Buying guide for best compact microwaves
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If you're someone who loves cooking and baking as much as I do, having a small kitchen is frustrating in the extreme. Counter space is at a premium, which means I've have to make hard choices about which appliances get a spot. My coffee maker, stand mixer and air fryer oven are essentials, but the microwave is another must-have. Between heating up leftovers and making popcorn for an afternoon snack alone, it is a crucial countertop appliance in my kitchen.
I know I'm not the only one. Microwaves have become an indispensable element of the modern kitchen, but what do you do when your kitchen is starved for space like mine? You look for a compact microwave.
Compact microwaves embrace many of the elements found in regular microwaves only in a smaller size. These appliances are usually less expensive than their larger counterparts, lighter and better suited to a kitchen in which counter space is at a premium. They're a great option not only for small spaces but also for singles, couples or anyone who uses a microwave infrequently.
At BestReviews, we've researched dozens of compact microwaves to help us identify the best models. Our top pick, the Panasonic 0.9-Cubic-Foot Countertop Microwave, offers 15 presets, so you can whip up your favorite foods in no time. It is easy to clean and features a bright LED interior light that lets you keep an eye on your food, too.
Editors’ picks
Panasonic 0.9-Cubic-Foot Countertop Microwave
Editors’ Favorite
Dimensions: 14.19” D x 18.56” W x 11” H | Wattage: 1000 W | Material: Stainless steel | Child Safety Lock: Yes
The Panasonic 0.9-Cubic-Foot Countertop Microwave may have a compact design, but it still provides enough power to cook foods just right and offers enough convenient features to make enjoying your favorite foods easier. Its inverter technology eliminates cold spots, so all your food heats evenly across the 10 power levels. It even has advanced sensors that automatically adjust the power and cooking time based on the food’s moisture level and the steam it emits, preventing over- and undercooking.
You can quickly prepare your favorite meals and snacks, like frozen pizza, soup and vegetables, thanks to the 15 auto-cook presets. It even has one-touch buttons for popcorn and beverages. Despite its compact size, this microwave is still large enough to fit a personal pizza or a medium casserole dish, so you can prepare small meals or side dishes for family.
Cleanup is easy with this Panasonic model, too. The turntable is removable, so you can carry it right to the sink for washing. The microwave’s interior also wipes clean easily with a damp rag, and you can access all its nooks and crannies for a thorough cleaning.
Comfee' EM720CPL-PMB Countertop Microwave
Great Value
Dimensions: 13” D x 17.3” W x 10.2” H | Wattage: 700 W | Material: Stainless steel | Child Safety Lock: Yes
While the Comfee’ Em720CPL-PMB Countertop Microwave is one of the more affordable models on our list, it still offers many of the same features as higher-end microwaves. Its compact design is just over 17 inches wide, but it provides 0.7 cubic feet of interior capacity. That means it can fit 10-inch dinner plates and 2- to 3-quart casserole dishes with ease.
The microwave is also extremely user-friendly, which makes operation quick and easy. Its express cooking function lets you choose cooking times between one and six minutes with the press of a button. It also has two defrost settings, allowing you to defrost by weight or by time. You can also make some of your favorite foods, including popcorn, potatoes and pizza, with the press of a button thanks to the six auto presets.
If you have little ones at home, you’ll also appreciate its child-friendly features. It has a two-step Child Lock that keeps kids from accidentally turning on the microwave. It also has a mute function that lets you turn off its beeping with the press of a button, so you don’t have to worry about waking your children when they’re sleeping.
BLACK+DECKER Digital Microwave Oven
Easiest to Use
Dimensions: 13.4” D x 18.7” W x 10.68” H | Wattage: 900 W | Material: Stainless steel | Child Safety Lock: Yes
When you’re in a hurry, the BLACK+DECKER Digital Microwave Oven makes it easy to heat a meal, thanks to its simple, straightforward control panel. It has a large, backlit LED digital display that’s easy to read even if you’re across the room. It has a push-button door release, too, which makes opening the microwave quick and easy.
The microwave delivers 900 watts of heating power across 10 power settings. Its preprogrammed settings include buttons for commonly microwaved foods, including pizza, popcorn, potatoes, frozen vegetables, beverages and more. It also offers a multistage cooking function that lets you defrost and cook your food in a single time setting, so you don’t need to babysit your food and can take care of other chores instead.
Maintenance is a breeze with the BLACK+DECKER Digital Microwave, too. It has smooth interior walls that are easy to wipe clean, as well as a removable turntable that you can wash right in the sink.
GE Countertop Microwave Oven
Best Safety Features
Dimensions: 14.5” D x 19” W x 11.5” H | Wattage: 900 W | Material: Stainless steel | Child Safety Lock: Yes
With a compact design and affordable price tag, the GE Countertop Microwave Oven is a perfect fit for apartments, offices and dorm rooms. It provides 0.9 cubic feet of interior space, so it’s large enough to cook meals for one or two. It also delivers 900 watts of power, ensuring food cooks evenly every time.
It’s also a very user-friendly microwave, featuring six express-cook settings and auto-presets for commonly microwaved foods like popcorn and potatoes. The digital display and keypad controls make it easy to manually set your cooking time, too, and provide access to both manual and auto defrost options as well.
You don’t have to worry about your kids around the GE Countertop Microwave, either. It is equipped with a two-step child lock that keeps your children from accidentally turning the appliance on. While the lock is easy to disengage, you can also deactivate it if you don’t have little ones at home.
Panasonic Japanese 0.9-Cubic-Foot Microwave
Best for Its Premium Design
Dimensions: 15.3” D x 18.5” W x 13.7” H | Wattage: 1200 W | Material: Stainless steel | Child Safety Lock: No
If you want a compact microwave that looks great sitting out on your counter, the Panasonic Japanese 0.9-Cubic-Foot Microwave definitely fits the bill. It features a sleek, modern design with a pull-down door that makes it look similar to your standard oven. It also has a flatbed interior, which not only increases the interior cooking space but also makes cleanup easier afterward.
This microwave doesn’t just look good, though. It also has a Genius Sensor 2, which uses thermo-sensing technology to monitor your food’s temperature and automatically adjust the power level and cooking time as necessary. This ensures better, more efficient heating for your food without any guesswork.
It also features inverter technology to achieve more even, consistent heating. It works especially well for defrosting foods, so you don’t have to worry about burnt edges or a still-frozen center. It has one-touch buttons for popcorn and beverages, too, so you can enjoy your favorite snacks and hot drinks quickly and easily.
How we analyzed
When it comes to compact microwaves, size is the key feature consumers care about. We took this into consideration in our analysis, noting that small microwaves are typically used in apartments, small kitchens and dorms, where there isn’t much room to spare. We also looked at interior size to help you determine how much food a small microwave can fit.
A microwave should also heat and cook effectively, so we looked at the power that’s offered by models in this size class. We also assessed controls, settings, safety features, appearance, ease of use and price to help shoppers find the perfect option. We applied all of this criteria to more than 30 microwaves before narrowing our list down to the very best compact models available today.
Key considerations
Design
Search online for “compact microwave” and you’ll quickly find yourself wading through dozens of different options, but what primarily differentiates one from another is appearance. That said, one primary question that you should answer when comparing microwaves is, does it work in your space? Do you have a specific color in mind or will stainless steel do? Are you searching for a space-age design or something more traditional? Some models offer design elements that may work better in your space, such as a rounded or angled back to fit into a particular place like a corner.
Size
Compact microwaves range in size from about 0.5 to 1.3 cubic feet (cu. ft.), but note that this is the inside dimension of the microwave. The outer dimensions are important if you have a specific or limited space that you’re trying to fill.
The overall dimensions of compact microwaves vary from standard-size models. On average, space-saving microwaves range in size from around 15 to 19 inches wide, 10 to 11 inches high and 12 to 16 inches deep. In comparison, standard microwaves are several inches wider, higher and deeper, making them a tight fit in many limited spaces.
While the capacity of the microwave is important to know, be sure you also know that your microwave-safe cookware will fit into it – or you’ll have to buy new cookware to go with your new microwave. A dimension such as “0.7 cu.ft.” will give you a rough idea of a microwave’s capacity, but it won’t give you a clear picture of the turntable size (how large a plate will fit) or interior height (how tall a bowl will fit).
Installation
One way to free up precious counter space in a small kitchen is to mount the microwave under an existing cabinet. If this is important to you, be sure the compact microwave you’re considering can be installed this way. Theoretically, all microwaves can be mounted under a cabinet, but buying one that is specifically designed for this (and includes all the necessary hardware to do it) can save you considerable time and aggravation.
Cleaning
For ease of cleaning, verify that the inner turntable can be removed and cleaned in the dishwasher. Any exterior control buttons should be flush with the front so that dust and grime don’t build up around them. Some microwaves also have an easy-clean coating on the inside that makes it easier to remove spills and splatters.
Power
One simple rule of microwaves is the higher the wattage, the faster it cooks. In general, compact microwaves are lower wattage – and as such less powerful – than regular-size microwaves. Compact microwaves generally range from 600 to 1050 watts, although 700 watts is about average for this type of product. Most compact microwaves also incorporate a variety of power levels to choose from when cooking.
Controls
While some compact microwaves use rotary dials, most them have buttons or a keypad to control the microwave’s cooking elements. There will be some variation in what is offered on these keypads from one microwave to another, but some of the more common controls include the following:
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Food presets: These buttons enable you cook popcorn, pizza, potatoes, and other common items at the press of one button. Other presets can include frozen entrees or vegetables, soup, bread, beverages, and steamed vegetables.
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Quick Cook functions: Also known as Express Cook, you can quickly begin cooking or reheating something for one to six minutes at the press of one button. A similar option is the 30-second button (and the less common 60-second button), that adds time during the cooking cycle.
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Defrost: Usually included is a low-power Defrost button. This can be set by time, weight of the food, or both.
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Reheat: The microwave uses digital sensors to bring leftovers up to the right temperature.
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Timer: The microwave’s timer counts down the cooking time and can also be used as a kitchen timer if you’re cooking something on the stove, for example.
- Eco mode: This setting saves energy by turning off the digital display and other functions when the microwave isn’t being used.
- Clock: The display on most microwaves can be set to include the time.
- Memory: Some compact microwaves have a memory mode that allows you to store cooking settings that are frequently used, so you can quickly access them by scrolling through your favorite saved settings.
Safety features
If you have children, consider a microwave with built-in safety features such as a door lock. Some models have this feature built into the handle itself, while others employ a lockout feature controlled by the keypad, which requires you to input a code before the door will open.
Compact microwave prices
Compact microwaves usually cost less than their larger counterparts, but even in compact versions you’ll find a fairly wide range of prices. These start at around $60 to $70 for a simple microwave with few features and go up to $200 or more. At the higher price, you can expect to find a richer feature set, more power, and other advanced features, such as convection cooking.
Tips
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Opt for digital controls. Rotary dial controls are a valid choice if you seek simplicity, but you will lose out on a variety of convenient advanced features that digital keypads offer, such as one-button presets.
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Keep your microwave clean. Keeping it clean will not only prolong the life of the appliance but also help it to operate more effectively.
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Read the manual so you know what all the microwave’s features do. Every button on your microwave taps into specific sensors, temperatures, and timers. Learning how to use all these features can greatly improve your microwaving skills.
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Opt for two appliances in one. While not typical, some compact microwaves have a convection oven feature. This essentially gives you a second – albeit very compact – oven for your kitchen.
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Try multistage cooking. With multistage cooking, you can enter a sequence of cooking instructions, which allows you to cook foods at different power levels over the course of their preparation.
- Never run a microwave empty. Microwaves produce energy, and when there is nothing inside it to absorb the energy, the microwave components do it, and this can damage the appliance.
FAQ
Q. Why do compact microwaves have various power levels?
A. A range of power levels provides you with some cooking versatility. This allows you to cook some foods quickly, while taking your time with other foods that benefit from slower cooking. The number of power levels varies depending on the microwave, but ten is standard for compacts.
Q. What is the proper way to clean a microwave?
A. The best way to clean it is to use an all-purpose cleaner sprayed into a cloth and then wiped on the surface. Don’t spray the cleaner directly into the microwave because this can damage the vent holes. To loosen cooked-on foods, try heating a bowl of water to boiling inside the microwave.
Q. What kind of cookware can I use in a microwave?
A. Your absolute best bet is to use cookware that says “microwave safe” on it. In general terms, cookware made from glass, ceramic, or plastic should be OK, so long as it doesn’t heat up excessively when used in the microwave. Never put anything made of metal or containing metallic elements in the microwave.
