Have you ever wanted to make tasty treats in a quick, efficient way? Nowadays, microwaves offer an easy solution. But these appliances weren’t always so accessible; back in the 1940s, they could cost thousands of dollars and be over 5 feet tall! Thankfully, we have plenty of models that fit on your countertop for much less, but which one should you choose? At Insider Reviews, our team has done the hard work for you by testing five popular microwave models with delicious marshmallows and frozen foods- ensuring each appliance heats evenly and is user-friendly. Please find out more about how our experts research before choosing between all those tempting options!
To ensure you’ve got the best microwave around, we pulled out all the stops – talking to Bob Schiffmann, a heating guru and head of the International Microwave Power Institute, and Jared Lodico from UCLA – to learn how microwaves work and what shoppers should look for!
The best microwaves you can buy in 2022
Best microwave overall: Are you looking for a microwave to make your mealtime prep simple and fast? Look no further than the Panasonic NN-SN65KB Microwave Oven! This robust 1,200-watt powerhouse is perfect for quickly heating meals of all sizes – its compact design packs plenty of interior space, while great features like preset buttons mean you’ll be eating in no time.
Best microwave on a budget: Got a tight budget but still need to get the job done? Check out the Commercial Chef Countertop Microwave! It’s an affordable, no-frills option that will fit snugly in your kitchen. Plus, it has enough power to heat leftovers and other snacks quickly so you can enjoy them sooner—without breaking the bank.
Best convection microwave: Treat yourself to the best! The powerful 1,000-watt Toshiba Microwave Oven with a Convection feature is like having four kitchen appliances in one. Enjoy meals cooked or reheated quickly and thoroughly – from baking a lasagna dish to roasting your favorite cuts of meat.
Best large capacity microwave: Treat yourself to the Panasonic NN-SD975S Microwave – a large-capacity oven that can accommodate two plates at once! With an easy dial system and built-in option, this microwave is perfect for all your heating and cooking needs. Enjoy hassle-free meals with their modern convenience today!
Best smart microwave: Transform your kitchen with GE’s Smart Microwave! It pairs up perfectly with Alexa and Google Assistant, letting you get dinner ready at the sound of your voice or a simple tap on your phone. Make mealtime brighter than ever before—no magic wand required!
Best microwave overall
Are you looking for a powerful yet space-saving kitchen appliance? The Panasonic NN-SN65KB Microwave Oven is a perfect choice! With 1200 watts of power and plenty of room inside, it will cook your food quickly and evenly. Plus, its preset buttons make cooking meals easy with just one touch.
This Panasonic oven can cook and heat food with remarkable accuracy! Put it to the test, like we did use marshmallows – they all expanded evenly in just two minutes. There was only a minor burn at the center, not bad for such a powerful 1,200 watts of energy!
Panasonic Microwave Oven Inverter
- 1200W black microwave with 11 power levels, smart controls, 3-level popcorn button, and more for easy cooking of dinner and snacks
- Panasonic’s patented Inverter Technology generates seamless steam of cooking power for evenly heated foods, edges to the center
- Genius Sensor takes the guesswork out of cooking but automatically adjusts power and cooking time; Includes ten sensor cook settings; sensor reheat warms leftovers evenly
- Inverter Turbo Defrost accelerates thawing time; 15 Auto Cook Options, Keep Warm, and more
- Countertop microwave with 1.2 cups. ft. easy-clean interior houses 13.4” turntable
Pros
- Pros: Five functional preset buttons, 1,200 watts of cooking power (more than most microwaves), includes a safety button
Cons
- Cons: Observable fingerprint streaks, the lamp inside is too dark to check food while it’s cooking, it’s noisy, Frozen Foods feature doesn’t cook accurately, doesn’t includes Express Cook buttons
Best microwave on a budget
The Commercial Chef Microwave is perfect if you’re looking for a compact and affordable microwaving solution! It’s straightforward to use and packs enough power in its petite frame. Ideally, suited for small kitchens, too – what more could you want?
The Commercial Chef Microwave is perfect for those with limited kitchen or dorm room space! It looks like a classic toaster oven, and it’ll even give you an old-fashioned “ding” when your food is done cooking. With two adjustable rotary knobs controlling power level and cook time, this microwave provides easy control over all of your meals – though please note that times can’t be explicitly set for anything short. Are you looking to save more? We’re currently testing their new digital model at a lower price point – keep checking back here as we provide updates on its results!
Commercial Chef Countertop Microwave Oven
- Kitchen countertop mini microwave ovens for preparing snacks, heating up last night’s leftovers, or food preparation
- Durable strong construction with a Black front display and cabinet for compact durability
- Easy to grasp grip type handle to open and close this rotary microwave
- Mechanical, rotary dial controls make it great for those seeking simple, basic operation
- Speed and Weight defrost allows for multiple uses in the kitchen
Pros
- Pros: Easy to use, compact, quieter than most models, heats evenly
Cons
- Cons: Doesn’t have a clock, can only set cook time by the minute, not very strong (only 600 watts), too small for large plates over 10 inches in diameter
Best convection microwave
You can cook up a storm with the Toshiba Microwave Oven with Convection! This amazing 1,000-watt machine prepares food quickly and thoroughly – whether it’s reheating leftovers or roasting your favorite dish. Get ready to be amazed at what this kitchen wizard can do!
With the Toshiba Microwave Oven with Convection, you can enhance your kitchen experience. Not only does this powerful 1,000-watt oven provide traditional microwave functions, but it also bakes and roasts a variety of items to perfection! The Express Cook feature adds convenience by starting up when you enter numbers one through six on its number pad. Among our tests was a marshmallow challenge which went off without any hot or cold spots – although some burning in the middle did occur due to its great power—frozen mac n’ cheese? No problem here either – it cooked thoroughly every time we tested it out 😉
TOSHIBA 3-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven
- The exterior dimensions are 21.77″ x 21.50″ x 12.99″.
- The interior cavity is 15.5″ x 15.35″ x 10.2″.
- This appliance combines a microwave and convection cooker with auto bake, defrosting, and auto roast menus, as well as a pre-programmed sensor menu for optimum results with popular foods like frozen pizza or vegetables.
- It has a sound on/off option–to mute the buzzer, press and hold button “8” on the keypad for 3-5 seconds–and a one-touch popcorn button and warm-hold function.
- Additionally, it is equipped with power-saving eco mode and a child safety lock; the stainless steel interior is easy to clean.
Pros
- Pros: Quiet, with many quick-touch preset cooking controls, a multi-functional appliance that can bake and roast, and includes a child-safety lock.
Cons
- Cons: Heavy and bulky, the convection component heats the kitchen quickly
Best large capacity microwave
If you’re cooking for many people, look no further than the Panasonic NN-SD975S Microwave Oven! Boasting a whopping 1,250 watts and a 16.5-inch turntable that can evenly heat any treat or dish – from marshmallows to casserole – this microwave is guaranteed to be your kitchen’s MVP.
Panasonic Oven with Cyclonic Wave Inverter Technology
- Cyclonic Inverter Technology circulates heat in 3D waves for more even, efficient cooking.
- Simple Microwave Controls with 20 preset menu items, inverter turbo, defrost, quick 30 sec, delicious popcorn, and more.
- Cook and reheat without setting a time with Sensor Cook and Reheat functions offer preset options for easier cooking.
- Defrost in a Hurry, Keep Warm When You Need It: Sensor Inverter Turbo Defrost evenly thaws foods more evenly and quickly; the Keep warm feature keeps foods warm until ready to serve.
- Maximize Counter Space: Uses a spacious 2.2 cu ft interior and compact exterior to take up minimal counter space; make it a built-in microwave with trim kit models sold separately.
Pros
- Pros: Quiet, powerful 1,250 watts, the dial is easy to use, comes with useful preset buttons, includes a child-safety lock, can be installed as a built-in microwave
Cons
- Cons: You can’t see the food well while it’s cooking, dial only goes up in 10-second increments
Best smart microwave
Get cooking without lifting a finger: GE’s Smart Microwave Oven uses voice commands and your smartphone to create delicious meals easily! With Alexa or Google Assistant by your side, you’re in for effortless meal-making every time.
Stay in control of your cooking with the GE Smart Microwave Oven! Connecting to your smartphone or using voice commands through a virtual assistant, you can quickly start/stop and pause/resume what’s cookin’ like magic. Plus – ask Google Home Mini how much time is left for dinner perfection every time!
GE Capacity Smart Countertop Microwave Oven
- This microwave has 900 watts of power for traditional cooking.
- It is compact, with 0.9 cubic feet of interior space.
- The turntable ensures even heating by rotating and turning food as it cooks.
- The stainless steel casing provides durability and style, complementing your existing kitchen décor.
- The digital display offers a clear view of available settings, while the electronic controls make heating up food fast and straightforward.
- Various cooking programs are available to fit your needs, including reheat, beverage, popcorn, pizza, vegetables, potato, express cook, time defrost, AUTO defrost, dinner, and scan-to-cook technology.
Pros
- Pros: Features innovative technology and scan-to-cook technology at a reasonable price, heats food quickly, considerable yet compact enough to fit in a small kitchen
Cons
- Cons: It doesn’t cook food as evenly as other microwaves we tried, doesn’t come with a trim kit to mount over the stove or underneath cabinets, and the voice controls are finicky.
Our microwave testing methodology
I spoke to two experts in microwave cooking – Bob Schiffmann, president of the International Microwave Power Institute, and Jared Lodico, a postdoc physicist at UCLA. I then gave all microwaves put through their paces with testing covering performance while heating food and how user-friendly they were if any extra functions or buttons existed on each model that was taken into consideration too!
- Marshmallow test: To check my microwaves for hot and cold spots, I used an industry-standard method: the marshmallow test! After cutting the parchment paper to size, I covered it with mini marshmallows. Not ideal if you don’t want your food undercooked or possibly in dangerous areas that won’t get appropriately cooked – thankfully, a good microwave will guarantee even heating across its entire surface, so there are no burnt (or raw!) surprises waiting when you see what’s inside after testing! Then came two minutes of cooking on high — without fail, the expanding marshmallows revealed all those pesky hotspots in each microwave, while any uncooked ones showed up as potential icy points.
- Frozen meal test: I took a deep dive into the microwaved mac and cheese world – no frozen dinner was safe from my rigorous testing. With an eagle eye, I checked for any cold or burnt spots to make sure each microwave heated up with perfect uniformity!
- Ease of use: I checked out how user-friendly the microwaves were, from their setup to pushing buttons – and I also ensured they would fit comfortably on my counter! To top it off, I judged just how much (or little) noise these babies make while cooking, so you won’t be disturbed by loud alarms or persistent beeps.
- Presets and additional functions: I put each microwave through its paces to ensure the preset buttons, like Popcorn and Reheat, worked as advertised. I wanted to gauge how effectively these settings functioned – producing excellent results and being simple enough for anyone to operate with ease!
How microwaves work
While microwaves may seem mysterious to some, at their most basic, they’re not much different than stoves, ovens, or grills in that they use energy to cook food. “Generally speaking, putting energy into something is how we heat and cook all food. It depends on how we do it (such as on the stove, in the sun, or with a microwave),” said Lodico.
From potatoes to fresh veggies, the microwave cooks foods fast and efficiently! By generating electromagnetic radiation called “microwaves,” this appliance transfers energy straight into your food, so it heats up from within. As a result, water-rich dishes are ready in no time – drastically faster than when cooked on other appliances such as stoves.
What to look for in a microwave
Our experts have your back! Here’s what to look for when shopping: size, functionality, durability, and price. With these in mind, you’ll be sure to bring home one that fits all of your needs – no more cold leftovers with this savvy purchase!
Power: Consider your needs before deciding on its wattage. If you only need to reheat food, an 800-watt oven should do the trick! But if it’s going to handle more complex cooking tasks like baking or roasting, opt for one with at least 1,000 watts of power – that way, you can be sure it’ll give professional results every time.
Presets and additional functions: Consider how and when you typically use preset functions. Many consumers primarily operate a microwave with the number pad or Express Cook buttons. However, present functions are helpful if you’re someone who does a lot of cooking or defrosting. If you want a microwave that replaces a toaster oven, opt for a model with convection settings, but keep in mind that this functionality often comes at a higher price and the technology can be hit or miss.
Price: Do you regularly need to defrost foods in your microwave, or are you a master chef who needs more than just the standard features? Consider investing in an upgrade with preset functions that can work for both! If you want something like a mini-oven, convection settings might be right up your alley. Remember that this could come at a higher cost and may have some hit-or-miss results.
Safety features: Keep your little ones safe when you upgrade to a microwave with an extra protection layer – the child-safety lock. Many manufacturers have digital locks which require a combination of numbers for them to be unlocked and operated, ensuring toddlers won’t get their hands on microwaves they shouldn’t. Keep them out of harm’s way!
Over-the-range versus countertop microwaves
Are you shopping for a microwave? Here’s what you need to know: There are three types – countertop, over-the-range, and built-in. Over-the-range and built-in microwaves work differently than their smaller counterparts. Still, they don’t despair if your dream is having one of them as part of your kitchen setup – specific solid counters come with trim kits allowing an upgrade from fridge sidekick to custom fixture! We tested the popular countertop models, so that’s where we can help!
Microwave FAQs
Does standing close to a microwave put me at risk for radiation exposure?
Don’t believe the myths—it’s perfectly safe to work within proximity of your microwave oven! We’ve got experts saying so. The metal housing and mesh screen on the door filter out any radiation generated inside, like a shield protecting you from harm. Plus, if you have a pacemaker, there’s no need to worry – even more reason why microwaves get top-notch safety ratings these days.
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