If you’re on the hunt for the best microwave, you’re in the right place. With the power to reheat and cook your food, these speedy countertop cookers are perfect for making light work of time-consuming tasks. Steaming veg and even cooking rice is quick and easy with a microwave, and they only take up a fraction of your counter space. In our best microwave guide we’ve included 10 of the top combi and solo microwave ovens on the market, as well as some built-in options that won’t even have to sit on your kitchen counters.
It’s very possible to pick up one of the best microwaves for under £100, and you can even find a few microwaves under £50 if you know where to look. With these budget-friendly and handy appliances, you can cut the amount of time it takes to cook a jacket spud in half. All you need to do is put it in for a quick spin in the microwave and then finish it in the oven for that classic crispy skin. And of course, when it comes to meal prepping, there’s nothing like a microwave for reheating your leftovers.
For more cooking essentials, take a look at the best air fryers
Most of the best microwaves in our guide come from brands like Sage, Swan, Beko, Russell Hobbs, and Panasonic. You can also pick up a couple of in-built microwaves that sit flush against your kitchen cabinets. They can be more tricky to install, but often come with added functions that will let you grill, air fry, and even steam cook all manner of meals in a larger and smarter model.
Best microwaves 2022
1. Swan Nordic Digital Microwave
Best microwave overall
Type: Digital
Capacity: 20 litres
Features: Defrost, express, auto cook, advance timer
Reasons to buy:
• It looks the part
• Comes in a range of fun colours
• Far more multi-functional that it first appears
Reasons to avoid:
• The controls took some adjusting to
The Swan Nordic Digital Microwave can be spotted (by the eager-eyed among us) in the Great British Bake Off kitchen. It comes in this striking forest green, but there’s also white, blue, and grey to choose from. The nordic style works well with a range of other swan appliances and the dimensions are well suited for small kitchens.
The microwave has fully adjustable strength settings, which is done by adjusting the micro power button. The dial can be used to scroll through timings, up to one hour, and the soft-touch finish also matches the door handle. The front of the microwave is mirrored but did not attract smudges when testing.
With only 800 watts there are more powerful microwaves out there, but the Swan Nordic Digital Microwave is a top pick for those who have a little more than £100 to spend on a microwave that looks the part and performs well.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Read our full Swan Nordic microwave review
2. Russell Hobbs Inspire Microwave Oven
Best microwave for under £100
Type: Standalone
Capacity: 17 litres
Features: Three colour options, five power levels, defrost setting, mirror door finish, easy clean exterior
Reasons to buy:
• It’s super affordable
• Six settings
• Non-slip feet
Reasons to avoid:
• Fingerprints leave marks
You can expect the best microwave for under £100 to be lacking in combination features, but we loved how easy to use the Russell Hobbs Inspire Microwave Oven was when we put it to the test. It has six settings: Low, Defrost, Medium Low, Medium, Medium High and High. It’s also surprisingly compact for a larger capacity option, with dimensions of 34.5 x 45.2 x 26.2 cm.
We did dock the Inspire Microwave half a star because the front leaves fingerprint marks which can mean more frequent cleaning, but found that its defrost and high power settings were brilliant for day-to-day use.
The timer goes up to half an hour which is convenient for the defrost mode especially, and the non-slip feet meant it stayed secure through testing. You can also pair this microwave with the Inspire toaster and kettle for some added coordination.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
3. Hotpoint Curve MWH 1311
Best microwave for corners
Type: Corner, standalone
Capacity: 13 litres
Features: Space-saver, four cooking levels, memo button, safety lock
Reasons to buy:
• A top compact pick
• Can fit into the corner of the kitchen
• Four power levels
Reasons to avoid:
• Its small internal capacity
This compact microwave (no combi grill or oven) has a curved back designed to fit into a corner, the front facing out in any direction. It’s a clever design because corners are the least useful bit of any kitchen worktop.
You can however put it anywhere: it’s a great space-saver full stop at just 39cm wide and 35cm deep (but pretty tall at 36cm because the brains are all under the cavity). Capacity is just 13 litres but it somehow manages to fit a 28cm glass turntable in there, so it can handle a dinner plate.
We loved its simplicity. You can microwave cook at four power levels (700W, 500W, 350W and 160W) or defrost by time or weight. Despite 700W being a bit low-powered, we found it could cook a respectable large jacket spud in 10 minutes.
Features are basic but include clock, kitchen timer and child-safety lock. Controls are self-explanatory. Press the plus and minus buttons to select cooking time or just press Start to cook on full power for multiples of 30 seconds. The memo button lets you save a favourite program.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
4. Panasonic NN-DF386BBPQ
Best freestanding combi microwave
Type: Freestanding, oven and grill
Capacity: 23 litre
Features: Pull-down door, wire grilling rack, metal crisper plate
Reasons to buy:
• Multi-functional combi design
• Decent capacity
• Good at defrosting and cooking jacket spuds
Reasons to avoid:
• It has a large footprint
This freestanding, 23-litre, 1000W microwave combi thinks it’s an oven and it’s not wrong: it does a good job of oven and grill functions. So much so that by Christmas you’ll wonder how you ever survived without the extra cooking space.
It boasts an oven-style, pull-down door and a flatbed design rather than a turntable, so you get 30% more useable cooking space. It comes with a wire rack for grilling, a full-width enamel tray for oven cooking, and also a Panacrunch pan (metal crisper plate) which is heated by microwaves to quickly cook the underside of dishes – for example, pizzas no longer have a soggy bottom.
Controls are straightforward, plus there are seven automatic programs to cook popular foods by weight. A handy sticker in the door reminds you of them. Although if you read the instruction manual there are lots more recipes and tips. Features include a clock, a timer delay and a child safety lock.
Cooking results are both outstanding and precise. Defrosted bread was fresh, not soggy, while a large jacket potato cooked using microwave-grill combi was surprisingly crisp-skinned yet fluffy inside, cooking in just 13 minutes.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
5. Sage Quick Touch Crisp
Best microwave for smart features
Type: Microwave-grill combi
Capacity: 25 litre
Features: Large capacity, smart menus, “A Bit More” button
Reasons to buy:
• Very smart controls
• Useful shortcuts
• Good capacity
Reasons to avoid:
• An expensive microwave
The Quick Touch Crisp boasts impressive foodie menus and handy shortcuts. When the door’s closed, you have the usual controls for commanding microwave, defrost and grill cooking. Plus there are lots of smart menus for cooking various dishes and ingredients – the Sage’s large, detailed display makes them easy to navigate.
Ten buttons hidden inside the door offer popular shortcuts. And they’re not all junk food: there are buttons for caramel, melting chocolate, softening butter and more. This is a microwave that makes it quick and easy to be a foodie.
Features-wise, the Sage is a 1000W microwave-grill combi but not an oven. It has a 25 litre capacity and an 31cm turntable, big enough for even the grandest dinner plates.
The crisper plate has a clever design with three legs that fold up: use it high for grilling and low as a crisper. We used it up high for cheese on toast (a shortcut button) and were impressed: you can cook up to three slices at a time and the results are delicious. Last but not least, the “A Bit More” button is perfect for when a dish needs longer but you don’t want to have to set the program all over again.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
6. Whirlpool Fusion AMW 848/IXL
Best built-in microwave
Type: Integrated
Capacity: 40 litres
Features: Large capacity, auto-sense programs, built-in recipes
Reasons to buy:
• Great for family kitchens
• Integrated design
• Comes with a wire rack and tray
Reasons to avoid:
• It needs to be built-in
If you’re designing a new kitchen, consider an integrated microwave. You get a bigger, better appliance while freeing up valuable worktop space.
This microwave, grill and oven combi genuinely serves as an oven – you get a 40 litres of extra cooking space, perfect for family meals.
It comes with wire grill rack, full-width oven tray, large plastic steamer, crisper plate and an oversized 36cm glass turntable for the microwave. Its programs, intelligent auto-sensing programs and 30 built-in recipes make good use of all these features. Or just touch the arrow on the right to zap at full power (900W) for 30-second bursts, perfect for heating up a cold cuppa.
Oven cooking is quick and precise. Grilling uses the round grill rack on the turntable for even cooking. And we loved the crisper plate – not just for stuff like pizzas, but also as a quick, fat-free way to cook oven chips, “fried” eggs, halloumi and more.
The controls are intuitive and easy to grasp. When you’re done, it beeps and offers the option to cook at the same power for longer. We found the glass a bit fingerprinty, but otherwise it’s impossible to fault. Very impressive and can be teamed with the AKZM 6692/IXL oven, designed to match not just its design but also its touch controls, menus and recipes.
Ideal Home’s rating: 5 out of 5 stars
7. Swan SM22090
Best microwave under £100
Type: Small microwave
Capacity: 20 litre
Features: Five power levels, quirky look, matching appliances available
Reasons to buy:
• Even cooking
• Matching accessories
• Very affordable
Reasons to avoid:
• The style won’t be for everyone
The copper hue of this 800W Swan microwave is easy on the eye and has a timeless appeal. The colour is interesting but subtle. The copper looks superb teamed with the mirror-finish glass door.
It’s compact and simple: microwave only, no combi. It has a relatively small 27cm turntable, so beware if you have large dinner plates.
It boasts five microwave power levels. You can cook or defrost by time or weight. There are eight programs for cooking popular foods, including popcorn, pizza, drinks and potatoes. You can also quick-start cook for multiples of 30 seconds.
The Swan isn’t just a pretty face: it cooks evenly and we thought the features impressive for an affordable microwave. It does more than the basics and the controls are straightforward. But most of all, it’s affordable but looks great.
Swan offers a range of co-ordinated copper electricals to match, including three styles of kettle, five toaster designs and kitchen scales. You can even buy accessories like a pan set and a knife block in the same copper finish.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
8. Russell Hobbs RHFM2363B
Best for contemporary looks
Type: Freestanding microwave
Capacity: 23 litres
Features: Fits large dishes, looks sleek, does the job
Reasons to buy:
• Space-saving design
• Even cooking
Reasons to avoid:
• Low in power
Don’t buy an unbranded supermarket microwave when for a little more you can buy this. The Russell Hobbs “Solo” looks great and it cooks well, too. The design draws ideas from more expensive microwaves. For example, it has a flatbed interior rather than a turntable, which means you can make more effective use of its 23-litre capacity. You can therefore fit in square plates and oversized casserole dishes.
The purpose of turntables is to move food around, so cooking is more even. But the theory is that the Russell Hobbs’ bumpy walls – sorry, “diamond cavity” structure – reflect microwaves in various directions, which leads to more even cooking. We found that it cooked and defrosted evenly enough – and fast enough, despite only offering 800W of power. And cleaning is easier with a flatbed than a turntable.
The outside has a nice, modern design too, with a black, mirrored door, large handle and discrete digital controls. Cleverly, the display is behind the glass door but shines through it. Opening the door also reveals a list of the microwave’s eight built-in programs. Other features include kitchen timer and child safety lock.
Ideal Home’s rating: 4 out of 5 stars
9. Bosch HMT75M451B
Best small microwave
Type: Freestanding microwave
Capacity: 17 litres
Features: Built-in programs, small size, five power settings
Reasons to buy:
• A compact pick for small homes
• Includes a kitchen timer
Reasons to avoid:
• Basic offerings for the price
This has the smallest capacity (17 litres) and turntable (24.5cm) of the microwaves on test, but as a result it has a tiny footprint, just 46cm wide and 29cm deep.
What’s more, you can either sit it on the worktop or mount it on the underside of a kitchen wall cabinet to reclaim worktop space for food preparation. It’s therefore a good buy if space is at a premium.
It won’t fit a large dinner plate, but it does a fine job of the microwave basics. It has five power settings (800W, 600W, 360W, 180W and 90W) and there are separate buttons on the front for each one, so you can immediately select any power. You can cook by weight or time (up to 60 minutes) using the pop-out knob at the top.
Features include a small number of built-in programs, a memory button for your favourite setting and a kitchen timer.
We liked the Bosch’s space-saving design and also its simplicity. Some microwaves require you to read and memorise an instruction manual: this is straightforward. It’s basic but good quality, with a brushed stainless steel finish on the outside. Note that the inside is white though.
Ideal Home’s rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
10. Beko 32L Combination Microwave
Best combination microwave oven
Image credit: Beko
Type: Combination oven
Capacity: 32 litres
Features: Convection, grill, 5 power levels
Reasons to buy:
• Immense capacity
• Very powerful
Reasons to avoid:
• It’s a pricey choice
The Beko 32L Combination Microwave is a top pick for those who want a microwave that can also act as a grill or even a convection oven when need be. It’s got a huge capacity of 32 litres, which translates into its somewhat bulky dimensions: 41 x 51.3 x 30.7 cm. As for power, it’s pretty much as powerful as a microwave can get, with 1000 watts of grill power, 900 watts of microwave power, and a massive 2300 watts of convection power.
There are six buttons, which makes it easy to choose a setting for your cooking, and with specific modes for defrosting, microwave grilling, and convection microwaving, you won’t get lots with fiddly or vague controls.
A buyer’s guide to microwaves
Before you make your final choice, make sure you’ve take these key features into account.
Image credit: Richard Gadsby
Do I want a combi?
If you have a small kitchen or you’re on a tight budget, a microwave-only model may be best. But otherwise a combi is well worth it. Your microwave doubles as a grill and/or oven, giving you extra cooking space (plan ahead for Christmas dinner) and the best of both worlds: cook a jacket potato quickly (microwaves) yet with a crispy skin (oven).
What’s a crisper plate?
The latest, high-end combis often come with extra accessories like grill rack, oven tray, steamer and something new called a crisper plate. Forget everything you were told about not putting metal in microwaves: these large, non-stick metal dishes are heated quickly by microwaves to become a hotplate. Cook stuff like pizza fast and with no fear of a soggy bottom. You can even “fry” stuff like eggs and bacon with no oil. We love them.
What if I don’t have room for a microwave?
New, small microwave-only models are surprisingly compact – there’s space in front of them for food prep. You can also get microwaves designed to be wall-mounted under a cabinet and ones with curved backs that fit neatly in the dead worktop space in a corner. Or if you have plenty of cupboard space but not much worktop, consider an integrated model.
How much should I spend on a microwave?
Budget £100 for a microwave that will serve you well. We think cheaper, supermarket own brand ones are a false economy. Budget up to £300 for a larger combi with all mod cons. And double that for integrated, but then you get much more cooking space and an appliance that genuinely doubles as a proper oven.
Microwave power – does it matter?
Image credit: Whirlpool
Microwave power is measured in watts – the higher the figure, the faster it should heat your food. The average is 800-900W. However, as microwave technology has improved, simply going for the most powerful model isn’t a guarantee of a better-performing oven.
What capacity microwave do I need?
Want to cook a whole chicken in there? You’ll need a decent capacity – anything over the 30-litre mark should take a family-sized bird. Smaller households will be better off with a model that takes up minimal space on the worktop, so exterior dimensions will be more important.
Most microwaves have turntables to ensure even cooking. But some newer designs have taken their lead from commercial kitchens and ditched them completely. These flatbed models use the latest technology to distribute the microwaves evenly without the need to turn the food. This frees up lots of space inside for big dishes, such as casseroles, and makes them easier to clean.
If your microwave does have a turntable, keep in mind that the given capacity in cubic litres may not account for the space it takes up. Measure from the turntable up before you buy to make sure your dishes will fit.
Some microwaves also have shelves that allow you to cook on two levels. You’ll need to increase the normal cooking time or move dishes around, but it’s handy for preparing large quantities of food simultaneously instead of in stages.
What auto programmes and presets do I need?
Not sure how long or at what power level you need to your penne or potatoes will need to cook? Don’t worry, your microwave will tell you if it’s got the relevant auto programmes. Most have them for the likes of popular dishes such as pasta, fish and vegetables. The cleverest can even weigh your food and work out the cooking times to the second.
Auto-defrost and reheat functions are also worth investing in, as are one-touch shortcut keys for melting butter or chocolate (saving you from using the hob) or a quick boost of power. Sage microwaves have presets for, among other things, porridge, soup, fish and baked beans. Ding, indeed!
Other features to consider
One big way newer models excel is with sensor technology. This measures the humidity inside the oven and then adjusts the cooking times to prevent food from over-baking and drying out.
For ultra-even heating and defrosting, look for a model with an inverter. It will control the power flow for consistent results – rather than pulsing high power on and off.
A clean machine is more efficient. However, how easy your microwave will be to keep clean will be affected by its interior finish. Stainless steel, enamel and acrylic are relatively easy to keep sparkling with a regular wipe down.
Pyrolytic cleaning functions (which incinerates mess completely at high temperatures) and low-hassle catalytic liners (which burn off any grease and food that’s on them) are usually only found on combination microwaves.
The post Best microwave 2022: built-in and countertop ovens appeared first on Ideal Home.
