- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Best Microwave
- Best Small
- Best Features
- Notable Mentions
- All Reviews
- Comments
If you're shopping for a new microwave, your first concern is probably performance. The best blenders make silky smoothies; the best toasters can brown your bread in a single cycle. The best microwaves probably heat your food evenly or better, right?
After thoroughly investigating microwave performance, we've discovered the answer is no. We microwaved marshmallows, mashed potatoes, rice, and Lexan polycarbonate. We disassembled a few microwaves and swapped the magnetrons to test our hypothesis (a dangerous task that we don't suggest you attempt at home). That's not all we did: if you want to know more about what we tried and our conclusions, you can read our R&D article.
In the end, there is no significant difference between microwaves when it comes to heating food evenly. None of them are that good at it, and the heating performance depends on what you're heating, how much of it there is, and the container you're using. By the way, this includes inverter microwaves. We looked into the latest microwave technology and found that it offers no improvement over the standard old microwave, despite what the manufacturer might be advertising. If you want to know more, check out our investigation into inverter microwaves.
So, there isn't a best countertop microwave. You can pretty much get whatever one you like. Instead of our usual recommendations, below you'll find some examples of good-value microwaves, sorted by size and features. However, your best value option might be the model that matches your kitchen or the one on sale near you. Sensor cooking and a mute function aren't standard for all microwaves; otherwise, most resemble each other in features and performance.
Over-the-range microwaves can be a good option if you need a big cooking chamber or just want to save counter space. We also have a roundup of good-value over-the-range microwaves. If any of your other kitchen appliances need an upgrade, we recommend the best blenders and the best toasters.
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Best Value Countertop Microwave
Power9.4The Toshiba EM131A5C-BS is a good value option if you're looking for the best countertop microwave. This mid-sized option heats food very quickly. Like basically all microwaves, its controls include quick-start buttons and modes like defrost and 'Popcorn.' It also has a steam sensor, so some programs have the model detect steam and automatically adjust the cooking time. You can mute the controls to avoid the beeping noise when you press a button and at the end of a cycle.
The door opens with a handle, and if you prefer the look or find a button easier to wipe clean, you might like the Panasonic NN-SN67HS. It's slightly more expensive but has similar features and a button-open door.
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Best Value Small Countertop Microwave
Power6.3While the smallest microwaves are often not as powerful as bigger peers, the GE JES1072SHSS is a good value option if you're looking for the best small countertop microwave oven. This 700-watt microwave doesn't heat food as fast as the previous pick, but you might not mind if you plan to reheat a cup of coffee or a quick snack like instant noodles. It has the usual quick-start, reheat, and defrost modes, and you can mute the controls. It doesn't have a steam sensor, so you always have to manually input the cooking time or the weight of your food.
If you want a faster small microwave, the Insignia NS-MW09SS8 has 900 watts of power and zaps food a bit faster, although it's also a bit bigger. The LG LMC0975ST is also among the best small countertop microwave ovens. It's very fast, very compact, and has a sleek design that might appeal if you want a minimalist look. However, it's an inverter microwave, so you'll pay extra for a feature that won't make a difference for most uses. You can't mute its controls either, which is disappointing for the price.
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Best Value Countertop Microwave With Extra Features
Power8.7The Breville the Smooth Wave is an expensive microwave, and as we've mentioned, it won't cook your food more evenly than another microwave. It's fast, but not faster than the significantly cheaper Toshiba EM131A5C-BS. What you get for the higher price are some small touches that make it easier and more pleasant to use: the soft-close door feature noticeably dampens the sound of the door closing. The LED screen displays more information about what program you're using than the usual narrow microwave display, and the dials eliminate the need to press the same button repeatedly to select a program.
You can mute the controls, change the volume, and select between two different types of chimes: regular beeping and lower-pitched tones. The light inside the cooking chamber makes it very easy to see into, and you can switch off the turntable rotation, which isn't a given for countertop microwaves. It has a steam sensor that works with its 'Defrost' and 'Reheat' modes, as well as the usual quick-start and 'Popcorn' programs. There's a column of quick-start buttons hidden behind the door, including a programmable 'Favorite' button. Since microwaves perform very similarly overall, it's a good option if you're craving a more luxurious user experience.
Notable Mentions
- Panasonic NN-CD87KS: The Panasonic NN-CD87KS is a high-end microwave with some of the same design features as the Breville the Smooth Wave, like dials and a bigger LED screen. However, it lacks that model's 'soft close' feature and has poorer visibility into the cooking chamber. Still, you may be interested in it because it doubles as an air fryer, although we haven't tested its air frying performance. See our review
- Panasonic NN-SN975S: While a mid-sized microwave like the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS is big enough for common uses like reheating food on a dinner plate or in a bowl, you can get a bigger microwave like the Panasonic NN-SN975S. This model's cooking chamber measures 2.2 cubic feet, almost double the Toshiba microwave's 1.2 cubic feet. It can accommodate tall containers and bigger bowls and platters and could be a good option if you need a big microwave but don't want an over-the-range model. See our review
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are the best-value countertop microwaves for most people. We factor in price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.
If you'd like to do the work of choosing yourself, here's the list of all microwave reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no microwave is perfect, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you look for them.