Traditional cooking has been replaced by microwaves for quite a few years now. Offering you convenience, faster cooking times, and ease, manufacturers keep providing extra features or refining their model for your convenience. If you cook for yourself or plan for a get-together, either way, move from traditional cooking methods to microwave cooking, making your life easier. Get yourself a microwave.
If you are considering which one to buy, do read through our in-depth reviews on the five best microwaves. We are sure you will get all the information to make a decision basis your needs.
Table of Contents
Best Microwaves
| Image | Best Microwaves | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. Toshiba EM131A5C-SS Microwave Oven | 99% |
 | 2. Panasonic NN-SN68KS Compact Microwave Oven | 96% |
 | 3. Toshiba EC042A5C-BS Microwave Oven | 92% |
 | 4. Panasonic NN-SN936B Microwave Oven | 89% |
 | 5. Panasonic NN-SN686S Microwave Oven | 85% |
Want to learn more?
Here are our best microwaves’ reviews:
1. Toshiba EM131A5C-SS Microwave Oven
Powered by an 1100 watts motor, this Toshiba 1.2 cubic feet microwave is the perfect model for a small to medium family or in office pantries. It can warm, cook, grill, and bake food with microwave technology or the convection oven in minutes.
This microwave unit has a sensor with preset options for favorite food dishes. These include pizza, potatoes, vegetables, burgers, and more. This unit has a capacity of 1.2 cubic feet, enabling you to cook large portions of roast chicken, pork, ham, or vegetables, and more for your family’s nutritional needs.
Made in stainless steel for sturdiness and high durability, this microwave is resistant to rust and corrosion. This microwave weighs 34.6 lbs that can withstand the toughest cooking conditions. You can easily use the convection independently or use the microwave cooking feature for all your cooking needs. You can also program a maximum of three-time and power combinations for your convenience. As the microwave does its job, you can catch a breath and relax with a cup of coffee.
What makes cooking in this microwave easier? A large easy-to-grip door handle, digital clock function, a countdown timer, and a remaining cooking time clock make your cooking quite convenient. You can also defrost with two defrost settings – as per weight or as per time.
Why do we like it?
- Eco-mode
- Sound on/off option
- Child safety lock
- Interior light
2. Panasonic NN-SN68KS Compact Microwave Oven
With a 1200 watts microwave, your cooking needs get a boost as you can easily manage a host of options for your family. This 1.2 cubic foot microwave offers you a large space for the most versatile cooking needs. It has eleven levels of powering up energy for the toughest of the cooking jobs.
With its sixteen sensors, this microwave checks the steam being released by the dish to adjust its cooking power and time duration automatically. To prevent any cold spots, the inverter technology works its charm to cook food evenly. These functions help you maintain the food texture and retain nutrients while the food is warmed or cooked.
Offering you a 13.4 inches glass turnstile, this microwave can work wonders with three different popcorn microwave bag capacities (3.2, 2.7, or 1.5 oz.). Now catch a flix, or watch the big game as food gets ready. Other features include smart controls and LED, easy-clean interiors, auto and manual controls.
Why do we like it?
- Inverter Turbo defrost to reduce defrosting time
- Genius cook feature
- Easy to clean and maintain
3. Toshiba EC042A5C-BS Microwave Oven
Now you have the convenience of a microwave at your hand that leaves you with no guesswork. Preset with thirteen auto menus, you can easily cook a variety of dishes. The microwave sensors detect the humidity levels to adjust the cooking power and cooking time automatically, saving you all the calculations.
This convection microwave oven has four auto bake and roast menus. You can quickly reheat, easily bake, or comfortably grill for delicious cooking results.
Cleaning the stainless steel interior is easy with a damp cloth to wiper off all splatters and grease. Follow all safety procedures, including unplugging the microwave from the socket.
You can minimize the standby power by fifty percent as you turn on the ECO mode. This saves your power consumption. This unit comes in a black stainless steel finish and has a dimension of 21.73” x 21.38” x 12.83” LxWxH.
You can comfortably use the pre-programmed sensor menu for best results for a frozen pizza (13.6” maximum), vegetables, pies, meats, and more.
Why do we like it?
- Child lock function
- Sound on/off option
- One-touch popcorn button
4. Panasonic NN-SN936B Microwave Oven
Cooking in a microwave offers you convenience and savings on time. But with this Panasonic microwave, you can additionally preserve the nutrients, texture, and flavor of all food dishes cooked. This microwave is made from aluminum that has one of the largest spaces of 2.2 cubic feet.
So get ready to cook large portions of food with the 1250 watts of cooking power. Set –up a host of dishes on the dinner table with the inverter technology. This technology provides steady heat to the food dish, unlike many other microwaves that have an auto on/off pulse technology. Food is evenly cooked without any cold spots with this microwave. Have most of the defrosting done in a matter of minutes with the advanced inverter turbo defrost function.
The 16.5 inches glass turnstile holds large pans for baking and cooking. The built-in automatic Genius Sensor manages the cooking power and cooking time for each dish basis the steam that is being released. With the keep warm feature, you can keep cooked food warm for your loved ones as they trickle in after a hard day’s work.
Why do we like it?
- Features include child lock and delayed start
- Easy to clean and maintain
- Available in black and white colors
5. Panasonic NN-SN686S Microwave Oven
What’s your plan for dinner tonight? Are you ready to poach, braise, or steam food in this this Panasonic microwave oven? Controls are easy to manage even if your hands are greased up with the touchscreen function.
One of the best in its class, the inverter technology provides even cooking with a steady temperature and power. Absence of cold spots is healthy as it means there are no uncooked patches of food. Slow and steady cooking has always been linked to delivering the best results. Food retains its color, texture, and nutrients.
This 1.2 cubic feet powerhouse is a countertop model, providing you easy access to all the functions. You can safely keep it out of children’s reach with the child lock facility, preventing accidents. No more worries as your step away from home for chores or to the office. So safe!
The 13.4” turntable offers to bake your pizzas (max 13 inches) for a quick meal or snack. Now you can easily relax as the microwave thinks for you. It adjusts the cooking power and cooking time on its own with the Genius Sensor present.
Why do we like it?
- Reduced defrosting times with Inverter Turbo Defrost
- Keep warm feature for cooked food
- Delay start feature
Microwaves’ Buyer’s Guide
Now that you have read the in-depth reviews, you know what is on offer in the market. Here are some critical factors to consider that could affect your buying decision.
Budget
Countertop microwaves are usually available from $70 to $250 and upwards. What makes the difference is the cooking power measured in watts, size/capacity of the microwave, and features. Additional things like built to fit inside a drawer /cabinet may cost you extra. You could always look at an economical one from $140 to $190 for home use.
Space & Size
Measure the space available in your kitchen where you plan to place the microwave. Remember to budget for at least six to eight inches extra on sides for hot air ventilation.
If it’s the size you are considering; a 1.5 to 1.8 cubic feet capacity should be good for home use. Your buying decisions will also be influenced by the kind of functions you want and the capacity of the food that you usually cook. Opt for one as per your choice.
Type
Placement: We have reviewed the most common type, the countertop microwaves, here. Others like those that fit in a cabinet, a kitchen drawer, or an over-the-range top. You are watching out for space available or features of the microwave to accommodate them in either case.
Cooking function: Most microwaves are just that – for heating and some basic functions. Advanced versions of cooking call for the inclusion of a variety of cooking methods. These include grilling, baking, braising, broiling, toasting, and more. Most popular is the convection feature explained below.
Convection: This type of cooking needs a fan circulating hot air as the heat is applied from the top or underneath. With the hot air being blown by the fan, hot air is accessed by the food from all sides, evenly cooking dishes.
Features
Timers, cook down/balance cooking left: Helpful features that let you know balance cooking time left.
Child lock facility: to avoid kids from messing with the cooker now and then.
Interior light: The interior light switches on when the microwave is in operation, allowing you to see the food that is being cooked.
Speed Cook: to hasten up cooking, convection cooking is aided by microwave waves. This allows for quicker finishing.
Many other features bump up the price but could be most helpful to you. Consider needs to decide what you need before you select a microwave.
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