In the age of technology, countertop vacuums represent the forefront of cooking convenience. The days of monstrous brick ovens are long past as countertop vacuums inject a dose of portability and speed into our daily lives. A microwave oven releases you from the hassle of handling stoves and heavy utensils. Whether you like preparing complex recipes or simply reheating frozen meals, all you need is a microwave to minimize the required effort.
Countertop Microwaves are designed to occupy the least amount of space while accommodating your average dish size. Unlike built in microwaves, you can place them on the kitchen shelf and slide around according to your spatial needs. In today’s competitive industry, each microwave is adorned with eccentric elements, like 6-minute buttons or touch panels, which can make it wearisome to figure out the right pick for you. As a rule, make sure to evaluate your personal needs, including oven capacity, power, and control specifications before cashing in for a new microwave.
For example, if you seek a range of cooking functions, like baking, broiling, and toasting, then look for versatile ovens with preset recipes. On the other hand, if frozen meals and late-night snacks are all you heat, then focus on compact ovens with simplified controls. To shorten your search, we have assembled the best microwave ovens in the market after conducting some meticulous tests on each. Read on to discover our reviews of the best countertop microwaves and the reasons behind their grandeur!
Best Countertop Microwaves (COMPARISON)
| Product | Capacity (cu. ft.) | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven – ( Editor’s Choice) | 1.2 | Check Price |
| Panasonic Countertop / Built-In Microwave Oven | 2.2 | Check Price |
| Farberware 1.1 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Countertop Microwave | 1.1 | Check Price |
(Editor’s Choice): Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven
Toshiba has earned their unblemished reputation through reliable kitchen appliances like the EM131A5C-BS Microwave. Founded upon a catalog of features, the EM131A5C-BS Microwave is an overlord amidst the competition, demonstrating unsurpassed efficiency in every single facility you demand of an oven.
This Toshiba beast is a stainless steel microwave, pumping out 1100 W of heating balanced across 10 power levels. Most household heating operations only require up to 1000W of power for quick processing, so Toshiba’s power scale is more than sufficient to serve your kitchen. The oven walls enclose upon a roomy interior with 1.2 cu. Ft. of space, not to mention the 12.4-inch turntable. Even large families heating heavy meals can find adequate space in the Toshiba countertop oven.
Furthermore, the Toshiba microwave transcends conventional ovens with 12 striking presets. From organic veggies to crusty pizza, the oven adjusts its waves to suit each food type you can find. Press a custom recipe button on the digital panel and say goodbye to burnt/overheated foods! Speaking of the panel, the Toshiba’s controls feature a 10-digit keypad alongside an add-30-second start button. Each digit from 1-6 integrates its corresponding value (in minutes) to the timer, making it remarkably effortless to extend the heat session with a single touch! You can even switch off the oven’s speaker. No need to wake up the whole house due to late-night cravings!
The oven offers specialized defrost settings to ensure the appropriate handling of frozen materials. It can be frustrating to leave your butter and cheese outside the freezer, waiting for it to melt, but with the Toshiba oven, you can activate an innovative “soften” setting to accomplish the same in half the time. It is also equipped with smart sensor technology. When cooking any item, the sensor detects the humidity level in your food and automatically tunes its temperature to match the cooking progress. Combined with the glass turntable, this feature drives each molecule of your food to perfection! Such an advanced processor is what truly sets Toshiba apart from most convection ovens.
Moreover, the oven walls don a stain-resistant coating that prevents the nasty accumulation of food particles. Cleaning the microwave is as painless as wiping a damp cloth across the walls. The microwave oven also extends an ECO mode functionality that halves its power consumption. If you wish to limit your electrical footprint, then keep the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS in your sights at each microwave sale.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Large, 1.2 cu. Ft. interior | Complicated functions may be difficult to use |
| Smart sensor for optimized cooking | Tricky Interface |
| Power-saving ECO mode | |
| Custom defrost function | |
| Digital display with 6 add-time buttons |
Conclusion
Toshiba’s EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven rises to each challenge of cooking with flawless technique. It blew us away with its ECO mode, adjustable power levels, custom defrost settings, and preset recipes, a range of specialties most portable ovens cannot claim. To add to its explosive resume, the oven allows you to switch the speaker sounds off and utilize a full keypad for operating, making it one of the most convenient microwave ovens you can find!
Panasonic Countertop / Built-In Microwave Oven
Panasonic’s NN-SD975S oven has stunned the microwave industry by introducing the exciting new heating technology called Cyclonic Wave. Styled in a beautiful stainless body, this Panasonic microwave oven is an essential home appliance.
The NN-SD975S boasts 1250 Watts of power and a 2.2 cu. ft. capacity in its arsenal of specifications, a mighty base for families of any size. Its heat system incorporates the Cyclonic Wave technology to emit three-dimensional microwaves in a spiral pattern. Why does this matter? Well, a common setback with microwave heating is the irregularity of its waves, due to which food can be left steaming hot in one region and barely warm at others. Through the Cyclonic Wave technology, Panasonic’s oven spins its warmth evenly into your food upon a 16.5” turntable, which not only spikes the meal’s flavors but also protects its structural integrity. Also, when you dial down the temperature, most ovens resort to pulsating wave patterns but the Panasonic NN-SD975S maintains constant heatwaves to ensure smooth and effective cooking. Through such mechanical details, this Panasonic microwave rivals even the top convection microwave ovens.
In terms of control, the Panasonic NN-SD975S lays out an amazing panel with a dial instead of keypads. This can be a user-friendly touch if you are one of the less technologically inclined folks. With its “sensor cook” function, the microwave assumes the responsibility of accurately narrowing down the temperature and timing of the heat process, eliminating the hassle of reheating your foods. The oven’s integrated inverter lends a powerful hand to such operations. If you like cooking comprehensive meals in convection microwave ovens, the Panasonic can significantly aid your routines. Its inverter & cyclonic waves combo sets up an astoundingly natural heating effect akin to stoves and roaster ovens, allowing you to poach, braise and steam your foods without damaging the ingredients.
The Panasonic microwave oven fares equally well in terms of convenience. Its door utilizes a wide button for opening. While the lack of a handle can be disappointing for some, the Panasonic’s button is surprisingly soft and clicks swiftly. As a premium countertop option, the oven fits well even on narrow shelves. What’s more, its lightweight body poses little hindrance when conducting layout changes in your kitchen.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 1250 watt, fast heating | No handle on the door |
| Cyclonic Wave technology | Limited menu presets |
| Spacious 2.2 cu. Ft. interior | |
| Lightweight, aluminum body | |
| Convenient add-30-second time button |
Conclusion
The NN-SD975S microwave oven is certainly one of Panasonic’s most progressive models. The Cyclonic Wave inverter technology furnishes top-tier heating at an affordable price, and the 1250 W power and spacious 2.2 cu. Ft. interior places it among the top large ovens in the industry.
Farberware 1.1 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Countertop Microwave
The Farberware Countertop Microwave oven is an attractive budget option equipped with a massive set of features to satisfy all your daily needs. It is available in a range of bright colors that will liven up your kitchen.
The Farberware microwave oven promises 1000W of heating prowess across its 1.1 cu. Ft. interior. Although these are modest specifications as compared to other products on this list, they grant the Farberware an edge in countertop compatibility. If you struggle with shelf congestion or space limitations, you don’t have to seek over the range microwaves, because the Farberware can solve your worries. You can arrange this lightweight oven on almost all common shelf types without fussing about space.
Don’t be fooled by this small microwave’s stature, though, as it can match even electric ovens in heating ability. The oven offers 6 diverse auto-cooking programs on its control panel, including potatoes, vegetables, and dinner plates. These preset options save precious time and energy while reducing the guesswork involved in cooking. You can slide the microwave oven’s power across 10 different levels according to the food. Such a control feature can help to avoid overheating mishaps by allowing the desired change in intensity. Setting the timer can also be tricky if you are not accustomed to oven microwaves, and since each brand tunes its unique power scale, you may find yourself infuriated by consecutive food burns and overheated meals. However, the Farberware oven has simplified this setting by supplying 6 time-integral buttons to easily manipulate the timer.
Moreover, the Farberware microwave oven flashes a clear LED display upon the front. Not only does the display highlight each preset and setting, but it also avoids oversaturation of text to enable convenient reading while cooking. You won’t have to strain your eyes and filter through confusing labels just to pick up the required info from the display. There is also a child lock function installed within the door. If you have kids in your home who may interfere with the oven, the child lock will certainly come in handy!
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Child lock function for added safety | The door produces a loud sound when closed |
| 1000 W power for optimal heating | Capacity not suitable for larger families |
| 6 auto-cooking functions | |
| Available in a range of colors |
Conclusion
Overall, the Farberware microwave oven is a well-rounded budget oven that checks all the boxes in features and compatibility, unlike most cheap microwaves. Although its capacity limits its use in larger families, this oven supplies handy features, like child lock and auto-cooking presents, to maximize its convenience score!
FINAL VERDICT – EDITOR’S CHOICE
Countertop microwaves seek to extend your comfort while taking over the least amount of real estate, and our top 3 picks manage that with notable efficiency. While, of course, each microwave caters to varying kitchen needs, we found the Toshiba EM131A5C to be the most versatile oven in its category.
The Toshiba EM131A5C oven comes packed with practical elements, from one-touch time-integral buttons to preset recipes, that outstrip the competitors. Its 1100 W, 1.2 cu. Ft. specifications are enough to service even 4-6 users daily, but where it truly beats similar ovens is its processing ability. The Toshiba oven houses an intelligent sensor system to optimize the food cooking process, and through 12 menu options, the oven can cover almost any type of food with enhanced precision and care. Not even the Farberware’s rich palette can stand up to such a catalog of features. This technological superiority is what makes the Toshiba microwave oven so remarkable given its humble price tag, which is why I deem it worthy of the best countertop vacuum title in 2020!