Westinghouse, Sharp and Samsung are all top choices for great value, conventional microwaves with enough wattage (go for anything over 800 watts) to get the job done and multiple power levels to conquer all your heating and defrosting needs.
When it comes to microwaves, wattage equals power. A 1,000-watt microwave will cook quickly and efficiently, so that's a great baseline. Microwaves with 700 watts or less are slower and may not cook evenly. In general, the higher the wattage, the faster the cooking time.
Most microwave recipes require 1,000 watts of power for best results, so you may want to choose a microwave model with a higher wattage when shopping.
Convection microwave ovens heat up food like conventional microwaves, but have an extra heating element and fan so they can also bake, roast and crisp food like an oven.
Microwave Oven Types
Three types of microwaves are available: solo, grill and convection.
The most notable disadvantage of convection microwaves is their inability to bake some items as well as standard ovens. For example, biscuits baked in a traditional oven have a better texture than those baked in convection microwaves.
The most common types of microwaves include built-in, over-the-range, countertop, undercounter, wall oven and microwave combination, smart and convection microwaves.
Convection microwaves are much smaller appliances than ovens and can be installed as a built-in, over-the-range or simply placed on your countertop. Convection ovens are larger appliances that occupy more space in your kitchen and can cook multiple dishes and larger portions than convection microwaves.
Convection microwaves are ideal for any situation where installing or using a standard oven isn't viable. For instance, if you have a small space yet love to cook, a convection microwave is ideal. And if you routinely cook large meals with lots of sides, a convection microwave provides extra cooking space.
Metal and foil can be used safely and effectively with the convection cooking feature in a microwave convection oven.
In general, the higher the wattage, the faster and more evenly your food will cook. Most microwaves sit somewhere between 600 to 1,200 watts. Larger, more expensive microwaves tend to have a higher wattage, so this is a price and size consideration that can strongly influence microwave cooking performance.
Models with more watts typically have more cooking power, but differences of 100 watts or so don't matter much. All the microwaves in our tests have a minimum of 700 watts; models with higher wattages provide faster and more even cooking.
What are standard microwave sizes? Microwave sizes are fairly standardized with most over-the-range microwaves measuring around 30" wide, 17" high and 15" to 18" deep with the door closed.
With normal usage for an average family and good maintenance, a microwave often lasts for 7 to 8 years. If the microwave is used less frequently by a single person or a couple and is well-maintained, the lifespan can increase to up to 10 years.
These kitchen appliances are loved by many since they can replace a full oven. Furthermore, combination microwaves tend to cook faster when compared to a standard microwave. More than that, they tend to have a much larger capacity than that of a basic microwave.
Microwaves, slow cookers, electric pressure cookers and air fryers all consume significantly less energy than ovens, so using these instead, if possible, will save you money.
But are convection microwaves worth the money? CHOICE kitchen appliance expert and home economist, Fiona Mair, says they are a useful, versatile appliance. "A convection microwave has an element and a fan, as well as a top element for grilling. Because of this, it can be used as a microwave, an oven, or a grill.
Set the microwave on the convection mode, set your temperature and this time you also need to fix your time. Remember that when using a convection microwave, baking time gets reduced by 25%. For example, if a cake takes 30mins to bake in an oven, it would take 7.5 mins less in a convection microwave.
25L Microwave
A step up from the standard size, these spacious microwaves are perfect for larger families. You'll typically find grill and combination microwave ovens with this capacity as more space allows for more functionality.
Glass-ceramic ware and heatproof glass ware are safe in the microwave oven. Oven cooking bags, baskets made of straw and wood (without metal), wax paper, parchment paper, and vented plastic bags are all safe to use in the microwave.
With a flatbed, there's no more struggling to clean the turntable mechanism, or having to remove the plate to get a good clean. The smooth surfaces inside make cleaning a breeze, and there's the added benefit of minimal splashes – your food doesn't spill because the dishes don't move around.