It is a precious ally in the kitchen because it allows you to carry out numerous cooking or defrosting operations in a practical and fast way. We are talking about the microwave oven that, over the years, has been able to evolve and offer itself in numerous variations and with increasingly more rich functionality.
To clarify some things, we have created this guide that will help you understand what the functions are essential for this type of product.
But our help does not end here, because we have also compiled the ranking with reviews of the five best models for sale online for us. Here we will be listing the 15 best countertop microwaves.
- Stylish black stainless steel with timeless design kitchen appliances; Rated voltage: 120V - 60Hz; Rated input power (Microwave ovens): 1350W; Rated output power (Microwave ovens): 900W
- 2Pre-programmed menu for 6 popular foods like popcorn, pizza, potato and more, also defrost by weight and time
- One touch start - quick access to start the microwave from 1 to 6 minutes cooking at full power
- Pre-programmed buttons for popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetable, beverage and dinner plate.Frequency : 60 Hz
- 1000 Watts with 10 power settings, clock and kitchen timer, 30 seconds express cooking
- Large LED digital display, easy-to-read control panel, child safety lock, interior light, removable 12.4” glass turntable
- DEFROST & QUICK START - Defrost any of your frozen foods by either weight or time; Also includes a quick start, +30 seconds button for when you need additional cooking time for your meal.
- AUTO COOK & REHEAT - Includes 7 Auto Cooking programs and 10 Auto Reheat Programs making cooking and reheating meals and beverages simple, quick, easy & convenient!
- EASY TO CLEAN WITH GLASS TURNTABLE - Removable for easy clean up, includes a 9.6" glass turntable that rotates 360 degrees for even and efficient cooking.
- 【Pre-programmed sensor menu】 for optimum heating of popular foods like pizza, potatoes, veggies and more; Power Wattage (Microwave): 1100W; Rated Voltage: 120V - 60Hz
- 【Stylish Appearance with Large Interior, fitting a 12inch Pizza】Black exterior, 20.51 x 17.14 x 12.83 inch (w x d x h); large 1. 2 cubic feet capacity, cavity 13.07 x 15 x 9.5 inch (w x d x h), removable turntable 12.4 inch (diameter)
- 【Other Functions】1100 watts with 10 power settings, defrost by time&weight, clock, and kitchen timer, One touch start for multiple food presets
- Panasonic Microwave: This 1200 Watt high power, 1.2 cubic foot capacity stainless steel countertop/built in microwave delivers a seamless stream of cooking power for even cooking and delicious flavor.Turntable Diameter 340mm. Clock : 12H. Child Lock : Yes..Operating Frequency : 2,450 MHz
- Inverter Technology with Turbo Defrost: Patented Inverter Technology generates a seamless stream of power and delivers consistent, evenly prepared food without overcooking; Advanced Inverter Turbo Defrost speeds up defrosting time
- 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 13 15/16 inch x 14 3/8 inch
- CONVENIENT MICROWAVE: Prepare quick and easy meals in a snap with our powerful microwave. It packs 1000 of output power and features a range of settings for press-and-go speed.
- POWERFUL SETTINGS: This microwave has ten power levels with multi-stage cooking. You can fully customize your cooking with six one-touch options, including popcorn, potato, and pizza. Defrost by weight or by time settings to make quick work of any task.
- PERFECT SIZE: Measuring 1.1 cu ft, this microwave is the ideal small-space solution that offers full-sized cooking in a compact space. It features an easy-to-clean interior and exterior and is perfect for the home or office.
- AIR FRY MODE - Cook healthier, crispier versions of your favorite foods in less time, thanks to an air fryer built into your microwave.Electrical Input - 120V Amperage : 12.0, Electrical Input - 120V Watts : 1500Power Cord Length : 39"
- CONVECTION MODE - Achieve crisp, golden brown results in this microwave oven with convection, which includes a special rack that allows air to circulate around foods for even heat distribution
- BROIL MODE - When you have a microwave with a broiler right inside, you can achieve the same effect you do with grill racks, radiating heat to sear or caramelize any food to perfection
- 【Large Capacity】2.2 Cu. Ft. capacity countertop microwave with 1200W power is perfect for large families. It can easily accommodate a 16-inch pizza and a whole chicken.
- 【Intuitive Humidity Sensor】The built-in humidity sensor with 6 Automatic Preset Menus gives your food an even heating result and seals the moisture inside for optimal results.
- 【6 Auto Menus】Equipped with 6 menus that fits your most daily needs including: bacon, frozen roll/muffin-reheat, beverage, chicken pieces and oatmeal.
- Stylish (black) stainless steel finish, compact size: 0.7 cubic-foot capacity, 1050 watts and 11 power levels
- Mute function, settings, clock, kitchen timer, child safety lock, easy auto-cook functions: Popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen veggie, beverage, reheat
- One touch express cooking function with 1-6 minutes and plus30 seconds functions, and two defrost settings (by weight or by time)
- CONVENIENT MICROWAVE: Prepare quick and easy meals in a snap with our powerful microwave. It packs 1000 of output power and features a range of settings for press-and-go speed.
- POWERFUL SETTINGS: This microwave has ten power levels with multi-stage cooking. You can fully customize your cooking with six one-touch options, including popcorn, potato, and pizza. Defrost by weight or by time settings to make quick work of any task.
- PERFECT SIZE: Measuring 1.3 cu ft, this microwave is the ideal small-space solution that offers full-sized cooking in a compact space. It features an easy-to-clean interior and exterior and is perfect for the home or office.
- CONVENIENT MICROWAVE: Prepare quick and easy meals in a snap with our powerful microwave. It packs 1100 of output power and features a range of settings for press-and-go speed.
- POWERFUL SETTINGS: This microwave has ten power levels with multi-stage cooking. You can fully customize your cooking with six one-touch options, including popcorn, potato, and pizza. Defrost by weight or by time settings to make quick work of any task.
- PERFECT SIZE: Measuring 1.2 cu ft, this microwave is the ideal small-space solution that offers full-sized cooking in a compact space. It features an easy-to-clean interior and exterior and is perfect for the home or office.
- 【Better texture with sensor menus 】This 1200-watt high power countertop microwave with 10 power levels includes a pre-programmed sensor menu for optimum heating of popular foods like pizza, potato, vegetable and more
- 【Large Capacity for a Family Size】1.6 cu. ft. capacity ; 13.6" turntable; fitting a 13inch pizza; with one touch popcorn button as kitchen essential
- 【Position Memory Turntable】 Innovative position-memory technique resets the turntable to the initial position for more convenient and safer use
- COMPACT YET POWERFUL: 700 watts of power and 0.7 cu. ft. inside allow for effective, efficient cooking while not taking up valuable kitchen space; glass turntable rotates for optimum cooking
- EASY SET UP: Freestanding microwave fits easily on countertop or open shelf, with 39 power cord
- CONVENIENT CONTROLS: Simple, one-touch operation with Instant On express cooking controls and multiple cooking modes; kitchen timer, child lock controls and cooking complete alarms add convenience
- Family-sized 1.4 cu. ft. capacity, 1100 watts, Black/White
- New! Gray Interior; New! White LED Display; New! LED Interior Lighting
- 12.4" Carousel turntable for even cooking; 10 Power Levels with 2-stage cooking
- COOKING MADE SMARTER WITH WIFI POWERED BY SMART HQ: Voice-enabled cooking allows you to turn microwave on and off, add time or change power level via Alexa or Google Assistant; Scan-To-Cook Technology saves time and optimizes frozen food preparation
- SPACE-SAVING EXTERIOR, SPACIOUS INTERIOR: 900 watts of power and 0.9 cu. ft. inside allow for effective, efficient cooking while not taking up valuable kitchen space; glass turntable rotates for optimum cooking
- EASY SET UP: Freestanding microwave fits easily on countertop or open shelf, with 39 inch power cord
Best Countertop Microwaves Buyer Guide
When it was invented, the microwave oven revolutionized the way we prepare food, in particular, because of its ability to defrost it very quickly. The technological evolution has increased its versatility, allowing it to be also used to heat dishes, both pre-cooked and those to be cooked from scratch.
The first choice you will have to make, therefore, is to decide whether you need an essential model, only to defrost and heat already cooked food or an appliance with many more functions, to be used in place of a traditional oven.
In this second case, you will have to focus on a product that is gaining more and more space on the market: the microwave with the grill, or with the ability to cook and brown food, thanks to a device that uses infrared rays to ensure proper cooking and give crunchiness to food.
A further step forward, in terms of completeness of the technological equipment, is represented by the function combined with the use of a dish called Crisp.
Made with unique materials capable of conveying the heat onto the food in a uniform way. In this way, you can make the meals more crunchy, fry using very little oil and even prepare and let rise cakes and soufflés.
Space Available
The microwaves are divided into two categories with different price ranges: those built and those that can be placed anywhere.
The former are designed to be inserted harmoniously into your kitchen, often lined up together with the traditional oven to create a real cooking zone. They are on average more massive and cumbersome, and their purchase must be “studied” to adapt the design of the environment to their presence.
Traditional microwaves are more comfortable to place, to which a shelf and a power socket are sufficient to be operational. They are typically smaller in size and have a capacity ranging from 18 to 30 litres, depending on your needs in terms of space and quantity of food to be heated.
Value for Money
Comparing the prices, you will notice that all the best brands have multiple microwave models in their price list, to cover the various needs. It goes without saying that to try to save money, it is necessary to accept some waivers, such as the ability of the appliance to steam or using ventilation.
Consider the type of use you plan to make of it in order not to find yourself with a feature-rich model that you will end up not using.
The same can be said regarding the dimensions, which should go hand in hand with those of the family unit, and the engine power, in order not to have excessive consumption on the bill.
A renunciation that should not be made is that of construction quality, because choosing a reliable microwave and assembled with quality materials guarantees a more extended duration over time.
If you are also interested in a good cooking plate, by clicking on the link you can read our reviews of some of the best models.
Steam Cooking and Forced Air
One of the cooking possibilities offered by this microwave oven, which is not always present on other models of the same market range, is the steam oven.
Through this function, it will, therefore, be possible to cook suitable foods while preserving everyone’s vitamins and nutrients. Also, a steamer is offered, which makes it extremely useful for quickly cooking pasta.
Another cooking mode offered by this versatile microwave oven is the “ventilated air” one that Whirlpool makes available by calling it Forced Air.
This is obtained thanks to the presence on the back of the microwave oven of a fan which takes care of spreading the heat as uniformly as possible over the entire surface of the food inserted inside. This is a function that is easier to find on a regular kitchen oven.
Chef Menu
To save time and be able to use the oven without significant problems, Whirlpool has provided a series of preset programs to cook a wide variety of dishes, many of which are among the most famous and appreciated of Italian cuisine.
In practice, using the various functions made available, you can prepare a dish quickly, given that the microwave oven will use the cooking function that is more suitable to what you are cooking.
Crispy Fries
For lovers of fried food, the Whirlpool microwave oven offers two ways to cook some particular dishes adequately. The first takes the name of Crisp Fry and is particularly suitable for frying various foods without adding a drop of oil. In this way, you can taste the classic fries without being greased as often happens when using a regular fryer.
The second function is called Dual Crisp and uses in combination the Forced Air system to have crispy food on the outside and soft and tasty on the inside. This system is ideal for preparing pizzas and cakes.
