Countertop Microwaves

Most choose countertop microwaves

Several experts, including Consumer Reports, note that most microwaves do well enough reheating leftovers and popping popcorn. The main advances have been in the areas of convenience and design. A few more dollars won't buy you a lot more cooking power, but it will get you a larger array of features. Rotating turntables and touch controls, plus one-button defrosting and reheating, are standard now. The majority of mid- and full-sized models also offer delay timers, child locks and sensor technology, which theoretically determines when food is done by measuring vapors. This removes the guesswork involved in deciding whether to reheat that meatloaf for thirty seconds or two minutes. You can now find microwaves in a larger variety of finishes, such as stainless-steel, to match popular refrigerator and range designs as well.

Inverter technology is a new feature you'll see in some models. According to Australia's Choice magazine, the on/off power cycling of traditional microwaves is blamed for overcooked edges and undercooked middles, especially with dense foods like casseroles or lasagna. Microwaves with inverter technology do a better job of even heating, according to the magazine.

The GE Profile JES2251SJSS (*Est. $225) is one of a few extra-large microwave models that use inverter technology. This large microwave has a 2.2-cubic-foot capacity, sensor cooking, delay timer, child lock, auto defrost and touch controls. It features a 16-inch turntable to fit large plates and dishes, plus a stainless-steel finish. This model is top-rated in professional reviews for its defrosting, even heating and ease of use. User ratings for this microwave are also quite impressive. At Buzzillions.com, the GE Profile JES2251SJSS receives an average rating of 4.4 stars (out of five) in 150 owner reviews, earning it the number one ranking for microwaves among both casual and avid cooks. There are a few complaints about durability, particularly at Epinions.com and Amazon.com.

If you still want inverter technology but need a more compact size, the top-performing microwave in recent testing at New Zealand's Consumer magazine is a Panasonic oven -- said to cook thoroughly and evenly in auto and manual modes. The specific models tested by Consumer magazine and Australia's Choice magazine aren't available in the U.S. because of different electrical standards. However, the Panasonic NN-H765BF (*Est. $140), which also uses inverter defrost technology, is available here and gets mostly positive ratings from almost 40 owners posting comments to Amazon.com. We didn't see this model included in professional reviews, but similar Panasonic inverter microwaves perform well. This particular model comes in white or black, and it has a 1.6-cubic-foot capacity, a size most manufacturers call "family size." It also has a sensor and nine presets for common food items, plus a popcorn button.

We found positive owner-written ratings for the Sharp R-426LS (*Est. $185), and the previous model, the R-426HS, was chosen as "most stylish" by editors at Good Housekeeping magazine. Indeed, the Sharp has a very unique design. It's door actually conceals the control panel, so you program the microwave with the door open. (And a hidden control panel discourages experimental children from playing with the microwave.) The display panel is visible through the door, though. The Sharp microwave has sensor controls, one-push buttons for common items like popcorn, auto defrost and a 30-minute keep-warm feature. About 20 reviewers at Amazon.com give it above-average scores, with two complaints about durability from owners.

If you're interested in a convection feature (which means you can use the microwave like a toaster oven) but still want a countertop microwave, the Sharp R-820JS (*Est. $230), a 0.9-cubic-foot combo microwave with convection, receives excellent user ratings at Amazon.com. More than 50 owner give this microwave an overall rating of 4.5 stars (out of five), with only a few complaints about wobbly turntables. The Sharp R-820JS comes in a silver color that looks similar to stainless steel.

Reviewers advise buying the largest microwave oven you can, because larger models tend to perform best in general. However, if your countertop space and budget are more limited, the mid-sized Kenmore 63252 gets very good scores in a professional review. But user ratings from more than 100 owners posting to Sears.com are mixed, with many durability complaints. This mid-sized microwave has 1.2 cubic feet of interior capacity, with a 14-inch turntable. It has standard microwave features, including sensor cooking, auto-defrost and one-touch buttons for common items like popcorn and rice. This model is available in white as the Kenmore 63252, or in black as the Kenmore 63259 (*Est. $100).

For less money, we found good owner reviews for the Sharp R-230KW (*Est. $75), which measures about 18 by 14 by 11 inches. Compact models are ideal for dorm rooms and office break rooms, or for those with little space who primarily need to reheat small portions. At a capacity of around 0.8 cubic feet, most compact microwaves will accommodate a dinner plate. The Sharp R-230 is the pick for a space-saving model at Good Housekeeping. While it doesn't do as well as larger microwaves at even heating, it gets mainly good reviews from owners posting comments to Epinions.com and Amazon.com. We did find the usual range of complaints about durability, however. The Sharp R-230KW comes in white, and it's available in black as the Sharp R-230KK (*Est. $75). A slightly larger microwave oven, the Sharp R-305KS (*Est. $120), with a 1.0-cubic-foot capacity, gets more consistently positive user ratings.

Every microwave oven on the market opens from the right. We've received a lot of queries from people looking for left-opening microwaves, and they simply do not exist. While left-opening microwaves might be a better fit in some kitchens, manufacturers have curiously ignored this market.