The best microwave is a handy, kitchen appliance that most households can’t live without. Designed for convenience in mind, microwaves can do much more than just reheat leftover meals and defrost in less time. Nowadays, many offer multiple cooking functions — heating soup, defrosting bread or even scrambling eggs.
Opting for the best microwave will guarantee you quick and easy meals, all year long. Microwaves traditionally use smart tech to evenly reheat food faster and more efficiently than a stove or electric range, but modern models include the ability to broil or can even replace the best air fryer in your kitchen.
With so many different types available, it can be tricky to know which model is right for your home. Depending on your needs, you'll need to consider size and location. If space is an issue, you could opt for a compact microwave, or perhaps you want one fitted over your range rather than on the countertop.
To help you decide, we've found a selection of the best microwaves to suit every home, lifestyle and budget.
The quick list
The Toshiba EM925A5A gives a great overall performance, with evenly-cooked results. Easy to use, it has simple buttons and even includes a mute button. Best of all, it’s great value for money.
If you’re after simple operation and practicality, the Sharp SMC0912BS is a great option. With its sleek upscale design and user-friendly control panel, this will suit most kitchens.
For those with limited countertop space or a smaller household, the GE JES1072SHSS is ideal. It may not be as powerful as the larger models, but it’s sufficient for rustling up those quick snacks.
If you’re regularly cooking microwave meals or reheat leftovers, the GE Profile JES2251SJ is a great choice. It’s powerful and evenly heats foods quickly and to perfection. Best of all, GE is equipped with a sensor that detects when foods are done.
If you’re after an excellent over-the-range microwave, this Whirlpool is a great option. It comes with handy sensors, and preprogrammed pads and there’s even a wire rack that makes it possible to reheat two dinner plates at once.
For those after a smart microwave to do all the work, this GE JES1097SMSS is ideal. Not only does it have the power to evenly-cook foods, but you can control it through voice controlled apps like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
Best overall
There's a sweet spot for most appliances where the price, performance and features are all in balance. For microwave ovens, you'll find that’s the case in the inexpensive Toshiba EM925A5A, which heats evenly and quickly and offers preprogrammed settings including ones for popular items like popcorn, “baked” potatoes, and pizza.
Of nearly 30,000 reviews on Amazon, this microwave has an average rating of 4.5 stars, with 75% of reviewers scoring it 5 stars. Users comment that it's "sturdy, compact and reliable", appreciating the fact that you can turn off the noise. Some complain that the glass plate support moves around quite easily, which can be annoying.
You won’t find lots of fancy features here; there's no voice control and no sensors to determine the setting and time precisely. But there are some nice touches for convenience, such as Express Cook: Press any of the buttons from 1 through 6, and then Start, and you get 1 to 6 minutes of microwaving. Toshiba even includes a mute button to eliminate beeping, so you can nuke a midnight snack without letting anyone know you’re breaking your diet.
Best for convenience
Scoring an average rating of 4.5 stars at Walmart, this microwave is a simple buy that users appreciate for its space-saving design, and say it's "perfect for one person". The main drawback is that this microwave moves around quite easily on countertops, so you may benefit from some grippy pads underneath the legs to keep it in place.
The Sharp SMC0912BS is a great price for what it brings to the table. It has a sleek, upscale design with a large push button rather than a handle for opening the door.
Although it doesn’t have sensors for cooking or defrosting foods automatically, the Sharp is equipped with preset programs for pizza, beverages, reheats, and defrosting. Need a quick warm up for your cup of coffee? Put it inside the oven and hit the start button for a 30-second zap. Still not hot enough? Hit start again for an additional 30 seconds. And press any of the keys from 1 to 6 to get a corresponding 1 to 6 minutes of heating. What you don’t get at this low price is an interior light to show you when the cheese on your pizza is melted.
Best compact
Of 1,500 reviews at Best Buy, this microwave scores and average 4.4 star rating. Users like the stainless steel finish, which pairs well with other appliances, and say it fits an average plate perfectly. Some do comment that it's not the most powerful microwave they've used, which makes sense given its limited wattage.
The GE JES1072SHSS is a smart pick if you have limited countertop space. You get a good-looking design with a space-saving footprint, but a turntable that’ s just as large as in bigger models. However, it only has 700 watts of cooking power which means you may find cooking times on the long side. This GE is a great choice if you can’t live without a microwave for making a quick cup of tea or heating frozen dinners, but it’s probably not the best pick if you actually use your microwave to make dinner regularly.
In spite of its small size, this oven is stacked with lots of preprogrammed settings for things you’ll probably find yourself doing often, like popping corn, reheating, and defrosting. In addition, you get 6 quick start settings by pressing keys 1 to 6.
Best for cooking modes
Of 1,600 reviews at AJ Madison, this microwave has an average rating of 4.6 stars. Users praise its invertor tech which they say is particularly good for defrosting. However, negative comments include complaints that the light is quite dim and hard to read.
If you use microwave recipes for everything for things like poached salmon or tamale pie, you need a bigger model. The GE Profile JES2251SJ can hold a large baking dish for a ziti or enchilada casserole on its humongous 16-inch turntable. At the holidays, you’ll find its large size handy for zapping a platter of roasted vegetables or turkey slices to warm them up. According to reviewers, this oven heats evenly as well as quickly thanks to 1,200 watts of power.
The GE is equipped with a sensor that detects when foods are done. If you like your veggies a little crisper or more tender than the sensor “thinks” is done, you can use the more or less button. On this oven, there’s a unique warm setting for holding a dish at serving temperature while you’re waiting for everyone to come to the table.
As you would expect, this oven’s size and technology increase the price. At about $300, this microwave is more than double the cost of our smaller picks.
Best over-the-range
This microwave has 1,500 reviews at Lowe's, scoring an average rating of 4.5 stars. Reviewers praise its popcorn setting, which left very few kernels in the bag. The majority of negative comments mention that this is quite a quiet microwave, so you may struggle to hear it from a different room.
The Whirlpool WMH31017HZ is an over-the-range microwave with a 14-inch turntable that’s large enough to hold a baking dish filled with mac ‘n cheese or apple crisp. If you should find your lasagna is too large to rotate on the turntable, you can turn the turntable off. Reviewers rave about this oven’s fast and even cooking.
With sensors and preprogrammed pads for everything from cooking bacon for breakfast to softening ice cream after dinner, the Whirlpool eliminates much of the guesswork involved in microwave heating. A wire rack comes with the oven that makes it possible to reheat two dinner plates at once. Inside, there’s a nonstick finish so you don’t have to work too hard to wipe off splatters. We only wish it had a steam setting, but for the price, it's a great over-range option.
Best smart
Scoring an average rating of 4.3 on AJ Madison, this microwave receives a lot of praise for its many smart features. "I highly recommend anyone with a smart assistant to look into this microwave", says one reviewer. Most negative comments mention that it could be larger, with one saying that it wouldn't fit a full casserole.
With the GE JES1097SMSS you can give orders either through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, using an Amazon Echo or Google Home speaker to control it. With 900 watts of power, it’s faster at getting your soup hot than the Amazon Basics smart microwave, making it just as smart but noticeably more powerful.
This microwave can also be controlled through the GE Appliances Kitchen app, which some reviewers found a little difficult to set up. With the app installed and connected, you can use a neat feature called Scan-to-Cook. Scan the barcode of a supported microwavable food and the app detects the code and programs the oven appropriately. Reviewers found that the feature worked well, but at the present time the list of scannable foods isn’t that long. You can check out the list for yourself and see if your favorites are compatible with the oven.
Best convection oven
Best Buy customers give this microwave an average score of 4.0 stars. Most loved its dual functionality of being a great microwave and convection oven. Other users mention how useful the Defrost setting has been, and how easy it is to use. The only downsides were its large size, which meant it needed to be mounted closer to the floor.
If you're after versatility, the Bosch 500 Series Convection Built-In Microwave is a great option. In addition to microwaving, it offers convection cooking that cooks food quickly and evenly, distributing heat thoroughly and cooking up to 30% faster than standard convection microwave ovens. With 10 power levels, it also boasts a grill setting and handy Pizza preset to get the perfect crisp.
Many users have praised its ease of use, performance and excellent cooking results. With it's large 1.6 cu. ft. capacity, it's suitable for large households and gives you sufficient space to cook up a feast. It also has a drop-down door design, making it easier to access than a side opening. You’ll also appreciate the smart LED display on the easy-to-use glass touch control panel.
Best for broiling
2,400 commenters at Amazon score this microwave an average rating of 4.2 stars. Some mention that it's less powerful when you use combi settings, but enjoy its versatility.
The Panasonic NN-GN68KS is the best microwave if you’re looking for the speed of a microwave combined with the browning and crisping you get from a broiler. You can use both functions simultaneously which is ideal for dishes like macaroni and cheese that you want moist and creamy inside but crunchy on top. It’s also equipped with lots of preprogrammed microwave cooking settings for cooking, reheating, and defrosting.
Unlike most microwaves, this one has a keep warm setting that can hold a dish at serving temperature for up to 30 minutes. That way, If the family’s late to the table, you don’t have to reheat or serve a cold casserole. While this model is more expensive than typical countertop microwaves, it’s beautifully finished and you can even buy a trim kit if you want to build it into a wall and free up workspace in your kitchen.
How we chose the best microwaves
Millie Fender is our Senior Home Editor at Tom's Guide and has been testing kitchen appliances for five years, including many leading microwave brands. Although they're one of the more simple purchase you can make for your home, with one primary function and a conventional design that hasn't changed much over the years, she thinks the difference is made when you opt for a microwave with plenty power and that's backed by a trusted brand and rave reviews.
Our guide for the best microwave ovens were based on extensive, consumer report research and online reviews. We rated things like power and how well each microwave performed for various settings. In addition, we looked at how user-friendly and practical it was to use, design, capacity and number of extra features.
Buying advice
How to choose the best microwave for you
Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate.
There are two main types of microwave available: countertop and over the range. Here's what you need to know about each of them, as well as other specifications and features you should keep in mind while choosing your next microwave.
Types of microwave
Countertop: These appliances sit on your countertop next to your cutting board and toaster. They don't require any installation other than being plugged into a nearby electrical outlet.
Over-the-range: Also known as OTR, built-in, or microwave hood, these units are installed above your range, freeing up countertop space and providing a vent that sucks in and filters out smoke and odors from cooking. They require professional installation, as they will be attached to the cabinets or the wall behind them and hooked up to electrical wiring.
The most common size is just under 30 inches wide and about 16 inches deep. Most have a left to right door opening, but some high-end models may have a door that opens downward as on a conventional oven. Either way, check to ensure that any adjacent cabinet-door fittings will not block the microwave or make it awkward to open. Keep in mind. OTRs are less convenient to access, especially for children or anyone wheelchair-bound. Also, be aware that while they do provide ventilation, they don’t exhaust as well as a hood that vents to the outside.
Power
Microwaves are rated by the number of watts that they give out. Wattage can vary from 500 to 1500. For the most part, the larger the oven, the higher the wattage and the faster the oven will cook. However, other factors, like the size and shape of the cavity, can also affect cooking time. You should find 800-1200 watts sufficient.
Size
Be sure to measure both your space and the microwave you are considering purchasing, including its height to make sure it can fit under a countertop.
Microwave oven capacity is given in cubic feet but that number. doesn’t give you a realistic estimate of usable space. Virtually all microwaves have turntables and it’s more important to measure the turntable. Its diameter will affect how big a dish the oven will be able to hold. If you have a favorite microwavable baking dish, either measure it from handle end to handle end or bring it to the store to determine if it will be able to rotate on the turntable. There are a few models that give you the option of deactivating the turntable. However, microwaves heat more evenly with the turntable rotating so we only recommend that you plan on using that feature occasionally to warm up food on a large platter or cook a lasagna.
Features
Sensors cook or defrost foods automatically to a precise degree of doneness. They measure the moisture given off during heating before calculating cooking time; they tailor the time to the actual food rather than cook for a predetermined amount of time.
Preprogrammed keys have preset power levels and times for functions like popping popcorn, cooking bacon, and melting butter. Although most microwaves will have a popcorn button, the other choices will vary from model to model. These programs always cook for the same amount of time regardless of the actual food. Sometimes you are given the option to select the quantity or package size.
Express Keys for 1-minute or 30-seconds or the number on the key let you cook quickly without giving much thought to a precise time or power level.
Convection Cooking or Grilling is available on many ovens. This capability adds considerably to the cost. While it can come in handy, especially around the holidays when you need extra oven space, it rarely works as well as a full-size oven or even some toaster ovens.
When to replace a microwave
Most microwaves will come with a one year warranty, although the National Association of Home Builders report the average lifespan to be around nine years. Extended warranties are available, but we don’t recommend buying one, as it tends to cost more than any potential repairs. Extended warranties can even cost as much as a new microwave.
Any minor damage, such as a faulty door handle or cracked glass turntable, can be replaced easily. These aren’t very expensive to fix either. Consider the charge before calling up a serviceperson though — a new microwave can cost less than the visit, so check this beforehand. This tends to be the case unless the microwave is built-in. Whatever kind of microwave you own, if the magnetron or control panel have suffered damage, then a replacement is necessary.
How to get your microwave looking like new again
Microwaves can quickly build-up with splatters of grease which can be difficult to shift once they’ve burnt into place. Luckily there’s a home remedy which can help you get your microwave looking like new again. Before you try it, check if you’re lucky enough to own a microwave with a self-clean function. Using this will steam clean the microwave, which is similar to the method we’re about to suggest, so use this program instead.
If you don’t have this program, fill a microwave-safe bowl with water and add the juice and rinds of one lemon, chopped in half. Set your microwave to full power for three minutes, or until you notice the water starts to boil, and stop it once it fills with steam.
Leave the steam to work its magic for five minutes, then carefully remove the bowl and wipe your microwave clean with a damp microfiber cloth. And voila, your microwave should be spotless again!
For full step-by-step guidance and alternative methods, visit our dedicated article on how to clean a microwave.
