- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Best Value
- Best Budget
- Most Feature-Packed
- Notable Mentions
- Recent Updates
- All Reviews
- Comments
Over-the-range microwaves can save valuable counter space by keeping your microwave out of the way. They're multi-purpose appliances with built-in fans to ventilate and lights to illuminate the cooktop below. Since they're installed over your stove, most models have wide cooking chambers that accommodate bigger containers, like casserole dishes.
Of course, if you're installing a microwave instead of plunking it on the counter, you'll want to ensure you get the best one. However, after months of investigation with 26 different microwaves, including eight over-the-range models, we found that while microwaves vary in size, features, and price, they all heat food the same way.
While you might think a high-end microwave would heat your food more evenly, evenness depends on what you're heating, how much of it there is, and the container you're using. The amount of water in your food is a factor, and so is its viscosity (soup always heats up more evenly than mashed potatoes). In other words, if you heat the same thing in the same container in 26 different microwaves, the results are indistinguishable when you taste the food. The only thing that separates microwaves in terms of performance is power: some microwaves are faster than others.
You can read about everything we did and what we found. That's not all: since inverter microwaves are marketed as the latest and greatest in microwave science, we wanted to ensure they don't perform better. They don't; you can also read about how we came to that conclusion.
You can get any microwave that matches the rest of your kitchen or has the buttons you like. Below, we list a few that offer good value, sorted by feature and design, to help you wade through the sea of microwaves on the market. We also recommend the best air fryers, the best large-capacity air fryers for your favorite crispy snacks, and the best 4-slice toasters for busy mornings.
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Best Value Over-The-Range Microwave
Power8.8InstallationOver-The-RangeIf you're looking for the best over-the-range microwave with some extra features, the GE JVM6175SKSS offers good value. This mid-priced option comes in several different colors to match your decor. Like all over-the-range microwaves, it has a fan and light for the cooktop below. You can set the fan to four different speeds and set the light to high or low. It heats food quickly, and its controls include sensor cooking programs, where the microwave detects steam to calculate the cooking time automatically. Its cooking chamber is on the small side for an over-the-range microwave, but it's wide, so it can accommodate bigger plates and casserole dishes. You can also switch off the turntable rotation when heating big dishes that might interfere with the rotation.
The light inside makes it easy to see into the cooking chamber when the door is closed. The numbered buttons allow you to quickly start a cooking cycle of up to six minutes. There are also dedicated programs for 'Popcorn,' 'Beverage,' and 'Potato,' as well as modes for defrosting, reheating, and melting. You can mute the controls.
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Best Budget Over-The-Range Microwave
Power8.6InstallationOver-The-RangeIf you want to spend as little as possible, consider a more budget-friendly option from the same brand, like the GE JVM3160RFSS. This microwave is a good choice if you want to save money and don't care as much about extra features. It comes in several different colors, like 'Black,' 'Slate,' and 'Bisque,' so you're not stuck with the usual stainless steel look.
The downside is that it doesn't include a steam sensor or a way to mute the controls. However, it heats food nearly as quickly as pricier options, including the GE JVM6175SKSS. The cooktop light and fan aren't as adjustable, but you can still set each to high or low. You can also switch off the turntable if the container you're using interferes with its rotation. The bright light inside the cooking chamber makes it very easy to see inside when it's running, especially compared to other budget-friendly options.
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Most Feature-Packed Over-The-Range Microwave
Power8.7InstallationOver-The-RangeIf you want to see what investing in a high-end microwave will get you, the LG MVEM1825F is a good option. This model isn't the most expensive microwave that LG makes, but it still has most of the high-end features, including a steam sensor and a companion app. It heats food much faster than some pricier options, and it's very easy to see into its cooking chamber when the door is closed. There are several sensor cooking modes, and unlike most microwaves, its 'Popcorn' program uses the sensor to automatically know when your popcorn is done.
There's no way to mute the microwave with the onboard controls, but you can do so using the LG ThinQ app. The app also allows you to set a timer, adjust the fan and cooktop light, and send cook time information to the microwave. However, this microwave only comes in two colors: Stainless Steel or Black Stainless Steel. If that won't work in your kitchen, the Whirlpool WMH32519HZ comes in more colors and has a steam sensor. It doesn't have an app but includes a cooking rack for 2-level cooking or for use with the 'Steam' and 'Simmer' sensor programs, which ask you to place a bowl of water under the rack.
Notable Mentions
- LG MVEL2033F:
The LG MVEL2033F is a high-end microwave with an unusual design: its controls are along the bottom of the door instead of the side. It's more expensive than the LG MVEM1825F and has four fan speeds instead of two. You may like its sleeker look, but it doesn't heat food as quickly as the MVEM1825F, and the button layout can make it hard to see into the microwave while it's running.
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Recent Updates
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We've checked that the picks represent the best recommendations and that the products are in stock.
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We've made minor updates to the text for clarity and verified that the products are in stock.
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We've checked that the products represent the best recommendations and that they're in stock.
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Oct 11, 2024: We've made minor updates to the text and checked that the products are in stock.
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Aug 06, 2024: We've updated the text for clarity and added some information about pricing for different color variants of the GE JVM3160RFSS.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are the best value over-the-range 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.