The 10 Best Countertop Microwaves of 2022 (2024)

Table of Contents
1. Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven with Smart Sensor 2. Galanz GLCMKA07RDR-07 Microwave Oven 3. Farberware Classic FMO11AHTBSB 1.1 Cu. Ft. 1000-Watt Microwave Oven 4. Amazon Basics Microwave 5. Farberware Classic FMO07ABTBKA 0.7 Cu. Ft. 700-Watt Microwave Oven with LED Lighting 6. Toshiba ML-EM45PIT(BS) Microwave Oven with Inverter Technology 7. Toshiba ML2-EM09PA(BS) Microwave Oven with Smart Sensor 8. Panasonic Countertop with Inverter Technology and Genius Sensor Microwave Oven 9. Panasonic Oven with Cyclonic Wave Inverter Technology 10. Black+Decker EM720CB7 Digital Microwave Size and Wattage Features
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Looking for a great microwave for your kitchen? Certain features make some stand above the rest. Check out our list of the best countertop microwaves.

By Emmanuel Owolabi Published

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The 10 Best Countertop Microwaves of 2022 (1)

The best countertop microwaves allow you to perform various functions. Some of these include heating up food, thawing, meat, and even cooking. This is one tool that makes life easier in the modern kitchen. It speeds up your cooking process by taking less time to handle some tasks when compared to the traditional oven.

It also helps reduce your general cooking time by making some of your processes faster. You can melt your butter and chocolate without waiting for them to melt in a pan. You can also toast bread and other things. Having a microwave also makes it easier to have a healthier kitchen as you can use it to kill the bacteria on your sponges.

The best countertop microwaves make it easy to have your food ready to eat just minutes after putting them in the appliance. They also have an adequate internal space that meets your specific needs while taking up as little space as possible.

The Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven with Smart Sensor is the perfect countertop microwave for you if you don’t need the large space a 2.2 cubic feet microwave offers, and 0.7 cubic feet is not enough for you. This microwave gets the job done without the bells and whistles that you don’t need. It has a sensor function that rids you of the need to guess how long your cooking will take. This sensor detects the humidity level of your food and adjusts the time and temperature accordingly. This in turn delivers optimally cooked food to you. The sensor menu works for reheating, frozen pizza, frozen entree, potato, rice, and fresh or frozen vegetables.

The Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven with Smart Sensor has a custom defrost setting. You use this by inputting the weight of the food and letting the microwave handle the rest. However, you can defrost a 1 lb item and the microwave will automatically adjust the time and power. It also makes it easy to soften or melt food items such as butter, chocolate, and cheese via the auto menus with the weight and portion indication.

This countertop microwave is easy to clean. The coating has hard-wearing materials, making it resistant to scratches and stains. It also has an energy-saving ECO mode that helps you save up to 50% off the power consumption. Six ‘one-touch start’ buttons allow you to select a heating time between one to six minutes with the touch of a single button.

If you love to have your cooking done in silence, this is one of the best countertop microwaves that allow you to turn all the beeps off.

Key Features

  • Pre-programmed sensor menu
  • Black stainless steel exterior
  • 10 power settings
  • 2 defrost settings

Specifications

  • Capacity: 1.2 Cu. feet
  • Installation Type: Countertop
  • Dimensions: 13.07 x 15 x 9.5 inches
  • Power Levels: 1100W
  • Special Features: Yes
  • Brand: Toshiba

Pros

  • Kitchen timer
  • Large digital display
  • Easy-to-read control panel
  • One-touch start popcorn

Cons

  • Custom defrost settings heat faster than described

The Galanz GLCMKA07RDR-07 Microwave Oven is one of the beautiful countertop microwaves to make this list. It has a retro design that will remind you of the old days. This countertop microwave has five different power levels, allowing you to easily perform your task of choice. You can heat, defrost, or cook food items on separate power levels and never have to worry about inappropriate heat levels. Consuming just 700 watts, it has a 9.6-inch glass turntable with 360-degree rotation. This ensures your food is heated or cooked evenly, helping you avoid the problem of one part feeling overcooked or burnt while the other part is undercooked.

The Galanz GLCMKA07RDR-07 Microwave Oven has a LED display that allows you to accurately set and monitor your cooking time. Once the cooking is done, the microwave alerts you by giving three beeps. It has an interior light that lets you monitor what you’re cooking in real-time. This also eliminates the need to open the microwave before cooking is complete just because you want to check your food’s status. You can also rest easy knowing any child you have around is safe due to the child lock. This feature prevents unsupervised operation by children. It does this by locking the control panel, thereby preventing accidental or deliberate use attempts until the feature is turned off.

This countertop microwave comes in various colors which include retro red, black, blue, green, and red, allowing you to select the one that best suits your kitchen or personality.

Key Features

  • Lighting pull handle
  • Six power levels
  • Easy to defrost
  • Easy-to-read LED display

Specifications

  • Capacity: 0.7 Cu. feet
  • Installation Type: Countertop
  • Dimensions: 17.81 x 13.75 x 10.31 inches
  • Power Levels: 700W
  • Special Features: Yes
  • Brand: Galanz

Pros

  • You can defrost by time or weight
  • Shows remaining cooking time
  • Interior light
  • Safety lock

Cons

  • Seal coating could be more aesthetic

The Farberware Classic FMO11AHTBSB 1.1 Cu. Ft. 1000-Watt Microwave Oven comes in various colors which include black stainless steel, copper, metallic red, stainless steel, and white/platinum. It is spacious as it has 1.1 cubic feet of cooking capacity. It is also stylish and it adds to your kitchen’s decor, thanks to the sleek exterior. There are six automatic cooking programs for popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetable, and dinner plates. There are also buttons on the number pad that let you set the number of minutes you want to reheat your food between one and six minutes. The cooking programs and the timer allow you to cook or reheat your food with absolute accuracy.

The Farberware Classic FMO11AHTBSB 1.1 Cu. Ft. 1000-Watt Microwave Oven has an easy-to-read green LED display that lights up the digital clock. This display also highlights each cooking setting. You get an interior that you can clean with ease, and it is large enough and fits more when compared to its 0.7 cubic foot counterparts. A child safety lock option prevents children from tampering with the microwave or injuring themselves with it. It has 10 power levels and you can choose to defrost by weight or time. There is also a +30 second control button that allows you to add extra 30 seconds to your cooking time. There are however some complaints that as good as the microwave is, it can get very loud during use. Hence, if the volume is going to be a problem for you, you might want to consider getting another brand.

Key Features

  • Large interior
  • Child safety lock option
  • Multiple defrost options
  • 6 cooking programs

Specifications

  • Capacity: 1.1 Cu. feet
  • Installation Type: Countertop
  • Dimensions: 20.2 x 16.93 x 12.03 inches
  • Power Levels: 1000W
  • Special Features: Yes
  • Brand: Faberware

Pros

  • Easy to clean
  • Spacious and stylish
  • Convenient controls
  • Digital clock

Cons

  • Paint coating underneath could be better

The Amazon Basics Microwave is a great addition to your kitchen if you already use Alexa in your home. It is one of the best countertop microwaves by a well-known brand that you can get for a low price. Apart from the low price, the main selling point for this microwave is its compatibility with Alexa. There are quick-cook voice presets that allow you to give needed specific instructions to your microwave. These voice presets also ensure you don’t have to guess the needed time to finish your cooking, heating, or defrosting. If you use this in combination with an Alexa device, you get to also enjoy new presets Alexa adds to your microwave as it gets smarter.

If you do not want to use voice commands, or if you don’t want to use an Alexa device, you can control your microwave with the simplified keypad. It has a compact size which saves your counter space. It also has ten power levels you can use depending on the task you want to carry out.

The Amazon Basics Microwave has a kitchen timer and a child lock that stops it from being a danger to children around. If you choose to use it with Alexa, you can choose your popcorn brand and Alexa will automatically order replenishments for you whenever you’re running low.

Note that the voice commands only work if you connect it to an Alexa device as it is not built in the microwave. The voice command feature also seems to work better than the installed buttons when controlling it.

Key Features

  • Quick-cook voice presets
  • Compatible with Alexa
  • 10 power levels
  • Child safety lock

Specifications

  • Capacity: 0.7 Cu. feet
  • Installation Type: Countertop
  • Dimensions: 17.3 x 14.1 x 10.1 inches
  • Power Levels: 700W
  • Special Features: Yes
  • Brand: Amazon

Pros

  • Compact size
  • Kitchen timer
  • Turntable
  • Automatic popcorn replenishment via Alexa

Cons

  • Rephrasing is sometimes needed for voice commands to work

The Farberware Classic FMO07ABTBKA 0.7 Cu. Ft. 700-Watt Microwave Oven with LED Lighting is a great microwave oven you can trust to go well with any decor you have in your kitchen. It has a large interior that you can clean with ease, ensuring you maintain hygienic cooking conditions in your home. It comes with varying defrost options which include time cook, time defrost, or weight defrost. You can also check the power status, the clock, and the kitchen timer via the LED display. There are express cooking functions that let you select whether you want to prepare popcorn, potato, or pizza. You can also let the microwave know if what you’re putting in it is a frozen vegetable, beverages, or a dinner plate. These help you speed along your cooking endeavors, making you spend less time on cooking activities and more time enjoying your meals.

The Farberware Classic FMO07ABTBKA 0.7 Cu. Ft. 700-Watt Microwave Oven with LED Lighting makes it easier to cook or reheat your dishes with the touch of a button. It also has a safety lock feature that prevents minors from unsupervised use. Even if you have a small kitchen, you can rest easy knowing you have a microwave that will fit, meet your needs, while looking sleek. You should, however, note that this might be the best countertop microwave for you if you’re looking for something to use in the interim. This is because it might not have a long lifespan. The upside to this is that Farberware claims to provide a 1-year warranty.

Key Features

  • 6 cooking programs
  • 10 power levels
  • Defrost by weight or time
  • LED display with kitchen timer clock

Specifications

  • Capacity: 0.7 Cu. feet
  • Installation Type: Countertop
  • Dimensions: 17.75 x 12.91 x 10.1 inches
  • Power Levels: 700W
  • Special Features: Yes
  • Brand: Faberware

Pros

  • Works with any decor
  • 30-second control button
  • Express cooking functions
  • Child safety functionality

Cons

  • Might stop powering on after a while

The Toshiba ML-EM45PIT(BS) Microwave Oven with Inverter Technology is one of the best countertop inverters from a brand that has made a name for itself in the technology world. This microwave comes with an inverter technology that helps you save up to 40% of your defrost time. Hence, ensuring you can get your cooking done in less time. This technology also helps prevent undercooking or overcooking your food as it ensures a uniform distribution of heat in your food. This in turn helps preserve your food texture and ensures you get an optimal taste. You can then get the needed nutrients and moisture from your food. With the inverter, your microwave automatically adjusts its power to match different heating durations. This helps you save on power costs as it consumes less energy compared to other microwaves.

The Toshiba ML-EM45PIT(BS) Microwave Oven with Inverter Technology is silent during use. Hence, you don’t have to worry about your microwave being a source of disturbance for those around you. This makes it very suitable for those living in open spaces, or those who might have to cook with sleeping babies or roommates around. It also has a smart sensor with 5 auto menus that removes the need for you to guess if you are using the right cooking parameters for your food. 10 power levels give you more flexibility with what and how you cook. You can also reduce the energy consumption when it’s on standby by turning on the ECO mode.

Key Features

  • 10 power levels
  • Inverter Technology
  • Multi-Stage Cooking
  • ECO Mode

Specifications

  • Capacity: 1.6 Cu. feet
  • Installation Type: Countertop
  • Dimensions: 19.2 x 21.77 x 12.99 inches
  • Power Levels: 1250W
  • Special Features: Yes
  • Brand: Toshiba

Pros

  • Faster cooking times
  • Ultra silent
  • Stylish and timeless design
  • Pre-programmed sensor menu

Cons

  • Might need a lot of space to set it up

The Toshiba ML2-EM09PA(BS) Microwave Oven with Smart Sensor is a great full-featured countertop microwave that will have you cooking and heating your food with ease. It has a position-memory turntable that lets you meet your plate or cup at the position you place it on the turntable. Six automatic preset menu options make cooking dinner, beverages, popcorn, potato, frozen vegetable, and pizza more convenient. You also get five unique power levels - low, medium-low, medium, medium-high, and high. Allowing you to regulate the heat to your exact preference. There is also a OneTouch Start button between one to six minutes. A child lock function prevents unsupervised use by children. An ECO power mode also helps you save on your power bills.

The Toshiba ML2-EM09PA(BS) Microwave Oven with Smart Sensor has a kitchen timer and a rapid cooking function that lets your food get ready in minutes. If you would love to enjoy your cooking in silence, you can turn off the beep that rings at the end of cooking in this microwave. This is thanks to the Sound On/Off button that comes with it. You can choose to defrost your frozen food by time or by weight, giving you more influence on the results. A LED cavity light gives you a clear view of your microwave’s interior, removing the need to open the door before your cooking is ready. It has a compact design, and you can expect it to fit right on your countertop with no hassles.

Key Features

  • Smart sensor
  • Position-memory turntable
  • Eco-mode
  • Sound on/off function

Specifications

  • Capacity: 0.9 Cu. feet
  • Installation Type: Countertop
  • Dimensions: 19.2 x 15.9 x 11.5 inches
  • Power Levels: 900W
  • Special Features: Yes
  • Brand: Toshiba

Pros

  • 6 Automatic Preset Menus
  • Five power levels
  • Compact footprint
  • LED cavity light

Cons

  • Transparent coating over numbers flakes off after a while

The Panasonic Countertop with Inverter Technology and Genius Sensor Microwave Oven is a roomy countertop microwave with a cooking sensor. It allows you to choose the food type such as oatmeal, omelet, soup, frozen entrees, frozen pizza, potatoes, fresh vegetables, frozen vegetables, pasta, fish filets, and more. You can do this selection through the 12 auto-cook options. This microwave uses 1200 watts of power to send heat through a 1.2 cubic foot space. With inverter technology, it generates a seamless stream of power and delivers consistent, evenly heated food to you, ensuring you don’t have your food overcooked or undercooked in any capacity. The advanced inverter turbo defrost also speeds up defrosting time.

The Panasonic Countertop with Inverter Technology and Genius Sensor Microwave Oven has a 13.4-inch turntable that is thinner, lighter, and more efficient when compared to many of its peers. This makes it lighter to carry and also helps you conserve space on your countertop as you get more value for less space. The built-in automatic genius sensor adjusts the power and times based on the food you’re preparing. It also has a ‘keep warm’ feature that helps keep your food warm and fresh until you’re ready to serve.

This is one of the best countertop microwaves that give you the modern convenience your lifestyle requires. You can set your cooking and reheating times in single-minute intervals, and you can also delay the start.

Key Features

  • Inverter technology
  • High power rating
  • Genius Sensor
  • Sleek complementary design

Specifications

  • Capacity: 1.2 Cu. feet
  • Installation Type: Countertop
  • Dimensions: 15.8 x 20.7 x 12.25 inches
  • Power Levels: 1200W
  • Special Features: Yes
  • Brand: Panasonic

Pros

  • 12 auto-cook options
  • Turbo defrost
  • Compact design
  • Keep warm feature

Cons

  • The inverter is not covered by a warranty

The Panasonic Oven with Cyclonic Wave Inverter Technology is one of the best countertop microwaves to give you 2.2 cubic feet of cooking space in a sleek, stainless steel, silver body. It helps you prepare healthy, delicious meals and snacks, thanks to the Cyclonic Inverter Technology, which helps you circulate heat in 3D waves. This helps you get more even, efficient cooking. You also get 20 preset menu items which you can access through the buttons on the keypad. You can also choose the inverter turbo defrost, quick 30 seconds, delicious popcorn, and more. The need to guess the appropriate cooking time is also no longer there. This microwave makes it easy to cook and reheat without setting a time, thanks to the pre-set options for easier cooking.

You can also defrost in a hurry and keep your food warm till you are ready to serve it, thanks to the Sensor Inverter Turbo Defrost that evenly thaws your food quickly. There is a 3-level popcorn button, an auto reheat for coffee and milk, a child safety lock, and you can select from 10 power levels. You can also add 30 seconds to your cooking time with the press of a button. The Panasonic Oven with Cyclonic Wave Inverter Technology allows you to delay the commencement of your cooking for up to 90 minutes, making it easier to schedule your daily activities. The dial has a blue light illuminating it, making it easier to use in low light and adding to its beauty.

Key Features

  • Auto-adjusts power and time
  • Stainless steel designer
  • Elegant controls
  • Extra-large interior

Specifications

  • Capacity: 2.2 Cu. feet
  • Installation Type: Countertop
  • Dimensions: 19.44 x 23.88 x 14 inches
  • Power Levels: 1250W
  • Special Features: Yes
  • Brand: Panasonic

Pros

  • 20 auto-cook options
  • Cyclonic Inverter Technology
  • Sensor cook and reheat
  • Maximizes counter space

Cons

  • The keypad is not a touchpad

The Black+Decker EM720CB7 Digital Microwave is one of the best countertop microwaves for you if you don’t need a large space in your microwave. It has 0.7 cubic feet of space and various pre-programmed buttons. These buttons are for your popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetable, beverage, and dinner plate. Hence, you can easily select the button that corresponds to the task you have at that moment and expect the microwave to work accordingly. It consumes just 700 watts, allowing you to use it without racking up energy bills. There is also a clock and kitchen timer, allowing you to heat your fruit to the exact second.

The Black+Decker EM720CB7 has a 30 seconds express cooking feature you can use when you want to heat something in little time. A large LED digital display allows you to control your microwave with ease, and it has an easy-to-read control panel. However, the primary function keys could certainly do with better lighting as they can sometimes be difficult to see in low-light conditions. An interior light lights up your cooking, and a removable 10-inch glass turntable is present. You can easily remove this turntable for cleaning, ensuring you have a clean microwave in your kitchen.

You can open the door with a push-button release for easy access, and there is a child safety lock to protect children who can reach the counter from injuries that might occur from an attempt to use the microwave. This is a microwave with a modern design, and it will look great on your countertop.

Key Features

  • Child safety lock
  • Easy defrost
  • Kitchen timer
  • 10 power levels

Specifications

  • Capacity: 0.7 cu. feet
  • Installation Type: Countertop
  • Dimensions: 17.3 x 13 x 10.2 inches
  • Power Levels: 700W
  • Special Features: Yes
  • Brand: BLACK+DECKER

Pros

  • Turntable push button
  • Pre-programmed buttons
  • Large LED digital display
  • Easy-to-read control panel

Cons

  • Primary function keys could be lit better

While spending more money on a bigger microwave can give you some bells and whistles, getting one of the best countertop microwaves adds ease to your lifestyle without costing an arm.

The best countertop microwaves also take up less space while giving us the convenience and versatility we need. They do this by heating your food and drinks evenly without taking up much time.

With the best countertop microwaves, you get to defrost your food, melt and soften chocolate and butter, steam your vegetables, and even get your popcorn ready to eat.

Size and Wattage

The best countertop microwaves come in varying cubic feet sizes such as 0.7, 0.9, 1.1, 1.2, 1.6, and some even being as large as 2.2 cubic feet. As the microwave’s size increases, you can also expect an increase in the wattage, most times. If you’re looking for a countertop microwave, you most likely don’t need something as large as 2.2 cubic feet.

Most users will find comfort and the functions they need in sizes lower than 1.5 cubic feet. However, if you are the kind that has reasons to cook an entire turkey in your microwave, or if you reheat an entire casserole dish, then you can purchase the larger ones. Although, if this is your case, using an oven usually provides better results.

While the wattage usually increases proportionally to the microwave’s size, a higher wattage does not necessarily result in a better product. Sometimes, if you don’t have the need for it and you buy one with higher wattage for smaller tasks, you stand the risk of overcooking your food.

This means going for a mid-sized microwave with commensurate wattage does not put you at a disadvantage. Hence, don’t pressure yourself into getting a larger microwave you don’t need.

Features

Unlike the past, the best countertop microwaves of today do more than just reheat your food. They come with bells and whistles that make your food preparation process easier. One very common feature with the microwaves in this guide is the ‘child safety lock’. This feature helps prevent unsupervised use by children.

Another feature is the presence of a sensor that adjusts the power and cooking time by checking the humidity levels in your food. Some microwaves also have ‘presets’ that let you perform certain cooking tasks with the touch of a button.

You can also connect some microwaves with your favorite voice assistant, allowing you to perform your cooking or reheating without needing to move close to the microwave itself (until you need to pick up your food item).

The best countertop microwaves of 2022, as represented in this list, help make the cooking and reheating aspects of your life easier without taking up much space in your kitchen.

Resources—The Spruce Eats, Reviewed

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About The Author

The 10 Best Countertop Microwaves of 2022 (93)

Emmanuel Owolabi (35 Articles Published)

Emmanuel Owolabi has been writing for the internet since 2015. He has a bachelor's degree in English and he is a lover of words. He is an avid lover of fiction who fell in love with the literary world when he was much younger. He has written copy for websites, especially in the construction industry. He has also ghostwritten articles, ebooks, and blog posts for several clients before joining ReviewThis as a writer. He also works in the educational technology sector and loves helping people around him get better information about technology. He loves movies that fall into the historical, action, war, or sci-fi genres. People around usually ask him for help about making the right choices in technological products. Emmanuel now enjoys helping people decide on technological products to go for through ReviewThis. He continues to update his knowledge of writing and technology through reading and taking online courses. You can follow him on Twitter @emmanuelowolab

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