Top 10 Countertop Microwaves
for September 2023

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We researched the top countertop microwave models to help simplify the appliance shopping process. Countertop microwaves come in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and power outputs. We've found the best microwave that fits your budget and kitchen space.

Microwaves are one of the most frequently used kitchen appliances. They are used daily by families, professionals, and restaurants. A microwave is a helpful tool for heating, melting, cooking, reheating, and defrosting. Microwaves function by generating microwave radiation. Microwave radiation can heat food without adding heat to the food. Microwaves use the electromagnetic spectrum. The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all electromagnetic waves. Microwave radiation is in the microwave segment of the electromagnetic spectrum. Microwave ovens use a different frequency range than microwave ovens. Microwave ovens use two bands of radiation, the 2.45 gigahertz (GHz) band and the 1.6 gigahertz (GHz) band.

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9.6
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Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SN966S Stainless Steel Countertop/Built-In with Inverter Technology and Genius Sensor, 2.2 Cubic Foot, 1250W

Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SN966S Stainless Steel with Countertop/Built-In Inverter Technology and Genius Sensor

by Panasonic

Large Family Size: This countertop microwave with 16.5 inch turntable is thinner, lighter and more efficient, allowing you to devote less space to electronics and more to interior capacity; Internal dimensions (H x W x D): 10.94 inch x 18.44 inch x 18.50 inch. Outside dimension HxWxD (Inches) 14 x 23.9 x 19.4

This Panasonic microwave is relatively quiet, and it handles a wide range of food well. Our only complaint is that the buttons are on the small side, and it may be difficult for taller people to reach them without leaning over the microwave, which can be awkward. The inverter technology makes cleaning this microwave easy, and the automatic sensor does a good job of determining when food is ready for cooking. The stainless steel finish is attractive, and the interior is clean and bright. The inverter technology helps this microwave save energy, and it uses just 1250 watts of power, which is lower than the 1400 watts that most microwaves use. This microwave has a wide range of cooking options, with 14 preset menu items and a variety of menu and time options. The delay start feature lets you set the microwave to start cooking later, and the child safety lock prevents kids from tampering with this microwave. This microwave has 2.2 cubic feet of cooking space, which is average for a microwave of this size. Overall, this Panasonic microwave is versatile, powerful, and easy to use, and it comes in an attractive stainless steel finish.

2
9.6
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Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SN766S Stainless Steel Countertop/Built-In with Inverter Technology and Genius Sensor, 1.6 Cubic Foot, 1250W

Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SN766S Stainless Steel with Countertop/Built-In Inverter Technology and Genius Sensor

by Panasonic

Compact Design: This countertop microwave with 15 inch turntable is thinner, lighter and more efficient, allowing you to devote less space to electronics and more to interior capacity; Dimensions: Interior HxWxD :9 x 16.4375 x 18.5 inches, Dimensions-12 D x 19.1 W x 21.8 H inches

This Panasonic microwave oven is one of our favorites, and it's worth considering if you want a countertop microwave that's easy to use, has a great deal of power, and looks great. The Panasonic NN-SN766S has 1.6 cubic foot of cooking space, enough for large roasts and casseroles, and it also comes with a steam rack, which adds to the versatility of the microwave. The controls are intuitive, and the large LCD display makes setting the time, power level, and menu options easy. The inverter technology also makes this microwave easy to use, as there are no loud, annoying beeps when the door is opened. The microwave also has several child safety features, including a child lock, a delayed start timer, and an automatic power cut-off after 30 minutes. The Panasonic NN-SN766S also has a keep-warm feature that helps keep food warm until you're ready to serve it. The microwave also has a defrost setting, and it comes with several preset menu items, including popcorn, pizza, frozen meals, and defrost. The microwave comes with a 10-year warranty.

3
9.4
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Breville BMO650SIL the Compact Wave Soft Close Countertop Microwave Oven, Silver

Breville BMO650SIL the Compact Wave Close Soft Countertop Microwave Oven

by Breville

The Breville Compact Wave Soft Close with a 25L compact footprint and an easy shortcuts and foods menu is big on convenience, and is designed to precisely reheat, defrost and cook; A countertop microwave engineered with an 80% quieter soft close door

The Breville BMO650SIL is the quietest countertop microwave we tested, and its 25L capacity has enough room to reheat a variety of dishes from frozen to thawed, while the lower-power Reheat setting does a good job of properly reheating food without overcooking it. The microwave looks sleek and modern, and the padded door is quiet and smooth. Its settings are intuitive, and Breville makes it easy to program your own presets. The buttons are big, and the front control panel has a two-line LCD that displays everything from the defrost setting to the power level, and the clock. The microwave has 10 power levels, and the lower-power Reheat setting uses 750 watts of power, which is more than most countertop microwaves, but it keeps food warm without overcooking it. The microwave also heats water quickly, and the door stays closed when not in use. The microwave has a 30-minute countdown timer, and an alarm that sounds when the cook time is up. The microwave's Shaped CavityTM design ensures even heat distribution throughout the cavity, and cooking food in a microwave is quicker than cooking in a stove or oven, so it's a convenient addition to any kitchen. The microwave does not have a timer, so you can't set it to cook at a certain time, but it's easy to set the clock and beeps when the cook time has elapsed, so you won't forget.

4
9
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Panasonic NN-SN936W Countertop Microwave with Inverter Technology, 2.2 Cubic Foot, 1250W, White

Panasonic NN-SN936W Countertop with Microwave Inverter Technology

by Panasonic

Large family size: This countertop microwave with 16-1/2-inch turntable is thinner, lighter and more efficient, allowing you to devote less space to electronics and more to interior capacity; Internal dimensions (H x W x d): 10-15/16-inch x 18-7/16-inch x 18-1/2-inch

The Panasonic NN-SN936W is a high-quality, easy-to-use microwave that is quiet and has a wide capacity range. It's a good choice if space is an issue, because it has a 2.2 cubic-foot capacity, which is slightly smaller than the 2.6 cubic-foot capacity of the NN-SN940W, but it's roughly 1.5 times as powerful, so it's more efficient. The NN-SN936W has a number of very useful features, including a 14-preset menu, which is perfect for when you don't want to cook something from scratch. It also has 2 quick-minute settings, which are great for reheating food or cooking simple dishes. The NN-SN936W's inverter technology makes it more efficient, and its turbo defrost function cuts defrosting time in half. The microwave's sleek, white styling is modern and will look great in any kitchen. It has plenty of power for even cooking, and its controls are easy to use. The NN-SN936W comes with a 10-year warranty, which is the longest warranty of any microwave we tested.

5
8.9
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Toshiba ML-EM45P(BS) Countertop Microwave Oven with Smart Sensor, Sound on/Off Function and Position Memory Turntable, 1.6 Cu.ft, Black Stainless Steel, Non-inverter Technology

Toshiba ML-EM45P(BS) Countertop Microwave with Oven Smart Sensor

by Toshiba

Position Memory Turntable: Innovative position-memory technique resets the turntable to the initial position for more convenient and safer use.

The Toshiba ML-EM45P is a well-rounded microwave, with an appealing design, user-friendly controls, and a good set of cooking features. The 1.6-cubic-foot capacity is a good size, and it fit easily on our kitchen countertop. The cooking features include a one touch popcorn button, which automatically starts the microwave with a timer for popcorn. It also has an Eco mode, which automatically turns on the microwave when the food is done. The microwave has 10 power levels, so you can choose the power setting that best suits your cooking needs. The microwave comes with a 1-year warranty, and Samsung's customer service department was very responsive when we called with questions. The Toshiba ML-EM45P is also one of the few microwaves with an auto defrost function, which automatically defrosts foods when the timer reaches a certain time, so you don't need to manually push the defrost button. The microwave has a memory function, so you can save up to three of your favorite settings and power combinations. The microwave doesn't include a turntable, but it does have a small turntable ring, which spins at 13.58 revolutions per minute. This turntable ring, combined with the microwave's 1.6-cubic-foot capacity, makes cooking large dishes like lasagna and casseroles easy. The Toshiba ML-EM45P also has a muting function, so you can mute the buzzer of the microwave by long pressing on the button "

6
8.7
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Farberware 1.1 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Countertop Microwave Oven with 6 Cooking Programs, LED Lighting, 1000 Watts

Farberware 1.1 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Microwave Countertop Oven with 6 Cooking Programs

by Farberware

Glass turntable: large 12.5-Inch glass turntable allows for even cooking and is removable for easy clean up

The Farberware 1.1 cu. ft. countertop microwave's design, power, and size make it a good choice for most kitchens. The 1000-watt microwave offers 6 cooking modes, including defrost by weight, and it's easy to use. The microwave's interior is spacious and easy to clean, and it includes a recessed lid for convenient loading. The Farberware 1.1 cu. ft. countertop microwave has two power levels, so it's very energy efficient, and it's quiet, too. Like the LG and Sharp countertop microwaves we tested, the Farberware 1.1 cu. ft. countertop microwave has an interior light. The Farberware 1.1 cu. ft. countertop microwave is a good choice for casual cooks, and it's powerful enough for most uses.

7
8.7
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The Sharp ZSMC1132CS is a great countertop microwave for your kitchen, and it supports a variety of cooking tasks, from reheating leftovers to cooking frozen pizzas to steaming vegetables. It also heats up relatively quickly, and it offers useful presets for a variety of foods, including popcorn, frozen dinners, frozen appetizers, soups, and frozen vegetables. The digital display is clear and easy to read, and the buttons are simple and intuitive. For cooking, the microwave features three power levels: low, medium, and high. For reheating, the microwave offers four settings: low, medium, high, and defrost. The defrost setting uses a lower power level than the rest of the settings, and it does a good job of defrosting frozen foods, but it's not the fastest defrost we've seen. The defrost setting can also be used to cook frozen foods, but it takes much longer to heat up. For cooking frozen pizzas, the microwave offers two settings, one to cook the pizza for 1 minute, and another to cook the pizza for 2 minutes. The microwave also includes a popcorn preset, and when we used the preset to cook popcorn, the popcorn popped evenly, and it also tasted great. The microwave comes with a one-year warranty, which is longer than most microwaves, and it offers several cooking presets, which allow you to quickly whip up a variety of meals. However, the microwave isn't as fast or the quietest microwave we've tested. It's also worth noting that the microwave includes a popcorn preset, but Orville Redenbacher's popcorn isn'T included.

8
8.7
SCORE
GE Countertop Microwave Oven | 0.9 Cubic Feet Capacity, 900 Watts | Kitchen Essentials for the Countertop or Dorm Room | Stainless Steel

GE Countertop Microwave Oven

by GE Appliances

Convenience cooking controls - Operating made quick and easy

The GE Countertop Microwave Oven is a good value for its size. It accommodates large dishes such as casserole dishes, and it has a turntable that rotates food throughout the cycle. Its 0.9 cubic foot capacity is plenty for a dorm or apartment, and the 900 watts of power deliver faster cooking times. The oven's manual controls make it easy to use, and its sleek design is attractive. The GE Countertop Microwave Oven has been rated highly by consumers, and it has a 1-year warranty. However, its 5-minute timer can't be adjusted, and its 900 watts are a little high for a microwave of this size; the GE Countertop Microwave Oven is also noisy, and it's louder than our top pick for countertop microwaves.

9
8.6
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Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SN686S Stainless Steel Countertop/Built-In with Inverter Technology and Genius Sensor, 1.2 Cubic Foot, 1200W

Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SN686S Stainless Steel with Countertop/Built-In Inverter Technology and Genius Sensor

by Panasonic

Compact Design: This countertop microwave with 13.4 inch turntable is thinner, lighter and more efficient, allowing you to devote less space to electronics and more to interior capacity; Internal dimensions (H x W x D): 9 15/16 inch x 15 13/16 inch x 14 3/8 inch

The Panasonic NN-SN686S is a no-frills microwave with good features and great performance. Its 1200-watt power, inverter technology and turbo defrost make it well-suited to reheating a wide variety of foods, and its 1.2 cubic foot capacity is big enough for most family meals. The Panasonic's membrane keypad and 5 menu buttons make it easy to program, and its 10 power levels let you precisely control the power level for various foods. The Panasonic has a 12-minute quick minute timer, as well as delay start and a child safety lock. The Panasonic's inverter technology generates a seamless stream of power, so food is cooked evenly without overcooking. The Panasonic's turbo defrost feature, which uses a different power setting, speeds up defrosting time. The Panasonic has 14 preset menu items, and you can add custom menu items using the Panasonic's menu button. The Panasonic also has a Keep Warm feature that keeps your soups, gravies or desserts warm and fresh until ready to serve. The Panasonic's stainless steel interior is easy to clean, and it has a spill-guard lip that helps prevent spills from dripping down the sides of the microwave. The Panasonic's digital display is easy to read, and it's set at a height that makes it easy to program the microwave. The Panasonic's exterior dimensions are 24.1 by 16.8 by 16.8 inches, and its interior dimensions are 21.3 by 16.8 by 17.0 inches. The Panasonic's warranty is 5 years parts and 2 years labor.

10
7.7
SCORE
Frigidaire 1.6 cu. ft. Countertop Microwave in Stainless Steel

Frigidaire 1.6 cu. ft. Microwave Countertop in Stainless Steel

by Frigidaire

Easy-Set Start allows you to start cooking quicker with one to six minute start options

This Frigidaire microwave has everything we like in a countertop microwave: good capacity, lots of power, and fairly small in size. Its interior light illuminates the contents, and its extra-large glass turntable can fit even the biggest dishes. Its One-Touch Keep Warm setting keeps food warm until everything, and everyone, is ready. It also automatically adjusts the power levels and cooking time to cook a variety of items, effortlessly. The Ready-Select Controls start cooking with the touch of a button, from popcorn to baked potato, so cooking is easy. The microwave has 10 power levels, which mean it has good versatility for cooking, from frozen pizza to pot roast. The Microwave comes with 2 deals: a 10-year warranty and $100 in accessories. The microwave is quiet, and timer and clock help you keep track of cook times.

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