Countertop Microwaves

Best full-size countertop microwaves

Full-size countertop microwaves have capacities of more than 1.5 cubic feet -- ideal for families or for those who want to cook full meals in the microwave. Rotating turntables and touch controls, plus one-button defrosting and reheating, are standard on these microwaves. Many also offer sensor technology, which determines when a dish is done by measuring the amount of steam it emits. A less common feature is inverter technology. A traditional microwave operates at only one power level at a time; when set on half power, it cycles on and off, from 100 percent power to no heat at all. Microwaves with inverter technology, by contrast, heat continuously at a lower power level. While this feature can help microwaves cook more evenly, preventing hot and cold spots, we still found plenty of good reviews for units without it. None of our top-rated microwaves includes an inverter.

Among full-size microwave ovens, we found the best reviews for the 2-cubic-foot Sharp R-530E (*Est. $250). This model offers 1,200 watts of cooking power, touchpad controls, a digital display and a 16-inch turntable that can accommodate nearly any dish. It has 13 sensor settings for cooking everything from poultry to popcorn, and it also features automated settings for defrosting and reheating. The "keep warm plus" setting will keep food hot for up to 30 minutes after cooking is done. Like most full-size microwaves, the R-530E takes up a good amount of countertop space, measuring 24 inches wide and just over 19 inches deep. The Sharp microwave is available in three color choices: white, black or stainless steel. Its warranty covers parts and labor for one year, but the magnetron tube -- the element that generates microwave energy -- is covered for five years.

The Sharp R-530E is named a Best Buy at ConsumerGuide.com, with an overall rating of 5 stars out of 5. The reviewer calls this microwave "a model for those who want to get the most out of a microwave," with a huge variety of features such as the "let's cook" program, which walks the user through recipes for 20 different dishes. However, it's not clear whether the write-up is based on actual testing or simply an analysis of this model's user manual. The 50 or so owner reviewers we found at Epinions.com and Viewpoints.com are enthusiastic about the many options available on the Sharp R-530E, as well as its large capacity. Many also say that the sensor settings are accurate and convenient, especially for popcorn. However, a few users find the sensors unreliable, saying this microwave cooks unevenly and sometimes gets food too hot when reheating. A few owners also say the Sharp R-530E is too bulky or too noisy.

Another Sharp microwave, the R-930 (*Est. $365), also fares well in professional and user reviews. Like the R-530E, this countertop microwave has 11 power levels and a variety of sensor settings for cooking, defrosting and reheating. In addition, this 1.5-cubic-foot microwave includes a convection mode for grilling, roasting and baking. Its microwave power level is lower than the R-530E's -- only 900 watts -- which means that foods will take longer to cook in it. However, the Sharp R-930's convection feature offers up to 1,450 watts of heating power. It's slightly larger than the R-530E, measuring 24.6 inches wide and 19 inches deep, and it comes in black, white and stainless-steel finishes. The R-930 convection microwave has been reviewed twice by ConsumerGuide.com, once in 2006 and once in 2007, earning a Best Buy rating both times. The reviewer calls it an "amazing performer" that "does it all," producing beautifully browned roasts and tender cakes. However, a more detailed professional test finds less satisfactory results for the R-930 convection microwave. Although its defrosting performance is very good, it is rated only average for cooking evenness and below average for ease of use.

The Whirlpool Gold GT4175SP (*Est. $230) fares very well in professional tests. This 1.7-cubic-foot microwave has 1,200 watts of cooking power, 10 power levels, sensor cooking and reheating and a keep-warm feature. Its MaxWave cooking system releases microwaves from multiple points inside the oven to provide quicker, more even cooking and defrosting. In one professional test, the GT4175SP gets very good scores for cooking and defrosting performance, as well as ease of use and noise level. A 2007 review at ConsumerGuide.com also praises this microwave, calling it "an excellent value" and rating it a Best Buy. However, we did not find a significant number of user reviews to back up these professional recommendations, so it is hard to evaluate this microwave oven's long-term durability.

Midsize countertop microwaves

Midsized microwaves normally have capacities of around 1.2 cubic feet, offering a good amount of internal capacity while saving a few inches of counter space. In this category, we found the best reviews for the Kenmore 6633 (*Est. $140). This 1.2-cubic-foot countertop microwave is highly rated by both professionals and owners. It's somewhat narrower than the full-size microwaves mentioned above, measuring nearly 22 inches wide. It has a black exterior, electronic touchpad controls, sensor cooking and 1,200-watt cooking power. The Kenmore 6633 comes with a one-year warranty.

Professional reviewers give the Kenmore 6633 microwave oven high marks. It's rated one of the best performers among midsized microwaves in a recent test, thanks to its powerful defrosting action and easy-to-use control panel. Users at Sears.com, where Kenmore appliances are sold, are mostly satisfied, with more than 35 owners giving the Kenmore 6633 an overall rating of 4 stars out of 5. Most say the countertop microwave is easy to use and heats evenly, and several like its small footprint. However, a few say that the door feels flimsy and the numbers on the display can be hard to read. A couple of owners say the Kenmore 6633 stopped working within a couple of years.

Another midsize countertop microwave in the same price range, the Cuisinart CMW-100 (*Est. $145), gets more mixed reviews. This microwave is somewhat smaller than the Kenmore 6633, with a 1-cubic-foot capacity and a 20.5-by-15.25-inch footprint. It is also a bit less powerful, with only 1,000 watts of cooking power. It has touchpad controls, an LCD screen, a 12-inch turntable and a stainless-steel finish. It also features two-stage cooking, which allows the user to program in two sets of instructions at once -- for example, 15 minutes on defrost followed by 8 minutes on high. However, the CMW-100 countertop microwave does not include a sensor. It carries a three-year warranty, which is longer than most other models.

The editors of Good Housekeeping recommend the CMW-100, saying it does a good job of baking potatoes, popping corn and defrosting ground beef. The reviewer at ConsumerGuide.com gives it high marks as well. Although the lack of a sensor is a downside, the reviewer finds the one-touch buttons and multi-stage cooking especially handy. However, in another professional test, the Cuisinart microwave is only a middle-of-the-road performer. Although it heats evenly and runs quietly, it earns mediocre scores for its defrosting ability and ease of use. We also saw a few owner complaints about the Cuisinart CMW-100's durability, with some users saying their microwaves stopped working within one to three years. One user describes having three identical microwaves fail within a 14-month period.

The Panasonic NN-SD688S (*Est. $140) has 1,300 watts of cooking power and uses inverter technology, a rare feature among countertop microwaves. While standard microwaves cycle between periods of 100 percent power and no heat, a microwave with inverter technology can run continuously at half power, which results in more even cooking. The Panasonic NN-SD688S also features a cooking sensor and a 13.5-inch rotating turntable. It has a 1.2-cubic-foot capacity and measures roughly 20.4 inches wide by 16 inches deep. Two technology sites -- Wired.com and Unplggd.com -- have reviewed the Panasonic NN-SD688S, paying special attention to its inverter technology. Bryan Gardiner of Wired gives the microwave an overall rating of 7 out of 10, which translates to "good, but not quite great." Although Gardiner gives the Panasonic microwave oven high marks for defrosting and praises its roomy interior and attractive design, he also says that it's bulky and loud. Gregory Han of Unplggd.com observes that the Panasonic's inverter technology does heat up and cook food more evenly, compared to other microwaves he's used in the past. He also notes that this microwave's wide assortment of options can be "a bit daunting" at first, but that it's easy to learn after a few days of use.

We found roughly 35 user reviews for the Panasonic NN-SD688S at Amazon.com. Reviewers say the microwave cooks quickly and defrosts evenly, and they like its stylish design and intuitive controls. However, we saw a few complaints about durability, with users saying that their microwaves failed in anywhere from six weeks to three months after purchase and that getting repairs under Panasonic's one-year warranty proved difficult. (The magnetron tube is covered for an additional four years.)

Compact microwave ovens

Compact microwave ovens usually have 0.8-cubic-foot interiors. Their smaller footprint can be an advantage, especially for small kitchens, but they also tend to have lower cooking power, which lengthens cooking times. The GE Profile SpaceMaker II PEM31 (*Est. $195) is on the large side for a compact microwave, with a full cubic foot of capacity. It is also nearly 24 inches wide, but only 12.3 inches deep and 11.2 inches high, allowing it to squeeze into smaller spaces unlike many large and midsized microwaves. In addition, it can be hung beneath a cabinet with an optional hanging kit, or tucked into one with an optional trim kit. This compact GE microwave has only 800 watts of cooking power, but it does include a sensor and an 11.3-inch turntable (which can be switched off to allow the microwave to accommodate larger platters). Other features include touchpad controls (with a variety of one-touch cooking buttons), 10 power levels, two-stage cooking and a timer that can either delay the start of cooking or set a reminder alarm for the user. The GE Profile SpaceMaker II PEM31 comes in four color choices: black, white, bisque (light tan) or stainless steel. Its warranty covers parts and labor for one year; the magnetron tube is covered for five years.

The editors of Good Housekeeping praise the PEM31's cooking sensors, saying they provide accurate results for everything from popcorn to potatoes. A ConsumerGuide.com review dating from 2008 is also impressed with this microwave's "ease of use and exceptional performance." The reviewer notes that the PEM31 is on the expensive side for a small microwave but believes that its wide array of features and space-saving design justify its higher price tag. However, another professional publication gives the PEM31 a much less impressive review. Although it earns high marks for even heating and ease of use, its defrosting performance is poor.

We found about 150 reviews for the GE Profile SpaceMaker II PEM31 at retail site Abt.com. Users praise its attractive design and say that it heats evenly and cleans up easily. Most also find the controls easy to use, although a few say they are confusing. We found fewer durability complaints for the PEM31 than for most small microwaves; only half a dozen users say their machines had problems out of the box or developed them soon after purchase, and most say GE's customer service resolved the problem. Overall, the compact microwave earns an average rating of 4.5 stars out of 5, and more than 90 percent of users say they would buy it again.

For those who find the PEM31 too large or too expensive, a more basic option is the Sharp R-230 (*Est. $80). This compact microwave, which comes in black or white, has a 0.8-cubic-foot capacity and 800 watts of cooking power. It has a touchpad display, an auto-defrost setting and an automatic popcorn button. The Sharp R-230 also has a small footprint, roughly 18 inches wide and 14 inches deep. This small microwave has a one-year warranty for parts and labor, and its magnetron tube is covered for five years.

Although the Sharp R-230 microwave oven is not covered in any professional reviews that we found, it earns a 4.5-star overall rating from more than 40 reviewers at Epinions.com. It also receives a 4-star overall rating from about 45 reviewers at Walmart.com. However, it doesn't fare as well at Amazon.com, earning only 3.5 stars overall from around 120 users. Owners at all three sites say that the compact microwave is easy to use, has lots of useful features, including slots on the interior walls that allow larger dishes to fit on the 10.75-inch turntable. However, many users note that the R-230 can be too small for families and its display can be hard to read. We also found many reports of malfunctions within the first year, including broken heating elements and display buttons that stopped working. A couple of users say their machines quit working in as little as two weeks.

We also found good user reviews for the Sharp R-820, a compact microwave that includes a convection feature, which means you can use the microwave for baking and roasting. The Sharp R-820 (*Est. $230) is a 0.9-cubic-foot microwave with a 20.5-by-19.75-inch footprint. It includes a 12.75-inch rotating turntable, an electronic touchpad display, an auto-defrost setting and 900 watts of microwave cooking power. Like the smaller R-230, the Sharp R-820 convection microwave is available in black or white and has a one-year warranty; the magnetron tube is covered by a five-year warranty.

At Amazon.com, about 175 owners give this compact microwave an overall rating of 4 stars out of 5. Users praise its versatility, saying the convection feature is great for grilling, roasting and baking. However, some users find this microwave underpowered and slow, and several say that it consistently burns popcorn. We also saw the usual complaints about durability, with reports of breakdowns anywhere from one week to 18 months after purchase (and one alarming story of a microwave that caught fire).