Microwaves

Countertop microwave ovens

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.

Panasonic uses inverter technology in its high-end models, and the top-performing models in recent testing at Choice magazine are all Panasonic ovens -- said to cook thoroughly and evenly in auto and manual modes. The specific models tested by Choice magazine and New Zealand's Consumer magazine aren't available in the U.S. due to different electrical standards in those countries. However, the Panasonic Genius NN-H765BF (*est. $140) , which also uses inverter defrost technology, is available here and it gets near-perfect ratings from about two dozen 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 has a 1.6-cubic-foot capacity, a size most manufacturers call "family size." This model also has a sensor and nine presets for common food items, plus a popcorn button.

The GE Profile JES2251SJ (*est. $240) also uses inverter technology. This large microwave has an extra large 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 that matches today's popular appliances. This model is top-rated in professional reviews for its defrosting, even heating and ease of use. User ratings are mixed, and we read a few complaints about durability at Epinions, some from owners who bought this model after reading a review at Consumer Reports magazine.

We found positive owner-written ratings for the Sharp R-426HS (*est. $145) , and this model is chosen as "Most Stylish" by editors at Good Housekeeping magazine. Indeed, the Sharp has a very unique design. It's black and stainless-steel door actually conceals the control panel, so you program the microwave with the door open (plus, 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. Reviews are mainly good with a complaint about durability from one owner.

If you are interested in a convection feature, and still want a countertop microwave, the Kenmore Elite Speedcook 64282 receives a good professional review. Good Housekeeping selected the model as a best pick, calling it "the baker's buddy." The Kenmore convection microwave comes in black, white or stainless-steel (est.* $220 for black or white; $280 for stainless-steel). User ratings are mixed, though we only found a handful of responses from owners at Sears.com. We found better user ratings for the Sharp R-820JS (*est. $260) , a 0.9-cubic-foot microwave with convection. Most of the nearly 40 owners reviewing the Sharp microwave at Amazon.com are very happy with it; the R-820JS comes in a silver color that looks similar to stainless-steel.

Reviewers advise buying the largest microwave oven you can, since larger models tend to perform best in general. However, if your countertop space and budget are more limited, the mid-sized Kenmore 63252 (*est. $110) gets very good scores in a professional review. But user ratings from nearly 70 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 (both *est. $110).

For less money, we found good owner reviews for the Sharp R-230 (*est. $80) , which measures about 18" x 14" x 11". Compact models are ideal for dorm rooms and office break rooms, or for those with little space who primarily need to reheat foods. 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 and is also the user-friendliest microwave tested at Choice magazine. While it doesn't do as well as larger microwaves at even heating, it gets mainly good reviews from owners posting comments to Epinions and Amazon.com; we did find the usual range of complaints about durability, however. A slightly larger microwave oven, the Sharp R-305KS (*est. $110) , with a 1.0-cubic-foot capacity, gets more consistently good 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.

Over-the-range microwave ovens

Over-the-range microwaves (alternatively called "microhoods") have been gaining in popularity because they save countertop space and often have a sleek look. They're more expensive because the microwave must also vent the range below it, necessitating dual fans. This type of microwave weighs 55 pounds or more, which can make attaching one to a cabinet above the stove a challenge. They also require a dedicated electrical outlet in the cabinet, which means you may need to consult an electrician. Warranties often include in-home service, since this type of microwave is permanently installed.

We didn't find nearly as many user ratings for over-the-range microwave ovens as for countertop models, so while there's some professional testing on these models, it's harder to compare owner reviews with professional scores from Consumer Reports and Good Housekeeping magazines.

The LG LMV2053 (*est. $300) gets a good professional review, but we found hardly any user ratings on this model -- only a handful of lackluster comments at Epinions for this 2.0-cubic-foot microwave. In contrast, we found plenty of owner feedback for the Kenmore Elite 80839 (*est. $425), another 2.0-cubic-foot oven, but most of it isn't good. Instead of a round turntable, this Kenmore model has a rectangular tray that slides from side to side. We found over 30 owner reviews for the 80839; many owners have trouble with the tray, which reportedly jumps off its track frequently. Many owners also complain that the fan is so noisy you can hardly hear the end-of-cycle bell.

We found better feedback for the Kenmore Elite 80829 (*est. $500), a 1.7-cubic-foot microwave/convection combo. This model skips the rectangular sliding tray in favor of a conventional turntable. We found more positive reviews for this model than almost any other microwave oven, even though it's expensive. Several owners say they successfully cook pizza and chicken in this cooker.

The Whirlpool Gold GH4155XP (*est. $470) is reviewed as a top performer in one professional review. This particular microwave oven has been on the market for many years, yet despite this, we didn't find many owner-written ratings for it. This 1000-watt full-sized model has a capacity of 1.5-cubic-feet, and it ships with a four-speed exhaust fan to vent the cooking area. The Whirlpool has all the standard features -- multiple cooking cycles, a keep-warm cycle and the usual timers, plus a sunken turntable and a rack for optimizing space.

While the Whirlpool above comes with a turntable (typical in most microwaves), the 2.0-cubic-foot Maytag MMV5207BAB (*est. $400) includes a more unique feature -- a sliding tray, such as that on the Kenmore 80839. The tray moves from side-to-side, and it's a much better fit for a 9-inch x 15-inch baking dish. However, the Maytag receives some lower scores for evenness of heating, despite the gliding tray.

The Samsung SMH7178STD (*est. $250) is less expensive than most above-the-range microwave ovens. The attractive Samsung unit has a 1.8-cubic-foot capacity and the usual features, including sensor cooking. Although it's inexpensive, the Samsung receives some poor user ratings at Epinions and in Consumer Reports' user forums. Owners say this model is prone to electrical problems and it eventually refuses to stay on for more than a few seconds at a time. For some, the lights stopped working and the fan failed, leading to its eventual failure.

Important Features: Microwaves

Despite the similarity of features, experts agree that there are specific features you should shoot for when buying a microwave oven.

• Models with a sensor are worth the extra $10 or $20. Experts say that cooking sensors really do work, preventing overcooking and reheating. They raise the overall price by a couple of dollars, but reviews say that's money well spent.

• Get a turntable. Microwaves are not inherently good at heating foods evenly. That's because the heating waves only penetrate a certain depth beyond the surface of the food. A turntable rotates the food to allow an even exposure to heat so that a meatloaf, for example, gets hot all the way through.

• More wattage generally means faster cooking, but 100 to 200 watts more or less doesn't make much of a difference.

Aside from issues of individual features and overall quality, experts agree that the biggest decision consumers have to make when shopping for a microwave oven is what size is appropriate for their needs. The choices break down roughly like this:

• Compact microwaves have a capacity of about 0.8-cubic-feet or less. They're appropriate for single people or college students who don't have much room to spare and tend to prepare simple meals or reheat leftovers. Most measure about 18" x 14" x 11" or so.

• Mid-sized microwaves have a capacity of roughly 0.8- to 1.2-cubic-feet. These models take more shelf space, but they can accommodate enough food for a medium-sized family, which is why they are sometimes classified as "family-size." Most measure about 22" x 18" x 12".

• Full-sized microwaves have a capacity of 1.5-cubic-feet or more. They're best for folks who spend lots of time in the kitchen, have counter space to spare and regularly prepare food for several people. Microwaves with inverters usually offer a bit more interior space for the size. Typical dimensions are around 23" x 17" x 15".

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (With Retailer Links)
1 each	Kenmore 80829, 80839, 67909, 63252 Kenmore Elite 64282 Panasonic NN-SD697S, NN-T945, NN-T995SSF GE Profile JES2251SJSS , PEB2060SMSS GE Adora DVM1850DMBB , GE JE1289SK Daewoo WM1010CC Samsung SMH7178STD LG LMV2053ST , LCRM1240 Sharp R-426HS , R-230KW

We didn't find much consensus in professional reviews for microwave ovens. However, the picture became clearer when we compared owner-written ratings against the top models in reviews. For example, the Sharp R-426HS gets a top rating from Good Housekeeping magazine, but it isn't tested by Consumer Reports. At Amazon.com, we read quite a few excellent reviews for this microwave, corroborating the results at Good Housekeeping. The mid-sized Kenmore 63252 is top-rated in one professional review, but user ratings are very mixed, with many complaints about durability.

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