The Best Microwaves: A Buyer’s Guide

Capacity: 0.7 Cubic Feet

Watts: 700 Watts

The Faberware microwave is just the right size for office chill zones or your small apartment kitchen at home. It has six different presets to heat up some of the most common foods like popcorn, potatoes, frozen veggies and pizza. It also has ten power levels up to 700 watts to ensure everything is cooked all the way through. The digital screen's got a clock and shows a countdown timer while your food's cooking. Save your favorite settings with the memory function, and the big door has an easy-grip handle and a child-safety lock for peace of mind. Definitely a great option for a great price.

Features:

• 700 watts of cooking power
• Six one-touch cooking programs
• Ten power levels

‍Pros:

• Defrost by weight or time
• Child safe funcionality
• Express cooking options

‍Cons:

• Small
• It could be a little noisy

Capacity: 2.2 Cubic Feet

Watts: 1250 Watts:

This Panasonic microwave is the top of the line. Panasonic is a household name, and that’s because it’s one that we know we can trust. This microwave is definitely a powerhouse, with 1250 watts of power and a large capacity of 2.2 cubic feet. It’s made from stainless steel and cooks all sorts of meals, from breakfast to snacks and dinners, perfect for anyone from singles to larger families. With its Inverter Technology, you won’t have to worry about unevenly heated food. Just hit the Genius Sensor button, which automatically adjusts power and time for various foods. Plus, there are 14 auto-cook options for your favorite dishes. 

Features:

• 1250 watts of power
• Stainless steel composition
• Large family size with 2.2 cubic foot capacity
• Inverter technology with turbo defrost
• Genius Sensor

Pros:

• 14 Auto Cook Options
• An aesthetic design
• Keep warm feature maintains food temperature

Cons:

• The buttons may be hard to read with bad lighting
• The interior light isn't very strong

Capacity: 1.2 Cubic Feet

Watts: 1100 Watts

This Toshiba Stainless Steel microwave is the perfect happy medium with 1.2 cubic feet of interior capacity and 1100 watts of power. It is perfect for smaller kitchens or for the workplace. The best part about this microwave is its energy efficiency. It has an eco mode that cuts standby power by 50%, saving energy, costs, and the planet. It works great for reheating foods and has six different presets plus ten power levels to cook just about anything. The display has all the classic features like a timer and clock, and you can customize up to three presets for your favorite meals. This is definitely the best pick if you want a sustainable option. 

Features:

• Energy-saving eco mode that cuts power by 50%
• Smart sensor with six auto menus
• Soften/melt function
• Custom defrost function

Pros:

• Eco-friendly, energy-saving option
• Large digital display, easy-to-read control panel

• Mute function

Cons:

• Some buttons are a little small
• You can't cook and use the timer at the same time