We may have strong feelings for our Instant Pots and be devoted to them, but we will always love the simple microwave. The finest microwave Oven is a true kitchen hero, helping to swiftly and efficiently solve kitchen difficulties like forgetting to defrost meals or coffee gone cold.
In addition to interviewing two experts, our reporters conducted a battery of tests, including the industry-standard marshmallow test, to determine hot spots in seven of the top microwaves. We selected the Panasonic Microwave Oven, which combines a 1,200-watt motor with a small exterior, as the finest microwave overall. The Commercial Chef Countertop Microwave is the ideal tiny microwave if you’re trying to save money and space. It’s straightforward but efficient, much like microwave cooking itself.
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Best Microwaves of 2024
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Pros
- Five useful presets
- 1,200 watts of cooking power (more than most microwaves)
- Includes a child-safety lock button
Cons
- Visible fingerprint smudges
- Light inside is too dim to check food while it’s cooking
- Frozen Foods feature doesn’t cook accurately
The Panasonic NN-SN65KB Microwave Oven prepares food quickly and heats it remarkably evenly at 1,200 watts. All of the marshmallows grew equally during the test, and after two minutes, the very center of the marshmallows had only slightly burned.
If you want to reheat leftovers in this microwave, the Sensor Reheat function does a good job. After determining the food’s relative humidity, it begins to clock down the cooking time. The presets for popcorn and coffee/milk both performed better than the presets on the other microwaves I tested, making this a fantastic option if you’re looking for the best microwave for popcorn.
The microwave overestimated how long it would take to cook frozen mac & cheese, so I wasn’t too happy with the frozen food setting. A couple of other small drawbacks are that fingerprints are very noticeable on the control panel and the microwave’s light is weak, making it difficult to watch the food while it cooks. But when it comes to easy-to-use features and power and size balance, this microwave excels.
The Panasonic Microwave includes smart capabilities and most of the characteristics of our top choice overall, even if we haven’t tested it with Alexa compatibility. This is an appliance to think about if you’re looking for smart kitchen appliances.
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Pros
- Simple to use and inexpensive
- Quieter than most models
- Heats evenly
Cons
- Slightly underpowered
- Small interior
The Commercial Chef Microwave is the most affordable microwave we tested, coming in at just under $100. It’s the ideal small microwave for apartments or dorm rooms. It is the perfect size for compact kitchens, being roughly 19 inches long by 15 inches deep. Similar in size to the exterior cooking area, we managed to comfortably put a 10-inch dinner plate within.
Using the controls without consulting the handbook is simple and intuitive. There are many express cook buttons and a custom cook time setting, which is a major advance over the previous version that only had a rotary knob and did not allow for the setting of exact seconds. In addition, this device features two defrost options (time defrost and weight defrost) and six preset buttons (potato, popcorn, dinner plate, beverage, pizza, and frozen vegetable).
With only 900 watts, it’s a tad weak. I cooked frozen mac and cheese according to the directions on the package. It was thoroughly warmed through but not very hot after the suggested four minutes. When cooking in this microwave, you’ll probably need to add thirty to sixty seconds to the instructions from the packaging. When I conducted the marshmallow test, which involved cooking the marshmallows for two minutes without browning them, I was able to verify this. The heat was concentrated in the center of the microwave. Still, if you’re looking for the best low-cost microwave that doesn’t take up a lot of room, this is a terrific choice.
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Pros
- Many quick-touch preset cooking buttons
- Can bake and roast
- Includes a child-safety lock
Cons
- Heavy and bulky
- Convection feature heats up kitchen quickly
In addition to being a conventional microwave, the Toshiba Microwave Oven with Convection also bakes, roasts, and toasts food. Additionally, it’s the only microwave we tested that has an Express Cook function, which lets you set the microwave to operate by only hitting the first through sixth numbers on the number pad.
The Toshiba microwave oven proved to be powerful during the marshmallow test, with a power output of 1,000 watts. After two minutes, the marshmallows in the middle burned, and the tray beneath the parchment paper had a lot of moisture buildup. I didn’t notice any hot or cold regions other than the middle burning. Additionally, it thoroughly cooked frozen mac and cheese.
In order to test the convection oven, I heated up some frozen french fries. I had to consult the manual’s cooking chart to determine which setting to use because the heating options were not clear. The fries took twice as long to cook, yet they came out just as crispy as they do in the greatest air fryer. Convection toasting leaves bread with more uneven toasting and is paler and flabbier than bread from a toaster, thus I wouldn’t advocate using it for toasting.
The buttons on this microwave are easy to use and smudge-proof, and it heated up nicely overall. The only significant drawback is that this big oven requires a lot of countertop space, and it is difficult to carry at about fifty pounds.
We have also examined the Breville Combi Wave 3-in-1 Microwave, which has several features including convection and air frying. The Combi didn’t make our list of the best since it didn’t pass our air fry testing, but the other features passed, and we adore the sleek, contemporary interface.
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Pros
- Powerful at 1,250 watts
- Dial and interface are easy to use
- Can be installed as a built-in
Cons
- Can’t see the food well while it’s cooking
- Dial only in 10-second increments
The Panasonic NN-SD975S Microwave Oven is the greatest family microwave since it has a 16.5-inch turntable. Probably need to cut the cooking time down from any package directions by one or two minutes. It did, however, heat uniformly. During our tests, it yielded the finest results of any microwave; there were no hot or cold areas, even in the middle.
The cooking duration is only adjustable in 10-second intervals, which is a small annoyance, but other than that, it works smoothly and simply. You can enter the weight of the food you’re defrosting using the dial as well. Three cooking phases are programmable, and the display screen indicates your current cooking stage. You can use the Keep Warm setting as your last stage while utilizing the multi-stage cooking capability.
It’s the greatest microwave for families or large houses that will take advantage of its sizable capacity, while being a powerful microwave with loads of useful functions. However, it’s very large and unwieldy. Based on our testing, this is the best microwave with a trim kit that can be installed in your kitchen as a built-in cabinet or other stationary feature. I put it on my counter to make testing simpler.
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Pros
- Smart technology and scan-to-cook technology at a reasonable price
- Heats food quickly
- Spacious yet compact enough to fit in a small kitchen
Cons
- Doesn’t cook food as evenly as other microwaves we tested
- Voice commands are finicky
Smart connectivity is what sets apart the stylish and portable GE Smart Microwave Oven. Using a virtual assistant or your smartphone, you may check the status of your food and adjust the settings by speaking commands. I could use voice commands to start/stop, pause/resume, set a timer for the microwave, add time (but not subtract it), and find out how much time was left using my Google Home Mini.
This microwave doesn’t have the highest power—900 watts—but it heats stuff rather rapidly. After cooking the marshmallows for two minutes in the microwave, I observed that some of them were hotter than others—the center and the outer edges heated more quickly.
This model also has a scan-to-cook functionality, which allows you to use your smartphone to scan a food package’s barcode and see the cooking time and settings automatically displayed. To begin, simply push or say “start.” To be honest, not many of us require a smart microwave. On the other hand, cooking becomes easier when using hands-free technology, and we like that it’s more hygienic because it minimizes the amount of time you contact the microwave.
What to look for in the best microwaves
Power: Depending on the main purpose of the microwave, you will require a different amount of power. You can hunt for a less expensive, lower-wattage microwave if your family only uses it to reheat food, suggested Schiffmann. “Around an 800-watt oven works [for reheating].” To get a microwave that cooks food instead of just reheating it, budget a little extra for a high-quality oven that has more power than 1,000 watts.
Presets and extra features: A lot of users primarily use the Express Cook or number pad buttons on their microwaves. Preset features, however, come in handy if you cook or thaw a lot. Choose a microwave with convection settings if you want it to replace even the greatest toaster oven, but be aware that these features are frequently more expensive and that the technology isn’t always reliable.
Price: According to Schiffmann, a good 800–1,000 watt microwave should cost you between $100 and $150, and the price may go up as the wattage increases. Additionally, additional features like convection settings or a large number of presets will cost more. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but Schiffman advises against looking at microwaves that cost less than $100. “Anything cheaper will most likely break down and be unstable,” he stated.
Safety features: One of the best microwaves with a child-safety lock feature should be purchased if you have small children. “Many toddlers can get injured when reaching in the microwave, but many manufacturers have a digital lock now where you put in a combination of numbers to lock and unlock the microwave,” Schiffmann stated. It should be noted that this feature does not lock the microwave door; rather, it stops the microwave oven from working.
Top 5 Best Microwaves of 2024 : FAQs
Q. What wattage microwave should I get?
A microwave with roughly 1,000 watts of power is sufficient for the majority of homes. Although our budget selection has 600 watts, smaller microwaves often have lesser wattages, so while they save counter space, they can’t heat up huge meals or cook rich foods from scratch.
Q. Can you defrost meat in the microwave?
Indeed. When your microwave is defrosting, it thaws food without cooking it by adjusting the wattage between 30% and 50%. While it’s best to thaw meat in the refrigerator, you may thaw meat in a pinch by using the defrost button on your microwave, just make sure you cook it right away after thawing.
According to the FDA, if food isn’t cooked right away after defrosting, microwaves may heat food unevenly, which could lead to the formation of dangerous bacteria. Additionally, Schiffmann stated that it’s critical to monitor food temperature when cooking or defrosting food in a microwave. “When cooking your food, measure several places with a food thermometer to avoid undercooking or underheating,” he stated.
Q. What foods can I cook in my microwave oven?
“Microwave ovens are really poachers or steamers, so those foods that fit that profile do well,” Schiffmann stated. “They’re great for cooking fish, vegetables, and chicken, but don’t expect dry foods to crisp or brown.” Potatoes and fresh vegetables, in particular, work well in the microwave due to their high water content. You may also use them as a shortcut to make boiling items. For instance, you might microwave dry spaghetti for the amount of time specified on the package by placing it in a bowl of water. You don’t even need to wait for the water to boil for the pasta to cook to perfection.
Q. Does standing near a microwave put me at risk for radiation exposure?
The misconception that you might get radiation exposure by standing too near to a microwave while it’s working is debunked, say experts. “Microwaves are very safe — as long as they aren’t damaged,” stated Lodico. “The door’s mesh screen and metal housing serve as a protection against the radiation produced within. The radiation creates a magnetic field and current that cancel out the incoming wave as it gets closer to the microwave wall.”
Although using a microwave while wearing a pacemaker used to raise some concerns, the FDA claims that with contemporary pacemakers, this is no longer a problem. Nevertheless, people with pacemakers should always see their doctor first.
