Reviewing the Best Countertop Microwaves of 2022

Because of the evolution of the oven range, countertop microwaves have regained popularity. Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, it was fairly universal for a microwave to be put on the hood of a cooktop range, thereby eliminating the need for countertop microwaves.

Today’s oven ranges, on the other hand, have evolved into a fashionable main point of the kitchen, with a variety of hood designs that take the place of where the microwave would normally be located. As a result, countertop microwaves are once again in great demand.

So, how can you be sure you’re getting the greatest countertop microwave? That is, after all, our job. By reviewing these top 7 countertop microwaves and reading our detailed purchasing guide, you can be certain that you are selecting the best countertop microwave for your kitchen.

Best Overall Countertop Microwave

1. Farberware 1.1 Cubic Foot Stainless Steel Countertop Microwave

 

Farberware’s 1.1 cubic foot stainless steel microwave is the finest overall countertop microwave.

Express cooking (keypad numbers 1–6) enables you to rapidly microwave leftovers or a frozen meal with the touch of a button. Six cooking programs will adapt the microwave setting to the best heat for the food you’re preparing. These include buttons for popcorn, potatoes, pizza, frozen vegetables, beverages, and meal plates.

If you do not wish to use one of these quick-setting buttons while heating your meal, you may manually input the cooking time into the microwave keypad. If you need to add 30 seconds to the cooking time fast, just hit the +30 seconds button, and 30 seconds will be added to the cooking time.

The kid safety lock is another feature of this countertop microwave that makes it a top pick. The child safety lock prevents youngsters from turning on the microwave, possibly averting a deadly accident.

The countertop microwave features a stainless steel body with a black interface and accents for a sleek and sophisticated appearance that will complement your other stainless steel or black appliances. When the clock is set, green LED lights will display the time as well as the remaining cooking time when the microwave is turned on.

It includes a heavy-duty handle on the front of the door that you will pull to open the microwave door, as well as an inside light that will automatically turn on when the door is opened. The glass turntable within the microwave is 12.5 inches in diameter and is detachable and dishwasher safe.

Best Budget Countertop Microwave

2. Black + Decker 0.9 Cubic Foot Stainless Steel Countertop Microwave

 

This Black + Decker countertop microwave has many characteristics with the Farberware choice that we selected as the best overall countertop microwave. There are just a few distinctions that distinguish it as the best cheap countertop microwave rather than the best overall.

For starters, it is a little smaller than the Farberware alternative. It is merely 0.9 cubic feet in capacity, which decreases the interior dimension of the glass turntable to 10.6 inches. It also lacks a handle on the microwave’s door. Instead, you will use a push-button to open the door.

The countertop microwave’s buttons and display are similar to the microwave. You may choose from six different express cook times for simple one-button cooking. These are the buttons on the keypad numbered 1 to 6, which allow you to rapidly choose a cooking time between 1 and 6 minutes.

The Farberware variant has the same six cooking programs. You have the option of ordering popcorn, potatoes, pizza, frozen vegetables, a beverage, or a supper plate. This will modify the microwave’s temperature setting so that the food or drink you’re preparing is heated at the ideal time and temperature.

The microwave is equipped with a child safety lock, an LED clock and cooking time display, an inside light, and a detachable turntable for simple cleaning.

Best Premium Countertop Microwave

3. Cuisinart CMW-110 Stainless Steel Countertop Microwave

 

Because of its features, size, and style, the Cuisinart CMW-110 is our pick for the finest premium countertop microwave.

It provides a wide range of cooking functions and settings for heating almost any form of food or beverage. Sensor cooking, auto cooking, and express cooking are the three types of settings.

Reheat chicken, fish, and vegetables.Sensor cooking will change the time and temperature for the meal you are preparing automatically. So you don’t have to estimate the optimal time and temperature to utilize; it performs the job for you. Vegetarian, potato, pizza, and meat alternatives are available.

Grain, beverage, duration defrost, and weight defrost are all options.popcorn, and riceThe auto cook feature features six separate quick-push buttons for various foods and drinks. Soften is one of the six quick-push buttons.

Below it is a number keypad where you may manually adjust the cooking time of whatever you’re heating. The first six digits are express cook choices, which will choose your cooking time based on the number you push.

For example, if you need to fast heat a meal for 4 minutes, just hit the number 4 on the keypad, and it will start cooking for 4 minutes right away. This is particularly simple when you know you have a specific amount of time to prepare a meal.

You may also utilize 11 different cooking power levels ranging from 0 to 100%. This makes it simple to cook or heat delicate foods that may only need a modest amount of heat to cook properly.

Inverter technology in the microwave cooks food faster, more silently, and with reduced energy use. The glass turntable has a diameter of 12 inches, is detachable, and is dishwasher safe.

4. Samsung 1.1 Cubic Foot Countertop Microwave

 

This model by Samsung is another excellent counter microwave choice on our list.

Snacks and melt.It includes nine distinct rapid cook choices, allowing you to prepare a wide range of items with the push of a button. Popcorn, potato, pizza, vegetables, cook, kids meals, auto reheat, and soften are among the available choices.

The microwave is more powerful than many other alternatives. It has a maximum cooking power of 1600 watts. As a result, it is not as energy efficient as the Cuisinart model mentioned above.

The grilling function is another amazing feature of this microwave. It comes with a grilling element and a ceramic platter. This is what distinguishes the microwave from the competition. When cooking, many meals need a crispy finish, which microwaves cannot always provide. That is why the grilling element and ceramic plate are attractive microwave features. It can fry bacon and other meals to a crisp finish.

The microwave has a push-button at the bottom that opens the door and immediately turns on the internal light. The microwave’s inside is composed of scratch-resistant and easy-to-clean ceramic enamel. The turntable within the microwave has a diameter of 12.5 inches and may be removed to be cleaned by hand or in a dishwasher.

5. GE 0.9 Cubic Foot Stainless Steel Countertop Microwave

 

Reheat a potato, popcorn, beverage, or veggie.This next countertop microwave on our list by GE Products is an affordable, functional, and compact option. It features a maximum output of 900 watts and a number of settings for heating food and drinks. You may choose a dinner plate, pizza, or thaw (weight).

On the numerical keypad, from 1 to 6, you may choose one of six distinct fast cook choices. By tapping one of these buttons, you may rapidly choose any cook time between 1 and 6 minutes.

Simply hit the Add 30 Sec button to add extra 30 seconds to your cooking time. You may also choose your own cooking time and temperature by manually entering it on the numeric keypad.

This countertop microwave also incorporates a kid safety locking device that prevents the front buttons from being pressed.

To turn on the microwave, press the big push-button at the bottom of the display. The microwave door will automatically open, and the internal light will turn on. When you’re ready to use the microwave, shut it and start cooking. The turntable on the interior may revolve and be removed for simple cleaning. The turntable may be washed by hand or in a dishwasher.

6. Commercial Chef Countertop Microwave

 

Commercial Chef’s sleek and effective countertop microwave is one of our favorites on our list.

It has a volume of 0.9 cubic feet, making it great for tiny kitchens or taking up minimal counter space. It contains six separate one-touch rapid cook buttons for cooking popcorn, potatoes, pizza, drinks, frozen items, and reheating foods.

You may choose the power level required for the meal you are heating, ranging from 100 to 900 watts. If you do not wish to use one of the preset quick-cook buttons, you may input the cooking time manually.

For simple cleaning, the microwave’s turntable is detachable and dishwasher safe. You may also activate a child safety lock to prevent the keypad from being pressed and, as a result, the microwave from turning on.

Finally, the microwave’s sleek and attractive appearance may be our favorite feature. It boasts a clear LED display and accents in stainless steel and black. The microwave door opener button is likewise stainless steel and has a fashionable shape rather than a rectangular block form.

We like this countertop microwave since it is elegant, inexpensive, and small.

7. Walsh 0.9 Cubic Food Countertop Microwave

 

This incredibly economical, basic, and small model from Walsh is the last countertop microwave on our list of the best countertop microwaves.

The microwave’s front panel has simple controls for both quick-push cooking and manual cook time cooking. This means you may cook or heat your item by pressing a single button, and it will automatically adjust the cook time and temperature. Otherwise, you may manually enter the cooking time for whatever you’re cooking or heating using the numeric keypad.

You may pick between cooking or heating popcorn, potatoes, pizza, drinks, frozen meals, or reheating cold food with the six quick-push buttons.

Like the other alternatives, there is a kid safety mechanism that locks the controls on the front of the microwave, preventing it from heating up.

To open the microwave, press the button at the bottom of the front of the appliance. It will open the microwave door and switch on the microwave’s inside light automatically. When the microwave has to be cleaned, a glass turntable may be removed and deposited in the dishwasher.

Best Countertop Microwave Buying Guide

Purchasing a countertop microwave should not be difficult, but with so many choices available, it may get daunting.

If you’re debating between a number of the countertop microwaves on our list but aren’t sure which one to choose, we’re here to assist.

Check out this purchasing guide we put together to assist you make your selection.

Size

When making your selection, keep your kitchen and countertop space in mind. If you have a tiny kitchen or a limited amount of counter space, you will need to choose a countertop microwave that is smaller.

We suggest a 0.9 cubic foot countertop microwave. This will offer you plenty of room on the interior of the microwave without taking up too much space on the exterior.

Simply ensure that a 0.9 cubic foot microwave does not have a bigger exterior than required, since this will certainly take up too much room on your countertop without providing any inside capacity.

If you have a spacious kitchen with plenty of counter space, you might go for a larger countertop microwave that is at least 1.5 cubic feet in size.

Finish/Color

You will likely want to choose a countertop microwave that matches the remainder of your kitchen appliances. So, if your kitchen appliances are white, you should choose a white microwave.

However, if you want to upgrade your white appliances to stainless steel in the future, you should buy a stainless steel countertop microwave so that you do not have to replace it early because it does not match the rest of your appliances.

Settings/Features

If you value convenience, look for a countertop microwave with several one-touch controls for fast and simple cooking. This eliminates the need to manually enter the cooking time on the keypad to begin the cooking time. Instead, you will just push the button that corresponds to the dish you are preparing, and you will be finished. This eliminates the need for time, energy, and thinking while using the microwave.

Energy Use

The amount of energy that microwaves consume has reduced as technology has evolved, although not all microwave models incorporate energy-saving technologies. Some lower versions may skimp on energy-saving technologies, which is usually what keeps them so inexpensive.

Simultaneously, some of the most expensive choices utilize the least amount of energy, which may be both silent and cost-effective.

This is why you should think about it if energy consumption is significant to you. A microwave with energy-saving technology may be more expensive, but it will save you money in the long term and will most likely be quieter.

Heating Ability

Countertop microwaves often have power limits ranging from 600 to 1600 watts, depending on size and mechanical components. Microwaves with lower wattages will effectively heat food, although not always evenly. Microwaves with a wattage of 1000 or more offer greater heating power and provide a more uniform outcome.

Accessories

Some microwaves may come with attachments that you may put in the microwave to improve the cooking or heating of the food. One of the above choices includes a ceramic plate and grilling element with the microwave, allowing you to prepare crispy bacon or excellent toast right in the microwave.

Door

Will the door be opened by a handle or a button? This may not seem to be a significant aspect, but it is worth examining.

There are benefits to both techniques of opening the door. A sturdy door handle looks beautiful, and you never have to worry about the push-button failing to open the door. At the same time, the ease of pressing a button and opening the door may be quite useful when both hands are full and there is no way to open the door by tugging on the handle.

Turntable On/Off

In a microwave, the turntable is the spherical component that rotates while the microwave is heating. Some microwaves allow you to switch off the turntable and prevent it from revolving. This might be a useful feature if you’re preparing a large dish or tray that will likely strike the edges of the microwave.

The turntable should also be detachable so that it may be cleaned easily. Many meals may spill or splash when heating, leading the turntable to get filthy. The easiest approach to get the turntable as clean as possible is to remove it and place it in the dishwasher.

Child Safety Lock

While you may not think of a kid safety lock as necessary for a microwave, it can be a lifesaving feature when you least expect it. Children may be unaware that an object they place in the microwave has the potential to ignite or create a fire. This may swiftly escalate into a hazardous and tragic scenario. Having a microwave with a kid safety lock may help avert a potentially fatal incident.

Sound Control

Some microwaves enable you to turn off all of the microwave’s noises, including the beep when a button is hit and the warning when the cooking time is up. This is often a useful feature for folks who share a place with others and do not want to bother them. This is also a useful function for parents who need to sneak a snack in the middle of the night without awakening their infant or inquisitive toddler.

Warranty

The last item to examine is if the microwave comes with a manufacturer’s guarantee. This might provide you peace of mind that you are not squandering your money on an item that will break down early.

Conclusion

A microwave in your kitchen, dormitory, or apartment is always a plus. You may cook a range of frozen meals, melt components for different recipes, and heat water or milk for hot drinks in addition to reheating leftovers.

All of this is feasible with a countertop microwave oven, and the finest microwave does not have to be expensive. Just make sure it has the capabilities you want, and you will have a countertop microwave that you will be able to use for many years.