheat (Dacor); 6th Sense (Whirlpool)
Where makes differ
Not every “auto” key has a sensor: some programmes only use the food type and a weight you enter. Whirlpool’s 6th Sense sets time and power from the food type, and its reheat takes 250–600 g. Dacor shows ERROR and switches off if its sensor sees no vapour; Panasonic will not start a sensor programme while the oven is still hot.
What it does not mean
It does not measure the food’s core temperature. It judges readiness from steam, so check that meat and reheated dishes are piping hot all the way through.
Other symbols with the same shapes
Sources
No published standard we could check defines microwave control icons, so this meaning is taken from 3 makers’ own manuals and support pages, each fetched and read on the date shown:
- Panasonic: Panasonic — Owner’s manual, grill/microwave oven NN-GN68KS — “When steam is detected by the Genius Sensor and two beeps sound, the remaining cooking time will appear”; “Food weight should exceed 4 oz. (110 g)”; “Residual beads of moisture turning into steam can mislead the sensor.” Checked 2026-09-28.
- Dacor: Dacor (Samsung) — Use and care manual, over-the-range convection microwave oven PCOR30S — “Dacor’s Sensor is a semi-conductor device that detects the vapor (moisture and humidity) emitted from the food as it heats. The Sensor adjusts the cooking times and power level”; “If the sensor does not detect vapor, ERROR will appear and the oven will shut off.” Checked 2026-09-28.
- Whirlpool: Whirlpool — JT469 control panel quick guide (GB) — “With 6th SENSE technology, the microwave automatically sets the cooking time and power levels based on the type of food to be prepared”; 6th Sense Reheat: “The net weight shall be kept within 250g-600g.” Checked 2026-09-28.
Written in our own words; quotations are the makers’ wording.