Best Microwave Ovens.
A convection microwave oven is very similar to a regular oven, but with one key difference.
It is designed with a fan which forces air movement — this heats the full interior of the microwave oven, therefore cooking food from the inside out.
The benefit is that you are able to bake and roast food that would otherwise cook too fast.
Ex: if you microwave a frozen burrito, some areas might be super hot while other areas are still frozen. A convection microwave oven avoids this by distributing the same heat throughout the interior.
To help you find the best microwave oven for your home or business, I researched some of the top models and ranked them based on price, performance, and buyer reviews.
Prices range from, $99 – $249.
✅ #1 Top Pick: Panasonic Microwave Oven
The Panasonic NE-1025F microwave oven is a top seller online.
It’s a commercial microwave oven w/ 0.8 cubic ft. of space.
For a microwave oven, it’s very powerful — max power is 1000W which is 30-40% higher than typical microwaves.
Higher output lets you heat foods such as soup within minutes.
Buyers love the timer knob — it’s simple to operate. Many buyers purchased for older parents who require very easy controls.
Panasonic NE-1025F includes 6-min timer max timer (which acts as a safety feature).
It’s very expensive, but for safety controls and high output it’s a high-rated microwave oven.
#2.) Panasonic NN-SD975S Reviews
The Panasonic NN-SD975S has inside capacity 2.2 cubic ft.
Microwave oven control panel includes 20 pre-set heating options:
pizza, soup, defrost, popcorn, pasta, etc
As a Panasonic Inverter Microwave, it’s heats food using 3D waves to cook food — faster, more even heating!
You can even program it to cook based on item weight — the microwave will automatically sense food temperature + determine when it’s ready.
Lots of happy buyer reviews and high-end features.
#3.) Toshiba EC042A5C-BS Microwave Oven
The Toshiba Microwave heats food quickly + evenly.
It offers a little more versatility than similar units — if you’re worried about overheating food, you can decrease the microwave temp.
Temp range: 175°F – 425°F
Users can also take advantage of the sensor cooking option or use the 6 pre-programmed cooking buttons.
At inside capacity of 1.5 cubic ft., it’s larger than standard model.
Reasonably priced microwave oven w/ lots of positive reviews.
#4.) Panasonic NE-1054F Review
The Panasonic NE-1054F is another powerful model.
Max power is 1000W and is considered a heavy-duty microwave oven.
It comes w/ 10 programmable settings and offers 6 power levels.
From reviews it appears to be popular for two types of buyers — commercial establishments (such as restaurants) and senior citizens.
1. Commercial – buyers like it for its fast and even heating.
2. Seniors – popular because it heats soup quickly.
The controls are a little more complicated than the Panasonic NE-1025F, but offer a lot more versatility.
Lots of positive reviews – the downside is the high price tag.
#5.) Sharp R-21LCFS Review
The Sharp R-21LCFS is the best microwave oven for commercial use.
It has a classic retro style — includes a dial timer on the front allowing you to set from 10-sec to 6-mins.
(you likely won’t need to heat anything longer than 6-mins)
Interior space: 1.0 cubic ft.
As you can tell, it’s an extremely durable microwave oven. Many buyers have owned for 4+ years and provide performance updates.
** Read our Top 10 Best Portable Dishwashers
They also say it’s very good at heating food evenly (especially frozen foods!)
Another expensive choice, but for longterm use looks like a solid choice.
#6.) Panasonic NN-SN686S Review
Panasonic Microwave Oven is a standard 1.2 cubic ft. microwave.
You can install as a built-in or countertop microwave.
It’s one of the best for parents w/ children — it comes w/ child-safe lock.
Lock Example: Start or Stop button must be pressed 3x before you can operate
Microwave oven uses 1200 watts — cooks (or defrosts) food quicker than regular microwaves.
Also, the Panasonic NN-SN686S includes a convection inverter to ensure your food cooks evenly.
Comes w/ 14 auto-cook settings. It also includes a smart sensor to ensure cook times + power levels are adjusted automatically (so your food isn’t overcooked)
One of the things I love about this model is that it has a delay start option — Program the microwave and walk away without worrying about over-doing it.
#7.) Samsung MS14K6000AS
The Samsung microwave oven comes w/ 10 power levels + temperature sensor features.
It includes a new triple distribution system that’s designed to cook evenly throughout — excellent for heating frozen foods!
Also comes w/ auto-sensor system — auto detects + adjusts the temp of the food you’re heating. (takes the guess-work out of heating or reheating!)
Timer dial on the bottom lets you to increase or decrease time even while it’s operating.
Capacity is 1.4 cubic ft. which is large enough for most households.
#8.) Breville Quick Touch Microwave
Breville Quick Touch microwave oven comes w/ 1.2 cubic ft. inside capacity.
There’s a few features that help it stand out:
1. Sensor reheat – microwave will automatically figure out how much time and power is needed to cook dishes thoroughly.
2. Power dial control – choose from 10 power settings.
3. Save program settings – easily save a favorite cooking option that you use regularly
Quick Touch microwave operates on 1100 watts — it’s a fairly powerful option.
Lots of positive buyer reviews make it a top choice!
#9.) Panasonic NN-SN936B Review
The Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SN936B microwave is a family-sized, high-powered model that’s designed to sit on a countertop.
Inside capacity of 2.2 cubic ft. – ideal for households which typically heat food for multiple people at once.
One of the more powerful microwave ovens on my list — uses 1250 watts which helps heat food faster.
As a Panasonic Inverter Microwave, it’s great for cooking food evenly.
Smart sensors take the guess work out of programming — microwave will auto adjust time and power level needed to cook or defrost.
Includes a child-safety lock + 14 pre-set options.
Affordable price w/ lots of positive buyer reviews.
#10.) Panasonic NN-SD945S
The Panasonic Microwave Oven has a stylish look to it — 2.2 cubic ft., it’s ideal for families that need to heat large dishes for multiple people.
For extra convenience there are 19 auto-cook settings users can choose from with the press of a button.
The genius sensor can also adjust cooking temperature + time settings automatically.
** Panasonic also offers a slightly smaller model Panasonic NN-SD745S
Also has a special turbo defrost, which comes in handy if you’re in a rush to get dinner started!
Reading through reviews, buyers liked the fact that it uses 1,250 watts of power — It’s one of the stronger microwave ovens on my list which means it can cook quickly.
Do You Need A Microwave Oven In Your Kitchen?
The answer to that question depends on a few factors. If you need to heat up leftovers quickly or need a supplemental appliance to your standard oven, then the answer is yet. However, if you like to prepare all of your food using conventional means or if you enjoy mostly “raw” recipes where there is little to no cooking involved, then you don’t need one. It would be best to save your money in this case.
How Much is a Microwave?
Today’s microwave ovens have become a mandatory modern kitchen item, but this wasn’t always the case. These popular kitchen appliances were actually invented by accident in the 1940’s by a scientist named Dr. Percy Spencer.
When released, the first microwaves models cost thousands of dollars, towered over current designs at 5 ft., and weighed a whopping 750 lbs. Microwaves have developed a lot since their post war invention.
Modern microwave ovens come in many different types and sizes, but they all perform one task: heating things efficiently and quickly. It’s no wonder most food lovers have an affection for this boring, yet reliable kitchen appliance.
When looking to buy a new microwave you quickly realize that there are many different models to choose from. The days of being limited to a basic counter-top model that’s only used to heat up dinner leftovers are long gone. Now there are an almost endless number of microwave oven options.
If you have been wondering how much is a Microwave, here is our breakdown of the most popular consumer microwaves that you will find on the market.
1. Countertop Microwave ($50 – $800)
This is the most common type of microwave found in kitchens today. They come in various sizes including compact, mid-size, and large. The larger ovens can accommodate upwards of 2.0 cubic feet of food but you need to make sure you have room on your counter should you go that route. The countertop microwave is simple to setup as you just pull it out of the box and plug into a power outlet.
2. Over-the-range ($200 – $1,500)
An over the range microwave oven are located over your standard oven and will provide ventilation for the stove top cooking. They save on counter space and are typically paired with the other appliances to greatly enhance the look of a kitchen. The price tends to be more than a countertop of the same size but the convenience helps makes up for that. If you want a stove hood and microwave combination which completely matches then this is the way to go.
3. Built-in Microwave Oven ($500 – $2000)
Similar to the over the range but are mounted under a cabinet or counter-top and does not provide ventilation. These ovens are usually matched in appearance to the other kitchen appliances, to create a more consistent decor in the room. If you are short on counter space then this is a good option to avoid clutter.
4. Drawer Style ($400 – $2500)
This is a newer type of microwave that is very similar to a built in but instead placed at an easy to reach height. The door works just like a typical kitchen drawer in that it slides in and out. Drawer style microwaves also keep the food warm for longer periods if you leave the oven shut after cooking. Drawer style microwaves typically require professional installation due to being located inside your kitchen cupboard.
5. Convection Oven ($100+)
A convection style oven is very similar to a standard microwave but designed to cook food much faster. They have internal fans which circulate air inside the oven to reduce cooking time as well as evenly distributing heat. They are very good at roasting whole chickens or baking of entire meals. Convention Oven models are more expensive then standard microwave ovens but offer many features and will cook your food superb.
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