The 6 Best Microwaves for Everything from Cooking Dinner to Reheating Leftovers

The Bottom Line

After testing 23 of the best microwaves, we chose the Toshiba Microwave Oven with Smart Sensor as our favorite overall pick. It’s easy to use, heats items evenly, and can handle defrosting dinner without any issues. If you’re looking for an appliance with a wide range of features, we also loved the Galanz GT 4-in-1 Toast Wave, which works as a microwave, toaster, air fryer, and convection oven. 

Our Testing Process

To put the best microwaves on the market to the test, we had a team of kitchen experts put each appliance through their paces in our lab in Birmingham, Alabama.

First, our testers used the microwave to heat a cup of room temperature water, then measured the change in temperature to see the appliance’s effectiveness. They also microwaved a pie dish full of mini marshmallows and defrosted frozen mac and cheese, using a thermometer to check the heat in different spots around the dish to ensure even cooking. 

Our experts also made sure the microwaves were up to snuff for melting chocolate, which was placed in a glass bowl, microwaved, stirred, microwaved again. We checked for lumps in the consistency and scorching or seizing chocolate, since these can spell disaster for your recipe if incorrectly heated. Finally, testers used each microwave to pop a bag of popcorn. We looked at how evenly the corn popped afterwards, noting scorched pieces or unpopped kernels.

We also evaluated the microwaves based on their size, features, effectiveness, and overall value before creating a final list of the best microwaves. 

What to Know About Microwaves Before Shopping

Type

When shopping for any appliance, you want to carefully consider the space you have available on your countertop, since even the best microwaves have a pretty large footprint. There are plenty of over-the-range microwaves and countertop models to choose from, so you can choose between the two based on how much space you’re willing to sacrifice. 

Many of the best microwaves sit directly on your countertop, making setup and installation super easy. You’ll want to measure both the space it’ll take up on the countertop before you purchase to ensure you still have a large enough workspace for kitchen prep. Plus, keep in mind how much vertical space your microwave may need under your cabinets.

Over-the-range microwaves are installed above your kitchen’s range or cooktop, and it’s a great way to cut down on countertop clutter. These types often have a vent function as well, which helps to keep the air in your kitchen circulating. However, these models take a bit more work to install than a simple countertop microwave. You’ll also need to be more careful when measuring for over-the-range microwaves, since your overhead space may be constrained by cabinets, shelves, and more.

Size

The size inside the appliance is another factor to consider when shopping for the best microwaves. If you normally heat up foods in a large baking dish like a 9x13-inch pan, you’ll want to find a model that can fit such a large container inside. Be sure to look for a microwave with a turntable that’s not too close to the walls of the microwave, since larger dishes can get stuck as they spin.

Features

When shopping for the best microwaves, you can find functional, pared-down models or others that are loaded with high-tech features. Unless you spend a ton of time in the kitchen or you want a device that can serve multiple purposes, you may not need a microwave with all the bells and whistles. 

“Not all microwaves are created equal,” explains Steph Chen, co-founder of microwave friendly cookware line Anyday. “Microwave wattage translates to how powerful the microwave is—if the wattage is too low (700-800w), your food will cook and reheat slowly and more unevenly. You have more consistency for cooking with microwaves that have wattages between 1000w to 1200w.”

Not only do you need power, but ideally you can also choose from many power levels for precision, Chen says.

“It's also important to choose a microwave with 10 power levels (some only have three or five levels), which will allow you to cook with more precision,” she told us. “Just like cooking with low flame on the stovetop, certain foods (like rice or eggs) can require cooking at a lower power level and having more power levels gives you cooking flexibility.”

Other Microwaves We Tested

Commercial Chef Countertop Microwave Oven

This microwave fell short on all of our tests, and our testers were particularly disappointed that it didn’t cook the frozen mac n’ cheese well. It didn’t seem to heat evenly, and would likely require longer cook times than package directions. Since defrosting frozen items is a common requirement for most shoppers, we chose not to include this device on our list of the best microwaves.

Black+Decker Digital Microwave Oven

This is a very small microwave for the price, and our testers found the heating very inconsistent across defrosting, popcorn popping, and melting tests. While it has the most features of the smaller microwaves we tested, it couldn’t complete the more basic tasks we expected from it. Plus, the interior space is also very small, so you wouldn’t be able to fit larger dishes inside. 

Magic Chef Retro Countertop Microwave

Our testers found this microwave very small and they really disliked the dial setting compared to a digital display. While it has a cute retro look, it’s priced higher than other small microwaves, and we couldn’t justify the cost despite its decent performance in our lab. We’d only recommend this model to someone really interested in the visual appeal of their appliance, but for most shoppers, there are less-expensive models that will do the trick.

Your Questions, Answered

How long do microwaves usually last?

“A normal microwave will typically work for a long time (seven or more years), but it may still be worth switching out to a new microwave, even if it's been less time than that, if your current microwave isn't very powerful (such as microwaves that are lower than 1000 watts),” Chen explains. “Microwave technology has improved over the years, so older microwaves will also heat food less evenly.”

“If you notice anything strange with your microwave, like the door not closing properly or randomly sparking, it's definitely time to replace,” she added.

What is the best way to clean a microwave oven?

There are many ways to clean a microwave, but Chen recommends using a lemon juice or vinegar mixture. 

“Microwave stains and splatters are the worst. To clean the inside of a microwave, put a cup of water with a few tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for five minutes, or until the water is vigorously boiling for at least a minute,” she says. “Keep the door closed for another two minutes so the steam penetrates everywhere. Use a kitchen towel (and mild dish soap, if needed) to wipe all the grime off the interior surfaces.”

You’ll also want to take out the turntable and wipe it down before putting it back inside your appliance.

What is the best wattage for a microwave?

When shopping for the best microwave, you’ll want to look for something with a decent amount of power. The more watts a microwave has, the more quickly it’ll be able to cook your food, but you can have too much power, Chen told us.

“Microwave wattage translates to power, which translates to speed of cooking—the higher the wattage, the faster your food will cook,” she explains. “It's ideal to get a microwave with around 1000 to 1200 watts of power. If the wattage is too low, your food will cook and reheat slowly and also more unevenly. But it's also possible for the wattage to be too high—yes, food will cook fast, but there's also less margin for error, so it's easy to overcook food with just a few seconds of difference.”

Who We Are

Tanya Edwards is an award-winning writer and editor. To make this list of the best microwaves, she used research and insights from our microwave tests in our lab in Birmingham, Alabama. She also spoke with Steph Chen, founder of microwave-safe cooking line Anyday.

What is BHG Recommends?

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.

Looking for more products that have earned our BHG Recommends seal of approval? Check out our picks for everything from picnic blankets to humidifiers.