15 Best Countertop Microwave in 2024 - Buyer's Guide & Reviews
Alex Mata, Christine Kinahan May 20, 2024 4:23 PM
Microwaves are essential appliances used daily in most household kitchens. Many microwaves feature cooking presets that can perform various tasks with a button, like fresh steamed vegetables, defrosting chicken breasts, melting chocolate, softening butter, and baking potatoes. Some microwaves even have grilling and convection heating capabilities.
Overview
1. Best Overall: TOSHIBA 7-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven
Product’s Specifications
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Dimensions: 20.6 x 16.3 x 11.8 Inches
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Wattage: 1,000 watts
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Size: 1 cubic foot
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Ideal wattage, size, and functional aspects
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Convection oven, air fryer, and more
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The control panel doesn't list any presets
2. Best Value: Panasonic NN-SN75LB 1.6 cu. ft Cyclonic Inverter
Product’s Specifications
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Dimensions: 21.8" x 19.1" x 12"
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Wattage: 1,250 watts
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Size:1.6 cubic feet
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Evenly reheats food
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Can increase or decrease cook times by ten-second intervals.
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Keep-warm function
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Unsatisfactory at defrosting
3. Best Purchased Product: BLACK+DECKER Digital Microwave Oven with Turntable
Product’s Specifications
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Dimensions: 19.1" x 14.8" x 11.5"
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Wattage: 900 watts
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Size: 0.9 cubic feet
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Tiny footprint
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Sleek and fashionable
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Up to three frequently used functions are programmable
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Larger than 10-inch dinner plates cannot fit on the turntable.\
4. Best Value Product: Panasonic 4-in-1 Microwave Oven with Air Fryer
Product’s Specifications
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Dimensions: 14.97" x 15.36" x 9"
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Wattage: 1,000 watts
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Size: 1.2 cubic feet
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Switch technology
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20 various presets
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Several accessories need to be stored
5. Best Affordable Product: Breville Compact Wave Soft-Close Microwave Oven
Product’s Specifications
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Dimensions: 19.1" x 16.4" x 11.5"
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Wattage: 900 watts
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Size: 9 cubic feet
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There are no fingerprints on the exterior
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Several popcorn kernels burned during testing
Panasonic HomeChef 4-in-1 Microwave Oven with Air Fryer, Convection Bake, FlashXpress Broiler, Inverter Microwave Technology, 1000W, 1.2 cu ft with Easy Clean Interior - NN-CD87KS (Stainless Steel)
View on Amazon- SCORE9.6AI Score
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- BrandPanasonic
- Prime
TOSHIBA 7-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven Air Fryer Combo, Inverter, Convection, Broil, Speedy Combi, Even Defrost, Humidity Sensor, Mute Function, 27 Auto Menu&47 Recipes, 1.0 cu.ft/30QT, 1000W
View on Amazon- SCORE9.4AI Score
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- BrandToshiba
- Prime
Panasonic NN-SV79MS 1.4 cu.ft Smart Inverter Works with Alexa Countertop Microwave Oven 1200Watt Power with Genius Sensor Cooking, Stainless Steel
View on Amazon- SCORE9.2AI Score
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- BrandPanasonic
- Prime
Panasonic NN-SV79MS 1.4 cu.ft Smart Inverter Works with Alexa Countertop Microwave Oven 1200Watt Power with Genius Sensor Cooking, Stainless Steel
View on Amazon- SCORE9.0AI Score
Our team of experts created the ranking technology product system known as AI Score. Based on the information gathered from customer earnings, our AI Consumer Report tool automatically scores it on a scale of 0 to 10. The websites of the manufacturer or the sales agent are unrelated to or unaffected by this score. Learn more
- BrandPanasonic
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Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SN966S Stainless Steel Countertop/Built-In with Inverter Technology and Genius Sensor, 2.2 Cubic Foot, 1250W
View on Amazon- SCORE8.8AI Score
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- BrandPanasonic
- Prime
Toshiba 3-in-1 EC042A5C-BS Countertop Microwave Oven, Smart Sensor with 13 Auto Menus, Convection, Mute Function & ECO Mode, 1000W, 1.5 Cu Ft, Black, CU.FT
View on Amazon- SCORE8.6AI Score
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- BrandToshiba
- Prime
TOSHIBA ML2-EC10SA(BS) 8-in-1 Countertop Microwave with Air Fryer Microwave Combo, Convection, Broil, Odor removal, Mute Function, 12.4" Position Memory Turntable with 1.0 Cu.ft, Black stainless steel
View on Amazon- SCORE8.4AI Score
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- BrandToshiba
- Prime
GE 3-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven | Complete With Air Fryer, Broiler & Convection Mode | 1.0 Cubic Feet Capacity, 1,050 Watts | Kitchen Essentials for the Countertop or Dorm Room | Stainless Steel
View on Amazon- SCORE8.2AI Score
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- BrandGE
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Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SN686S Stainless Steel Countertop/Built-In with Inverter Technology and Genius Sensor, 1.2 Cubic Foot, 1200W
View on Amazon- SCORE8.0AI Score
Our team of experts created the ranking technology product system known as AI Score. Based on the information gathered from customer earnings, our AI Consumer Report tool automatically scores it on a scale of 0 to 10. The websites of the manufacturer or the sales agent are unrelated to or unaffected by this score. Learn more
- BrandPanasonic
- Prime
TOSHIBA ML-EM34P(SS) Smart Countertop Microwave, Sensor Reheat, Works With Alexa & Remote Control, Kitchen Essentials, Mute Function&ECO Mode, 1100W, 1.3 Cu Ft, With 12.4" Turntable, Stainless Steel
View on Amazon- SCORE7.9AI Score
Our team of experts created the ranking technology product system known as AI Score. Based on the information gathered from customer earnings, our AI Consumer Report tool automatically scores it on a scale of 0 to 10. The websites of the manufacturer or the sales agent are unrelated to or unaffected by this score. Learn more
- BrandToshiba
- Prime
Farberware Professional FMO12AHTBKE 1.2 Cu. Ft. 1100-Watt Microwave Oven With Smart Sensor Cooking and LED Lighting, Brushed Stainless Steel
View on Amazon- SCORE7.8AI Score
Our team of experts created the ranking technology product system known as AI Score. Based on the information gathered from customer earnings, our AI Consumer Report tool automatically scores it on a scale of 0 to 10. The websites of the manufacturer or the sales agent are unrelated to or unaffected by this score. Learn more
- BrandFarberware
- Prime
TOSHIBA EM131A5C-SS Countertop Microwave Oven, 1.2 Cu Ft with 12.4" Turntable, Smart Humidity Sensor with 12 Auto Menus, Mute Function & ECO Mode, Easy Clean Interior, Stainless Steel & 1100W
View on Amazon- SCORE7.6AI Score
Our team of experts created the ranking technology product system known as AI Score. Based on the information gathered from customer earnings, our AI Consumer Report tool automatically scores it on a scale of 0 to 10. The websites of the manufacturer or the sales agent are unrelated to or unaffected by this score. Learn more
- BrandToshiba
- Prime
Toshiba ML-EM45P(BS) Countertop Microwave Oven with Smart Sensor and Position Memory Turntable, 1.6 Cu.ft with 13.6 inch Removable Turntable, Black Stainless Steel
View on Amazon- SCORE7.4AI Score
Our team of experts created the ranking technology product system known as AI Score. Based on the information gathered from customer earnings, our AI Consumer Report tool automatically scores it on a scale of 0 to 10. The websites of the manufacturer or the sales agent are unrelated to or unaffected by this score. Learn more
- BrandToshiba
- Prime
BLACK+DECKER EM036AB14 Digital Microwave Oven with Turntable Push-Button Door, Child Safety Lock, Stainless Steel, 1.4 Cu.ft
View on Amazon- SCORE7.2AI Score
Our team of experts created the ranking technology product system known as AI Score. Based on the information gathered from customer earnings, our AI Consumer Report tool automatically scores it on a scale of 0 to 10. The websites of the manufacturer or the sales agent are unrelated to or unaffected by this score. Learn more
- BrandBLACK+DECKER
- Prime
BLACK+DECKER Digital Microwave Oven with Turntable Push-Button Door, Child Safety Lock, Stainless Steel, 0.9 Cu Ft
View on Amazon- SCORE7.0AI Score
Our team of experts created the ranking technology product system known as AI Score. Based on the information gathered from customer earnings, our AI Consumer Report tool automatically scores it on a scale of 0 to 10. The websites of the manufacturer or the sales agent are unrelated to or unaffected by this score. Learn more
- BrandBLACK+DECKER
- Prime
Last update on 2024-05-20 / Affiliate links / Images, Product Titles, and Product Highlights from Amazon Product Advertising API
What to look for when selecting the most OK microwave?
Many countertop microwave options could meet your needs and aesthetics, but these are the key characteristics to consider:
Size
This is significant and is denoted in cubic feet. For instance, our preferred compact countertop microwave pick can't fit an 11-inch dinner plate, but a small kitchen's top choice for large families might not be practical. Our research shows countertop microwaves are typically between 0.8 and 2.2 cubic feet, with 1.2 cubic feet being the most typical size.
Wattage
You can determine the microwave's power from this. A 700- to 900-watt microwave may be adequate for cooking popcorn, defrosting modest amounts of veggies, and reheating individual servings of food. Most packaged frozen meal heating instructions assume a microwave with a power output of 1,100 watts and 1,200 watts.
Intelligent sensors and inverters
These automatically gauge the heat of your meal to change the time and power level for you. Setting the microwave to a certain power level maintains that level throughout the heating process. So, rather than cooking at 100% for half the time and 0% for the other, like with a conventional microwave, while you cook at, say, 50% power, it will constantly cook at 50%.
Features
These days, the market is filled with many fantastic bells and whistles. The following are some that make using a microwave so much more straightforward:
- Turntables: To ensure that your food heats evenly, rotate it. Without one, you would have to interrupt the cooking process in the middle so that you could flip your dish. Certain types oscillate. They are simpler to clean if removable.
- A button for plus-30 seconds: It might seem insignificant, but it makes a significant impact because you can start or add more time immediately without hitting a bunch of buttons.
- Preset features are commonplace these days, particularly for popping popcorn and reheating frozen food. However, you might choose a potato, drink, or melt preset. Look for microwaves with the required features because more features aren't necessarily better and tend to raise the price.
1. Can a countertop microwave be housed within a cabinet?
Countertop microwaves are not meant to be kept in closed spaces like cabinets. By doing this, the air vents on the sides, top, or back of a microwave could become blocked, increasing the risk of fire and compromising safety. The next best choice is to install a microwave in your kitchen as a drawer or over-the-range mounted appliance to conserve counter space.
2. Should countertop microwaves have vents?
No. Air is recirculated through a filter and vented back into the kitchen in countertop microwaves. This is why avoiding obstructing the vents on the microwave's sides, or back is crucial.
3. Can you place a microwave on a countertop?
Mounting hardware is not included with countertop microwaves. They have a flat base, such as a countertop or an open shelf, on which to stand. If replacing a mounted microwave, carefully measure the opening and pick a model that fits.
The most excellent Countertop Microwave Ovens are reasonably priced and have unique features that set them apart from the competition. Check out our top list of best microwaves if you're in the market for a new one. The hard work of finding the top models on the market has been done for you by our team. Contact us if you need assistance selecting the best one for your house.