Microwaves are one of the most essential appliances in any kitchen. They're convenient, and efficient when it comes to cooking and reheating food. Among the variety of options available in the market, countertop microwaves come off as the most popular pick, and why not?
Apart from a space-efficient design and flexibility in the placement, countertop microwaves boast a wide range of capacity and power options to cater to varying cooking needs. Still not convinced? Read on to know more about why a countertop microwave is the best option for your kitchen.
What are the advantages of a countertop microwave over other types of microwaves?
Countertop microwaves are an affordable and versatile appliance for any kitchen. They have several advantages over other types of microwaves, including:
- Portability: Countertop microwaves are light and compact, making them easy to move and use in different locations in your kitchen, or even take with you on the go.
- Affordability: Compared to built-in or over-the-range microwaves, countertop models are typically more affordable, making them an accessible option for many budgets.
- Ease of installation: With a countertop microwave, there's no need for professional installation as you would need for a built-in appliance. Simply plug it in and start using it.
- Adjustable power levels: Countertop microwaves generally have multiple power levels for different types of food, so you have more control over cooking time and temperature.
- Versatility: Countertop microwaves can be used for a variety of tasks, such as reheating leftovers, defrosting frozen food, and even cooking full meals with pre-programmed settings.
Overall, to find the best countertop microwave you need to follow the above guidelines. Countertop microwaves are convenient and cost-effective appliance that provides flexibility and versatility for all your cooking needs.
Wide variety of sizes
One of the biggest advantages of a countertop microwave is the variety of sizes it comes in. From compact models with a capacity of 0.6 cubic feet to larger models with a capacity of 2.2 cubic feet, there is a countertop microwave for every kitchen. If you have limited counter space, compact models make an excellent pick. On the other hand, if you need more space for larger dishes or frequently cook for a large group of people, you can opt for a larger model.
Different Power Options
Countertop microwaves also offer a range of power options from 600 watts to 1250 watts. The power rating of a microwave determines how fast the food will cook. You can choose a model according to your specific needs, regardless of the size of your kitchen, since countertop microwaves come in a range of power options.
Easy-to-use features
In addition to the variety in capacity and power options, countertop microwaves are usually straightforward to use. With options like automatic defrost and reheat, Auto Cook menus, child lock, and sensor cooking, Operating them becomes a breeze. Any member of your family can use them without any complications. Most models come with a user-friendly manual that guides you through the process step-by-step.
More affordable
Last but not least, countertop microwaves are generally more affordable than built-in or over-the-range microwaves. The lower cost can range from $50 to $300, which is significantly less than other types of microwave ovens. Plus, the lower capacity models are perfect for college students or bachelors, making this compact appliance a popular choice in households.
Fits in any kitchen
Countertop microwaves are available in different styles, colors, and designs, making them easy to blend in with any kitchen décor. You can choose the one that complements your kitchen style perfectly and add some value to your cooking area.
What are the factors to consider when choosing a countertop microwave?
A countertop microwave is a versatile appliance that can be a great addition to your kitchen. However, with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. Here are some factors to consider when selecting a countertop microwave:
Size: Consider the size of the microwave and the space you have available. Make sure the microwave fits comfortably on your countertop and has enough space inside to fit the dishes you plan to use.
Power: Look for a microwave with at least 700 watts of power, which is the minimum you'll need to cook food efficiently. For bigger households or those who cook larger dishes, you might want to consider microwaves with higher wattages.
Capacity: Consider the amount of food you plan on cooking at a time. A smaller microwave can hold 0.5 cubic feet, while larger models can hold up to 2.2 cubic feet.
Features: Look for microwaves with features that suit your needs. Some common features include presets for food items like popcorn or frozen dinners, defrost settings, express cook buttons and child locks.
Ease of use: Consider how easy the microwave is to use and whether it has user-friendly controls and features.
Price: Countertop microwaves can range in price, from budget-friendly models to higher-end options. Consider your budget and what features are essential to you.
By considering these factors, you can choose the right countertop microwave for your kitchen that meets your needs and budget.
Conclusion
Investing in a countertop microwave offers many advantages that cater to different cooking needs and preferences. They come in a wide variety of sizes and power options, making it easy to choose one according to your specific needs. The user-friendly features, more affordable cost, and compatibility with any kitchen style are just a few more reasons why a countertop microwave is the best option for your kitchen.
Next time you are thinking of upgrading your old microwave, you now know the advantages of a countertop microwave and why it should be your next go-to kitchen appliance.
Need help? We've done the research for you and found the Best Countertop Microwave on Amazon. Every day, we read hundreds of reviews and try the highest-rated products we have on our list.
Best Countertop Microwave - Reviews
The Best
Product information
Upgrade your kitchen with the 2.2 cubic foot, 1250 Watt high power black countertop microwave from Panasonic. Its advanced Inverter Technology produces a seamless stream of power, ensuring consistent and evenly prepared food without overcooking. Plus, the patented Inverter Turbo Defrost speeds up defrosting time for greater efficiency. It has a power source of 120V/60Hertz and consumes 1460W of power.
This inverter microwave is perfect for large families, with a thinner, lighter, and more efficient design that allows for more interior space. It comes with a large 16 1/2 inch turntable and internal dimensions of 10 15/16 inch x 18 7/16 inch x 18 1/2 inch. Its built-in automatic Genius Sensor adjusts power and times based on different foods, with 14 preset menu items, a quick minute timer, a delayed start, and a child safety lock. Additionally, the Keep Warm feature lets you keep soups, gravies, or desserts warm and fresh until you're ready to serve without microwaving them again.
Very powerful/quick cooking times. Easy to wipe down. Thorough cooking. The beeping is audible but not as loud as microwaves from the past. Modern-looking and powerful magnetron to quickly heat up food and liquids.
The inverter technology feature does what is promised. The middle/center of any cooked or reheated foods is as hot as the perimeter almost always. We are especially impressed with the ability this has to accomplish this result with frozen pizza on a dinner plate.
From a few unhappy customers: "The product support is a labyrinth of bureaucratic obfuscation and shifting between recorded responses that alternate." "After six weeks, I finally have it repaired. Panasonic's customer service is terrible and gave me one heck of a run-around. No customer should have to go through what I did to get mine fixed." Some customers said that they received used countertop microwave ovens.
Our Thoughts - Shame on you Panasonic! You have the best countertop microwaves but if you carry on not supporting your customers you will end up with a warehouse full of unsold countertop microwaves.
Very Good
Product information
Upgrade your kitchen with stylish and timeless stainless steel appliances that are designed not only to impress but also to meet your daily needs. The door frame is stainless steel while the enclosure is black, creating a sleek and modern look that adds an extra touch of elegance to your home. The microwave ovens have a rated voltage of 120V - 60Hz, a rated input power of 1350W, and a rated output power of 900W, making them high-rated appliances that are both reliable and energy-efficient.
These kitchen essentials come with a pre-programmed menu for six popular foods, including popcorn, pizza, and potato, among others. It also has the option to defrost by weight and time, making it easy to thaw frozen foods. With a one-touch start, you can quickly access the microwave for 1 to 6 minutes of cooking at full power with just one button.
This compact microwave oven is designed to deliver exceptional performance and comes equipped with 10 power settings, a clock, and a kitchen timer. The 10.6-inch removable turntable fits a 10-inch frozen pizza, and the microwave has a capacity of 0.9 cu. ft., making it perfect for small to medium-sized families. Additionally, it has a power-saving eco mode, sound on/off option, and child safety lock that ensures safe usage of the appliance. Moreover, the microwave allows you to mute the buzzer by long-pressing the "8" button for 3-5 seconds.
Looking for a sleek, modern microwave that won't burn out its lightbulb? Look no further than our LED-lighted model. With its compact size and 30-second to 1-minute cook time, you may think it's less powerful than its larger counterparts. But don't be fooled - this microwave is marvelous and operates quietly, ensuring you won't be disappointed with its performance. Perfect for your small city apartment.
A few users mentioned that after two years the panels started to rust from the inside and the number panel is rubbing off from gentle touch. Some mentioned that they received damaged countertop microwaves. A few more started microwaving a small microwave-safe dish with some food in it and after about ten seconds, the microwave started sparking and smoking.
Our Thoughts - This is a smart microwave but it burns the popping popcorn. Reheating coffee or cooking frozen veggies, the microwave will do a good job. Quiet and easy to use.
Good Value
Product information
Whether you're in a hurry to fix a quick snack or prepare a meal for your family, the Farberware 1.1 Cu. Ft. compact microwave can help you get the job done quickly and efficiently. With 1000 Watts of output power, this compact microwave packs a lot of punch in its small size. The 1-6 min. Express cooking, plus 30 sec. button, offers a simple press-and-go speed, while the memory function lets you store your most frequently used customized settings.
Ideal for use in both home and office settings, the Farberware 1.1 Cu. Ft. microwave oven offers full-sized cooking capabilities in a compact space. It comes equipped with 10 power levels, multi-stage cooking, and 6 one-touch cooking programs for popcorn, potato, pizza, and more. Defrost by weight or time settings makes quick work of any cooking task, so you can prepare your meals and snacks in no time.
This stylish compact microwave features a sleek stainless steel front and handles that add a touch of elegance to any kitchen. The LED display with kitchen timer and clock let you keep track of time, while the interior LED lighting allows you to keep a close eye on cooking progress. With a turntable diameter of 12.5 inches and interior dimensions of 14.5 x 9.1 inches, this microwave is perfect for preparing a wide variety of foods. Its keypad lock function provides added convenience and security, ensuring that the microwave is only used under your supervision.
A few users said that Farberware 1000-Watt Microwave is awesome, and so far, it's easy to use and cooks food fast. White accents blend well in the kitchen. Convenient "one touch" buttons are great - especially in the dark! This one is one of the nicer-looking countertop microwave ovens and works well. Easy to use controls. A great replacement product.
It is hard to estimate cooking times and it frequently leaves cold spots while, right next to it, your food has been turned to the consistency of a jerky. A few customers mentioned that they made Amazon aware of how awful this thing is, and hopefully, they will get to the bottom of why 900-watt Kenwood microwaves are coming out of 1000-watt High-Performance Farberware boxes. Faberware never returned the emails customers sent. Therefore, they contacted Amazon, even though it was after the 30-day return window, and they were gracious enough to work with them. They were also told that Farberware is no longer in business.
Our Thoughts - However, Amazon still has Faberware microwaves on their website. These are great for limited countertop space.
Good
Product information
Introducing a microwave that makes cooking fast and convenient - featuring pre-programmed buttons for popular foods such as popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetables, beverages, and dinner plates. This microwave is equipped with 900 Watts of power and 10 power settings that allow you to fully customize your cooking experience to achieve the desired results. There's even a 30-second express cooking feature for when you need to cook something in a hurry. Plus, it comes with a clock and kitchen timer, so you can plan your meals and cooking tasks accordingly.
This microwave is designed for ease of use, with a large LED digital display that makes it easy to read and an easy-to-use control panel that lets you quickly navigate through the settings. It also comes with a child safety lock to keep young children from accidentally turning on the microwave. The interior light and removable 10.6-inch glass turntable make it easy to see and access your food, while the push-button door release ensures easy opening and closing. The dimensions of this microwave are 19.1 x 14.8 x 11.5 inches (W x D x H), and its internal dimensions are 12.36 x 13.66 x 8.70 inches (W x D x H). The door frame is stainless steel, while the enclosure is black, adding a modern and stylish look to your kitchen.
A great microwave oven with better overall uniform heating and cooking capability. A few customers said that they are pleased with this microwave. As difficult as it was to make a choice online they are glad that they did with this product. It's easy to use, has convenient presets, is attractive, and easy to clean. Perfect for a small area kitchen. Heats quickly and I wanted a carousel style. Very happy so far.
Some customers said that they received a replacement and now they had to pay to get rid of the faulty microwave. The moment it was plugged in, it smelt like electrical burning. It was quickly unplugged and tried several times but it didn't work so there is something clearly wrong with it. It was returned, couldn’t risk a fire!
Our Thoughts - It's a great appliance that performs well and is easy to use. Plus, its small countertop microwave size and safety features make it an excellent choice for anyone living in a smaller space.
Good
Product information
Enjoy the convenience and practical cooking with the classic dial-timer microwave. This microwave features a simple-to-use dial timer that can be set anywhere from 10 seconds to 6 minutes, with bright LED indicators that allow you to monitor the cooking process at-a-glance. The spacious 1.0 cu. ft. capacity is perfect for accommodating a 13-1/2'' platter, pre-packaged foods, single servings, or a half-size pan in either direction.
This is a smart appliance, the auto-cancel timer is another feature of this microwave, as it cancels the remaining cooking time when the door is opened, saving energy and increasing the magnetron's life. The stainless steel exterior wrap and interior make it easy to maintain and clean, giving it a commercial look. Additionally, this microwave comes equipped with a heating time guide that provides a handy on-the-spot reference for timesaving convenience.
Some users said that this is the best microwave they have ever owned. It's easy to clean and it heats food up quickly. If time calls for 4 minutes set it to 3 minutes. We have several of these in our lunch room at a manufacturing facility. Easy to use and can handle the abuse from over 100 production workers every day. This small countertop microwave oven seems like a good product from a reputable company. It is very easy to use and has good power.
A few users mentioned that it only lasted 2 and a half years, others said that it didn't last one year. Some customers received dented microwaves. A few more users were disappointed with the cooking power of this microwave. It is a lot less speedy heating foods than other 1000w microwaves they have used previously.
Our Thoughts - Looks like the negative reviews are the small percentage of failures that most companies allow. It's a great size to fit on almost any kitchen counter.
Good
Product information
The Breville Compact Wave Soft Close microwave is big on convenience and is designed to precisely reheat, defrost, and cook all your favorite foods with ease. It has a compact footprint with a 25L capacity, providing all the room you need to cook, defrost, and reheat delicious meals. The cooking shortcuts and food menu are accessible via one-touch auto buttons, including Reheat, Defrost, Popcorn & Beverage, and Food Menu functions such as reheating pizza, defrosting vegetables, or cooking potatoes, allowing you to whip up quick and easy snacks.
This countertop microwave is engineered with an 80% quieter soft close door, making it an excellent choice for those who value peace and quiet in their kitchen. It features clever touches like a child lock, mute button, and 30-second instant start, which means fewer beeps, bumps, and clangs, and more pops, bites, and crunches. Additionally, the defrost function is designed to gently defrost food without overheating and drying out the edges, while the reheat function uses lower power levels to gently reheat food without drying or overcooking.
The Breville Compact Wave Soft Close microwave also comes equipped with settings for Popcorn Beverage, Food Menu, defrosting, reheating, Power Level Adjustment, Child Lock, and Clock Setting, giving you maximum control over your cooking experience. And, with its 1-year limited product warranty and 120-volt power, and 900-watt capacity, you can rest assured that this microwave is both reliable and long-lasting.
A few customers said that they choose this microwave because of the recommendation of America's Test Kitchen, and it has all the necessary features as well as the great review from previous buyers. This one is perfect for a small apartment with limited countertop space. We did not know how bad our old crappy microwave was until we got this new one. It is hands down the best one we have ever used.
A few users said that the Breville was stylish and easy to use, and very quiet. Unfortunately, it died about 3 months after it was purchased. It was lightly used, mostly for reheating leftovers and heating cups of tea. Apparently, the light use was too much for this pricy machine. Some users bought this microwave three months ago and it’s broken after light use. It sparks and it's noisy. The biggest problem is the difficulty to contact Breville customer services. They tried multiple times including waiting on a phone for an hour. No one returns phone calls.
Our Thoughts - The door is semi self-closing, just a gentle push, and the door will close on its own. No need to jerk the door open, you'll probably run the risk of eventually snapping off a plastic insert in the lock.
