Equipment Review: The Best Microwave Ovens

The latest models offer new features and controls and promise better results. Which is our favorite?

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[DaneArcher]

Gotta say -- I like the Inverter tech: I've found it has a better time with liquids (especially that morning coffee -- standard microwaves tend to scald/give a funny taste, I've found.) and seems to give me a more consistent melt on butter (haven't had it pop once :) .) Also does great to partly thaw out frozen treats like frozen fruit smoothies and milkshakes -- I set it to 10% power and within 4 minutes it's back to a tasty, palatable consistency. The model I own is a Panasonic Genius Sensor 1250W -- very similar to the one shown briefly @3:46.

Standard cooking it seems to do a great job, too. Can't say I've ever toasted coconut in it, but then I haven't expanded my usage to the point you folks have :)

[fluffycritter]

I'd love to see a roundup of combinations. There's several options on the market, including Breville's Combi Wave, as well as a few models by Samsung, Toshiba, and Galanz, each with different pluses and minuses.

[labcat]

My 1981 GE microwave is still up and running. Original owner, survived 2 oversea moves… I thought I would replace it when it broke, but it is still doing great.

[Mark.]

I gotta say, I love my IKEA 700 watt microwave. It’s old school with two dials instead of buttons and a bell instead of the annoying electric beep when cooking is done.

[garygullikson]

Wish ATK reviewed OTRT microwaves, need to replace ours.

[mixeddrinks]

who else wish a microwave self clears the leftover time? there are way too many monsters who put in a set amount of time but take their food out before it ends and leave the time still on it...

[tultesid]

Yup! The sharp microwave oven is just good and easy to use and I think it's the best design on the panel, simple. I use the low watt version to melt butter and chocolate. It's just perfect, slick and easy to clean.

[undrline]

I ended up getting the Breville. It should be noted that Amazon says it's 900W, the one I got says 1350W on the back ... yet most microwave instructions I've seen are for 1500W+ microwaves. So, everything takes longer. It's been good for me since I tend to burn things in the microwave. Using a dial gets super annoying to set the time for anything above five minutes. And, it holds one thing at a time. So, if you reheat the entree, then the side dish, then the starch, by the time you've heated full-on leftovers, the first thing you heated up is going to be cold ... so we've found we're better off serving plates and heating each one at a time. I wouldn't've thought that the winner would be small and slow to cook, but we love it for all the other reasons they gave.

[apartmentcookery]

"Chef Mike" is one of the most important kitchen tools. Thank you for the great advice!

[TexasScout]

We’re on our second Panasonic inverter microwave, and I am totally satisfied with it. I do enjoy the inverter technology and the sensor features of it. It’s large enough to do just about anything too.

[krybabykev]

The best thing about the LG Neo Chef and the reason I bought it is the extra tall plate connection. I've had it for years now and the plate has not once disconnected from the turning apparatus. I don't know about y'all but if the plate falling off the track and the annoying process of getting it back on irks you as much as me then check it out.

[johnborges]

The Breville microwaves excel in Consumer Reports predicted reliability ratings but received poor marks for performance - particularly for evenness of cooking and defrosting performance. I've also had problems with the build quality of several Breville products over the last few years - particularly with knobs and switches that feel flimsy and fail. Call me old fashioned, but I think given the basics, the most important "luxury feature" of a microwave today would be RELIABILITY. All the special cooking modes, Alexa-voice-control, wifi-connections, beep-muting, and soft-closing doors in the universe can't help if the thing stops working after a year.

[sybilreneemcgowan]

I had a Sharp Carousel that lasted between 30-35 years with constant use. It finally gave out Thank you for this article. Now I know what I will but to replace it.

[allanwind]

Light duty commercial microwaves are priced similar to your test winner. The one we have rotates the magnetron instead of the plate so it's easier to clean and buttons are programmable both with respect to power and time.

[GrotrianSeiler]

Lisa does the best reviews. Over complicated is the worst! Thank you for your hard work.

[bothellkenmore]

My 21 year old Emerson 1100W 1.0 cft still going strong. I've had it so long I know exactly how long to cook anything I eat and yes I do drop the power level on some things.

[sarahmuntz]

I have this very Breville microwave and I freakin’ love it!

[CorksterTube]

This particular Breville model gets an overall score of 50 out of 100 by Consumer Reports, notably only getting 2 out of 5 for heating evenness and defrosting evenness. They test heating evenness by microwaving a dish of mashed potatoes and then taking temperature readings throughout to see if there are uneven temperature spots. To me this is very important as I bought the Panasonic model that Costco carries (also 2 out of 5 for evenness) and I had definite cold spots in frozen meals I made. I don't think your macaroni test adequately covers the evenness issue as well as their tests and am surprised you're recommending this model when it performed so poorly on that metric. I ended up purchasing an LG model MSWN1590L that received a 5 out 5 for heating evenness and it did dramatically better than the Panasonic, and presumably the Breville. (The particular model number really matters because there is another LG model that looks very similar but ranks dead last and gets a 1 out of 5 for heating evenness.)

[jessejames]

The best microwaves are the ones that don't break in a couple years regardless of the make or features.

[ZaDussault]

Have used my grandmother's first mircowave for the last time before whe sold her house and that thing was a beast. It was one of the first ever models, was HUGE, made in a wooden box and no turning table, but it heated SO fast and worked until the last minute. It would still work but there was no palce to keep it, sadly