In the past few years, microwave ovens have changed a lot. They now have digital timers and auto-cook programs that make it easy to make dinner. If you need Solo models, which can be bought for less than £100. Combination models, which can be grills and convection ovens, are usually much more expensive. Check out our 10 best microwave oven reviewed below to make up your mind about your next purchase.
Both types of microwaves have pros and cons, so before buying, consider how much space you have (combis are a lot bigger) and what you want to use them for. In general, the faster something cooks, the more power it puts out (measured in watts). Therefore, families should look for a microwave with containers between 20 and 30 liters.
There are a lot of different microwave oven on the market, so check out our top picks for every need and price range.
Russell Hobbs RHM2076B 20 Litre 800 WBest 2-in-1 Microwave Oven
- EASY CLEAN
- 800W POWER
- AUTO DEFROST
- Unfit for grilling
The Russell Hobbs RHM2076S microwave oven boasts a modern, slick appearance with a lovely mirror door finish. With 800 watts of microwave power, this device offers rapid and convenient cooking in your house and an appealing appearance.
The defrost feature and eight pre-programmed auto-cook options, including pizza, fish, and popcorn, let you quickly prepare your favorite foods. The glass turn-table is detachable for simple cleaning and is dishwasher safe, while the 20L cavity capacity comfortably fits a regular dinner plate.
You have total control over cooking thanks to the five microwave power settings. Additionally, I could use the digital clock in this microwave immediately. Even though it came with one, it was no requirement first to master any books. If there were any specifics you needed to read up on, that was there. But if you come from the trial-and-error school, it is simple since there isn’t much error, and you need to have the foresight to check health and safety every five minutes before you blink. Just go for it.
It is very easy to install and works like a charm; it best Utilizes gradual power to prevent food explosions. Not appropriate for heating liquids or containers that hold liquids. Avoid using handmade ceramics or metal baking trays. Unfit for baking or grilling
Toshiba 800w 20L Microwave OvenBest microwave oven by Toshiba
- Adjustable Power Levels & Time
- Low-Noise Operation
- THE TURNTABLE IS NOT DEEP ENOUGH
Toshiba MM-MM20P 20L microwave oven takes advantage of the simple functionality of this 800w single microwave from Toshiba. This type, designed for basic, no-frills microwave cooking, features five power settings and a manual timer that goes up to 35 minutes. Use simple controls to defrost, reheat, and cook by your particular requirements. This microwave has a good inside size of 20L, ideal for regular dinner plates, bowls, and other tableware.
This microwave has a classic design with two user-friendly control knobs and a plain white shell that fits your existing kitchen decor. This microwave works well for various heating tasks thanks to the varied power settings, from low heat for softening ice cream to high heat for reheating leftovers. Depending on weight or time, perfectly defrost various dishes.
Choose a cooking time between 1 second and 25 minutes to begin cooking right away. This microwave operates at a shallow noise level of just 55 dB, so you may use it whenever you want without bothering anybody else in the house, especially young children. In addition, the glass turntable’s rotation guarantees even cooking without irritating mistakes or localized overcooking.
It is pretty silent. The set of dinner plates is ideal. It consistently heats food to a temperature between 175 and 187 degrees, whether I press it once for a plate of food at room temperature or again for food straight from the refrigerator. I did discover that the glass plate’s middle has a cold area. So for best effects, a bowl of soup should be placed as far to the outside edge as feasible. It’s ideal for mixing rice dishes midway through reheating. But I do prefer that. Simply put, it heats up more evenly, unlike some parts, like rubber, which does not quite reach a safe temperature.
The one-touch alternatives that are located above the grid of numbers are good. It is convenient when you know exactly how long you need to cook.
Toshiba 900w 23L Microwave OvenBest easy to use Microwave
- Combination Cooking
- Position Memory Turntable
- Energy saving Eco function
- poor grill performance
With this cutting-edge and user-friendly Toshiba 900w combination microwave oven, you can get more out of your microwaved meals. This high-tech microwave was designed to provide modern comforts to your busy life. It has a user-friendly control panel, an interior light, and eight cooking presets for pizza, meat, vegetables, pasta, potatoes, fish, beverage, and popcorn.
With a proper inside capacity of 23L, this microwave oven is ideal for regular dinner plates, bowls, and other tableware. In addition, this microwave works well for a variety of heating tasks thanks to the varied power settings, from low heat for softening ice cream to high heat for reheating leftovers, and offering a position memory turntable that will return to its original position following cooking, allowing you to reach in safely and hold mugs or dishes by their handles without risking burning your fingers!
Power boosts are a delight. I need more motivation to bother with the grill so that I could have done without it. A minor annoyance is that the roller must be carefully inserted since the grooves in which to do so are too shallow, causing the roller to move when the plate is placed on top. The roller also appears a little fragile. Nevertheless, I don’t regret purchasing it. The additional power is fantastic, and the cooking turns out well.
Panasonic NN-CD87KSBPQ Combination Microwave OvenBest Combi Microwave
- large 34L capacity
- The quartz grill system
- Very short power cord
To eliminate guesswork, push one button, and the time will be determined automatically. Get the best results from reheating without over or undercooking. Every meal will produce exceptional results thanks to the Genius Sensor. A sophisticated sensor determines the ideal timing by measuring the steam within the microwave.
There is no longer a need to choose the power, time, or weight to cook a range of dishes; all you have to do is select your favorite Sensor Auto Program. The NN-CD87K is 15% smaller than traditional microwaves because of the clever interior design, giving you more room on your kitchen worktop. Despite this, it features a large 34L capacity and a generous 36cm glass turntable. This allows you more freedom to cook a whole chicken for your family using large dishes and platters.
Great microwave combo oven; 1000 watts of power for a microwave oven is impressive, and it’s also astounding how easily you can change that output to avoid overheating. The combination programs are particularly helpful in producing roast joints that are perfectly cooked, moist, and luscious.
Although it may not be the most affordable combo-microwave, it meets the criteria for a great wave of cooking food. Regular fan ovens have all but been replaced by this, which is a blessing for me because, with my back issues, I find it much easier to load and unload this than a low-level fan oven.
Paying more for all the different types of cooking is advised. Every time I’ve had to replace it, there have been little advancements along the way; this one is a little bit less bulky and smaller, but it still holds the same amount of liquid inside. The best oven you could own is this one.
SHARP YC-MS02U-S 800W Solo DigitalBest one-touch panel Microwave oven
- Full touch control
- Space-saving microwave size
- Easy to clean
- Controls are a bit fiddly
This SHARP YC-MS02U-S 800W Solo Microwave is the magic word for fast, easy cooking, whether you need to thaw, heat up, or cook. Sharp has a wide range of Solo, Grill, and Convection microwave ovens that can be controlled digitally or by hand. Sharp microwave ovens are an excellent choice for any kitchen because they are affordable, practical, and have a modern look.
It has a modern look with no handles and a silver finish that goes well with the black door window and control panel. When the microwave is not used, the blue LED screen shows the time and has a kitchen timer function. Its easy-to-use touch-control digital panel, 11 power levels, and eight automatic programs make it an excellent choice for all your quick-cooking needs.
This one is made of metal and doesn’t have a grill. It’s straightforward to clean because it has no corners or other things that make it hard to clean. It has already been almost two years! The power (800W) is closer to 900W or 1kW.
It’s big enough for a normal-sized plate and tall enough for a whole chicken (but a bit tight to put a microwave cover on the big ones). The price is of good quality, and it works well. We only use it to heat food up; the only problem is that you can only fit a small dinner plate in it when you’re warming up food. Other than that, it’s great. At first, how you control time seems strange, but you soon figure it out.
Toshiba 800w 23L Microwave OvenSilent Microwave oven
- Express Cook
- Low-Noise Operation
- Safety Guarantee
- no haptic feedback
Toshiba 800w 23L high-tech microwave contains useful features like an easy-to-use control panel, an interior light, and 6 Cooking Presets. It was made to make your busy life more manageable. The glass turntable and painted cavity make it easy to clean with a damp cloth. You can set two different stages of cooking, each with its amount of time and power, so that you can cook your food to perfection.
The inside is very easy to clean. Foods go well with the times. Ventilation is good, so it doesn’t get too steamy. If it gets very hot, it will shut down. This has yet to happen to us. It works well if you use the right amount of weight on it. Overall, this is a good unit that does what you’d expect it to do, but nothing special. It says it’s made of black stainless steel, which is mostly true. However, the whole front door is made of plastic, making it feel cheap.
I would have given this five stars if the following things weren’t true. First, the control panel doesn’t light up, which has sometimes been annoying. Second, you don’t feel anything when you press the flat buttons that look like touch screens. Third, there is an audible input check, but it would have been nice to have a physical confirmation that the button was pressed. Finally, even though you get used to it, haptic feedback would have been excellent.
Russell Hobbs RHM2031 20 L 800 W Stainless Steel Digital Grill Microwave oven
- handy digital clock
- child safety lock
- 1000 watt grill
- slightly smaller for plates
The RHM2031 Russell Hobbs Microwave with Grill is sleek and looks like it was made by a professional. This appliance has a nice look and a lot of useful features. It has a microwave with 800 watts of power and a grill with 1000 watts of energy to cook quickly and easily at home.
Microwave ovens need to make heat on their own. Instead, they make the water molecules in food vibrate. This shaking makes heat, which is what cooks the food. This is why your food can come out of the microwave piping hot while the utensils inside will stay much cooler.
Metal blocks microwaves, so the inside of the appliance is lined with metal. Microwaves can’t get through the door because it has a fine metal mesh on them. Before using the grill function, let it heat up for 5 minutes to the right temperature. While cleaning, don’t use steel wool, scouring pads, or other rough materials. Instead, with a sponge and warm soapy water, you should be able to remove all moisture and food spills.
The grill feature would be better on a unit this size, and if I had room for a toaster as well, I probably wouldn’t use it at all. However, it does work to toast a muffin or crumpet, though it could be faster since it only toasts one side at one time. Is the ring under the turntable meant for something even smaller? Of course, you have to ensure it’s in the right place because if it moves, the turntable falls off and won’t turn, but most of the time, it’s okay.
Panasonic CT54 Slimline Combination Microwave OvenBest for everyday use
- Slimline design, 27L
- Larger turntable (34cm)
- Combination cooking
- Limited control
It is perfect from a technical standpoint. It’s a strange mix of a microwave and an oven. It’s not an outstanding oven, but it’s better for everyday use. Small things bake well in this oven because most heat comes from the top. This is great for making small pieces of meat and baked goods crispier.
I liked how well the unit roasted or grilled seeds and nuts, which turned out very well. This is not a big problem, but because it’s a convection oven, it has many more and louder fans to keep it cool. So even when you are just using the microwave, there is a lot of whooshing and fan noise, even after you cook.
Technically, the oven was fabulous. The temperature was perfect for the convection oven, and the microwave power was lowered smartly, which is much better than the old way, which used full power for a few seconds every minute to make it “low.”
The heating elements are behind the grill, which makes them impossible to clean. Once oil splatters behind the grill, your microwave always smells like burned grease. But you can avoid this by being careful when you splash. Anyway, I like the microwave quiet. The fans are much quieter and don’t keep going and going and going. Still, I have much respect for the first combination microwave I tried. What you eat has everything to do with it. It’s great if you like fried meats, pies, and other baked goods.
Panasonic NN-GD37HSBPQ Compact Microwave OvenAn Inverter Microwave oven
- Inverter technology
- Integrated grill
- 13 Auto Programs
- Black writing is difficult to read
The Panasonic NN-GD37HSBPQ fits easily into any kitchen and has all the benefits of a high-powered microwave and a grill function. It has an ample cooking capacity of 23L, 1000W Inverter power, and a Grill for making things crispy.
This Panasonic NN-GD37HSBPQ has 13 Auto programs that make cooking easy and flexible. For example, the Auto Defrost setting makes it easy to thaw food, and the Quick 30 Seconds setting makes it easy to cook meals. Also, you can make your kitchen your own by using the Add Time function, which will make your daily cooking routine pretty easy.
Compared to regular microwaves, the power is spread out more evenly. Also, with Panasonic Inverter Technology, you no longer have to worry about undercooked or frozen spots in the middle of your food. As a result, your meals are cooked faster, more evenly, and more gently, but they keep their healthy vitamins, nutrients, and flavors.
It’s an elegant, quiet, and easy-to-program little machine. The only bad thing about the 1000-watt grill is that it cooks very slowly—for example, 7 minutes for cheese on toast.
Panasonic NN-ST45KWBPQ Microwave OvenMicrowave oven with a smart food sensor
- pre-programmed Junior Menu
- smart Inverter technology
- minimalistic design
- Very soft control panel
The NN-ST45K has a large 32L capacity and a 34cm-wide glass turntable. This gives you more options for cooking for the whole family so you can use bigger dishes and plates.
The Genius Sensor makes sure that every meal turns out well. A high-tech sensor checks how much steam is in the microwave and sets the best time for cooking automatically. So, one can cook a wide range of dishes by choosing the Sensor Auto Program you want, like “Fresh Fish,” and pressing “Start.” There’s no need to select the weight, power, or time.
The stainless steel inside is easy to clean, and the stainless steel outside doesn’t stain easily.
There may be some doubt about how long they will last since they only seem to last a few years before something goes wrong. However, it gets used a lot, and I have yet to try another brand to see how long it lasts.
The size is perfect for even the biggest dishes. Unfortunately, this Panasonic doesn’t show which power setting is Full Power, Defrost, etc., so you have to remember each wattage. It’s a good microwave oven, other than that.
