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Most commonly used to reheat leftovers or prepare frozen meals, microwaves are an essential part of a functional kitchen. Today, microwaves contain an array of settings, such as pre-programmed buttons for food-specific cooking and adjustable power levels for a controlled cooking temperature.
To help you purchase a microwave with the specifications and features that meet your food preparation needs, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the best microwaves on Amazon. Here are our top four recommendations. You can also read our microwave buying guide to learn more about finding the best microwave for you.
Top 4 Microwaves
- Best Medium Capacity: Toshiba Microwave Oven
- Most Space: BLACK+DECKER Digital Microwave Oven
- Best Value: COMFEE’ Countertop Microwave Oven
- Best Settings: Panasonic Microwave Oven
Best Medium Capacity: Toshiba Microwave Oven
This microwave comes with smart-sensor technology that adjusts its runtime and temperature based on the food inside. It also has a medium capacity of 1.2 cubic feet and a medium power of 1,100 watts.
Key Features
- Pull handle
- Capacity of 1.2 cubic feet
- 1,100 watts
- One-year warranty
- Frozen pizza, frozen entree, potato, rice, and popcorn buttons
What Customers Are Saying
Customers liked this microwave’s heating strength and preset modes. Many also mentioned that they preferred its easy-grip handle over models with a push-button door. Customers who weren’t satisfied said they experienced vibrating noises and flickering lights during use.
Most Space: BLACK+DECKER Digital Microwave Oven
This BLACK+DECKER microwave contains six pre-programmed buttons for heating a variety of foods, including a unique beverage option for warming coffee or tea. Additionally, its spacious interior can easily accommodate large dinner plates and odd-shaped food items, such as popcorn bags.
Key Features
- Push button
- Capacity of 1.4 cubic feet
- 1,000 watts
- One-year warranty
- Popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetable, beverage, and dinner plate buttons
What Customers Are Saying
Customers said that the biggest appeal of this microwave was its small size, noting that it worked well in small kitchens or compact spaces, such as in a pantry. Many also said that it was equipped with an impressive number of features despite its small size and affordable price. However, some customers said that the microwave stopped working within one year of purchasing it.
Best Value: COMFEE’ Countertop Microwave Oven
This microwave contains a variety of features, including a mute function that removes the sound of its beeper and a child lock that protects little ones in the house. Though its low power means you have to cook your food for longer, its economical price is hard to beat.
Key Features
- Pull handle
- Capacity of 0.7 cubic feet
- 700 watts
- One-year warranty
- Popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetable, beverage, and dinner plate buttons
What Customers Are Saying
Many customers noted their satisfaction with this microwave’s compact size, ease of use, and silent function. However, some customers said that their food didn’t cook quickly or had cold spots, which is a common issue with low-wattage models like this one.
Best Settings: Panasonic Microwave Oven
This microwave oven offers homeowners countless ways to heat and cook their favorite foods, including 10 power levels and three popcorn cooking levels. It also has a sleek look to match modern kitchens.
Key Features
- Push button
- Capacity of 1.2 cubic feet
- 1,200 watts
- One-year warranty
- Popcorn button
What Customers Are Saying
Several customers said that this microwave was high-powered, easy to use, and ideal for tight spaces. Others liked it for being lightweight but sturdy. Those who were unsatisfied said that the microwave stopped working after a short period. One person said that theirs broke down after one 90-second cooking cycle and that the replacement they received had the same issue.
Buyer’s Guide
Before purchasing a microwave oven, it’s important to understand how certain factors, such as cooking power, capacity, size, and settings, affect user experience.
Cooking Power
The cooking power of most microwaves is measured in watts, with the average model harnessing between 700 and 1,200 watts of power. While a microwave with more watts cooks and heats food faster, a low-wattage microwave is typically more affordable. Regardless of a microwave’s available wattage, most models provide power adjustments that let you decrease the power for a less intense cook.
Capacity
The capacity of a microwave, usually measured in cubic feet, refers to how much interior space the model has. Microwaves with spacious interiors allow you to cook larger foods, though larger interiors usually come with higher price tags.
Dimensions
The dimensions of a microwave help determine whether the model will fit within your kitchen’s layout. For example, if you have limited countertop space, compact microwaves like the COMFEE’ Countertop Microwave Oven may be a solid choice.
Settings
While all microwave ovens heat and cook food, not all models offer the same cooking options or pre-programmed settings. Some of the most common microwave settings are one-touch buttons that instantly cook specific foods, defrost buttons that thaw foods based on their weight, and sound controls that adjust or turn off the microwave’s beeper.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to microwave food?
According to the World Health Organization, microwaves are safe if they’re used as instructed by the manufacturer.
Can you microwave eggs?
Yes. Spray a microwave-safe container, such as a ramekin or egg cooker, with cooking spray, and pour one to two whisked eggs into it. Heat the mixture for about one minute and 30 seconds, stirring occasionally. Let your eggs sit for one minute before serving them.
Can you microwave paper?
Some types of paper are suitable for the microwave. Paper towels and parchment paper are safe to place inside a microwave, but newspapers and brown bags aren’t safe because of their toxicity and flammability.
Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
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