Kitchen appliances like microwaves have become super important in the kitchen. It is used to make a variety of different dishes, from popcorn to pizza.
Microwaves have been around since the 1960s and they have become an important household appliance.
They are used for cooking, but also they are used for defrosting food, reheating leftovers and making popcorn.
The importance of microwaves is not just limited to the kitchen. The military has been using them for years as a way to quickly heat food in field conditions. While the microwave is a must for every home, countertop microwaves are preferred the most.
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What are Countertop Microwaves?
Countertop Microwave is one kind of traditional microwave that can adjust on any open surface in your kitchen. This type of microwave is very easy to move and can adjust to any part of your kitchen.
The countertop microwaves have many features. They are sleek and modern looking and also has an old-school style and they are affordable.
Isn't it something amazing?
But while buying a countertop microwave you should take care of a few aspects. First of all, the size. A too small or too big microwave that cannot fit into your kitchen is something that you cannot use properly.
There are some additional features that you should take care of like sensor-cook ability.
Are you in a hurry? Then check out below!
If you are in a rush and don't want to read the full article then we would suggest you go for Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven. This is the best of all in your top 10 list.
This oven offers you a smart sensor with 6 auto menus which reduces your work by adjusting the humidity and temperature while cooking. It also comes with a soften or melt function for foods like cheese and chocolate. This microwave oven is very easy to clean. You just need to apply a few wipes and you will get a clean and clear interior.
Here are our top 10 selections for the best countertop microwaves in 2022:
Best overall: Toshiba Microwave Oven
Best smart: Tovala Gen 2 Smart Steam Large Countertop
Best large: Samsung Countertop Microwave
Best convection microwave: Cuisinart Countertop microwave
Best for the family: Panasonic Microwave oven
Best Features: Kenmore Countertop microwave
Best Durable: GE Countertop Microwave
Best Retro style: Nostalgia Countertop Microwave
Best Easy to use: Commercial Chef Countertop Microwave
Best Looking: Farberware countertop microwave
Review of 10 best countertop microwaves in 2022
Toshiba Microwave Oven
Features-
- Dimensions - 19.2 x 16.1 x 11.5 inches
- Wattage - 900 watts
- Capacity - 0.9 cubic feet
Pros-
- The best combination of style, features and performance.
- Environment Friendly.
- Child lock safety.
Cons-
- Heavy.
The 27.3 pounds and 0.9 cubic feet Toshiba Microwave Oven is the overall best countertop microwave in our today's top 10 list. This microwave is made up of stainless steel which ensures its durability. It comes to you in a very stylish black look. It also has a silver version. You can select any of them based on the colour and looks of your kitchen.
For your ease, the manufacturers have included 6 different types of popular food modes like potato, pizza, pasta and more. To save your time this microwave has a one-tap start button which makes it very time-saving.
It is environmental friendly because it is equipped with a power-saving eco mode which will also save your electricity expenses. It also has a child safety lock which ensures the safety of your kids.
This compact microwave has additional features like bright LED light and a mute option. The microwave also features cooking with 10 power levels which offer you from keeping food warm to heating beverages.
Overall the Toshiba Microwave Oven is a very good choice for you. It will save your time as well as your money and will keep the environment clean.
Tovala Gen 2 Smart Steam Large Countertop Microwave
Features-
- Dimension - 18.5 x 12.32 x 11.75 inches
- Weight - 15 Pounds
Pros-
- Need very little effort to cook.
- Very easy to control.
- You can control it from your phone.
- Very convenient.
Cons-
- It has a lot of features. So you need to learn everything to operate this properly.
The Tovala Gen 2 countertop microwave is the future of cooking. From the name, you can understand that this microwave has a lot of smart features which you will find missing in other microwaves.
This smart microwave oven comes with 5 different cooking modes which can always help you to ensure perfectly cooked food every time. The cooking modes are steam, bake, broil, reheat and toast.
Why we are calling it smart is because this microwave can be controlled by a smartphone. You just have to set the time and the mode in which you are willing to cook from your phone.
And let the microwaves' smart AI take care of your food. You can track the progress of your food from any point of your house from your phone and you will get notified when it's done.
Along with this microwave, you will get a library of recipes that has chef developed meals that you can cook in your home from scratch.
It has a very unique feature. Simply scan the barcode on the meal and let the Tovala steam oven prepare your meal to perfection. You'll have a home-cooked supper in 20 minutes or less, with none of the work!
This microwave is available in both stainless steel and black colour.
Samsung Countertop Microwave
Features:
- Capacity - 1.9 cu. ft.
- Wattage - 950 watts
- Interior - Ceramic Enamel Interior
Pros-
- It's big capacity makes it very easy to cook large meals effortlessly.
- The sensor cooking feature makes it very helpful to prepare great meals.
- It's eco-friendly.
- Ceramic enamel layer protects it from scratches.
Cons-
- Makes noise while on.
If you have a big family then this is something which you may need. The stainless steel samsung countertop microwave is one of the best large capacity countertop microwaves. It makes cooking effortless for you.
It's 1.9 cubic feet capacity accommodates many dishes which helps you to prepare large meals without any effort. The sensor cook technology of this microwave makes it very easy for you to operate. The sensor cook technology automatically set the best time to cook any dish perfectly.
Cleaning the interior is a great problem for all microwaves. For that reason the interior of the microwave is made of ceramic enamel. This helps you to remove oil or grease from the interior very easily. The ceramic enamel layer also protects the interior from daily scratches.
Just like the previous one this microwave also has an eco mode. This helps to reduce the consumption of electricity, thus it reduces your expenses and it causes less carbon emission.
You will get a few cooking presets along with this microwave which helps you to make convenient meals with fresh ingredients at your fingertip.
The microwave has presets of various times and various temperatures for different foods. This is the auto defrost feature of this microwave. And the blue LED display adds a great look and style to the microwave.
Cuisinart Convection Countertop microwave
Features-
- Dimension - 19 x 12.2 x 21.2 inches
- Wattage - 1000 watts
- Capacity - 1.2 Cubic Feet
- Weight - 38 pounds
Pros-
- All-in-one cooking appliance with 9 versatile cooking presets.
- 8 different cooking modes.
- Multi stage cooking option.
- Capacity of 1.2 Cubic feet helps you to prepare large meals.
Cons-
- Less durable.
- Sometimes it takes too long to cook.
If you are looking for the best convection microwave in the market then there will be nothing greater than the Cuisinart Convection Countertop microwave. The 1000 watt and 1.2 cubic foot microwave is made up of pure stainless steel on the outside as well as on the inside with a dark tinted glass window which makes it very stylish to look at.
The microwave has 9 versatile cooking presets which include Popcorn, Potato, Beverage, Reheat, Fresh Vegetable, Frozen Vegetable, Roast Chicken, Cake and Pizza.
This is an all-in-one cooking appliance for you. This microwave has 8 different cooking modes which are Microwave, Convection, Convection Roast, Convection Fast bake, Grill/Combo, Keep Warm, Defrost and Memory. So you don't need to buy anything extra.
Though it feels like any ordinary countertop microwave, the feature which differentiates it from its competitors is it's Multi Stage Cooking Option which lets you program your oven to automatically shift functions.
It's other features like the multiple defrost function(which lets you defrost your food either by time or by the weight) and convection baking(consistent heating with faster cooking for superior dishes) makes it more effective.
Panasonic Countertop Microwave oven
Features-
- Dimension - 19.44 x 23.88 x 14 inches
- Capacity - 2.2 cubic foot
- Weight - 37 pounds
- Material - Aluminum
Pros-
- Turbo defrost mode helps to thaw food more quickly.
- The inverter technology ensures you a shorter cooking time with the best result.
- Intelligent, intuitive and stylish control.
Cons-
- Less durable.
The 2.2 cubic foot panasonic countertop microwave oven is very useful if you have a big family or you own a well established shop. The stainless steel microwave is well known for its seamless stream of cooking power which ensures delicious cooking and delicious flavour.
The inverter technology of the microwave provides a steady stream of power at all temperatures which ensures you a shorter cooking time with the best result across a wide range of cooking techniques.
Microwave energy is delivered using inverter technology, which allows delicate foods to cook without overcooking. Furthermore, foods get more colour, texture, and nutrients, resulting in quick, simple, and delicious dishes.
This countertop microwave provides you with intelligent, intuitive and stylish control. This includes a sleek dial, pre-programmed quick buttons and four-digit display with one-touch sensor cook and reheat.
Although every microwave has this feature, the defrost mode in this microwave is faster than any of its competitors. This helps to thaw foods more quickly and perfectly.
You can keep your food warm with the keep warm feature of this microwave which maintains your food temperature until they are ready to be served.
Other features like quick minute and child lock makes it a great choice.
Kenmore Countertop microwave
Feature-
- Dimensions - 14.49 x 17.7 x 11.02 inches
- Weight - 31.8 pounds
- Capacity - 0.9 cubic foot
- Material - Steel
Pros-
- Small and compact
- Made of steel which ensures its durability.
- 10 power settings
Cons-
- Makes noise when on.
The Kenmore countertop microwave is the best in terms of features. The 900 watt small compact microwave is made up of pure steel which ensures its durability. This countertop microwave is perfect for small office kitchens, RVs and apartments. The microwave has a capacity of 0.9 cubic feet and its available in black color.
This countertop microwave gives you 10 power settings, an add 30 second button option and an LED digital display touch pad which makes it very attractive, convenient and easy to use for you. The one touch heating option takes the workload of heating your favorite foods like pizza, popcorn and many more.
The microwave is equipped with 2 defrost buttons which helps you to defrost your frozen vegetables quickly. You simply need to select your time and weight setting and the microwave will take care of the rest.
The manufacturers have provided diamond shapes in the microwave oven to efficiently concentrate energy, leaving you with perfectly heated pizza and popcorn.
The one touch setting helps you to use it with ease. This feature makes it more convenient to use. You can rapidly start cooking for 1-6 minutes with the One Touch fast heating settings.
Though this feature is present in almost every countertop microwave, the child lock feature makes it a better choice for you.
GE Countertop Microwave
Feature-
- Dimensions - 19 x 14.5 x 11.5 inches
- Wattage - 900 watts
- Capacity - 0.9 cubic feet
Pros -
- More durable than the others.
- Auto defrost mode.
- Helps to prevent accidents.
Cons -
- Makes a lot of noise.
When it comes to durability then there is no microwave which is as good as this one. The 0.9 cu foot and 900 watt GE countertop microwave is made of pure stainless steel which ensures you of its durability.
With this microwave you will get convenient cooking options which will make your cooking the best without any efforts. This makes the microwave to be operated easily.
You can adjust the defrosting times and power levels for the best cooking result or they can be automatically adjusted by the microwave.
The best feature which makes it different from the rest is that it can help to prevent accidents, thus ensuring your and your little 's safety.
Nostalgia Countertop Microwave
Features-
- Weight - 28 pounds
- Dimensions - 19 x 15 x 11 inches
- Capacity - 0.9 cubic feet
- Wattage - 800 watts
Pros-
- Retro look with modern options.
- Made of metal which ensures it's durability.
Cons-
- Sometimes it stinks after it cooks something.
If you are a person who likes antiques or things with retro looks then this is the thing which you may need the most in your kitchen. The 0.9 Cubic Feet and 28 pounds Nostalgia Countertop Microwave is a retro looking modern microwave with advanced options.
With this 800 watts metallic countertop microwave you can quickly reheat and cook food. With the 12 cooking presets and delay timer which are provided by the manufacturers, it provides you with the best heating for pizza, popcorn and many things.
You will get evenly cooked food because of the rotating glass carousel. You can easily read the highlights of your cooking by the LED display lights provided with the microwave.
This microwave is very convenient to use because you can easily navigate cooking settings with the program dial which comes with the microwave.
Commercial Chef Countertop Microwave
Features-
- Dimension - 21.8 x 17.6 x 12.3 inches
- Weight - 35.7 pounds
- Capacity - 1.4 cubic feet
- Wattage - 1100 watts
Pros-
- Easy to use.
- Saves your time with its cooking presets.
- Cook easily with the cooking presets given by the manufacturers.
Cons-
- Less durable than others.
If you want or looking for an easy to use countertop microwave then we would suggest you to consider the Commercial Chef Countertop Microwave. This microwave is very easy to use for its simple functionality.
The Commercial Chef Countertop Microwave is a 1.4 cubic feet and 1100 watt microwave with 10 power settings. This gives you flexibility to reheat or cook different foods and beverages fast, evenly, and at the right temperature.
The one-touch auto cook presets makes this microwave very convenient and easy to use for you. This microwave let you pop popcorn and melt, soften, warm, cook, or reheat food with just the tip of your finger. Thus it saves your time.
The microwave is small from outside but spacious from inside. You can easily fit this microwave on the counter or under the cabinet. On the inside, the 10 inch turntable cooks, reheats and melt your foods with perfection and with the right temperature.
The stainless steel, white, or black designs will easily go with any modern kitchen.
Farberware countertop microwave
Feature-
- Dimension - 20.2 x 16.54 x 12.03 inches
- Weight - 25.75 pounds
- Capacity - 1.1 cubic feet
Pros-
- Stylish and go well with any kitchen.
- Cooks food evenly with its 12.5 inch glass turntable.
- 6 cooking presets to make cooking easy and effortless.
Cons-
- Less durable.
- Make plenty of noise.
If you want to have a stylish microwave in your kitchen to make your kitchen look more attractive then the Farberware countertop microwave will be the best choice for you. This microwave is stylish as well as useful. With its 1.1 cubic feet capacity, this microwave offers power, style, and convenience to your kitchen.
It makes your cooking easy by its 6 cooking presets which includes popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetable, dinner plate. It makes your cooking convenient and effortless. You can cook your leftovers just with the tap of a button.
To unfreeze your frozen foods you can just use the defrost mode of this microwave, so that you can enjoy more flavourful foods. The 12.5 inch glass turntable cooks your food perfectly with an even temperature.
It also comes with an easy to read LED digital clock to make it look more stylish and convenient to use. It also has the child lock option to protect your little ones from any casualty.
Factors to consider while buying a countertop microwave
1. Size
This is obviously the most important factor you should consider while buying a countertop microwave oven. You should keep your kitchen size in mind. If you have a small, medium or big sized kitchen then you will take according to that size. If you have a big kitchen and has enough space then it is no problem, but if you have a small or medium sized kitchen then it can cause some problems for you.
2. Wattage
In respect to a microwave oven, wattage equals to power or the time it takes to cook. If you select a 1000 watt microwave then it will cook super fast but if you take a 700 watt microwave then it will take some time and you may not get the desired result. But remember that the higher the wattage, the bigger the price it will take to buy it.
3. Other Features
You should also take care of other features like the digital display, child lock system, a good turntable, material of the microwave and smooth control panel. All this features make a microwave convenient and stylish.
Conclusion
At the end, every microwave has some pros and cons. But you have to select your microwave according to your needs and budget.
We have selected the 2 best microwave ovens from the top 10 list that stand out.
The first one is the Toshiba Microwave Oven. We have selected this due to its high end features and its outstanding modern and sleek look.
At the second spot, we have placed the Tovala Gen 2 Smart Steam Large Countertop Microwave. This is here due to the advanced next generation features used in it. You can control it from your phone as well as you can also cook from your phone.
In the end you have to make your choice. Go wisely with your selection.
Good Luck.
