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The Best Portable Microwave | 2023

Last updated on February 3, 2023

We looked at the top 11 Portable Microwaves and dug through the reviews from 28 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Portable Microwaves.

Best Portable Microwave

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Our Picks For The Top Portable Microwaves

Show Contents
Our Take
Experts Included
Pros
Cons
  Top Pick

Aotto Compact Fast Heat Portable Microwave

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

Aotto

Compact Fast Heat Portable Microwave

Overall Take

Economical PickWhen shopping on a budget, consider this portable microwave, which has an affordable price tag.

Experts Included
DWYM Kitchen Experts plus . Along with user reviews from Amazon.
  Runner Up

XINZOKYC Picnic Leak Resistant Portable Microwave

XINZOKYC

Picnic Leak Resistant Portable Microwave

Overall Take

Everything You NeedThis portable microwave has been upgraded to heat your food at a much faster rate.

Experts Included
DWYM Kitchen Experts plus . Along with user reviews from Amazon.
  We Also Like

Toshiba EM131A5C-BS ECO+Mute Digital Portable Microwave Oven, 1100-Watt

Toshiba

ECO+Mute Digital Portable Microwave Oven, 1100-Watt

Overall Take

Power-Saving ModeWith this portable microwave, you'll be able to turn off the buzzer, conserve energy and cook popcorn with the touch of a button.

Experts Included
DWYM Kitchen Experts plus BakingReview, New York Times Wirecutter, BestReviews, best7reviews, The Beast Reviews, Wiki EZ Vid and 2 more. Along with user reviews from Amazon and Home Depot.
Pros
" Further, Toshiba EM131A5C-BS has 1-touch start popcorn and 2 defrost settings. The Toshiba microwave oven also comes with custom and one-pound auto defrost and 12.4 inches diameter turntable."
Cons
"It also has a Soften/Melt button for butter, chocolate, cheese, and marshmallows. However, we found these additional controls less intuitive to operate than what our other pick offers, and we don’t think they’ll get used often."
  Strong Contender

Commercial Chef Turntable Rotary Portable Microwave, 600-Watt

Commercial Chef

Turntable Rotary Portable Microwave, 600-Watt

Overall Take

Simple Yet EffectiveThis portable microwave is on the small side and an excellent choice for a dorm room, condo or small apartment.

Experts Included
DWYM Kitchen Experts plus BakingReview, Reheat Suite, Seniors Matter. Along with user reviews from Amazon.
Pros
" Commercial Chef 600-watt microwave oven is perfect for preparing snacks, heating up leftovers and other meal preparation requirements."
Cons
"Doesn’t have a digital display."
Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
18

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the portable microwaves available to purchase.
11

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

View All Product Rankings

28

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: The Beast Reviews, Themarany, 5 Product Reviews, Cookware News, Ready Research.

26,654

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 11 Portable Microwaves and also dug through the reviews from 28 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Portable Microwaves.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Overall

Aotto Compact Fast Heat Portable Microwave

User Summarized Score

9.0
3,152 user reviews

Our Take

If you prefer a hot lunch, but your office or jobsite doesn't have a kitchen, this portable microwave is the way to go. Simply pack your lunch in the travel appliance and plug it in when you get to your destination. Come lunch time, the meal will be nice and hot. You can even get the microwave in one of five fun colors, such as red, navy blue or gray.


Our Portable Microwave Findings


Aotto Compact Fast Heat Portable Microwave

What We Liked: If you prefer a hot lunch, but your office or jobsite doesn’t have a kitchen, this portable microwave is the way to go. Simply pack your lunch in the travel appliance and plug it in when you get to your destination. Come lunch time, the meal will be nice and hot. You can even get the microwave in one of five fun colors, such as red, navy blue or gray.


XINZOKYC Picnic Leak Resistant Portable Microwave

What We Liked: Available in either yellow or gray, this portable microwave set has everything you need for a hot lunch away from home. Inside the carry bag, you’ll discover a removable 304 stainless steel container that heats your food when plugged in using the provided power cable. Also included with the set is a spoon, fork and plastic storage container.


Toshiba EM131A5C-BS ECO+Mute Digital Portable Microwave Oven, 1100-Watt

What We Liked: Roadtrippers will love that this portable microwave comes with a mute button for the buzzer. That means a late-night snack or an early morning cup of tea are possible without waking up the rest of your sleeping passengers. A few other features that make this unit stand out include a power saving mode, a large digital display and glass turntable.


Commercial Chef Turntable Rotary Portable Microwave, 600-Watt

What We Liked: Sometimes simple is the way to go and with this portable microwave, you don’t need all the frills and thrills. The microwave’s door comes with an easy-to-grasp handle that is very easy to open. You simply need to turn the power dial to your preferred temperature and the time dial to the desired length of cooking time and you’re good to go.


Nostalgia Vintage Large Portable Microwave Oven, 800-Watt

What We Liked: Head back in time with this retro-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.

Our Portable Microwave Buying Guide

Although portable microwaves are smaller and easier to move around, they’re just as powerful as their bigger counterparts. This is great news for anyone who needs a portable microwave for their RV, sleeper truck, dorm room or small apartment. Keep the following features in mind as you shop for the best portable microwave on the market.

Consider whether you really need a microwave with all the bells and whistles. Something like the Commercial Chef Counter Top Portable Microwave, 600-Watt is a better choice in some cases, as you only need to turn the power and time dials to use it. It’s perfect for the individual who typically only uses a microwave to heat up a cup of coffee or a plate of leftovers

If you prefer a portable microwave that’s more modern and comes with additional settings, go with a model that offers 10 power settings, six pre-programmed cooking settings and a 30-seconds express cooking setting. If you have small children in the home, you’ll also appreciate an included child safety lock, which helps prevent unnecessary accidents from occurring.

Ease of use is important when shopping for the best portable microwave. The Toshiba Easy Clean Smart Sensor Microwave, 1100-Watt has a large digital display and a neatly organized control panel that are a cinch to read. It also comes with a power-saving mode and the ability to mute the buzzer. That’s a handy feature if you have friends or family members sleeping within earshot of the microwave.

Finally, look for a portable microwave that comes in a style that suits your tastes. For example, retro designs take you back to times past, while others dazzle you with their sleek chrome door handle. You’ll also find models that come in five fun colors, including aqua, ivory, seafoam green, jet black and retro red.

DWYM Fun Fact

Did you know that according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics an astounding 90% of homes across the country own a microwave? It makes sense that Americans are turning toward machines that are convenient, as it seems that individuals are always on the go these days. With school, work, church and extra-curricular activities, it gets harder and harder to find time to cook a full meal from scratch.

The story about how microwaves were invented is an interesting one. In fact, the creator, Percy LeBaron Spencer, actually made the microwave by accident. He was testing a magnetron and noticed the effect it had on food. After creating a metal box to feed the energy into and conducting a few more tests, Spencer filed a patent for his invention. Amazingly, Spencer never even graduated grammar school. He was completely self-taught!

The Portable Microwave Tips and Advice

  • Always consider the noise level of the portable microwave before you buy it. Some models run very quietly.
  • The best way to clean your portable microwave is with good old-fashioned dish soap and water. Sometimes, however, you may face some stuck-on foods that are hard to remove. Fortunately, there is a trick to make this tough job much easier. Grab a microwave-safe bowl and fill it with water. Squeeze in a little bit of lemon juice or add a tablespoon of white distilled vinegar. Turn the microwave on for 2 minutes and then wait another 30 seconds before you open the microwave door. The steam will loosen up the food so that you can immediately wipe it away.
  • Most portable microwaves have a removable glass turntable. You can take this out and wash it along with the rest of your dishes.
  • Don’t forget to clean the outside of your microwave, as it’s often plagued with fingerprints and dust. You can use your soapy dishwater and washrag or opt for a glass cleaner with a paper towel.
  • When comparing the cost of portable microwaves, you’ll need to factor in the size, which is typically listed in cubic feet, and the number of watts the microwave uses for power. The Commercial Chef Counter Top Portable Microwave, 600-Watt is one of the more affordable models on the market. You’ll pay the most for the Toshiba Easy Clean Smart Sensor Microwave, 1100-Watt.

About The Author

Alicia Bodine 

Alicia Bodine is a New Jersey-based writer that is always on the hunt for kitchen gadgets that can help save time and money, especially with two food-loving daughters at home. With more than 15 years of experience, her work has appeared in sites like on leading food and drink publications. When she's not writing, you'll find her gardening, spending time with her kids, cooking in the kitchen or playing with her two kitties, Flitter and Otter. Alicia loves researching the latest and greatest gadgets, products and items that help simplify her life.