4 Best Microwaves, Tested by Cooking Experts
Our top-tested countertop, built-in, and microwave air fryer combo models.
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The best microwave should fit your kitchen, have all the features you’re looking for, and heat food quickly and evenly. Whether you need a countertop microwave, a built-in microwave, or a microwave air fryer combo, we evaluated options with features ranging from simple presets to air-fry and convection settings.
Our top picks:
- Best overall: Toshiba 7-in-1 Countertop Microwave
- Best value: Hamilton Beach Microwave Countertop Oven
- Best built-in: LG Built-In Microwave and Speed Oven
- Best microwave air fryer combo: Panasonic HomeChef 4-in-1 Countertop Microwave Air Fryer Combo
As a reviews analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, I test kitchen appliances to see how well they actually work in everyday life. My colleagues in the Lab and I have tested hundreds of small appliances over the past decade, including 30 microwaves. For our latest evaluation, we put 12 microwaves head-to-head in more than 10 tests over two months, looking at everything from ease of use to how evenly they reheat, defrost, and cook food. Offering seven different ways to cook and a handy sensor preset, the Toshiba 7-in-1 Countertop Microwave performed best in our tests.
Best Deal
Pros
- Offers "sensor cook" preset to automatically adjust power and cooking times
- Produced four perfectly cooked baked potatoes in testing
- Seven cooking settings in one appliance
Cons
- Presets listed on inside of microwave, instead of on control panel
Though it’s smaller than most of the other 1,000-watt microwaves we’ve tested, this Toshiba still fits a dinner plate nicely. This microwave had the most even heat distribution of all the microwaves recently tested and has been long-term tested for almost a year, with continued excellent performance.
It has all the necessary features and more, including food presets (listed on the interior), a child safety lock, and a plus-30-seconds button. This model offers seven different ways to cook—microwave, air-fry, convection, broil, defrost, sensor cook, and “combi” cook—making it a true multitasker in the kitchen. If you use the “sensor cook” preset, it will utilize the microwave’s built-in humidity sensor to adjust power and cooking time accordingly.
This model completely melted cheese, produced four perfectly cooked baked potatoes, and reheated a large casserole of mac and cheese more evenly than 11 other models we tested. It also offers a mute button to turn off beeps and alerts when the cooking time ends. We love the handlebar design for opening the door—rather than a button you push—because it’s more ergonomic.
Keep in mind that this model comes with several accessories that require storage, including an air-fry tray, air fryer basket, lower wire rack, and upper wire rack. (A chart in the instruction manual explains the best uses for each accessory, so you may want to hold on to the manual.)
| Installation | Countertop |
| Dimensions | 20.6" x 16.3" x 11.8" |
| Wattage | 1,000 watts |
| Size | 1 cubic foot |
Pros
- Comes in three different colorways
- Six cooking presets
- Easy-to-read and clean control panel
Cons
- Buttons are hard to read in a dimly lit room because they aren't backlit
We appreciate Hamilton Beach microwaves for delivering high performance at low price points. This microwave is the newer model of our previous best value pick, which was recently discontinued. We appreciate that it has the same easy-to-read and clean control panel and that this newer model boasts a handle. When we Lab-tested the previous model, we were impressed with how well the popcorn preset performed, only leaving 0.2 ounces of 3.2 ounces of the popcorn kernels unpopped—better results than more expensive microwaves we tested.
This model has a power output of 1,000 watts, which is usually a wattage found in pricier models. It comes with all the critical features: a plus-30-seconds button, a child safety lock, six cooking presets, and one-touch express buttons for one to six minutes. Plus, it comes in three different colorways to coordinate with your other kitchen appliances.
We also love that this microwave features a built-in kitchen timer that allows you to use the microwave simultaneously. Keep in mind that this microwave's presets are also listed on the interior of the microwave and online reviewers noted that the buttons were hard to read in a dimly lit room because they aren't backlit.
| Installation | Countertop |
| Dimensions | 20.6" x 16.5" x 11.8" |
| Wattage | 1,000 watts |
| Size | 1.1 cubic feet |
Pros
- Highly versatile settings, like broil, air fry, and defrost
- App offers 10,000+ recipes
- Barcode technology can scan certain ready-made meals to set temperature and cooking time
Cons
- Control panel can be difficult to read in low light
LG microwaves have performed well in our side-by-side microwave tests, and while we haven't tested this model yet, we think it's a great built-in microwave option. Keep in mind that this model requires professional installation. It has convection technology that lets you broil and air-fry.
Essentially, it uses a combination of heating elements to skip preheating while still cooking faster, with oven-like results. It also features settings such as proof, dehydrate, and defrost, making it a highly versatile built-in model.
LG also has the ThinQ app, which lets you access more than 10,000 recipes, start the oven, set timers, or check on dinner, no matter where you are. You can even scan the barcode on a selection of ready-made meals to remotely set the temperature and cooking time.
We love the sleek design of this built-in microwave oven, featuring "SmoothTouch" glass controls and a drawer-style oven door with a large pull-out handle. One drawback, though, is that the control panel isn’t well lit and can be difficult to read, especially in a dim kitchen.
| Installation | Built-in |
| Dimensions | 20.12" x 29.75" x 23.19" |
| Size | 1,900 watts |
| Wattage | 1.7 cubic feet |
Pros
- Inverter technology delivers continuous power for even heating
- 20 different presets
Cons
- Multiple accessories require storing
This Panasonic microwave air fryer combo also functions as a broiler and convection oven, packing four cooking methods into one sleek appliance. While we haven’t tested this specific model, we did test an older version.
It can handle everyday tasks like popping popcorn as well as more involved cooking, such as baking a cake or air-frying chicken wings. Panasonic’s inverter technology delivers a continuous stream of power for more even heating. The microwave also offers 20 presets; we recommend reviewing the instruction manual to understand how each setting works and which accessories are included. Keep in mind that you’ll need to find space to store all the included accessories.
| Installation | Countertop, built-in |
| Dimensions | 15" x 15.4" x 9" |
| Size | 1,000 watts |
| Wattage | 1.2 cubic feet |
How we test the best microwaves
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, we've researched, evaluated, and tested hundreds of small appliances in the last decade alone, testing over 30 microwaves in that time.
While we’ve formally tested most models on this list, we also included options from brands we trust based on previous microwave testing. For untested models, we vetted user reviews and drew on decades of cooking and appliance expertise to evaluate key buying considerations.
In our recent side-by-side Lab test, we tested 12 new microwave models, conducting over 10 tests and collecting more than 500 data points. To select our top picks, we went through 124 slices of bread, 48 potatoes, and 18 pounds of mac and cheese. We rated each model on performance, ease of use, heat distribution, and range of settings and presets.
✔️ Heat distribution and cooking performance tests: To see how evenly each microwave heats food, we evaluate how uniformly it melts cheese on bread. This helps reveal any hot or cold spots.
We also "bake" four potatoes in each microwave to assess speed, power, and consistency.
✔️ Reheating test: We cook a large mac and cheese casserole on the stovetop, chill it overnight, and then reheat it in each microwave. After reheating, we take the temperature of 10 different sections of the casserole and examine the finished dish for signs of overcooking, such as dried-out or burnt areas.
We also reheat a dinner plate of meatloaf and sides, measuring the temperature of each section and assessing how evenly the meal cooks.
✔️ Preset and defrost setting tests: We test commonly used presets, including the popcorn setting, to see how well each microwave pops a standard bag of popcorn. We weigh the kernels left unpopped and check for any burning.
We also test the defrost preset by defrosting 1 pound of frozen ground beef in two different shapes.
✔️ Air fryer, convection, and toaster oven function tests: If a microwave doubles as a toaster oven, convection oven, or air fryer, we test those functions too. Depending on the model, that can include toasting bread, baking a cake, and air frying chicken wings.
✔️ Ease-of-use test: Finally, we assess how intuitive and convenient each microwave is to operate. We consider the control panel, turntable placement, how easily the door opens and closes, navigation, presets and settings, as well as how easy it is to clean the microwave.
What to look for when shopping for the best microwave
✔️ Installation: In this story, we've selected top microwave models that can meet the needs of a variety of consumers and their installation needs:
- Countertop microwaves require a dedicated space on your countertop, but they tend to be the most affordable option.
- Over-the-range microwaves are designed specifically to fit above your stove and should be installed by a professional.
- Built-in microwaves offer more countertop space and often have a sleek design, but they require installation and are typically more expensive.
✔️ Size: The internal size of a microwave is noted as cubic feet, and it will determine just how much you can fit inside. Based on our research, the most common capacity for countertop microwaves is around 1.2 cubic feet. Still, microwaves can range from 0.8 to 2.2 cubic feet on average, and microwave air fryers tend to be a bit larger than models with fewer settings. On average, built-in models are also slightly larger than countertop models because countertop space isn't an issue with built-ins. 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 1,000-watt microwave. Anything lower will simply take longer to heat through. Usually, higher-wattage microwaves also offer additional settings, such as air fry or broil.
✔️ Settings: While traditional microwaves have basic cooking settings, newer models like microwave air fryer combos have more advanced cooking settings. Some feature air fry, but also many other settings like broil, convection, grill, or even dehydrate. If you think you would get use out of more settings, then go for it. The more settings a microwave has, the more troubleshooting it needs to use them correctly.
✔️ 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.
- Inverter technology delivers power continuously, while traditional microwaves cycle their power on and off.
- 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. Senior Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab Nicole Papantoniou especially loves this button for starting a microwave without pressing any additional 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, a beverage, or a 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.
- Barcode scanning technology allows you to scan your food's barcode, and the microwave will automatically adjust its settings to cook the packaged food.
- Child safety locks on microwaves are a good feature to look for if you have small children in your home. With this feature, the oven's control panel is "locked," so children or anyone unfamiliar with it cannot accidentally operate it.
How do you clean a microwave?
We recommend wiping down your microwave once a week and giving it a deeper clean at least once a month. Cleaning your microwave regularly helps prevent grease, splatters, and stuck-on food from becoming harder to remove.
For an easy way to loosen stuck-on food and grease inside your microwave, combine 1 cup of water with a few tablespoons of white or apple cider vinegar, or add slices of lemon, lime, or orange and squeeze in some of the juice. Microwave the mixture on high for two to three minutes, until it boils and the window steams up. Let it sit for five minutes, then carefully remove the bowl and wipe down the interior and turntable with a sponge.
For the exterior, wipe the door, handle, and keypad with a damp cloth and a little dish soap or baking soda. For stubborn grease, apply a grease-cutting cleaner to a cloth or sponge rather than spraying it directly on the microwave, especially around vents and electronic controls.
How to cook in your microwave
For better results, don’t default to full power for every food. Lower power levels give heat more time to distribute evenly, helping prevent hot spots, dry edges, and overcooking. Use medium power (around 50%) for reheating leftovers and frozen foods, and lower settings for delicate foods like eggs, seafood, chocolate, dairy-based sauces, and grains. Full power is best for foods with a high water content, such as vegetables, soups, and sauces. Since every microwave works a little differently, check your model’s manual for instructions on adjusting the power level.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
As the Kitchen Appliances Lab reviews analyst, Eva Bleyer has professionally tested all kinds of kitchen equipment, from oven ranges to juicers. Bleyer conducted the most recent side-by-side testing of 12 new microwave models in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab. While she doesn't cook in a microwave every day, she loves the convenience of being able to quickly melt butter or instantly make a bowl of oatmeal.
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