No matter how much we love our air fryers and brag about our sous vide steak dinners, the humble microwave will always have a place in our hearts. When you forget to defrost dinner or your coffee goes cold, the best countertop microwave solves kitchen problems quickly and easily.
Our reporters spoke to two microwave heating experts and tested seven of the best microwaves, cooking everything from frozen mac and cheese to a plate of marshmallows. As the best microwave overall, we chose the Panasonic Microwave Oven; it combines a 1,200-watt motor with a compact exterior. If you're looking to preserve counter space, the GE 0.7 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave Oven is compact and reliable. You may need to add extra cook time, but the results will be evenly cooked and worth the wait.
We recently tested two air fryer microwaves and compared their performances to our top countertop microwave picks. Unfortunately, we weren't too impressed, but we did find one we liked: check out our air fryer microwave review to learn more.
Learn more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and researches kitchen products.
Our top picks for the best microwaves
Best overall: Panasonic Microwave Oven with Inverter Technology — See at Amazon
Best upgrade: Panasonic NN-SD975S Microwave — See at Amazon
Best value: Commercial Chef Countertop Microwave — See at Amazon
Best small: GE 0.7 Cu. Ft. Capacity Countertop Microwave Oven — See at Amazon
Best overall
The Panasonic NN-SN65KB Microwave Oven packs 1,200 watts of power to cook food quickly and evenly. It's compact, yet has a spacious interior, and comes with many helpful preset buttons for easy cooking.
- Five useful presets
- 1,200 watts of cooking power (more than most microwaves)
- Includes a child-safety lock button
- Visible fingerprint smudges
- Light inside is too dim to check food while it's cooking
- Frozen Foods feature doesn't cook accurately
At 1,200 watts, the Panasonic NN-SN65KB Microwave Oven cooks food fast and heats remarkably evenly. The preset functions are actually useful, like the Sensor Reheat feature. Perfect for reheating leftovers, it detects the humidity level of the food inside and starts counting down the cooking time.
The Popcorn and Coffee/Milk presets both worked better than the presets on other countertop microwaves I tested — if you want the best microwave for popcorn, this is a great choice. During the marshmallow test, all expanded evenly, and at the end of two minutes, there was only a bit of burning in the very center of the marshmallows. We trust this microwave's ability to cook evenly.
I was less impressed with the Frozen Food preset — the microwave overestimated the time needed to cook frozen mac and cheese. A few other minor downsides: the light inside the microwave is dim, so it's hard to monitor the food while it's cooking, and fingerprints are highly visible on the control panel. However, this is the best microwave to balance power and size with easy-to-use features and push-button opening.
Though we haven't tested the Panasonic Microwave with Alexa Compatibility, it has most of the features of our best overall pick, plus smart capabilities. If smart kitchen appliances are a priority, this one is worth considering.
Read our Panasonic Microwave Oven with Inverter Technology review.
Best upgrade
This microwave, which can also be installed as a built-in microwave, is large enough to fit two plates at a time and features an easy-to-use dial to heat and cook your food.
- Powerful at 1,250 watts
- Dial and interface are easy to use
- Can be installed as a built-in
- Can't see the food well while it's cooking
- Dial only in 10-second increments
With a 16.5-inch turntable, the Panasonic NN-SD975S Microwave Oven is ideal as the best countertop microwave for families. You'll likely need to decrease cooking time by a minute or two from any package instructions, but it will cook evenly once you adjust. It produced the best results of any microwave during our tests — no hot or cold spots, even in the center.
The microwave opens with a push button at the bottom of the control panel. One dial controls the cooking time, which only adjusts in 10-second increments — other than that minor inconvenience, it operates smoothly and easily. The dial is also used to input the weight of food you're defrosting. You can program three stages of cooking, and the display screen will let you know where you are in the cooking process. If you're using the multi-stage cooking feature, you can use the Keep Warm setting as your final stage.
While it's a powerful microwave with lots of helpful features, it's extremely large and bulky, which is why it's the best microwave for families or large households that will take advantage of its sizable capacity. This is the best microwave with a trim kit that we tested, which means it can be built into a cabinet or other static feature in your kitchen. I tested it as a countertop oven.
Best value
The Commercial Chef Microwave is moderately powerful, well-priced, and compact enough for smaller kitchens.
- Simple to use and inexpensive
- Quieter than most models
- Heats evenly
- Slightly underpowered
- Small interior
At just under $100, The Commercial Chef Microwave is the least expensive microwave we tested that still passes muster. It measures about 19 inches long and 15 inches deep with a pull handle, a great size for smaller kitchens. The interior cooking space is similarly small, but we were able to fit a 10-inch dinner plate just fine.
The controls are intuitive to use without consulting the manual. There is a pull handle and several express cook buttons, as well as the ability to set a custom cook time (a big improvement over the earlier version, which consisted of a rotary knob, so you couldn't set specific seconds). This model also has six preset buttons (potato, popcorn, dinner plate, beverage, pizza, and frozen vegetable) and two defrost settings (time defrost and weight defrost).
At just 900 watts, it's a little underpowered. I used the package instructions to cook frozen mac and cheese. After the recommended four minutes, it was warmed through but not piping hot. You'll likely have to add 30 seconds to a minute to any package instructions when cooking in this microwave. This was confirmed when I did the marshmallow test; while the heat concentrated in the center of the microwave, none of the marshmallows were browned after 2 minutes of cooking. Still, this is a great option if you want the best budget microwave that takes up minimal space.
Best small
For small kitchens and dorm rooms, this GE microwave is the perfect size. It has 6 presets and express cook buttons, and it measures under a foot tall.
- Intuitive interface with express cook buttons
- Compact, but spacious enough for a dinner plate
- Arrives with child-lock engaged
- Requires additional time for most tasks
We recently tested additional small models to find the best compact microwave, and the GE Countertop Microwave Oven was an easy winner. This is about as classic of a design as you can get. The interface is so intuitive that we're confident you could start popping popcorn within minutes of unpacking the box.
At 17 inches wide and under a foot tall, the GE can fit under cabinetry or perch atop a mini-fridge. It is the perfect size for a dorm room, galley kitchen, or even a rented room.
Our compact microwave testing revealed evenness to be the biggest issue— only the GE Countertop Oven produced marshmallows with dispersed browning and an unburnt center. Most microwaves with capacities under one cubic foot are just 700 watts, which is a little underpowered for larger tasks. The GE cooked the frozen mac and cheese fully in the recommended time, leaving us no frozen pieces, but it still wasn't piping hot. Adding another minute did the trick.
Previously we ranked the Commercial Chef Microwave as the best small option, but both the 0.7 and 0.9 cubic feet models of the Commercial Chef are larger than the GE. However, the models are also cheaper, so the Commercial Chef remains our top-rated budget microwave.
How to choose the best countertop microwave
Power: The amount of power you'll need depends on what you primarily use the microwave for. If your household only uses the microwave to reheat food, you can look for a cheaper model with less wattage, said Schiffmann. "Around an 800-watt oven works [for reheating]." If you want a microwave that actually cooks your food rather than simply reheating it, expect to spend a little more for a quality oven with more than 1,000 watts of power.
Functions and presets: Many consumers mostly operate a microwave with the number pad or Express Cook buttons. However, preset functions are helpful if you do a lot of cooking or defrosting. If you want a microwave that replaces even the best toaster oven, opt for a model with convection settings, but keep in mind that this functionality often comes at a higher price, and the technology can be hit or miss.
Microwave safety
Are microwaves safe to use?
According to experts, it is a myth that standing too close to the microwave while it's operating can expose you to radiation. "Microwaves are very safe — as long as they aren't damaged," Lodico said. "The metal housing and mesh screen on the door act as a shield from the radiation that is generated inside. As the radiation approaches the wall of the microwave it induces a current and magnetic field that cancels out the incoming wave."
While there was once some concern about operating a microwave if you have a pacemaker, the FDA says this is no longer an issue with modern pacemakers, though individuals with pacemakers should always check with their doctor first.
Safety features: If you have young children, you will want to purchase one of the best microwaves with a child-safety lock feature. "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 said. Note that this feature prevents the microwave oven from operating; it does not lock the microwave door.
What type of microwave is best for home use?
| Over-the-range microwaves | Countertop microwaves | |
| Best for | Preserving counter space If you own your home Creating better airflow in your kitchen | Temporary living situations If you want to relocate the oven often Tighter budgets |
In general, microwave types are not interchangeable; an over-the-range microwave cannot be used on a countertop and vice versa because of their different ventilation systems. However, certain countertop models come with trim kits that allow them to be fitted as built-ins. For instance, our top upgrade model, the Panasonic Oven with Cyclonic Wave Inverter Technology, has a separate trim kit to install it over-the-range
How we test the best microwaves
In addition to speaking with Bob Schiffmann, a microwave heating expert and president of the International Microwave Power Institute, and Jared Lodico, a postdoctoral researcher in physics at UCLA, I put all of the best microwaves through a standard set of tests.
Marshmallow test: The first test I performed with every microwave was the marshmallow test, an industry-standard way to check your microwave for hot and cold spots. To conduct this test, I covered a layer of parchment paper on the microwave's glass trays with mini marshmallows. I cooked the marshmallows in the microwave for two minutes on high. The marshmallows that expanded first revealed the microwave's hot spots, while marshmallows that appeared raw showed the cold spots.
Frozen mac and cheese test: I also cooked frozen mac and cheese in each of the best microwaves, using the same brand and cook time. I checked for evenness and burnt or cold spots.
Ease of use: I looked at how easy and intuitive the microwaves were to use, and how much space they occupied on my counter. I also evaluated how much noise they made during cooking and how loud and persistent their alarms and beeps were.
Presets and functions: Where applicable, I used and tested each model's preset buttons according to the manufacturer's instructions. This included Popcorn, Reheat, Sensor Cook, and Keep Warm buttons. I evaluated how well these settings performed their intended function and how easy they were to use.
FAQs
Is 900 watts good for a microwave?
For most households, a microwave with around 1,000 watts of power is plenty. Smaller microwaves generally have lower wattages (our budget pick has 600 watts), so they save counter space but lose the ability to heat large meals and cook dense foods from scratch.
How much does a microwave oven cost?
Schiffmann said you should expect to spend between $100 and $150 on a good 800 to 1,000-watt microwave, and a bit more as wattage increases. You'll also pay more for extra features, like convection settings or lots of presets. You don't have to break the bank, but Schiffman cautions about considering microwaves under $100. "Anything cheaper will most likely break down and be unstable," he said.
Can you defrost meat in the microwave?
Yes. Defrosting sets your microwave's power between 30% to 50% so it thaws your food without cooking it. Although it's recommended to safely thaw meat in the refrigerator, you can use your microwave's defrost button to thaw meat in a pinch as long as you cook it immediately after you thaw it.
According to the FDA, microwaves may heat food unevenly which could result in harmful bacteria growth if the food isn't cooked immediately after defrosting. Schiffmann also said it's important when cooking or defrosting food in the microwave to keep an eye on food temperature. "When cooking your food, measure several places with a food thermometer to avoid undercooking or underheating," he said.
How do microwaves work?
"Microwaves generate 'microwaves,' which is a form of electromagnetic radiation," Lodico said. "This electric field transfers energy to the food as the waves pass through it." The energy transfer causes water molecules in the food to vibrate, producing heat that cooks the food practically from the inside out. Because of this, foods that are high in water content, like potatoes or other fresh vegetables, cook much faster in the microwave than they do in other appliances.
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," said Schiffmann. "They're great for cooking fish, vegetables, and chicken, but don't expect dry foods to crisp or brown." Any food with high water content does well in the microwave, like potatoes or fresh vegetables, and you can also use them as a shortcut when making boiled foods. For example, you can put dry pasta in a bowl of water and microwave for the cooking time on the pasta package. The pasta will cook perfectly, and you don't even have to wait for the water to boil.
You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
