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Although there are those who look down their noses at them, best countertop microwaves can make your life in the kitchen more easier and more productive. They shorten the amount of time needed for heating, require fewer dishes, and can reanimate leftovers in a matter of minutes.
The most cutting-edge microwave ovens even have the capability to make life even more convenient by offering pre-set cooking modes for products that are frequently prepared in a microwave, such as “popcorn,” “defrost chicken,” or “reheat leftovers.” An intelligent appliance that does even more of the work for us is very much appreciated by us.
We searched the internet for consumer favorites and the finest microwave companies that are known for producing great products on a consistent basis in order to select the best microwave for your countertop. Here is a rundown of the top five countertop microwaves for your consumption and that of your staff.
Best Countertop Microwaves Comparison Table
| Model | Capacity | Wattage | Dimensions (inches) | Weight (pounds) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic Microwave Oven | 1.3 cu.ft | 1100W | 12.75 x 15.81 x 20.69 | 25.5 | $149.99 |
| Farberware Classic Microwave Oven | 1.1 cu.ft | 1000W | 20.2 x 16.54 x 12.03 | 30.4 | $99.99 |
| Toshiba 7-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven | 1.5 cu.ft | 1100W | 21.77 x 17.91 x 12.87 | 36.6 | $159.99 |
| Hamilton Beach Black Digital Microwave Oven | 1.1 cu.ft | 1000W | 20.21 x 17.14 x 12.1 | 35.2 | $99.99 |
| Black+Decker EM720CB7 0.7 Cu. Ft. Digital Microwave Oven | 0.7 cu.ft | 700W | 17.3 x 13.0 x 10.2 | 23.5 | $74.99 |
| GE 950-Watt Countertop Microwave | 0.9 cu.ft | 950W | 19.0 x 14.5 x 11.5 | 28.0 | $99.99 |
| Cuisinart CMW-100 | 1.0 cu.ft | 1000W | 20.4 x 18.1 x 12.4 | 32.4 | $169.95 |
Panasonic Microwave Oven
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | NN-SN966SR |
| Wattage | 1250 watts |
| Capacity | 2.2 cubic feet |
| Turntable Diameter | 16.5 inches |
| Sensor Cook | Yes |
| Inverter Technology | Yes |
Because it is one of the microwave brands with the highest level of credibility, Panasonic is our top choice when it comes to large microwave ovens. It has a generous capacity of 2.2 cubic feet and is equipped with patented inverter technology, which allows for maximum power output while minimizing the amount of electricity that is wasted.
Are you sick of trying to cram your enormous dishes into a microwave that’s barely big enough for them? This extra-large countertop microwave has dimensions of 19.4 by 23.9 by 14 inches and is an excellent option for accommodating the food preparation needs of large households or families. One of the reviewers even mentioned that they could fit a turkey that weighed 5 kilograms.
The Good
- Large capacity
- Wattage that is strong for fast cooking
- Sensor cook for accurate cooking
- With inverter technology, cooking will be even.
The Bad
- Compared to other models, this one is pricey.
- Large size might not work for kitchens with limited space.
Farberware Classic Microwave Oven
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | FMO11AHTBKN |
| Wattage | 1000 watts |
| Capacity | 1.1 cubic feet |
| Turntable Diameter | 12.5 inches |
| Quick Start | Yes |
| Express Cooking | Yes |
This 700-watt microwave oven made of stainless steel is a good cheap choice for small kitchens, offices, or anyone who wants to save a few bucks. It has six one-touch cooking options, 10 power levels up to 700 watts, a large digital screen, and a memory function that lets you save cook times for your most popular microwaveable meals.
Keep in mind that 700W might not be enough power for some suggested cooking times. Most of the time, this can be fixed by cooking the dish longer. One customer said that after each use, there is some moisture buildup, but they leave the door open for about a minute to get rid of it. It does a good job for the price and doesn’t take up much room, so it’s good for an apartment or college dorm.
The Good
- Easy to Start and Go Cooking features that make life easier
- Small enough to fit in small kitchens; price is reasonable
The Bad
- If the wattage is low, it may take longer to cook.
Toshiba 7-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | EC042A5C-BS |
| Wattage | 1000 watts |
| Capacity | 1.5 cubic feet |
| Turntable Diameter | 13.6 inches |
| Convection Cooking | Yes |
| Grill Function | Yes |
| Smart Sensor | Yes |
This Toshiba is the perfect size and power. It’s smaller than most of the other high-power, 1000-watt microwaves we tried, but it fits a dinner plate well. It has everything you need and more, like food presets that are written on the inside, a kid safety lock, and a button that adds 30 seconds. This model has seven ways to cook: microwave, air fry, convection, broil, chill, sensor cook, and “combi” cook.
This makes it a true multitasker in the kitchen. Nikolas Greenwald, a Lab Assistant, says that this model’s inverter technology “distributes energy continuously, which means that your food gets more energy in a more efficient way.” If you use the “sensor cook” setting, the microwave’s built-in humidity sensor will be used to change the power level and cooking time.
The Good
- Seven different ways to cook in one device
- Convection cooking and a grill function give you more ways to cook.
- A smart sensor for cooking to the letter
- Large size is good for bigger families
The Bad
- Compared to other models, it may take up more counter space.
- The price is higher than some other models.
Hamilton Beach Black Digital Microwave Oven
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | EM720CGA-PMB |
| Wattage | 700 watts |
| Capacity | 0.7 cubic feet |
| Turntable Diameter | 10 inches |
| Digital Display | Yes |
| Express Cooking | Yes |
This Hamilton Beach microwave works well and doesn’t cost much. It has 1,000 watts of power, which is usually only found in more expensive types. It has a plus-30-seconds button, a kid safety lock, six cooking presets, and one-touch express buttons for 1 to 6 minutes. We were pleased with how well the popcorn setting worked in our lab tests.
Only 0.2 ounces of the popcorn kernels were left unpopped, which was better than what we saw with more expensive microwaves. We love that you can use the microwave while a kitchen timer is going. We liked that the control panel was easy to read and clean. There is a button to push to open the door of the microwave, but we missed having a handle.
The Good
- Small enough to fit in small kitchens
- A reasonable price
- Digital screen that’s easy to use
- For ease, the express cooking feature
The Bad
- If the wattage is low, it may take longer to cook.
- Larger families might not be able to use something with less space.
Black+Decker EM720CB7 0.7 Cu. Ft. Digital Microwave Oven
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | EM720CB7 |
| Wattage | 700 watts |
| Capacity | 0.7 cubic feet |
| Turntable Diameter | 10 inches |
| Digital Display | Yes |
| 30-Second Express Cooking | Yes |
With a width of just under 1.5 feet, this type is perfect for small rooms. This 0.7-cubic-foot microwave has enough power to do basic microwave tasks without taking up too much room. You can use it to heat up leftovers in a dorm, coffee at work, or for occasional use in a small apartment kitchen. The door is opened with a push button instead of a handle, which saves even more room. The glass turntable is round, and you can take it off to clean up messes.
We found that 11-inch dinner plates didn’t fit in this microwave, so we suggest using salad-sized plates instead. We were impressed by how powerful the device was. Even though it was small and had less power, most foods were ready to eat in the same amount of time as they would have been in an over-the-range microwave.
The Good
- Small enough to fit in small kitchens
- A reasonable price
- Digital screen that’s easy to use
- With a feature that lets you cook in 30 seconds,
The Bad
- If the wattage is low, it may take longer to cook.
- Larger families might not be able to use something with less space.
GE 950-Watt Countertop Microwave
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | JES1097SMSS |
| Wattage | 950 watts |
| Capacity | 0.9 cubic feet |
| Turntable Diameter | 10.5 inches |
| Express Cooking | Yes |
| Sensor Cooking | Yes |
If you have an idea of what the perfect kitchen would look like, you’ll want to find tools that go with the rest of the room. White microwaves are popular because the color goes with almost everything. This 1.1-cubic-foot model from GE has a simple design that won’t take over the kitchen but still looks clean and nice.
The 950-watt machine has helpful features like defrost settings, a timer, buttons for popcorn and potatoes, a stop button, and a button that adds 30 seconds to the cooking time. The white one doesn’t have a handle. Instead, you push a button to open it.
The Good
- Wattage that is strong for fast cooking
- With sensor cooking, you can cook exactly what you want.
- For ease, the express cooking feature
- Small enough to fit in small kitchens
The Bad
- Larger families might not be able to use something with less space.
- It might be louder than other models.
Cuisinart CMW-100
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | CMW-100 |
| Wattage | 1000 watts |
| Capacity | 1.0 cubic feet |
| Turntable Diameter | 12 inches |
| Convection Cooking | Yes |
| Grill Function | Yes |
| Preset Functions | Yes |
The sleek stainless steel and black exterior and stylish pull handle are the first things you’ll notice. It also has a bright light inside so you can see your food without moving around. This Cuisinart doesn’t have a ton of features, but it does have multi-stage cooking and a few extra settings, like for bacon, rice, and baked potatoes. In our popcorn test, it did very well, popping the pieces evenly without burning them.
But the control panel is hard to see in dim light, and the frozen dinner test showed that some parts of the meal were colder than we would have liked, even though we followed the directions on the box. Still, the Cuisinart is much more impressive and unique than almost every other microwave we’ve tried, and it would be a good addition to your kitchen counter.
The Good
- Convection cooking and a grill function give you a variety of ways to cook.
- Large size is good for families
- Set functions to make cooking easy.
- Sleek design
The Bad
- The price is higher than some other models.
- Compared to other models, it may take up more counter space.
FAQs
A: When buying a countertop microwave, there are several factors to consider, such as the size, power output, cooking presets, and ease of use. You should also consider the interior capacity, the build quality, and the brand reputation.
A: The standard size for a countertop microwave is typically between 0.5 and 1.5 cubic feet. However, there are larger models available that can hold up to 2.2 cubic feet.
A: It is important to follow safety guidelines when using a microwave, such as using microwave-safe containers and not overheating liquids. It is also important to keep the microwave clean and to avoid leaving food in it for too long.