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Looking for the best countertop microwave ovens for 2021, are you? Well, time to warm yourself up, because I got you.
The countertop microwave oven has been everyone’s best friend, especially for teachers, when it comes to quick-fix dinner, reheating the meal that you’ve been waiting to eat after a long day, or just help you with warming up anything that comes into your mind.
Surely you’ll find a microwave oven in almost every home nowadays as it has become an essential part of the kitchen to give you a prompt solution to all your reheating, defrosting, and other common uses of the microwave oven.
But you’ll be surprised as to how capable microwave ovens are today, back in the day microwave ovens were only used for reheating and defrosting.
But, with the new best products out in the market now you’ll be able to cook decent food like real lunch or dinner that can compete with foods cooked using range ovens.
Microwave oven recipes are also popping up everywhere on social media—microwave chocolate chip cookie, microwave scrambled eggs, microwave risotto, and you can even make delicious, golden, and crispy bacon with this fantastic and highly capable machine.
Today, we’ll be tackling the different types of microwave ovens offered by various brands in the market nowadays.
We’ll only include the best of the best to help you choose the perfect microwave oven for your home, dorm, office, or just anywhere you need a microwave oven to keep your company in making breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just snacks in between!
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In a hurry? Take a peek at the top 3 microwave oven editor’s choice.
EDITOR’S CHOICE # 1
Cuisinart CMW-200 Convection Microwave Oven with Grill
- This has a brushed stainless body with dark tinted glass window and an embossed Cuisinart logo
- Designed with a countertop oven with single and combination settings for an unlimited number of cooking options
- Comes with 8 functions: microwave, convection, Convection fas bake, convection roast, grill/combo, defrost, keep warm, and memory
- Different options in one button that offer multi-stage cooking, plus an advanced technology that lets you program to automatically switch between 2 or 3 functions in a sequence you select.
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To Buy Or Not To Buy: Things To Consider Before Buying A Countertop Microwave Oven
Like any other type of home appliances that you’re planning to buy, there are some factors that you need to put into consideration for you to make an informed decision when purchasing a microwave oven.
Because we certainly don’t want to end up buying something that will not even work as we expected it. That is why it’s best to do your research and make sure that it’s the perfect bet before cashing out.
Suppose, you do get to choose the most suitable microwave oven for all your cooking, reheating, and defrosting needs, you’ll merrily use your microwave without any lingering regrets of buying it— which is our primary goal for this write-up.
But first, let’s get to know the different types of microwave ovens to help you decide on which one will best suit you and your reheating, defrosting, and cooking needs.
EDITOR’S CHOICE # 2
AmazonBasics Microwave – Small 700W (Works with Alexa)
- AmazonBasics Microwave simplifies cooking with an Echo device (not included), so you can program quick-cook voice presets with Alexa
- The Echo device will let you microwave using your voice. Just say, “Alexa, reheat one cup of coffee,” and Alexa will start to reheat with the appropriate power and time settings
- Defrost vegetables, cook potatoes, reheat rice, or make popcorn
- With auto popcorn replenishment feature so you can choose from select popcorn brands in the Alexa app.
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Types of microwave ovens
Solo Microwave Oven
The different types of microwave ovens are determined based on the kind of technology it uses, and the first one that we have is the solo microwave oven.
It’s not every day that you’ll get to know that there are different types of microwave ovens. Imagine my shock when I found out that there were three types of microwave ovens.
I was so perplexed I hurriedly checked our microwave to find out which one it was. I’m guessing you’ll check the one you own too!
The first one on our list is the Solo microwave ovens are the most affordable and budget-friendly type of microwave oven you can find on the market. This type of microwave oven is usually entry-level, which is best for reheating and defrosting food and beverage only.
Electromagnetic radiation is used with Solo microwave ovens, to do only basic reheating and defrosting, so it might not be best to do a full grilling or to cook with this type of microwave oven.
The Solo microwave oven is the most common type of microwave oven that you will see in office pantries, small kitchens, and restaurant kitchens as well.
The heat it produces comes from watts that are converted from energy to heat, which then aids in reheating and defrosting of frozen foods and beverages. Most Solo microwave ovens use 500-1500 watts.
And you will mostly see Solo microwave ovens equipped with a turntable to assist in even heating of the food or drink.
If you are someone who’s always up to reheat last night’s dinner or just make instant pasta or rice in the microwave, this might be the winner for you.
But if you intend to cook more prominent portions of food and have the function of a griller, it might be best to opt for the latter type of microwave oven.
EDITOR’S CHOICE # 3
Toshiba ML-EM34P(SS) Smart Microwave Oven Works with Alexa
- With hands-free operation and integrated with an Echo device and Alexa voice app, you can discover the microwave to use
- Designed with humidity sensor to ensure it automatically adjusts the cooking power to achieve optimum heating
- With built-in remote control, you can also control the smart microwave oven from your phone provided they are on the same Wi-Fi network.
- It has energy saving features containing LED cavity light and energy-saving ECO mode that helps reduce energy consumption
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Grilling Microwave Oven
Are you always craving for grilled foods most of the time? Then the Grilling Microwave oven might be the answer to all your convenient grilling needs.
With the Grilling microwave oven, you’ll get to experience delicious grilled food without having to set up the actual grill outdoors, which can be tedious for some.
Just think of the grilling microwave as the upgraded version of the Solo Microwave oven—no only will you get to have all the features of the Solo microwave oven, but you also get to enjoy grilling all the kinds of food you want.
I’m talking about grilled cheese, barbeque, fish, pizza, and almost anything that just tastes better when it’s cooked. But this kind of microwave is a tad bit more pricey compared to Solo microwave ovens.
What makes the Grilling microwave oven unique is its grill heater feature that lets you grill food without having to set up the actual griller itself. The grilling feature is made possible by the special grilling coils that can toast, roast, and grill food as well.
Just imagine the Solo microwave oven with an added one-push button that will allow the grilling feature, that is what this type of microwave oven is. The Grilling microwave oven uses around 900 to 1700 watts to accommodate the grilling feature adequately.
Convection Microwave Ovens
If you are looking to cook or bake hearty and healthy meals for you or your family using a microwave, then the Convection microwave oven is the best bet for you.
This kind of microwave oven has the function of reheating, defrosting, grilling, and baking. So it’s like the top-tier when it comes to countertop microwave ovens. It combines all of the features a solo and grilling microwave can give you and adds extra features to provide you with an all-in-one solution.
This kind of microwave oven uses a heater with a combination of a fan system to distribute the heat waves evenly throughout to create the perfect temperature and cooking environment for any type of food.
When it comes to the price tag of Convection microwave ovens, this is the most expensive out of the three types of microwave oven. This kind of microwave is usually seen at restaurants or high-end domestic kitchens. It uses around 900 to 1700 watts the same as the grilling microwave oven.
Convection microwaves also have some features that might not be found on both grilling and solo microwave ovens, and these are; sensor reheating, an inverter technology, a premium glass door, and also smarter cooking options.
So if you’re looking to buy something a little more extravagant for your home, or anywhere where you want this incredible microwave oven to cook a quick and exquisite meal for you, then you better opt for the Convection microwave oven.
Space and location
Now that you’re familiar with the types of microwave ovens, it’s time to check whether the product you are eyeing on can fit on the designated spot you intend to place it. You can check product details and specifications well if you’re buying online.
It would be great if you can first determine the space where you plan to put the microwave oven to narrow down your options because you certainly don’t want to be surprised that the one you purchased will not fit in the area where it’s supposed to sit pretty and war your meals up.
The external dimensions can also play an essential role in choosing which one will work best for your scenario. The height is also something that you should not miss out on; you’ll never know that it might end up clashing with the top cabinet of your kitchen or at your work’s break room.
And a power outlet is also essential in this list, so have that one checked out! Clearance space should also be checked as any type of microwave ocean that will need space for good air circulation.
Cooking capacity
The cooking capacity of the oven refers to the internal size of the microwave oven where most of the magic happens. Most countertop microwaves have an internal capacity of about 0.5 cubic feet (which can fit 10-inch plates or so) to over two cubic feet (which is excellent for larger cookware).
What you need to figure out first is if it will match your situation at you would expect it to, if you are only going to use it for mostly reheating food for yourself and if you don’t have that much space, better opt for the smaller models.
But if you’re going to use it mostly to cook multiple meals at the same time for a larger group of people, then you can opt for the bigger models with ample internal space for bigger dishes that you want to cook with the microwave oven.
Power Consumption
Knowing what wattage will fit your needs is also an essential factor to consider. The higher the wattage is, the quicker and the better the food will cook.
Bigger models of microwave ovens will give you around 900 to 1600 watts of power, this can be great for larger sized dishes, or if you want to cook multiple meals at the same time. The smaller ones can work at 800-1000 watts high for heating a few meals for a couple of people.
If you are going to cook for your family most of the time, opt for a more powerful microwave oven, but if it’s for personal use for one or two people, then you’ll be okay with the less powerful ones.
Control panel design
This is rather an overlooked feature that most people tend to forget about. Most microwaves in the market today have three types of panel and the better the design is the more pricey the microwave is going to be.
The first two types of panels that you’ll mostly see on lower-end models are the Mechanical Type and Tact Dial Type, these types of panels can endure rough and heavy usage.
On most higher-end models you’ll get the Feather Touch Panels which may resemble a smartphone because of its ability to sense your fingers even with the lightest touch.
With the control panel varying on the type of model you’re planning to get, it’s best to purchase a microwave oven that will not complicate things for you when all you want is to reheat your leftover pizza last night. Opt for a microwave oven with options to operate as simple as possible and one that can do exactly what you want, and that leads us to our next aspect.
Shortcut keys and presets
Everybody loves shortcuts, in fact, it’s the main reason why people are using microwaves nowadays—to make food quicker and easier.
I haven’t actually tried cooking a full meal using our microwave yet, but I do admit that I have pressed that 30-second shortcut key more times than I can actually remember, it just gives you a quick fix when you want to eat your meal smoking hot after a long day.
The cooking presets or shortcuts keys are also very helpful when you want to know how long it usually would take to cook let’s say, frozen vegetables, or maybe popcorn if you’re having a movie night with your family.
It just makes things easier for you because, with one click of a button and a couple of minutes of patience, you’ll be served with a warm delicious meal to satisfy your cravings.
It also gives you a leeway to not worry about the setting right temperature or the right amount of time for it to cook because the microwave oven itself is already doing the work for you.
There are a lot of models that offer different kinds of shortcuts or presets for all kinds of foods that you want to put in the microwave for some quick reheating, defrosting, softening, and even melting for ice cream.
Yes! Melting ice cream in the microwave oven exists to get that perfect melt and temperature that makes ice cream just so irresistible. I’ll have you know that I constantly watch those amazing microwave recipes and I have yet to try them out!
Flatbed and turntables
Now when you’re out shopping and looking for the perfect microwave that will just hit all the right spots, you’ll come across these two options which are the flatbed and turntables.
Most of the budget-friendly microwave ovens which are the Solo microwave oven and other combi ovens that you’ll see come with turntables to help distribute the heat to the food evenly while it’s rotating and cooking inside the microwave.
Turntables are easy to clean due to the fact that it can be simply removed and put back inside without any hassle. The rotating features can be turned off but this may vary depending on the setting that the microwave oven itself will provide you with
With flatbeds, a different kind of technology is used that allows the even distribution of the heat even without the rotating feature of turntables. What’s great about flatbeds is that you’ll get more room to fit in your cookware which means you can put in just anything that can fit in it without having to worry about leaving enough space for it to rotate properly.
Child Safe
If you will be placing the microwave oven in an environment where kids are usually present, better opt for one that has child safety features because we surely don’t want any accidents to happen involving our kids and the microwave.
Most microwave ovens you’ll see comes with child lock features which can manifest as a password that you need to enter before you can fully operate the microwave oven. Other brands also produce microwave ovens with childproof doors especially if you’re putting the microwave in a reachable surface.
Other features that you might want to look into are:
Racks – this will help you organize the food inside the microwave oven and is great especially if you want to cook multiple meals at the same time, just like hitting two birds with one stone. You’ll get to save both energy and time if you cook multiple meals at the same time.
Automatic Sensor – this feature can be seen on most of the newest models of microwave ovens. This new technology will be able to sense if the food is already cooked by gauging the stem that is being let off in the oven.
Timers are no longer needed as the microwave oven itself will automatically shut off to avoid overcooking the food.
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10 Of The Best Countertop Microwave Ovens for 2020 That You Can Buy Now
**Disclosure: There are Amazon affiliate links below, meaning that as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
1.) Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven
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Toshiba is one of the leading Japanese technology brands in the world, they have manufactured and released multiple products ranging from laptops and other technologies.
The products that they produce are top-notch, and they are known to be an affordable technology brand. Because of their reputation for being affordable, many people have been buying and supporting their products, thus leading them to produce more technological inventions other than laptops.
They have also ventured into the world of countertop microwave ovens, and they are one of the brands that are known for producing this necessity in the kitchen.
One of their popular microwave ovens is the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS that is made with a black stainless steel exterior—measured to be 20. 5 x 17. 1 x 12. 8 inches (W/D/H) with a large 1. 2 cubic feet capacity, cavity 13. 07*15*9. 5 inches (W/D/H) and a turntable measured to be 12. 4 inches in diameter.
This model is one of Toshiba’s automatic microwave oven that has pre-programmed features that enables users to heat up their food based on the most common foods that are often used in a microwave oven, just simply press the button that corresponds to the food that you wish to heat then it will automatically set up the temperature to heat up your food.
The most prominent feature about the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven is that it has a large digital display that has an easy-to-operate control panel, and a digital kitchen timer. Inside the microwave oven is the glass turntable that is thick enough to withstand heat and carry a heavy amount of items.
When heating the food, it will automatically ring a buzzer after it is finished to alert the users that it is done—this feature can be turned off if you wish; just a long press on the number “8” button for about a few seconds it will automatically switch off the buzzer just after you hear a long beep sound.
Since this is an automatic microwave oven, Toshiba has implemented a low-power saving mode that the microwave oven will automatically go into once it is not used for at least 30 minutes. This makes the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven an electricity saver.
This product is not big as any normal microwave ovens, so rest assured that it will not be a huge hurdle inside the kitchen and on the countertop; if you wish you may place it above your stove if there is a place for the microwave oven to settle on top of it.
This product is one of the most popular and hottest microwave ovens on Amazon, many people have reviewed this and most of them are expressing their positive experience with using the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven.
There is no denying that there are many people who are enjoying this product, not only does it provide maximum efficiency, but it is also one of the budgeted microwave ovens out there. So there is no reason for you to not buy this product.
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2.) COMFEE’ EM720CPL-PMB Countertop Microwave Oven
If the Toshiba microwave oven is a little bit over your budget, then you can try the COMFEE’ EM720CPL-PMB Countertop Microwave Oven.
It is an underrated microwave product on Amazon, and it is not that known by many people however if the name of an unknown brand does not bother you then this microwave oven will be perfect for you.
This product is priced very cheaply than most microwave ovens, and at first, I thought it is not as effective as the other microwave ovens because it is very low-priced. However, upon seeing the specs and the reviews on this product, I have come to the conclusion that it is a good microwave oven for those people who are on a budget.
First of all, the design of the COMFEE’ EM720CPL-PMB Countertop Microwave Oven is very stylish and very much like any other microwave ovens: it is made from black, stainless steel and has a smooth and sleek finish to it—making it look like an authentic and a high-grade microwave oven.
Not to mention, it is very compact in size with only 0.7 cubic-foot capacity so if you are someone who is looking for a space-saving microwave oven then this is a good pick.
Despite its cheap price, it is an automatic microwave oven that has a few pre-programmed features for a specific type of food. It is simple to operate, with only a touch display control panel, you can easily manipulate the temperature of the microwave oven to your preference.
It also has a buzzer feature that will alert the users that it is done heating up the food—which you can also turn off just like the last microwave oven if it bothers the users.
Unlike other microwave ovens, the COMFEE’ EM720CPL-PMB Countertop Microwave Oven has a child lock feature, simply activate this mode to prevent your children and any wandering hands from the microwave oven.
Not to mention it is also easy to clean the microwave oven as the 12.4 inches glass turntable can be easily removed—making it accessible to be scrubbed and wiped from any food substance that is left from heating up foods.
The interior of the microwave oven can also be cleaned as well just by wiping it with a damp cloth and a little bit of soap, it can also be sterilized by heating up the water inside of it to ensure that bacteria can be eliminated.
Although it is priced cheaply, it has an LED that displays the kitchen timer. Many people are skeptical about buying an automatic microwave oven because of how much energy it consumes, but this product can go into an energy-saving eco-mode that can minimize that standby power usage of the microwave oven to only 50%, you can manually activate this mode after using the microwave oven.
Overall, the specs and the reviews on this product are very promising and for a low-budget microwave oven, it is a bargain that you will absolutely love.
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3.) Commercial Chef CHM660B Countertop Microwave
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In the generation that we are living in now, technology is more advanced and prominent and it is basically a part of our everyday lives. Technology helps us without work, and it also helps to make chores easier to do.
That is why many appliances have more advanced settings that make it easier for people to do tasks. However, for those who are not as tech-savvy as others, it is hard for them to cope up especially in this time that there are many technologies that need to be operated by someone who is more knowledgeable in technology.
If you are one of those people who are not as tech-savvy as others, and you would like to have an easy and more manually operated microwave oven then the Commercial Chef CHM660B Countertop Microwave is the one for you.
Its design is much like any other microwave ovens back in the days that had a dial-operator for both the temperature and the timer. It is simple and easy to use, although it is not an automatic microwave oven that has pre-programmed features for different foods.
However, with this microwave oven, you can easily manipulate the temperature and how long you would like to heat up your food than other automatic microwave ovens since it is pre-programmed.
This is the perfect microwave oven for your family, especially if you have an elderly family member that often uses the microwave oven. This is good for them because it is easier to manipulate and keep an eye on since it has big number indicators that are set about the dial-interfaces, so there will be no mistake when it comes to setting the amount of time and temperature even if you have a vision impairment.
Just like old versions of microwave ovens, this is much smaller in size compared to the automatic microwave ovens that are being offered now.
The great thing about having this microwave oven is that you won’t have to worry about the amount of energy that it uses, Since this microwave oven is operated by turning the dials, it does not consume energy when it is not in use—unlike automatic microwave ovens that still consume energy even if it is not in use.
This is much easier to clean than other microwave ovens as it is compact in size, and it has an easily removable glass turntable. You can easily clean the inside of the microwave oven without ever worrying about the appliance to short circuit as it does not have that many electronic controls, to begin with.
There is always an electronic malfunction when it comes to cleaning automatic microwave ovens, which often lead to the short-circuiting of the appliance however there is no need to worry about it when you have this product.
The number of positive reviews on this microwave oven is many, some have expressed their concerns of not having that many options on the product however it is a given as it is just a manual microwave oven.
This is perfect for those people who are not that confident to operate a much more advanced microwave oven, and for those who have little budget.
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4.) Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SD945S
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Another popular technology appliance brand is Panasonic. There have been a lot of appliances that Panasonic has manufactured such as televisions and refrigerators, it is a well-trusted brand that many people do not doubt when it comes to a high-quality appliance.
So there was no surprise when Panasonic released a series of products that are microwave ovens, there have been many models that Panasonic has released that are all popular amongst the people.
One of which is the Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SD945S—which is a microwave oven inverter that has two styles: one is the dial interface and the other one is the keypad interface.
This microwave oven uses approximately 1250 watts of power with an inverter technology so that it consumes less energy while providing even heat distribution when using the appliance.
There are many controls available in the interface of the microwave, with 19 pre-programmed auto-cook menu that lets you heat the food based on the pre-programmed menu. It also has a timer that you can manually dial to suit your preference, this is a microwave oven that has an automatic cooking feature while giving you an option to manually time the heating process of your food.
Not to mention it also has a child safety lock so that parents won’t have to worry about children accidentally burning themselves or breaking the appliance.
One thing that makes the Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SD945S different from other microwave ovens is that it uses an inverter technology that makes the heating process of the food faster.
Some microwave ovens tend to be slow when it comes to thawing food, and in many cases when the heat is too high, it often burns inside of it with the food contents spilling inside the microwave oven that makes it short-circuit.
The Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SD945S’s inverter technology will ensure that by giving an even heat distribution, there will be no burning and little time to wait for the food to thaw or heat up.
With this technology implemented in the Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SD945S, expect that the price will be more expensive than other microwave ovens in this list.
Panasonic is a well-renowned brand that provides high-quality products by using the highest quality of materials, the price for this microwave oven will be worth every penny if you want to have a microwave oven that can last for a few years.
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5.) AmazonBasics Microwave
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We went through the common types of microwave ovens, such as the automatic pre-programmed cook menu and the manual dial interface microwave ovens, there are many more types of microwave ovens that are either technologically advanced or the one that stuck with the traditional microwave oven style.
However, there is another type of microwave oven that has become popular and used worldwide, especially in countries such as America. A voice-controlled microwave oven is a trend that is being used by many people, more so those who own the famous voice command: Alexa.
The AmazonBasics Microwave is the microwave oven that is compatible and able to connect to the AmazonAlexa. By connecting Alexa to the AmazonBasics Microwave, it will automatically download the presets that come with the AmazonBasics Microwave so users will be able to do the commands that will allow Alexa to take control of the microwave oven.
This may seem a bit advanced, but for me, this is the perfect microwave oven for those people who are not familiar with using the many pre-programmed buttons that many automatic microwave ovens have. It is much easier to give a command to the microwave, rather than learning all of the buttons that are in the interface of the microwave.
It may seem a bit intimidating when you are going to allow a robot to take control of your microwave, but rest assured that the presets of Alexa when it comes to handling microwave ovens, there will be some safety precautions that will be implemented.
You cannot command Alexa to heat food for 10 hours, it will only heat the food based on what kind of product is being heated and how much is being heated. Alexa will automatically calculate how many minutes the food needs to be heated, so it will automatically stop when it has reached its peak.
It will also detect if the door of the microwave is open, if it is open it will not be able to heat any food unless it will be closed again. There is also a case that it will not heat food if there is no product inside the microwave, that is why the presets of Alexa will ensure the safe usage of the microwave.
Unlike previous microwave ovens, the AmazonBasics Microwave is very compact and it is much lighter than any microwave ovens—perfect for those who want to have a space-saving appliance.
The unique thing about this is its Amazon Dash Replenishing Technology, by enabling this it will automatically replenish popcorn when you run out of it by 10%—it is a handy technology especially if you are a fan of making popcorns.
If you are not comfortable leaving Alexa operating the microwave oven for 24 hours, you can always manually disconnect Alexa from the microwave so that it will not be connected the whole day. The reviews on this product are mixed, but most of them are positive. Take note that Amazon is still updating the presets, so expect that operating this microwave will be better than the last.
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6.) Nostalgia RMO4AQ Retro Countertop Microwave
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Microwave ovens have evolved and shaped very differently from the past, it has more minimalistic and sleek designs that make every microwave ovens available today look similar to one another.
If you want your kitchen appliance to be more unique than others, you can simply purchase an old model of a microwave oven however since it is much older, the technology that it uses is not that efficient than most microwave ovens—it may break easily.
That is why the company Nostalgia has manufactured microwave ovens that have a retro-style to it while encompassing today’s technology.
The Nostalgia RMO4AQ Retro Countertop Microwave is an automatic microwave oven that has pre-programmed cooking features of over 12, although it has auto-cook features, you can manually adjust your preferred temperature and time that your food will need to be heated.
This microwave oven is just like the other microwaves in this list, but this has more fun and flair design than the ordinary sleek and minimalistic designs of many microwave ovens. You can choose from 5 different colors of this product: Aqua, Ivory, Jet Black, Metallic Retro Red, and Seafoam Green.
Its display interface is simplistic, with the LED timer on the upper right of the appliance it displays the timer and the auto-cooking menu options. You can easily manipulate and use this microwave oven by using the dial underneath the LED display, just simply turn into what option you want and press the dial.
There are also 4 simple buttons underneath the dial that will simply start and stop the operation of the microwave oven. Although the design of this microwave oven is older and funkier than most microwave ovens, do not be worried about the energy consumption of this product.
It only uses 800 watts of electricity but despite that fact, it can still easily reheat foods quickly. with even heat distribution to ensure that your food will be thoroughly heated.
Many of the reviews under this product are mostly positive, people love the design of the microwave oven and how to sit on their countertop for their guests to see. It is compact in size so it is not a hindrance in the kitchen.
There are many users of this product that until this day, they are still using this microwave oven without any issues whatsoever. It is easy to clean like any other microwave ovens, the glass turntable is easily removable for quick cleaning, and by using a damp cloth, you can also easily clean the interior of the microwave oven.
It is a low-maintenance microwave oven that can last for years if taken with care. It has also an affordable price range.
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7.) BLACK+DECKER Digital Microwave Oven
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Another one of the most popular microwave oven brands out there is the Black+Decker, the designs of their products are very minimalistic and sleek; perfect for every kitchen with simplistic interior design.
People are always buying their kitchen appliances because of this reason, but it is not the only reason for people to buy their products. They also have advanced technology features that encompass every appliance that they manufacture so that it will be used in the most efficient way possible.
One of Black+Decker’s microwave oven models is the BLACK+DECKER Digital Microwave Oven, one of the advanced microwave ovens that Black+Decker has to offer. It is an automatic microwave oven that also has pre-programmed menu settings that will be able to heat food according to the food that you will be reheating.
Since it is digital, only with a push of a button the microwave oven will immediately start heating your food and buzz after it has successfully heated your food.
It is an average-sized microwave oven with exterior dimensions of 19.1” x 14.8” x 11.5” (W x D x H) and interior dimensions of 12.36” x 13.66” x 8.70” (W*D*H). It is available in both 0.7 Cubic Ft. and 0.9 Cubic Ft, it has 10.4 inches of glass turntable that is easily removable to allow users to clean it and clean the inside of the microwave oven.
The interior of the microwave oven has a low yellow light that will be active whenever the food is being heated, it will automatically turn off if the food is done with the reheating and whenever the microwave oven is not used.
The user interface of this microwave oven is simplistic, with multiple buttons that do numerous tasks: there are buttons for the pre-programmed menu settings, buttons for the express cooking that is labeled 1 to 9, and of course the stop and start button on the bottom of the interface.
It also has an LED timer that displays a real-time clock whenever the microwave oven is not in use, and whenever it is used, it displays the remaining time of the food that is being heated.
This product uses 900 watts of electricity, so they are truly living up to their slogan of “express cooking”. You only need a few minutes to fully reheat your food, and it does not consume that much energy than other microwave ovens.
Many people have bought this for their kitchen because it is an eye-catcher; it looks good in the kitchen and it does not occupy a big space in your countertop. Not to mention it is affordable despite being one of the most efficient microwave ovens out there. So if you are a fan of good-looking appliances that are affordable and very efficient to use, this microwave oven is just the product that you need for your countertop.
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8.) Cuisinart CMW-200 Convection Microwave Oven
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A microwave oven does not have the same features as a convection oven, the most that a microwave oven can do is to thaw, defrost, and reheat your food—these features that a microwave oven can do are also the same features that a convection oven can do.
However, buying a convection oven will not only land a big blow in your wallet, but it is also a space-occupying kitchen appliance that not every kitchen can always accommodate. It is too big for ordinary kitchens to cater, that is why purchasing a microwave oven is good enough. But like I said, not every microwave oven can have the same features as a convection oven.
That is why the Cuisinart CMW-200 Convection Microwave Oven will be the perfect microwave oven for those food connoisseurs that want to have a little more than what an ordinary microwave oven can offer.
The price of this microwave oven is overly budgeted than any other microwave ovens in this list but do not be intimidated by the price, as the features of this microwave oven is much better and advanced than any.
First of all, the Cuisinart CMW-200 Convection Microwave Oven is a 1.2 cubic foot that uses 1000 watts of electricity for fast reheating of foods. It is a bit larger than most microwave ovens, with dimensions of 21.20″ L x 19.00″ W x 12.20″ H and has a weight of 41.30 pounds.
It may be a bit big and heavy because the interior of the microwave oven is made out of stainless steel; the reason why it is made out of stainless steel is so that the odor of the food being heated will not easily stick inside the interior of the microwave.
This will allow the users to clean it more easily without using too many harsh chemical cleaning products that might have on the product itself. The stainless steel will also allow the heat to be easily trapped, thus making the heating process of the food much faster.
As the name of this microwave oven suggests, it is a convection oven as well. You can easily grill any type of meat in this microwave oven much like an ordinary oven. Simply select the grill function of this microwave oven, then it is all good to go.
The user interface on this microwave oven is very easy, with a touchpad that has many pre-programmed menu settings and simple functions that can be easily accessed with only a push of a button.
There is also an LED timer display that will be able to display the time remaining of the food being heated, and what function that the microwave oven is on. The reviews on this product are mostly positive, with many people expressing their pleasant experience with using this product for years.
If you want to have a microwave oven that has features of a convection oven, then this will be a good investment for your kitchen.
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9.) Toshiba ML-EM34P(SS) Smart Countertop Microwave Oven
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Another microwave oven that is compatible and operatable with AmazonAlexa is the Toshiba ML-EM34P(SS) Smart Countertop Microwave Oven. Toshiba has many good microwave ovens that people can choose from, it is one of the most popular brands of kitchen appliances out there.
That is why it was only natural for Toshiba to bring out a new model of microwave oven for the new technology that is being used around the world. Having only voice commands will be able to bring more convenience to people, and it is mostly used in everything even when looking up things online. Just a single voice command, you can immediately make your appliances to start operating.
The Toshiba ML-EM34P(SS) Smart Countertop Microwave Oven is measured to be 20.4’’x16.6″x12.4’’ in external dimensions (W*D*H) with internal dimensions of 13.8’’x15.2’’x9.8’’ (W*D*H). It has a 12.4″ glass turntable inside that can be easily removed and cleaned, it is also thick enough to withstand high temperature and it can also occupy a huge amount of food.
Just like any other automatic microwave ovens, this model of Toshiba has 23 pre-programmed menu auto-cook settings that users will be able to choose from based on what food they are going to reheat—you can manually operate this by using the touchpad interface but you can also use voice commands to choose from this presets.
There is also a sound on/off function so if you are easily annoyed by the sounds of the microwave oven you can easily turn it off.
This microwave oven uses LED lights meaning it uses minimal energy, together with its eco energy-saving mode, you can minimize the consumption of energy up to 50% and more if the appliance is not being used.
Another great feature that this microwave oven has is the built-in humidity sensor that will allow the appliance to automatically set the temperature while heating up food to ensure that the food will be able to be heated thoroughly. There will be no more cases wherein foods are reheated but some of the parts of the food are not heated enough.
If you are not a fan of the voice command feature of this microwave oven, then you can operate this manually or just simply use the app that is available for this microwave oven to use it even without direct contact.
You can connect your smartphone to the microwave oven by using the same WiFi for both devices and it will automatically be set up, and be ready to use.
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10.) SHARP Countertop Microwave Oven
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One of the biggest competitors of Toshiba is the brand of Sharp—there have been many products of Sharp that ranges from televisions up to kitchen appliances and one of them is the microwave ovens.
There are many models of microwave ovens that Sharp has manufactured but let us discuss the most promising one out of all of their microwave oven series. Expect that Sharp will encompass advanced technology in their products that is why the prices on their products are much higher than others, however, it is guaranteed that they deliver the best products.
The one model of microwave ovens that stood out from the rest of Sharp’s products is the SHARP Countertop Microwave Oven, unlike any other microwaves in this list, this is by far the biggest one.
It is a 1.8 Cubic Ft. capacity microwave with 1100 watts of power; this means that the heating process in this microwave oven is faster with only just less than a minute to thoroughly heat up food. Although it consumes much more electricity, it will ensure that your food will be cooked and heated just enough for your need.
It is made out of stainless steel, and also has a ceramic interior. It might be a bit overwhelming but the materials that are used in this appliance is guaranteed to be high quality, and safe for the food to rest on.
The size of the glass turntable is 15″ that is why it can accommodate large foods and even so, it will be able to thoroughly heat that food because of its high power consumption.
Just like the others, it also has pre-programmed menu settings and it can be used with the touch of a button. The user interface of this microwave oven is a touchpad type with basic commands such as the start and stop button, it also has number buttons so you can manually set the time.
There is also an LED display above the touchpad interface that displays the function of the microwave oven that it is using and it also displays the time remaining for the food to be heated.
The door of this microwave oven is made out of scratch-resistant glass, so if there are cases that it will be scratched with silverwares it will show on the glass door. It is sturdier than most microwave doors so rest assured that by buying this product, you will get your money worth.
There are many people who have shared their experience with using this microwave oven, and most of them have been using it for years and found no issue with using it on a daily basis. It may consume a lot of power but you can easily fix that by simply plugging it off whenever it is not in use.
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Conclusion
When the countertop microwave ovens were first rolled out in the ‘70s everyone immediately purchased and grabbed one and had one in their kitchens, having a microwave oven made almost all cooking tasks much easier and quicker as well.
Since then, microwave ovens have revolutionized and can be put in different locations but countertop microwaves are still the most popular options up to date.
Whatever type of microwave you think will work for you is fine, it doesn’t need to be top of the line and does not have to be super expensive, as long as it can serve its purpose and it can work around the things you want to be done, you should go for it!
Now with all the items I have included in this article, I won’t say which one’s the best because we all have our own preferences and to each his own when it comes to how we use certain things, and as all products are not perfect—flaws are inevitable.
What’s perfect for me, might not be perfect for everyone else. It’s just how you sip your own cup of tea. But, I do hope that you have found this summation helpful and have enlightened any gray areas when it comes to purchasing countertop microwave ovens.
Well, that’s it for now! Hope you had fun reading through this article as I did. I’m now off to try some of the yummy microwave oven recipes I discovered while writing this.
Please share some of your thoughts and recipes too! I would genuinely love to hear about them! Sound off below, Ta-ta!
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Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)
1.) What wattage of microwave should I purchase?
To answer this question correctly, you need to evaluate and break down how much food are you planning to cook using the microwave oven, and how frequently are you going to use it?
The rule of thumb that you can go by, is the more wattage the more powerful and better the microwave can cook the food, and also at a faster rate. If you are planning to use it regularly to cook multiple meals for your family or so, it might be a good idea to go for the highest wattage your budget allows you to purchase.
Since most microwave ovens are now versatile and can cook different kinds of meals from snacks to big hearty meals, if you are really planning to use it most of the time then get a better one because you’ll be the one using it, right?
If you’ll mainly use it to reheat, defrost, and cook light meals, then you can opt for a lesser powerful wattage microwave oven. Just take your time and analyze how you will be using it then you’ll know which one is best to get but I do recommend getting the lowest wattage of around 1000-1500 watts.
But if you are planning to use it on a regular basis cooking full meals every now and then, around 1800-2000 watts or more will do you good. This will be great if you are looking for a microwave oven with a higher capacity and cook speed.
2.) Does eating microwave reheated or cooked food have a long term effect on humans?
This is one of the questions ringing at the back of my head for some years now, and after some tedious research, it has been studied that there are no known and found effects on humans who regularly intake foods that are reheated or cooked using a microwave oven.
The microwave does not alter any component of the food and is only applying heat to the food that is being cooked or reheated using the microwave oven. But do bear in mind, that when the heat is applied to food, it might break down the nutrition.
3.) Do I need to preheat the microwave oven when I am going to use it for reheating food?
There’s actually no need to reheat the microwave oven prior to reheating food, unlike conventional ovens, microwaves use heat waves at a much faster rate and are concentrated to reheat the food inside it.
4.) How long do microwave ovens last before you need to replace them?
Most microwave ovens have about 10 years of life span. Although, as long as the microwave still performs quite well, there’s no need to have them replaced. My grandmother’s microwave oven is about 15 years old now, and it still can reheat food well and defrost as well.
But it is still a good idea to check if there are any parts that may need repairs or replacement, especially the seal around the door and the door itself.
5.) What’s a foolproof way of cleaning a microwave oven?
I once encountered a microwave oven full of splatters and gunk that I did not want to know about back when I still had a corporate job. And I did not think twice of not putting my food in there, who knows how long those icky stuff has been there?
Keeping your microwave oven clean, is keeping your food clean as well. You surely don’t want remnants of last week’s food on your hot bowl of noodle soup, right?
I try to clean our microwave oven as much as possible, maybe two to three times a week, depending on how frequently we have used it.
To maintain your microwave oven’s cleanliness, lemons will save your day. All you need is one (1) cup of water, some lemon or lime, and combine both mentioned items into a microwavable bowl.
Once you have that, all you have to do is let it sit in the microwave at max power setting for a couple of minutes until it has boiled down and steam is insight. But please be careful not to open the window yet, you might get hurt by the steam.
Let it be for 5 minutes or so, and once everything settles down, remove the bowl and wipe away all the impurities inside. And you’re now left with a squeaky clean microwave oven.
If you are battling with greasy interiors and doors, you’ll be needing three household items that I’m sure you already have around the house; the first one is the all-around baking soda (always stock up on this!), second is any kind of dish soap, or if you want a more natural grease buster, good ol’ vinegar world perfectly as well.
What you need to do first is target the rubber gasket around the door with a damp sponge or cloth with water that you will also dip in baking soda as well. Once you’re done with that you can now wipe it clean with a damp cloth or sponge.
Now for the window, which is sometimes the hardest part to clean, you’ll need a 1:1 ratio of vinegar and water. Just spray it on the affected area and wipe clean!
