Best Microwave
Best Overall Microwave
Best Countertop Microwave
Best Convection Microwave
Best Microwave Oven Combo
In today’s fast-paced world, most people can’t imagine living without the convenience of a microwave. The ability to toss your food in, push a few buttons, and have it ready to eat in just a few minutes is ideal for many people.
What to take into consideration when buying a microwave
Size
Firstly, ask yourself how much counter space you’re willing to give up. If you have limited counter space, you might want to choose a smaller model. Microwaves can range from “big enough to fit a regular dinner plate, but not much else” to “enough room for most large cookware”. And this is just referencing the internal capacity where the food actually sits. External dimensions also vary in size, so be sure to measure the area where you plan to use it and see if it’ll fit comfortably. And don’t forget to check that there’s a power outlet nearby!
Wattage
In layman’s terms, wattage = power. The higher the wattage, the faster your food will cook. A 1,000-watt microwave is a great baseline and will cook your food quickly and efficiently. Anything with 700 watts or less will be slower and poses the potential of uneven cooking/heating. The microwaves with higher wattage may also come with a higher price tag, so keep that in mind if you’re working with a strict budget.
Other specs and features
Today’s microwaves offer many features to make life and cooking easier. Look for features like an automatic popcorn button, pre-programmed settings when preparing certain meals, and sensors that auto-calculate the cook time based on the amount of steam your food puts off while cooking.
Next, examine the panel buttons themselves. Large buttons and easy-to-read icons help to prevent you from accidentally pressing the wrong button, even in the dark (we see you, midnight snackers). You also have choices for the microwave door. Some microwaves open with the push of a button, while others have a handle. Everything comes down to personal preference.
Another option if you’re trying to save counter space is to look into a multi-purpose microwave. Some double as convection ovens, toasters, or rotisseries so you don’t have to clutter your countertop with multiple appliances.
Best Overall Microwave
This Toshiba model offers a smart sensor to take the guesswork out of cooking and an easy-to-read menu full of pre-programmed buttons for heating popular foods like pizza, potatoes, vegetables, and more. It also includes a one-touch popcorn button and a ‘soften’ feature to easily melt or soften foods like butter, chocolate, and cheese. Defrosting is made easy with a 1-pound auto defrost, or set your own custom defrost by inputting the weight of your and the microwave will do the rest. Want to save on power? Turn on ECO mode and minimize its standby power and energy consumption.
Best Countertop Microwave
This stylish black microwave by Walsh comes with 11 variable cooking power levels and a multi-stage feature to allow cooking at multiple power and time settings for the perfect results. There are 6 one-touch options for cooking or heating potatoes, popcorn, pizza, beverages, frozen foods, and general reheating. You can choose to defrost foods by weight, cook based on food weight, or choose to speed defrost. Its safety lock function is great for a household with kids to prevent unsupervised usage. Interior light gives you a better look of the status of food while it’s cooking and when done, the push-button door is easy to operate to grab and go.
Best Convection Microwave
This Toshiba stainless steel microwave combines a typical microwave with convection oven functions to offer 4 auto-bake menus along with 4 auto-roast menus. There are a variety of pre-programmed sensor options for the best results when heating popular foods such as frozen pizza, popcorn, potatoes, vegetables, and more. You can easily reheat, bake, or grill using one or more of these functions for custom cooking results. There is also a handy ‘warm hold’ function to keep prepared dishes at a ready-to-serve temperature for up to 99 minutes — your food will be fresh when you or the family are finally ready to sit down to eat. On top of these features, it’s equipped with an ECO mode to save on energy, a child safety lock, an easy-to-read control panel, and a bright LED internal light to easily check on your food as it’s being made.
Best Microwave Oven Combo
This stainless steel Cuisinart combination microwave offers 8 functions to cover all your cooking needs — the normal microwave features, convection, convection roast, convection fast bake, grill, a ‘keep warm’ function, defrost, and a memory feature. There are 9 options already set to easily make some of the popular snacks or meals including popcorn, potatoes, beverages, a general reheat, fresh vegetables, frozen vegetables, roast chicken, cake, and pizza. A unique multi-stage cooking program allows you to automatically switch from one function to another for the best cooking results. For example, you can defrost a lasagna, heat it up in the microwave, then grill it to perfectly melt the cheese. The easy-to-use LCD touchpad control panel adds a quality finishing touch while in use.
FAQs about Microwaves
How often should I replace a microwave?
Microwaves, on average, have a lifespan of around 10 years. If your microwave is operating normally after that 10-year timeline, you can certainly keep using it. If you notice your food not cooking or heating like it used to, or you start experiencing other technical issues, it may be time for a replacement.
What’s the best way to clean my microwave?
- Simply wipe down the inside and outside with a damp towel and a household cleaner.
- For those stubborn spots, try using a Mr. Clean Magic Erasers for extra scrubbing power.
- Wipe the inside down immediately if you notice food splatter after use to prevent gunk from building up over time.
What’s the difference between a microwave oven and a convection oven?
In general, both are designed to cook or heat up food — the main difference is that the microwave oven cooks food with the help of microwaves’, while the convection oven cooks food by heating the grill and spreading the heat with a conventional fan. It’s possible to have a combo oven with both features, so there’s no need to pick between the two.