10 Best Countertop Microwaves of 2022, According to Expert Testing
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We updated this article in November 2022 to ensure the information reflected current prices, features and more. Our top picks, based on testing notes from the Good Housekeeping Institute, remain the same.
Microwaves provide fast results, are easy to use and offer lots of versatility. Whether you want speedy microwave meals and snacks, need to defrost chicken in a pinch or soften brown sugar that has gone hard, microwaves help get the job done quickly. “I typically just use the highest setting for the fastest results,” says Kitchen Appliances Lab Director, Nicole Papantoniou. “But most microwaves let you adjust the power levels, which allows for more gentle heating. Lower wattages are great for melting butter or chocolate, especially when you do so in increments and stir in between.”
The Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab has researched and evaluated hundreds of appliances that can cook and reheat food such as toaster ovens, air fryers and over-the-range microwaves. In our recent side-by-side Lab test, we tested 12 new microwave models, assessing everything from ease of opening the door to popping popcorn. When we evaluate countertop microwaves, we appreciate when they do not require any special installation, can be moved around easily and are generally affordable.
Our top picks:
Our recommendations for the best countertop microwave ovens for 2022 reflect models we tested in the Lab or tried out at home plus picks that caught our eye because of their unique features and top reviews. We also offer expert advice on what to look for when shopping for a countertop microwave at the end of this guide.
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Best Overall Countertop Microwave
Dimensions
20.6 x 16.3 x 11.8 inches
Wattage
1,000 watts
Size
1 cubic foot
Type
Inverter with smart sensor
Power levels
P100-P10
Best Value Countertop Microwave
Dimensions
21.2 x 16.1 x 11.8 inches
Wattage
1,000 watts
Size
1.1 cubic feet
Type
Traditional microwave
Power levels
PL-10 – PL-1
Most Versatile Countertop Microwave
Dimensions
21.8 x 19.1 x 12 inches
Wattage
1,250 watts
Size
1.6 cubic feet
Type
Inverter with smart sensor
Power levels
P10 – P0
Best Small Countertop Microwave
Dimensions
19.1 x 14.8 x 11.5 inches
Wattage
900 watts
Size
0.9 cubic feet
Type
Traditional microwave
Power levels
10 – 1
Best Large Countertop Microwave
Dimensions
13.6 x 23.9 x 18.4 inches
Wattage
1,200 watts
Size
2 cubic feet
Type
Inverter technology with smart sensor
Power levels
P-10 – P-0
Best Countertop Microwave with Convection
Dimensions
15 x 15.4 x 9 inches
Wattage
1,000 watts
Size
1.2 cubic feet
Type
Inverter technology with smart sensor
Power levels
1000W – 100W
Quietest Countertop Microwave
Dimensions
19.1 x 16.4 x 11.5 inches
Wattage
900 watts
Size
0.9 cubic feet
Type
Traditional microwave
Power levels
P100 – P10
Best Countertop Microwave for Popcorn
Dimensions
19 x 12.2 x 21.2 Inches
Wattage
1,000 watts
Size
1.2 cubic feet
Type
Traditional microwave
Power levels
PL-10 – PL-1
Best Countertop Microwave for Defrosting
Dimensions
20.5 x 19.9 x 12.1 inches
Wattage
1,000 watts
Size
1.1 cubic feet
Type
Traditional microwave with smart sensor
Power levels
P10 – P1
Best Smart Microwave
Dimensions
17.2 x 29.9 x 16 inches
Wattage
1,550 watts
Size
1.9 cubic feet
Type
Traditional microwave with smart sensor
Power levels
P10 – P1
We have tested over 30 microwaves over the years in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab to find the best high-performing microwaves. We use the same standardized recipes and testing procedures to see how they stand out among the rest.
To test countertop microwaves, we evaluate how evenly they melt cheese (pictured), “bake” potatoes, reheat a mac and cheese casserole and a dinner plate of meatloaf with sides.
We test presets like the popcorn setting to see how well each microwave pops a bag of popcorn. We weigh the unpopped kernels that remain and assess any burning that occurred. We also test the defrost preset on microwaves by defrosting a pound of frozen ground beef (in two different shapes). We consider ease of use when it comes to the control panel, positioning the turntable, opening and closing the door and cleaning the microwave.
Lastly, if a microwave also functions as a toaster oven, convection oven or air fryer, we also put those features to the test by toasting bread, baking a cake and air frying chicken wings.
There are lots of choices for countertop microwaves that could fit your space and style, but these are the essential features to look for:
✔️ Size: The internal size of a microwave is noted as cubic feet and it will determine just how much you can fit inside. For example, you can’t fit an 11-inch dinner plate in our favorite compact countertop microwave pick. Based on our research, the most common capacity for countertop microwaves is around 1.2 cubic feet, but microwaves can be anywhere from 0.8 cubic feet to 2.2 cubic feet on average. Pick the size that best fits your space and needs.
✔️ Wattage: This tells you how powerful the microwave is. If you are reheating individual portions of food, defrosting small quantities of vegetables or making popcorn, a 700- to 900-watt microwave may be sufficient. For more varied use, you’d want at least 1,000 watts of power. The heating instructions for most packaged frozen meals are based on a 1,100-watt microwave. Anything lower will simply take longer to heat through.
✔️ Type:
Inverter microwaves use technology to deliver power continuously while traditional microwaves cycle their power on and off. With an inverter microwave, “when you set the microwave to a specific setting, it provides that set power for the duration of your heating. So, as you cook at say 50% power, it will cook continuously at 50% instead of cooking at 100% half the time and 0% half the time like with a traditional microwave,” says Greenwald.
Traditional microwaves tend to be more affordable than a microwave with inverter technology. But traditional microwaves can be less energy efficient because the microwave isn’t kept at a constant power level while operating. Traditional microwaves also don’t tend to heat as evenly as inverter microwaves.
✔️ Features: There are a lot of great bells and whistles on the market these days. These are some that make microwave use so much easier:
Smart Sensors Adjust the time and power level for you by automatically measuring the humidity in your food. They take the guesswork out of figuring out how much longer to add to the cooking time.
Turntables rotate your food to make sure it heats evenly. Without one, you’d have to stop the cooking cycle midway just to turn your plate around. Removable ones are easier to clean.
A plus-30-seconds button may seem trivial, but it makes a huge difference — it allows you to quickly start or add more time without having to press a series of buttons.
Preset functions are standard these days, especially for defrosting (based on either weight or quantity), reheating and popcorn. But you might want a potato, beverage or melt preset. More isn’t always better, and they tend to make the microwave pricier, so look for a model that has what you need.
Child safety locks on microwaves are a good feature to look for if you have small children in your home. With this feature, the control panel of the oven is “locked” so that children or anyone unfamiliar with it cannot operate it accidentally.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, Eva Bleyer is a trained chef who has tested everything from ranges to juicers to kitchen scales to blenders. Eva conducted the most recent side-by-side testing of 10 new microwave models. While Eva doesn’t cook in a microwave everyday she loves the convenience of being able to quickly melt butter or make a personal mug cake in a microwave.
Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Good Housekeeping Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab where she oversees all of Good Housekeeping’s content and testing related to kitchen appliances, tools, gadgets and gear. She’s been testing kitchen appliances professionally since 2013 and has worked at kitchen appliance companies where she helped develop microwaves as well as many recipes for them. She is trained in classic culinary arts and is a professional recipe developer. Nicole oversaw the most recent side-by-side testing of 10 microwaves.
Nikolas Greenwald is a Lab Assistant in the Good Housekeeping Institute where works with all of our Labs to develop testing protocols and manage data collection and analysis. Before joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, Nik worked in the labs of MIT and Regeneron, working on projects ranging from chemical inventory and reporting to the development of bioassays. He holds a degree in chemical engineering from Northeastern University.
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