November 9

Our pick of the best Microwave Ovens

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Microwave ovens are now an essential part of any kitchen. With the right microwave you will be able to defrost foods, cook meals and reheat meals in a short period of time.

There is a wide range of microwaves on the market, but if you know your cooking skills and check out the options of each microwave, you will find the perfect one for your family.

Not all microwaves are the same size. Decide where you are going to place your unit. Make sure you measure the space in which you plan to put the unit.

The internal capacity of microwaves can range from 1 cubic foot to more than 2 cubic feet. The inside measurements will be listed in reviews of the unit. Make sure the dishes you will be using a lot will fit inside.

Decide what wattage you need, if you want a countertop unit or one that fits over your range. Built-in units will save you counter space and can be in a drawer under the counter. Some countertop units can also be built-in.

Make sure you set a budget and look for deals online, in new papers, and at the store. Read as many reviews on all the different kinds of microwaves. You will learn the ease of use, efficiency and how long each brand lasts in the reviews.

Product

Details

Rating

OUR #1 RATED

Toshiba EM925A5A-BS Microwave Oven

Toshiba EM925A5A-BS Microwave Oven

  • No Beeps. The beep noise can be muted by pushing the number 8 button
  • easy minute settings
  • cooks fast and evenly

4.5 out of 5

Westinghouse Microwave Oven

Westinghouse Microwave Oven

  • popcorn button is perfect, great for kids
  • lightweight
  • numbers on the display are blue and pretty

4 out of 5

Panasonic Microwave Oven

Panasonic Microwave Oven

  • loves how the microwave keeps items warm
  • the sensor cooks and reheat is a great feature
  • reheats foods quickly and thoroughly

4 out of 5

hOmeLabs Countertop Oven

hOmeLabs Countertop Oven

  • easy set buttons for one, two, or three minutes are great and convenient
  • likes the handle instead of the push button to open
  • cooks really fast

4 out of 5

Kenmore Countertop Microwave Oven

Kenmore Countertop Microwave Oven

  • Great for small spaces
  • simple and easy controls
  • pre-sets work well

4 out of 5

Know what features you must have. Look for defrosting, cooking buttons with specialized settings and if you want a turntable or metal racks. The metal racks will evenly heat your foods.

Below we've reviewed the top 10 best microwave ovens on the market in 2021.

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Westinghouse Countertop Microwave Oven


Westinghouse Countertop Microwave Oven

This Westinghouse microwave is 1.1 cubic feet inside and delivers 1000 watts of power. It has 10 levels of power for cooking and reheating your foods. You can put in the precise cooking time for your meals with the keypad controls, and the LED display shows you how much time is left.

There are 6 specialized buttons for quick cooking for items like frozen dinners and popcorn, and the auto defrost button can be used entering the weight and type of food. It also has a child safety lock.

PROS

  • sits back nicely from counter edge
  • easy to read numbers
  • fits perfectly under cabinets

CONS

  • a bit heavy
  • repeat beeping, if you do not take food out fast enough

Hamilton Beach Microwave Oven


Hamilton Beach Microwave Oven

The Hamilton Beach unit has a child-safe lockout and is 0.7 cu feet. It has 700 watts of power with 6 quick-set buttons for dinners, popcorn and defrosts. The dimensions are 17.3 by 13.4 by 10.2 in size and the turntable will hold a 10 1/4 in the plate.

It has convenient controls for cooking and a touchpad control that is easy to read. The large LED display gives you the count down for when your dinner is ready. Designed in a black plastic that should fit into any décor.

PROS

  • small enough to fit under low cabinets
  • Economical
  • cooks really well

CONS

  • really small
  • not enough watts for bigger dinners

Farberware Microwave Oven


Farberware Microwave Oven

The Farberware Microwave has 1.1 cubic feet inside and 1000 watts of power, with 10 power levels ranging from 10 percent to 100 percent. It has 6 different express quick start cooking controls and a 30-second feature where you can add a little more time.

The one-touch cooking features are for pizza, frozen vegetables, drinks, potatoes, popcorn, and a dinner plate.

There is also a memory feature that stores and recalls your cooking settings. You can defrost by weight or time and the LED display is also a kitchen timer and clock.

You will get a rotating glass turntable that is removable and the keypad lock prevents children from playing with the keypad.

PROS

  • compact size great for kitchen countertop
  • cooks really well and quick
  • the full-size plate fits nicely

CONS

  • not well made or sturdy, hard to open
  • very loud

Daewoo Retro Countertop Microwave Oven


Daewoo Retro Countertop Microwave Oven

The Daewoo Retro has up to 700 watts and has 0.7 cubic foot inside, and comes in mint green. It is a countertop with 4 auto cook settings and an electrical cord that is 36 inches long. It features two-way defrost and a zero-standby function.

This new retro line moves away from the traditional looks of the small compact ovens. It is elegant with a few modern touches and reminds you of the olden days.

PROS

  • great for people with no or little counter space
  • defrost quickly
  • The 30-second button is great for adding time

CONS

  • cheaply built
  • the buttons and switches are cheap and wiggle

Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven


Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven

This Toshiba has a smart sensor, ECO Mode and Sound off/on features with an easy clean 1.2 cubic feet of space inside. It is black stainless steel with 1100 watts of power. It has 10 power settings, a kitchen timer, and a clock.

The sensor menu setting is for foods like potatoes, veggies, pizza and much more. The turntable inside is glass and is 12.4 inches, and the controls are easy to read with the large digital display.

It has a popcorn setting that is one touch and two defrost settings that are by weight or custom.

PROS

  • buzzer not too loud
  • very easy to use
  • control features are convenient

CONS

  • Custom defrost cycles too aggressively, ½ the recommended time is better
  • presets seem to overcook foods

Kenmore Countertop Microwave Oven


Kenmore Countertop Microwave Oven

The Kenmore microwave has multiple cooking pre-sets that take the guesswork out of cooking. The presets are for popcorn, pizza, and potatoes and many other food items. The 30-second button to cook your food a little more comes in handy on many items.

It is stainless steel with a 0.9 cubic foot inside and a LED clock. The oven has 900 watts of power for all your cooking needs.

PROS

  • Great for small spaces
  • simple and easy controls
  • pre-sets work well

CONS

  • the door does not open with ease
  • not very powerful

hOmeLabs Countertop Oven


hOmeLabs Countertop Oven

This compact microwave oven has 1.3 cubic feet inside and fits beautifully in small kitchens. It has enough room for a large dinner plate or a family size meal. It will match any countertop space with its stainless-steel handle and sleek black matte exterior.

It has a quick reheating button for fast meals, 10 power levels and 11 functions for cooking, including a 30-second button for extra cooking time.

It also has 7 pre-programmed functions for pizza, steamed vegetables, popcorn, defrost options by time or weight. The revolving glass plate is large and helps to prevent hotspots and cook’s food evenly.

You can clean the glass with a damp cloth or take it out for a full cleaning in the dishwasher. The microwave has 1050 watts of power and has a 6-quart capacity.

Programming for the microwave is easy, and the LED light display gives the microwave a modern look.

PROS

  • easy set buttons for one, two, or three minutes are great and convenient
  • likes the handle instead of the push button to open
  • cooks really fast

CONS

  • buttons are harder to read
  • the buttons are small and hard to get used to them

Panasonic Microwave Oven


Panasonic Microwave Oven

The Panasonic Microwave has 1100 watts of power, a 1.3 cubic foot inside and is stainless steel. It can be either a built-in or countertop unit.

The inverter technology is patented and it delivers a steady flow of power that gives you consistent cooking every time. Defrosting time is lessened by the turbo defrost.

It has a 13.4-inch turntable that is lighter and thinner than most others and is more efficient. The Genius Sensor is built in and will adjust times and power based on the different foods.

There are 7 pre-set menu settings, a delayed start, quick minute timer and a lock that is childproofed.

PROS

  • loves how the microwave keeps items warm
  • the sensor cooks and reheat is a great feature
  • reheats foods quickly and thoroughly

CONS

  • the unit died after a couple of months, no repair places found
  • the wheels on the turntable are weak plastic and can not hold a Corning bowl for steaming after only 3 months

Westinghouse Microwave Oven


Westinghouse Microwave Oven

This Westinghouse Microwave has 900 watts of power and 0.9 cubic feet inside, a stainless-steel front with a black cabinet. It has 10 power levels that give you quality meals every time.

It has 6 quick cook buttons that are for popcorn, pizza, beverages, reheat, potatoes, and frozen foods.

It has an easy to use auto weight and quick defrost button for your convenience. You can defrost by weight of by minutes. The door is a push button style and has a child safety lock for the protection of your children. This microwave is a countertop oven.

PROS

  • popcorn button is perfect, great for kids
  • lightweight
  • numbers on the display are blue and pretty

CONS

  • heats uneven, backed potato comes out burnt on one side, half raw on the other
  • the door does not always open when you push the button

Toshiba EM925A5A-BS Microwave Oven


Toshiba EM925A5A-BS Microwave Oven

The Toshiba microwave is a compact size countertop unit. It has 0.9 cubic foot on the inside and the turntable is 10.6 inches in diameter. It has 900 watts of power with 10 different power settings.

It has a kitchen timer and a defrost button that you can use by putting in the minutes or the weight. The control panel is digital with an interior LED light, a glass turntable and has an exterior of black stainless steel.

There are 6 pre-set functions for popcorn, pizza, frozen veggies, beverages, and dinner plates full of food. It also has a sound on/off option, a power saving mode, and a child safety lock.

PROS

  • No Beeps. The beep noise can be muted by pushing the number 8 button
  • easy minute settings
  • cooks fast and evenly

CONS

  • microwaved something, when I took it out and shut the door the microwave kept running
  • not super quiet

Which Microwave Oven Should You Buy?

Choosing the right microwave for your situation and budget can be a daunting task. What will help you the most is to read the latest reviews, customer feedback about each unit, and what the shelf life is for each microwave. You do not want one that is going to keep breaking down.

The Westinghouse Countertop Microwave Oven, 1000 watts of power would be my choice for a new microwave. It has 10 power levels that will give you a wonderful cooking capability.

Each level is unique and it will serve you well when you want to cook specific dishes for your family.

It has all the configurations that will fit into your cooking level and allow you to achieve what you want to do in the shortest amount of time. Check into this microwave.

A good microwave should last a long time and perhaps even be able to be handed down to a loved one when you decide to upgrade.


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