The Best Countertop Microwave - 2021
We looked at the top 19 Microwaves and dug through the reviews from 26 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Microwaves.
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Our Picks For The Top Microwaves
- The Best Microwave
- 1. Nostalgia RMO4AQ Retro 800-Watt Countertop Microwave
- 2. Walsh WSCMSR09BK-09 900-Watt Countertop Microwave Oven
- 3. Toshiba EM925A5A-BS Microwave Oven
- 4. Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave
- 5. Panasonic NN SD372S Countertop Microwave
- 6. AmazonBasics Microwave, Works with Alexa
- 7. Frigidaire Microwave
- 8. Panasonic NN-SN936W Microwave
- 9. Panasonic SN966S Countertop Microwave
- 10. LG NeoChef Microwave
- 11. Breville Quick Touch
- 12. Samsung Microwave
- 13. Toshiba EM925A5A BS Microwave Lighting Stainless
- 14. Kenmore Microwave
- 15. Panasonic NN-SD975S Microwave
- 16. GE Stainless Steel Microwave
- 17. Cuisinart CMW-100 Microwave
- 18. Farberware Microwave Oven
- 19. Summit Microwave
Five Fun ColorsAdd style to your living space with this portable microwave, which comes in a choice of aqua, ivory, seafoam green, jet black and retro red.
Sleek Black LookThis countertop microwave comes with a child safety lock function for households with smaller children.
Useful and AffordableThis countertop microwave is an affordable, easy-to-use microwave that produces even heating results.
Cooks Fast and EvenlyThis countertop microwave has a modern, stainless steel finish and it's large enough to cook most foods fast.
Why we recommend these microwaves?
Products Considered
Products Analyzed
Expert Reviews Included
User Opinions Analyzed
Our experts reviewed the top 19 Microwaves and also dug through the reviews from 26 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Microwaves.
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The Best Overall
Nostalgia RMO4AQ Retro 800-Watt Countertop Microwave
Our Take
Head back in time with this vintage-style portable microwave. In addition to the five fun color choices, this microwave is outfitted with a sleek chrome door handle. There's even a digital clock, a rotating glass carousel and a dozen pre-programmed cooking settings.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
The Best Bang For Your Buck
Toshiba EM925A5A-BS Microwave Oven
Our Take
In addition to offering controls that are extremely easy to use and producing even heating results, this countertop microwave tops our list when it comes to affordability. While pricier options offer more power and space capacity, it's still a great buy for consumers who are watching their budgets.
What other experts liked
What other experts didn't like
Our Microwave Findings
Nostalgia RMO4AQ Retro 800-Watt Countertop Microwave
What We Liked: Head back in time with this vintage-style portable microwave. In addition to the five fun color choices, this microwave is outfitted with a sleek chrome door handle. There’s even a digital clock, a rotating glass carousel and a dozen pre-programmed cooking settings.
Walsh WSCMSR09BK-09 900-Watt Countertop Microwave Oven
What We Liked: You won’t have any trouble adjusting this countertop microwave to the cooking power you need, as it comes with 11 variable power levels. There are also six one-touch start cooking programs for quickly defrosting foods, cooking pizza and preparing a bag of popcorn. The easy-to-use push button door also adds to the appeal of this unit.
Toshiba EM925A5A-BS Microwave Oven
What We Liked: In addition to offering controls that are extremely easy to use and producing even heating results, this countertop microwave tops our list when it comes to affordability. While pricier options offer more power and space capacity, it’s still a great buy for consumers who are watching their budgets.
Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave
What We Liked: Reliable power, practical interior space and good looks — this countertop microwave has it all. At 1,100 watts of power, it cooks fast and evenly, while the 1.2 cu. ft. capacity fits most consumers’ needs. We also love the modern, stainless steel finish.
Panasonic NN SD372S Countertop Microwave
What We Liked: This smaller microwave packs plenty of heat. It’s thinner, lighter and more efficient than most microwaves. It also has built-in sensors for perfect heating and a Turbo Defrost setting for quickly heating up frozen foods.
Our Microwave Buying Guide
In today’s busy, fast-paced world, most people couldn’t imagine living without a microwave. The ability to pop your food in the appliance, push a few buttons and have snacks or meals ready to eat in a few minutes is a great convenience. In fact, microwaves have changed the way many people cook and eat, allowing for fast meal prep without the need for a lot of pots and pans or long periods of time standing over a stovetop. They also provide a convenient way to heat up leftovers, eliminating the need to choose between eating cold food or turning on an oven.
Another handy characteristic of microwaves is that they don’t take up an extensive amount of space. While some models fit over a range and require certain space specifications and hardware, countertop microwaves do just what the descriptive name implies — they sit right on your countertop, and are ready to start cooking by simply plugging in the power cord and selecting the appropriate time, temperature and function buttons. Look for models that offer a practical footprint with a 0.9-cubic-foot capacity, but that also feature straightforward controls that are simple to use.
Have you ever wondered how microwaves cook food so quickly? It’s the electromagnetic radiation within these handy small appliances that heat the molecules within liquids and foods, warming them quickly and effectively. A microwave’s power is measured in its wattage and typically ranges from around 600 to 1,200 watts. The higher the wattage, the faster the model cooks. The Toshiba EM131A5C-BS delivers 1,100 watts of power, earning praise for the fast, even results it produces. Some microwaves also have temperature control functions so you can reduce or increase the power as needed.
Countertop microwaves have knobs or digital keypads that allow you to control the amount of time needed to reheat or cook food. Most modern models also feature numerous preset buttons for one-touch cooking. These one-touch controls have programmed times that are designed to precisely heat specific types of food, taking the guesswork out of preparing numerous favorites. For example, all you have to do is tap the pizza button on a microwave to warm up a slice, and it does the work for you!
A microwave’s ability to cook fast and further cut down on prep time with one-touch controls bring convenience to the kitchen, but some models take time-saving heating to the next level. Some microwaves offer state-of-the-art cooking technology, measuring the moisture levels released from food and automatically adjusting cook times accordingly. Fast and smart technology equals a win-win when it comes to cooking and reheating your favorite snacks, tasty leftovers and mealtime recipes.
Microwaves have other features that making cooking in them a breeze. Digital displays make it easy to read cook times and settings and can even be programmed with the time when not in use. Turntables rotate food while cooking so you don’t have to, and buzzers alert you when your food is ready. Functions like melt and defrost are useful for preparing ingredients for recipes or de-thawing frozen foods. Microwaves that have quick-warm buttons allow you to heat food in 30-second increments, allowing you to gradually heat food to the perfect temperature.
As you shop for a new countertop microwave, don’t forget aesthetic appeal. Just like other small and major kitchen appliances, they are available in different colors and finishes to fit any home’s decor.
DWYM Fun Fact
The radiation technology that emerged during World War II is the foundation of the invention of the first microwave oven. But the ability to convert microwave energy into an appliance that could heat food was actually discovered by accident by self-taught engineer Percy LeBaron Spencer. While working on microwave radiation vacuum tubes, also called magnetrons, candy in his pocket inadvertently melted. This unexpected turn of events gave Percy the idea to attempt to heat numerous types of foods with magnetrons, all with notable results. He constructed a metal box to contain the microwave energy and applied for a patent for his invention in 1945. The rest is history.
The earliest microwaves were used in restaurants in 1947, and the very first consumer model was available in 1954. The technology has come a long way since then — the first models were huge and cost more than $1,000. Today, microwaves are available in a range of sizes and prices, including affordable models to fit most budgets. Today, it’s estimated that 96 percent of homes in the United States have microwaves.
The Microwave Tips and Advice
- You need to consider how much counter space you have to work with before choosing a countertop microwave. Models like the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS take up several extra inches of width and depth space than a smaller unit like the Nostalgia RMO4AQ Retro 800-Watt Countertop Microwave and are better suited for smaller, shorter counters. On the other hand, if space is not a concern, a larger countertop microwave will provide ample space and power for the majority of your cooking needs.
- Keep in mind that microwaves that deliver more wattage power cook faster than lower-wattage options, but also tend to cost a bit more. The Toshiba EM131A5C-BS zaps food quickly with its 1,100-watt output, but costs a bit more than the brands that put out 900 watts of power.
- What color are the appliances that you already have in your kitchen? For an appealing look that pairs nicely with your refrigerator, oven and dishwasher, choose a countertop microwave with a matching finish.
- Do you have a limited budget? Just because a microwave doesn’t come with a high price tag doesn’t mean it won’t meet your expectations. Although the Nostalgia RMO4AQ Retro 800-Watt Countertop Microwave comes at a reasonable price point, it has a reputation for being well-made, easy to use and for heating foods evenly and effectively.
- The type of cooking you plan to do using your microwave is one factor you need to consider before deciding on the model and features that will work best for you. For example, if you like to prepare full meals that include meat, fish and poultry, a microwave that has an interior space of at least 1 cubic foot capacity and 900 watts of power or more is a good choice. But if you primarily use your microwave for the convenience factor of heating foods quickly, look for a model with plenty of preset functions.