Best countertop microwave oven

Every product is independently selected by obsessive editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission. And then, of course, there best countertop microwave oven the many other perks of the appliance available to those with the counter space to accommodate one: quickly defrosting frozen foods, softening butter and ice cream to just the right consistency, melting chocolate for bakingand, of course, making popcorn.

Countertop microwaves come with multiple advantages. As convenience and efficiency in the kitchen have become paramount, the countertop microwave oven, a versatile appliance, has emerged as an essential tool for households and office spaces alike. These compact culinary companions have evolved significantly over the years. Gone are the days when microwaves were mere popcorn-popping machines. Modern countertop microwaves are designed to offer a plethora of cooking options, making them indispensable in our daily lives. Whether you're a busy professional looking to whip up a quick meal or a culinary enthusiast experimenting with new recipes, these countertop microwaves have something to offer everyone. One of the standout features of countertop microwaves is their space-saving design.

Best countertop microwave oven

Summer Rylander is a freelance food and travel journalist based in Germany. We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. If you have a fridge stocked with TV dinners or frozen snacks no judgment! How do you even begin to figure out which microwave is best? We also tested each microwave to see if they could gently melt chocolate, and—of course—make popcorn without burning it to bits. We loved the effectiveness of a heat sensor in the microwave, which led to perfectly popped popcorn and evenly cooked mac and cheese. This generously-sized microwave wowed us with its ability to cook frozen foods evenly and without fuss. Those little waves zip around inside the oven, reflect off of the metal walls, and get absorbed by the food inside. Most modern microwaves operate between and watts—some can go a little lower or a little higher—and the standard full-power wattage today is We did notice that higher wattage led to faster cooking. We found that microwaves with presets for everything Popcorn! Cream of mushroom soup!

This microwave is the newer model of our best value pick which was recently discontinued. A few brands sell models with a supposedly superior power-regulating mechanism called an inverterwhich changes the way that power-level settings work. Pros Reheats food evenly Can add or reduce cook times in second increments Keep warm feature, best countertop microwave oven.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process. A countertop microwave is designed to fit nicely on your kitchen counter, in your dorm room or next to your desk at work. This versatile appliance is easy to use and provides fast results — whether you need to defrost chicken in a pinch, soften brown sugar that has gone hard or whip up a quick and delicious microwave mug cake. Countertop microwaves do not require any special installation, can be moved around easily without sliding around on your countertop and are generally affordable. In our recent side-by-side Lab test, we tested 12 new countertop microwave models conducting over 10 tests on each model over the span of two months.

These countertop and over-the-range models top CR's tests. When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. Learn more. Our tests found that most microwave ovens have less space than marketed. Many of our tested models, both over-the-range OTR and countertop microwaves , have a usable capacity of about 50 percent of what manufacturers claim. The best microwaves are no exception, but they stand out in our tests for such things as heating speed, heating evenness, and defrosting. Countertop microwaves represent the biggest slice of the market by far. And we focus our testing on models with a claimed capacity of 1 cubic foot or larger, which are the biggest sellers, according to our in-house analysts. The speed score in our microwave ratings is based on how fast a microwave heats 1 liter of room-temperature water. To test heating evenness, we heat a bowl of cold mashed potatoes for 10 minutes, then take temperature readings in 20 spots.

Best countertop microwave oven

Every product is independently selected by obsessive editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission. And then, of course, there are the many other perks of the appliance available to those with the counter space to accommodate one: quickly defrosting frozen foods, softening butter and ice cream to just the right consistency, melting chocolate for baking , and, of course, making popcorn. Chef David Chang and New York Times reporter Priya Krishna published a cookbook a couple of years ago that has an entire section on the appliance, and Chang even came out with his own line of microwavable dishes. Food writer, editor, and cookbook author Matt Rodbard loves microwaves, too and has a section of his own book dedicated to them. That really changed my life.

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There's not a set of standard sizes for microwaves, but a little over a cubic foot of interior space is probably what you think of as a "normal" model. Use limited data to select content. It has a handful of useful features that are uncommon in this popular size and price range. This can fit a full dinner plate or family-size frozen meal no problem. It could heat faster or slower than you expect, or the presets might be programmed differently. From defrosting frozen ingredients to cooking a delicious meal in minutes, these microwaves have become true kitchen workhorses. Summer Rylander. How we picked. This is the microwave I tested on my dining-room table, and I can vouch for its being super-solid: The price is very reasonable, it has easy-to-use functions, and it heats quickly and evenly. What about metal? If you don't like a lot of fuss with microwave settings, you'll love the "express cook" feature that starts a 1- to 6-minute cooking session by pushing a single button — it's the standard second quick-cook button every microwave has, septupled. Otherwise, the features and controls are pretty similar. More than microwaves were available when we conducted testing, but because many of them are copies of one another, we narrowed our test group and tested 18 of them. On top of all that, most brands are hit-or-miss when it comes to honoring their warranties.

Find a reliable, top-performing microwave for your kitchen counter.

If you plan to employ it only for yourself, you should be totally fine with a smaller one. Stir food frequently throughout the cooking process to ensure even heat distribution and consistent cooking. Tell us why! Before she renovated her kitchen in , Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang had the Panasonic for a few years, too, and says it performed just as well as the high-end Thermador over-the-range microwave she replaced it with. Our top pick, the Panasonic Microwave Oven with Cyclonic Wave Inverter Technology , excelled in both power and uniformity of heating, with a huge cooking space that heats up quickly and evenly. Your new microwave might not work exactly like your old one. It not only features presets for popcorn, potatoes, frozen vegetables and more, but it also allows you to program up to three functions you use most. How we picked. In our recent testing, this microwave had the most even heat distribution out of all microwaves tested. This microwave is the newer model of our best value pick which was recently discontinued. Warranty: Check the warranty terms, as a longer warranty can provide peace of mind. Meet your guides. Just be sure to call in advance to confirm it accepts microwaves.