Top 10 Best Countertop Microwave Ovens Reviews and Buying Guide
Table of Contents
A countertop microwave oven is an individual oven unit that is portable enough to be placed anywhere on a kitchen countertop. They do not need any expert installation or extra external fittings.
A countertop microwave oven is extremely easy to clean as the entire unit is liftable and movable. The heat settings on a countertop microwave oven are adjustable; thus, the product exhibits excellent versatility in heating and cooking. They are available in multiple sizes and capacities.
1. TOSHIBA Countertop Microwave Oven EM131A5C-BS
This is a user-friendly countertop microwave oven. It distributes heat evenly over the food articles, which contributes to the quality of the dishes. It has a relatively large capacity and, thus, is ideal for families. It has a decent heating speed also. The device only takes less than 40 seconds to boil 125 milliliters. But the texture of the food item is a deciding factor in the heating abilities and time.
The preset functions work perfectly, and the internal lighting is highly convenient. This oven maintains stability and does not vibrate or move even in high heat or maximum product occupation.
Pros
- Exceptional performance in defrosting
- Humidity sensor
- Easy-to-read digital display
- Mute function for the buzzer
- The turntable is removable
Cons
- The large size makes it less ideal for portable requirements
- Relatively expensive
2. COMFEE’ Countertop Microwave Oven, EM720CPL-PM
This is an easy-to-clean countertop microwave oven. It has six pre-programmed menus, which come in handy in a rush. The quality of the build is mention-worthy. It is of quality steel and plastic. The turntable is made of thick glass and is removable and cleanable.
The control panel is relatively straightforward, with a minimum number of buttons. The time tracker on the digital display helps you to keep up with the cooking time. The mute button also seems quite handy in densely populated residential spaces.
Pros
- One-touch cooking function
- Eco mode
- 11 power levels
- Child lock
- Two defrost modes
Cons
- No sensor available
3. BLACK+DECKER Countertop Oven, EM720CB7
This is a stainless-steel countertop microwave oven with around 0.7 cubic feet capacity. The internal capacity is small and, thus, is ideal for individualistic uses. There is an interior light that helps you in the monitoring of the cooking process. The defrosting options are convenient because you can choose whether to defrost the product by weight or time.
The 10-inch turntable is made of glass and, thus, is easy to remove and clean. The digital display is ideal to be readable by everyone; therefore, the fonts and buttons are relatively larger. The express cooking option is quite useful when you are in a hurry to warm up something and does not need to wait a while for the oven to get warmed up. The express cooking mode heats the oven to its maximum in thirty seconds.
Pros
- Features express cooking in thirty seconds
- Multiple defrosting options
- Child lock for safety
- Pre-programmed buttons for quick cooking
- The door is easy to open using a push button
Cons
- Sensor cooking technology is not available
4. Farberware Countertop Compact Microwave Oven
This is a compact countertop microwave oven. It only has around 0.7 cubic feet of interior capacity. The digital display is well-labeled and, thus, highly convenient to use. It has a convenient express cooking mode that starts the heating process immediately. It saves a significant amount of time, especially in a rush.
The memory function of this oven is quite impressive. You can pre-program the oven to make it go through multiple stages of cooking and can make it save the instructions for later use. The child lock feature is highly efficient and adds an extra layer of safety while the device is not in use.
Pros
- Memory function
- Six pre-programmed cooking options
- Can defrost by weight or time
- Limited lifetime guarantee
- Interior lighting
Cons
- Low capacity
- Relatively longer cooking time
5. TOSHIBA 900W Countertop Microwave Oven EM925A5A-BS
This is an easy-to-use countertop microwave oven. It has a reasonably decent cooking time that takes less than 45 seconds to boil 125 milliliters of water. It has one-touch buttons, which are intuitive and convenient in design. The interior lighting is also decent, just enough to make out what is happening inside.
An issue with this oven is the unevenness in heating the food. Several cold spots appear after cooking in this oven, which is not admirable. While attempting to achieve an even cook, parts of the food happen to burn too. The pre-programmed menus are impressive, and the eco mode is also mention-worthy for the time and energy it saves.
Pros
- Affordable
- Compact and portable
- Multiple defrosting options
- Eco-mode saves a significant amount of power
- Mute option available
Cons
- Struggles to defrost food items evenly
6. Panasonic SN686S Countertop Microwave Oven
This is a powerful countertop microwave oven. It is most suited for individuals or small families as the size is a bit compact. But despite the small size, it has a quick heating capacity which comes in handy during emergencies. It reheats food in the least amount of time. The inverter technology is impressive, ensuring steady heat even in 50% low temperatures.
The intuitive keypad is quite easy to use. And also, the digital display is well-lighted to help you use the product even in the dark. The turntable is over thirteen inches wide which provides ample cooking space. There are ten power settings that you can adjust accordingly.
Pros
- Inverter technology
- Turbo defrost feature
- Impressive sensor technology
- Safety child lock
- Modern and sleek design
Cons
- Touch buttons are a bit hard to see
7. Commercial CHEF CHM009 Microwave Oven
This is a modern countertop microwave oven. It has ten power levels which offer more versatility in cooking. The highlight of this oven is its user-friendly interface. The doors can release with a simple pushbutton. The LED display is well-lit for visibility and also has a digital clock.
The turntable is made of glass and thus is easy to remove and clean. The melt-and-soften option on this oven is quite handy for less heat-intensive requirements like melting chocolate or softening ice cream. The steel front design with black detailing sends a modern vibe and is suitable for all contemporary homes.
Pros
- Safety child lock
- Quick defrosting
- Six quick start settings
- Affordable price range
- Multiple defrosting options
Cons
- Sensor cooking technology is not available
8. Breville BMO650SIL Countertop Microwave Oven
This is a relatively expensive countertop microwave oven. The sleek and stylish look makes it a great addition to any modern kitchen. It warms up quite quickly but fails to provide even heat to all the spots on the food. Around 10 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit, temperature differences were visible between the hot and cold spots.
Usually, defrosting feature of ovens involves an indicator that shows the right time to flip the produce for an even defrosting. But this oven does not have such an indicator which causes specific practical difficulties in defrosting. The doors are to be soft-closed which reduces wear and tear over time.
Pros
- The soft close door is 80% quieter
- 25 L capacity
- One-touch-button settings
- Safety child lock
- Mute button
Cons
- Struggles with even heating
9. Nostalgia Countertop Microwave Oven RMO7AQ
This is a compact and low-voltage countertop microwave oven. It only requires 700 watts of voltage. The capacity is a bit compromising at around 0.7 cubic feet. So, it is not ideal for large-scale cooking requirements or for big families.
It comes with 12 pre-programmed menu settings, which are handy in cooking many basic and popular recipes. It has a convenient LED display that is well-lit and has all the essential information on the cooking status.
Pros
- Express cooking option
- The turntable is made of thick glass and is durable
- The rotating feature of the turntable ensures that even cooking
- Easy-to-use dial control for adjusting cooking settings
Cons
- Low capacity
10. GE 900 Watts Countertop Microwave Oven
This is a highly efficient countertop microwave oven with intelligent AI features. It has an efficient scan-to-cook technology with which you can scan the product you want to cook and get the cooking time and other settings for that item. It supports voice commands and is compatible with Alexa.
You can link this oven with your smartphone, which will send notifications once the cooking is done. It offers around 0.9 cubic feet of interior space, which is relatively smaller.
Pros
- Compatible with Google Assistant and Alexa
- Scan-to-cook technology
- The rotating turntable makes sure that the food is evenly cooked
- One-touch operation
Cons
- The application with the database is a bit sub-par and lacks information on many popular food items.
How to Choose the Best Countertop Microwave Oven?
Some of the vital features to look for while purchasing a countertop microwave oven are:
Capacity
Countertop microwave ovens are available in varying capacities. The personal or single-person-compatible ovens are relatively low in capacity, falling between 15 and 20 liters. The family-sized ovens usually feature a capacity between 25 to 30 liters. As the oven size is directly proportional to its capacity, purchasing an oven that fits your requirements and living space is ideal.
Power consumption
It is a fact that the higher the power, the better any equipment works. The same is the case with a countertop microwave oven. It is always better to pick a high-voltage oven if you want quicker heating, better performance, etc. Especially if an oven is frequent and for bulk quantity cooking, a high-voltage product is inevitable.
Pre-programmed Menu
A pre-programmed menu with several popular oven-compatible recipes is crucial for a countertop microwave oven. Because not everyone who purchases the oven may not be a pro in cooking and a pre-programmed menu with several basic recipes that contain the duration, pre-heating time, etc., would be of great help to beginners. They help save significant time too while cooking.
Control Panel
There are three different kinds of control panels available among countertop microwave ovens: manual, dial, and touch. Both manual and dial are ideal for rough use but not very convenient. But the intelligent touch screen control panels possess many advantages, from convenience, more options, a well-lit screen, etc. Touch screens are usually available in relatively expensive models, whereas the other two types are present in budget models.
Defrost Feature
Defrost feature is essential for a countertop microwave oven due to our current living conditions and lifestyle. Most of the population depends on frozen food articles, and trying to defrost them in a regular oven would only cause them to cook and burn. This is why an oven with a dedicated defrosting feature is inevitable. This way, the frozen item won’t start cooking but only get defrosted.
Conclusion
A countertop microwave oven is a must-have equipment for any kitchen for its high versatility. It is portable, powerful, and has multiple cooking and heating options that help save much time in your daily life. Being a popular product, countertop microwave ovens are available in various models. But owing to the quick heating time, a steady supply of heat even in lower heat, even cooking, the presence of defrosting option, etc., the TOSHIBA Countertop Microwave Oven EM131A5C-BS stands out as the best.
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