We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Kitchen Products The 5 Best Microwaves of 2024, Tested by PEOPLE We found your next kitchen workhorse By Alyssa Brascia Alyssa Brascia Alyssa Brascia is a staff shopping writer for PEOPLE with two years of experience in the digital media industry. Her expertise lies in the realm of fashion and beauty, where she covers the best products that your wardrobe and makeup vanity need like the best lip oils, boyfriend jeans, workout sets, ballet flats, and more. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 9, 2024 11:02AM EDT In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews What to Know Behind the Scenes Why Trust PEOPLE? What Is PEOPLE Tested? Photo: People / Will Dickey Whether it’s reheating leftovers or making a bag of popcorn for movie night, microwaves are one of the most essential kitchen appliances. But with so many options and dozens of features on each one, it can be hard to find the best one for the best deal. To level the playing field, we tested 20 microwaves and picked out the top performers based on design, performance, features, and more. Whether you’re a Top Chef aficionado or a regular home cook, one of these microwaves is for you. After evaluating their heating abilities with water, marshmallows, frozen macaroni and cheese, chocolate, and popcorn, we compiled a list of microwaves that not only get the job done but complement your kitchen while doing so. Our Top Picks Best Overall: SALE Toshiba EM131A5C-BS at Amazon $140 $110 Jump to Review Best Budget: SALE Farberware Stainless Steel Countertop Microwave Oven at Amazon $130 $90 Jump to Review Best Investment: Panasonic Oven with Cyclonic Wave Inverter Technology at Amazon $400 Jump to Review Best with Air Fryer: SALE Galanz 4-in-1 ToastWave at Amazon $300 $200 Jump to Review Best Standard: Panasonic 1.2 Inverter Microwave at Amazon $240 Jump to Review Best Overall Toshiba EM131A5C-BS PHOTO: Amazon $140 $110 at Amazon $110 at Farmandfleet.com $143 at Lowe's Star Qualities Big enough to fit large dishes Kid-friendly design Sleek and attractive exterior Red Flags Lacks flashy features or settings If you’re looking for a microwave for your first home or to make cooking easier, this model from Toshiba could be just what you need. Outfitted with a gunmetal gray stainless steel exterior and a 12.4-inch turntable, this microwave is perfect for homes that require big dishes, a sleek look, and child-safe features at a modest price. It has two defrost settings, a humidity sensor, a power-saving mode, and even a mute button for when you need to avoid waking up anyone in the house. We recommend this Toshiba based on its dependable features and performance. It has every necessity for a microwave, from different power settings to a sensor for assisted heating. This microwave is a great option for a family. In fact, it’s so easy to use that it can be safely operated by children, thanks to the simple button features and pull-open handle. However, the lack of frills or specialty features may be a drawback to some. While it may not have the bells and whistles of a combination microwave, this was one of the two microwaves that tied for the highest score, fully earning its right as our best overall. Material: Stainless steel, glass | Dimensions: 20.5 x 17.1 x 12.8 inches | Capacity: 1.2 cubic feet | Weight: 34.6 pounds | Wattage: 1,100 watts | Special Features: Defrost settings, humidity sensor, mute button PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore Best Budget Farberware Stainless Steel Countertop Microwave Oven PHOTO: Amazon $130 $90 at Amazon $90 at Walmart $186 at Macy's Star Qualities Compact size is perfect for dorms or small apartments Includes several heating levels and cooking programs Red Flags Louder than some of the others we tested Smaller spaces like college dorms or apartments require smart utilization of your space, which is why this model from Farberware is a great appliance for compact kitchens. With child lock, multiple power levels and cooking programs, and more, this microwave packs all of the essential features into a small frame. This is a dependable microwave that can get the job done without costing too much money. However, this microwave mostly bears the basic features of a standard microwave, like defrost settings, 30-second control, and more. If you are looking for a fancier oven with multi-purpose functions, then this may not be the one for you; however, those types of advanced microwaves will typically be larger models, and this is the perfect size for someone with limited space. Material: Stainless steel | Dimensions: 20.2 x 16.5 x 12.03 inches | Capacity: 1.1 cubic feet | Weight: 25.75 pounds | Wattage: 1,000 watts | Special Features: 6 one-touch cooking programs, 10 power levels, defrost by weight or time, express cooking functions, 30-second control button, LED display, child lock PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore Best Investment Panasonic Oven with Cyclonic Wave Inverter Technology PHOTO: Amazon $400 at Amazon View on Panasonic.com Star Qualities Most powerful microwave we tested Great for reheating Advanced settings and bonus functions Red Flags Requires ample kitchen space Not only is the Panasonic Microwave Oven the largest model on this list, but the most powerful, too. Manufactured with “cyclonic wave inverter technology,” the heat waves produced by this model move in a circular motion around the food or drink inside the microwave to heat the contents from all sides. The “sensor inverter turbo defrost” is another feature that thaws food rapidly and evenly, so that you don’t find cold spots when you cut into your leftovers. Throughout our tests, we noticed that this model heated everything evenly and outperformed all the other machines for this feature, making us believe that the sensor is essential for effectively heating frozen foods. With great power comes great size, which means that you’ll need to have enough space for this large model. However, this size may be perfect for larger families. In fact, we noted mid-test that you could probably place a turkey inside if you really wanted to. Material: Stainless steel | Dimensions: 23.9 x 19.4 x 14 inches | Capacity: 2.2 cubic feet | Weight: 36.80 pounds | Wattage: 1,250 watts | Special Features: 20 preset menu items, inverter turbo defrost, quick 30-second button, child lock PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore Best with Air Fryer Galanz 4-in-1 ToastWave PHOTO: Amazon $300 $200 at Amazon Star Qualities Replaces several appliances Fairly priced for its functionality Red Flags High heat power may overcook food If you haven’t already hopped on the air fryer bandwagon, then this microwave and air fryer combo from Galanz is the perfect appliance to grab. After significant testing, we’ve deduced that this model has every feature under the sun, serving as a microwave, air fryer, convection, and toaster oven all in one. Despite its relatively higher price, we think this microwave is well worth the investment, seeing as it’s the most fairly priced model among the ones that have multiple functions. However, our tests revealed that this multifunctional microwave is best suited for reheating food or cooking frozen meals, as more delicate foods can be easily overcooked in this high-power machine. We’d recommend this microwave to an attentive chef, as this model is prone to some excessive browning and is best suited for the adventurous cook who is interested in a multi-function appliance. Material: Stainless steel | Dimensions: 21.3 x 22.3 x 12.6 inches | Capacity: 1.2 cubic feet | Weight: 40.2 pounds | Wattage: 1,000 watts | Special Features: Sensor cook, sensor reheat, inverter heating technology, air fryer, convection oven, toaster oven, defrost PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Russell Kilgore PHOTO: People / Will Dickey Best Standard Panasonic 1.2 Inverter Microwave PHOTO: Best Buy $240 at Amazon $155 at Target $240 at Best Buy Star Qualities Extremely easy to use Variety of advanced functions Quicker heating time than most microwaves we tried Red Flags Not as budget-friendly as some of our other picks This chic microwave makes a stylish addition to your kitchen and an even better help when preparing your meals. The Panasonic 1.2 Inverter Microwave features “inverter precision cook technology,” which is said to cook food up to 40 percent faster than the traditional microwave thanks to the sensors inside that measure humidity and temperature as your meal heats up. You can even reheat drinks in this model without worrying about splatters, thanks to the refined technology. We were most impressed by the reheating abilities of this microwave (out of all that were tested) due to its evenly cooked results. Though this microwave lacks the glittering features of some of the other models, it more than makes up for it in its effectiveness and efficiency. After seeing how well this performed throughout all of our tests, we are more than willing to invest our own money into this machine for our homes thanks to its plentiful features, reasonable price, and space-saving design. Material: Stainless steel | Dimensions: 22.5 x 17.7 inches x 14.4 inches | Capacity: 1.2 cubic feet | Weight: 27.84 pounds | Wattage: 1,200 watts | Special Features: Inverter technology, inverter turbo defrost, one-touch sensor cook, 12 speeds What to Know About Microwaves Wattage While Steph Chen, the founder of Anyday cookware, shares that most microwaves can get the basics done, they are not all created equally. “Microwave wattage translates to how powerful the microwave is — if the wattage is too low (700-800 watts), your food will cook and reheat slowly and more unevenly,” Chen explains. To get the best results, she recommends that shoppers look for microwaves with a wattage between 1,000 and 1,200 watts. Capacity A factor that many people may not take into consideration when looking for a microwave is its capacity. Most microwaves have a capacity of around 1.1 cubic feet, but if you are someone who is constantly reheating casserole dishes or popping large meals into the oven, then you may need a model with larger dimensions. On the other hand, people who need to be conscious of countertop space, like renters in small apartments, should go for smaller models like the Farberware Compact Microwave to maximize their space. Keep an eye out for the size that is best suited to your cooking style, and be sure to look at its dimensions before purchasing. Features As we’ve seen, many microwaves come with the standard features of defrost, reheat, and the finicky popcorn setting, but some models come with extra bells and whistles to act as a multifunctional appliance. Inverter technology is a significant selling point for Chen, making microwaves like our splurge-worthy Panasonic pick an instant “yes” in her book. “These microwaves are more powerful and will heat food evenly at all power levels, whereas normal microwaves will only oscillate on and off to achieve lower power,” says Chen. Technological functionality aside, some microwaves can double as air fryers, convection ovens, and even grills, which allows you to cut down on counter clutter and condense your appliances into one product. Purpose Just like with other smaller appliances and kitchen items like an indoor pizza oven, an air fryer, or even a meat thermometer, your level of cooking expertise and the types of meals you usually make will dictate what kind of microwave you should invest in. If you tend to put time and care into preparing your meals, then you may want a fancier model with extra functions (like the Galanz GT 4-in-1 ToastWave) rather than the standard microwave. But for someone who lives a busy lifestyle and needs a quick microwave meal, a traditional model like our best overall pick, the Toshiba, may be all you need (and is often easier on the wallet). People / Will Dickey Behind the Scenes To test these microwaves, we microwaved a cup of room-temperature water, marshmallows, frozen macaroni and cheese, chocolate wafers, and popcorn for two minutes (or as the directions instructed) in each one. They were then judged on how well they heated up, melted, or cooked in the time they should have, according to their packaging. Each microwave was then scored from one to five based on size, features, heating, and effectiveness. After these were tallied up, each tester was asked to give their final feedback and share if they would recommend the product to family and friends or buy it themselves — which we dished on above. Why Trust PEOPLE? Alyssa Brascia is a PEOPLE commerce writer who covers beauty, fashion, home, and lifestyle topics. Her work has appeared in other publications, including InStyle, Shape, and Southern Living. To pick the best microwaves, she compared wattage, capacity, features, purpose, and tester insights. She also consulted Steph Chen on what to consider before buying a microwave. Our Expert Panel Steph Chen is the founder of Anyday cookware. What Is PEOPLE Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.