Since its inception in 1967, the microwave has been the most familiar, and most frequently utilized, home appliances globally. In fact, it’s quite tough to imagine any up-to-date kitchen without one of these marvelous devices that help rustle up meals in minutes.
Whether you want to cook a full meal or simply warm up pizza, a microwave is much more than an essential kitchen helper that lets you look beyond just defrosting, reheating, and making popcorn. Countertop microwave ovens now feature smart technology, sensor cooking, inverter technology, convection, and lightning speeds. A great microwave oven can turn out meals that rival the cooking results of acclaimed chefs.
Consequently, there are hundreds of options for you to choose from. Consider the following roundup of 15 top-tested countertop microwave models that are worth taking a good look. Through these unbiased reviews, spot the top microwave for your kitchen. We havee also written a complete guide about best portable induction cooktops to change your cooking experience more than you can imagine!
Table of Contents
Top 7 Best Countertop Microwaves in 2025
1. Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SN686S Stainless Steel Countertop
Price: $210.00
| Brand | Panasonic |
| Product Dimensions | 15.8″D x 20.7″W x 12.2″H |
| Color | Stainless Steel / Silver |
| Capacity | 1.2 Cubic Feet |
| Special Feature | Safety Lock |
Invest in smart and elegant Panasonic NN-SN686S 1.2 Cu.Ft. 1200W Genius Sensor Countertop/Built-In
Microwave Oven with Inverter Technology!
Material & Construction
1.2 cu. ft. NN-SN686S microwave built-in to a fresh or existing wall/cabinet has stainless-steel finish. Precision-made to boost the appearance and fit of your microwave and kitchen décor, the stylish stainless trim kit will maintain its class and beauty.
This microwave is well-suited with trim kits for 30″ and 27″ cabinet openings. It measures 15.8″D x 20.7″W x 12.2″H and weighs 37lbs. It has a large utilizable interior space, high power, LED interior light and smooth tactile buttons.
Technology & Functionality
Patented inverter technology ensures there won’t be hot/cold spots but a throughout even heating with a steady power stream at all temperatures. It defrosts frozen food entirely without burning the outer edges.
Genius Sensor cooking & reheating turns it off when food reaches optimal temperature, taking the speculation out of how long to prepare your food.
Sensor measures the quantity of steam let off during cooking and signals microprocessor to compute the remaining cook time at an apt power level.
Sleek control panel and four-digit display offer a stunning look, with one-touch sensor cook/reheat. A microwave sequencing system is used with unremitting-power delivery technique to soften foods more regularly and hastily.
Keep Warm feature enables you to keep vegetables, soups, fries, gravies, stews warm. Essential features comprise quick-minute timer to set cooking/reheating times in single-minute intervals, delay start function, child safety lock.
Advanced Inverter Turbo Defrost paces up defrosting time and mechanical sensor regulates power and times for diverse foods. Enjoy faster cooking with 1200W.
14 steadfast Auto Cook options are there for foods like frozen entrees, soup, veggies, pizza, oats, pasta. 12 preset menu items make cooking simpler.
Warranty
NN-SN686Shas 1-year parts + labor warranty while its magnetron tube includes 5-year parts +1-year labor warranty. This warranty is applicable to units bought and serviced in the US & Puerto Rico.
Pros
- 1.2 cu. ft. unit with stainless finish
- Sensor cooking button
- Microwave inverter technology
Cons
- Might interfere with home wireless
2. Farberware Countertop Microwave Oven
Price: $134.99
Get consistent cooking results with Farberware Professional 1.3 Cubic Foot 1000-Watt Microwave Oven, Stainless Steel!
With 100 years of excellence, Farberware has been a trendsetter in appliances and a household name with its products designed with the customers in mind and made to the highest standards.
Reheat and prepare your food without any presumption. Farberware Professional presents a wonderful mixture of presets and an ability to modify and save your preferred cook settings.
Material & Construction
Farberware microwave ovens have huge power to meet all sorts of cooking necessities, they integrate custom settings to manage the most difficult food prep.
With built-in oven choices, convection cooking, frying, steaming permit to cook meals without compromising flavor, consistency, and zest. Its color, finish and texture compliment and accent your kitchen, dorm room, or office.
Measuring 16.65″D x 20.43″W x 12.36″H, weighing 33.7 pounds, with 1.3 cubic feet capacity and 1000W power, FMO13AHTBKE gives your family’s vital appliance an improvement. Sleek stainless style brings a combination of 1-touch and customized control to handle any job.
Sized to nurture a family and fit on any counter, Farberware Professional has a generous rotating turntable, and is the ideal multi-task unit for your kitchen. It’s ideal for warming a soup, slices of pizza, or a casserole. For a stern foodie, the large capacity offers huge flexibility.
Technology & Functionality
1000W cooking power and 10 power levels permit you to regulate the power from 10% – 100%. Multi-stage cooking allows for quick custom-cooked meals and snacks. You can situate the power level to regulate throughout the cooking cycle for ideal results with no interruption.
1 to 6-minute Express Cooking, quick start controls and ‘Add 30-Seconds’ option offer convenience. 6 one-touch cooking function allow for pizza, potato, popcorn, frozen veggies, drinks, or a dinner plate; Memory Function saves and remembers cooking settings instantaneously.
You can defrost by time or weight; digital control and LED display with useful clock and kitchen timer keep you alert. You get a removable rotating glass turntable, while the ‘Keypad Lock’ prevents accidental use by your kids.
Farberware Pro offers an uncomplicated to operate digital interface including 1-6 minute express cook buttons, time- or weight-based defrost buttons, with 6 pre-programmed cooking functions for various foods.
Thanks to Custom Memory Function, you can prepare your individual 1-touch cook setting, and utilize multi-stage cooking that fine-tunes power throughout the cooking cycle.
Pros
- 1-6 minute quick start
- +30 second button
- Defrost by weight or time
- 6 quick-cook presets
- Multi-stage cooking
- Custom memory function
- 1-year warranty
Cons
- Keypad’s plastic coating might come off
3. Panasonic NN-SB458S Countertop Microwave
Price: $134.99
| Brand | Panasonic |
| Product Dimensions | 14.8″D x 19.1″W x 11.5″H |
| Color | Stainless Steel |
| Capacity | 0.9 Cubic Feet |
| Special Feature | Safety Lock |
Liven-up your countertop with Panasonic NN-SB458S Countertop/Built-In Microwave!
Bring home the innovative countertop microwave from the brand name Panasonic; the high-quality design and features are worth appealing for every home. You get the reliability while cooking your favorite dishes in minutes.
Material & Construction
900W-powered NN-SB458S countertop microwave has the dimensions of 14.8″D x 19.1″W x 11.5″H with the weight of 32 lbs.
The body is made of aluminum with the stainless color finish. The microwave is perfect for wall or cabinet, you can avail optional Panasonic stainless-steel trim kits to decorate your kitchen space. This range of microwave is well-matched with trim kits of size 30″ and 27″ cabinet openings.
The raised soft buttons are made of stainless steel. Moreover, it features screen display timer or temperature settings.
Technology & Functionality
NN-SB458S microwave features inverter technology that provides seamless ways of cooking power. Also features advanced inverter turbo defrost to fasten defrosting duration. Automatic sensor regulates power with times for various foods. You can enjoy and make food preparation easier by 12 menu items offering a steady flow of cooking power and smooth results.
Get innovative 7Auto Cook settings for your desired recipes. Different from traditional microwaves that depend on pulse-on/pulse-off cooking features at lower temperatures, it includes patented Inverter Technology that produces a constant stream of power at every temperature settings.
You get consistent food preparation done evenly even following ample cooking techniques. Sleek tactile button control panel features four-digit display to give you high-end appearance with a one-touch sensor to cook and reheat.
Pros
- 900W of powerful cooking
- Inverter technology
- Turbo defrost settings
- Automatic sensor to adjust power/times for various foods
Cons
- May hinder your Wi-Fi signals
4. Farberware 1.1 Cubic Foot 1000-Watt Microwave Oven
Price: $119.99
| Brand | Farberware |
| Product Dimensions | 16.54″D x 20.2″W x 12.03″H |
| Color | Stainless Steel |
| Capacity | 1.1 Cubic Feet |
| Special Feature |
Brighten your kitchen space with Farberware Classic FMO11AHTBKB 1.1 Cubic Foot 1000-Watt Microwave Oven!
Farberware microwave oven is suitable for easy cooking that accommodates any modern day kitchen. Enjoy fast and custom cooking in suitable settings to make every delicious food at home.
Material & Construction
Farberware Classic 1.1 cubic foot microwave has the dimensions of 20.2″x16.9″x12″ and is manufactured with stainless steel with white and black finishing. It features a dominant 1000W power. It weighs around 25lbs.
Farberware Classic 1.1 cubic foot microwaveoffers a smooth design that comes with the spacious interior that holds oversized dinner plates, the majority baking dishes, along with large food savers with a 12.4″ turntable and features 13.9″x14.5″x9.1″ cavity.
Technology & Functionality
Farberware Classic FMO11AHTBKB comes with 1000W of cooking power that includes 10 power levels to let you regulate the power ranging from 10%-100%; numerous cooking settings for custom-cooked meals or snacks. It also gives you the ideal blend of presets and the capability to customize and save your preferred cook settings.
Get 1 to 6-minute express cooking controls along with controls of adding 30 Seconds extra to your ongoing food preparation. You can easily prepare food with 6 one-touch presets of Popcorn, Beverage, Pizza, Potato, Frozen Vegetables, & Dinner Plate.
Its Memory Function saves and calls up cooking settings right away. You can effortlessly defrost any food based on time or weight and microwave comes with digital control and LED timer display. With removable rotating glass turntable; it also features Child Safety and Keypad Lock to make this product complete.
Warranty
The product covers 1-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.
Pros
- 10 cooking presets with custom settings
- Handy design gives plenty of counter space
- Stainless steel material
- 1000W of power for faster heating
Cons
- It’s a bit noisy
5. TOSHIBA Small Countertop Microwave
Price: $105.47
| Brand | TOSHIBA |
| Product Dimensions | 15.9″D x 19.2″W x 11.5″H |
| Color | Black Stainless Steel |
| Capacity | 0.9 Cubic Feet |
Enjoy exhilarating cooking with innovative Toshiba ML2-EM09PA(BS)Microwave Oven!
Toshiba ML2-EM09PA(BS) comes with attractive black stainless steel finishing that is perfect for smaller places. Avail the quiet operation with convenience to place at any corner of your kitchen. Toshiba provides technology and outstanding products with their modernization and invention for more brighter life.
Material & Construction
ML2-EM09PA(BS) microwave oven is black stainless steel finished with the compact size having a dimension of 19.1″Lx16.1″Wx11.5″ H with 0.9 cubic feet of capacity and weighs about 27.3 lbs.
The microwave oven delivers 900W of power with 10 power settings. With this range of microwave oven, you get a handy kitchen timer and defrost by time or weight features. The attractive digital control panel features interior LED light as well, glass turntable for even cooking.
It features easy to grip long handle for conveniently opening and closing the microwave’s door. Long-lasting build quality with an elegant design makes your kitchen statement and ideally accommodates your kitchen space.
Technology & Functionality
ML2-EM09PA(BS) features 900W with one-touch start between 1-6 min with 6 pre-programmed keys for easier cooking; you can enjoy any food from popcorn to beverages. Includes quick touch presets, child lock function, ECO mode, Clock and a Kitchen Timer.
The clear digital control panel comes for convenient monitoring of time and temperature of food items. Multi-stage cooking is effortlessly programmed by using control panel. For more quieter usage, you can turn off the sound of the cooking cycle.
Warranty
The product comes with 1-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.
Pros
- Digital control panel with interior LED light
- One-touch 6-programmed presets
- Stainless steel exterior
- Compact design for countertop
Cons
- Door is bit noisier to open and close
6. Panasonic NN-SN98JS Microwave Oven Countertop
Price: $349.95
| Brand | Panasonic |
| Product Dimensions | 19.41″D x 23.9″W x 14.02″H |
| Color | Stainless Steel |
| Capacity | 2.2 Cubic Feet |
| Special Feature | Auto Cook, Timer, Child Safety Lock, Defrost, One Touch Button |
If you’re looking for a microwave that can handle big meals for the whole family, this Panasonic model is a solid pick. It’s got a large 2.2 cubic foot space inside, so big plates, bowls, and even large casseroles fit without a problem. Even though the inside is roomy, the design itself is sleek and doesn’t eat up as much counter space as you’d think.
Cooks Evenly Every Time
One of the best things about this microwave is how evenly it cooks. Thanks to the Cyclonic Inverter Technology, food doesn’t end up half-warm or still frozen in spots like it does with some other models. Everything gets heated properly from all sides. And if you ever forget to thaw meat in advance (like I often do), the Turbo Defrost feature really speeds things up without cooking the edges — which is honestly a lifesaver on busy days.
Smart Features that Make Life Easier
The microwave also has a Genius Sensor, which is pretty handy. You don’t need to guess the time or power setting — it figures it out for you depending on what you’re cooking. There are 20 preset menu options, plus simple things like a quick timer, delay start, and even a child lock in case you’ve got little ones at home.
Another thing that’s nice is you can use it as either a countertop model or build it into your kitchen space if you want a cleaner look. The stainless steel finish looks modern and fits well with most kitchen styles.
✅ Pros
- Large 2.2 cu. ft. interior
- Cyclonic Inverter Technology
- Turbo Defrost saves time
- Smart Genius Sensor
❌ Cons
- Bigger footprint
- Slightly higher price
7. TOSHIBA ML4-EM22PAIT(SS) Countertop Microwave Oven
Price: $276.99
| Brand | TOSHIBA |
| Product Dimensions | 21.6″D x 24.4″W x 13.6″H |
| Color | Stainless Steel |
| Capacity | 2.2 Cubic Feet |
Keeps Your Kids Safe
I recently tried this microwave and honestly, it surprised me with some useful features that most microwaves don’t have. First off, the two-step child lock is a big plus if you’ve got little ones at home. It’s not just a simple button press — you have to follow the proper steps (as shown in the guide), which means kids can’t accidentally start it. Feels safer that way.
Smart Cooking Every Time
What I really like is the smart sensor cooking. You don’t have to keep checking if the food’s hot in the middle or still cold on the edges. The microwave does the thinking — adjusting the heat and cooking time by sensing the food’s moisture. So far, everything I’ve reheated or cooked has come out evenly warm, not half-frozen like with some other microwaves I’ve used.
Quick and Easy Cooking Options
There are also 6 auto menus built-in — great when you’re lazy or in a hurry. I’ve used it for drinks, reheating pizza, and even defrosting chicken — all turned out decent without guessing the time or power level.
Speaking of power, there are 10 levels to pick from, which is handy when you want to do more than just blast everything at full heat. I used the lower setting to soften butter without melting it completely — worked perfectly.
It’s a big microwave though — the inside fits large plates and casseroles easily, and the glass turntable is pretty wide at 16.5 inches. But that also means it takes up a fair chunk of counter space, so make sure you’ve got room for it.
Size and Capacity
With 1200 watts of cooking power, this microwave gets things done quickly. It’s big enough inside (17.8 x 19.1 x 11.2 inches) to hold large plates or casserole dishes. The 16.5-inch glass turntable turns smoothly to help food cook evenly, while the outside measures 24.4 x 21.6 x 13.6 inches — something to keep in mind if space on your counter is tight.
✅ Pros
- Handy two-step child lock for safety
- Smart sensor adjusts cooking for perfect results
- 6 preset cooking menus make life easier
- Wide range of 10 power levels
❌ Cons
- Sensor cooking may need trial and error for perfect results
- Slightly pricier than basic microwave models
Expert Tips for Countertop Microwaves
When you’re ready to work with a countertop microwave, it really pays off knowing these expert tips:
- The higher the microwave wattage, the more power it possesses. Many microwaves contain functions like broiling and convection heat.
- Microwaves with preset cooking times are useful for a newbie.
- If you desire to use a microwave at low power, get a model with inverter technology.
- Multi-stage cooking is perfect for anybody who desires a hands-off approach to intricate recipes.
- If you desire finest results, buy a microwave having sensor cooking technology.
- If you’re a busy person who seeks 2-minute foods like instant ramen, get a microwave.
- Buy a modern microwave with unique non-porous materials that wipe clean with less effort.
- Usually, the food you cook is at the bottom of the device with a lot of vacant space above it. If you desire to cook more over the turntable, buy a microwave with racks.
- Buy racks individually, ensure they’re the correct size and are microwave-compatible.
- Kids can put anything in the microwave and this might start a fire. If you’re worried about safety, buy a microwave with child lock.
- Look for newer high-tech microwaves with ample settings for any cooking.
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Mistakes To Avoid While Buying A Countertop Microwave
Look for some common mistakes that you must steer clear of while purchasing a microwave.
Never Buy Oversized Items: Anything near 2.2 cubic foot countertop microwave might sound remarkable, but it’s huge, and will occupy excess space. Don’t buy the largest microwave without thinking what you need. Tinier models are the smart choices!
Look For Bells & Whistles: If you have a microwave and aren’t familiar what most of the features are, read the guidelines and features online to obtain the finest output from your microwave.
Forgetting Why You Need Your Microwave: High-end presets and customization features might look attractive, but are you going to utilize them? If you’re using a microwave for just defrosting, reheating, and making instant noodles, then you perhaps don’t require much complex features.
Always Measure Cord & Space: Countertop microwaves have different cord lengths and space specifications to be taken note of. How far the cord has to reach an outlet? Is the countertop large enough? Look for these answers before buying.
Not Capping Its Base: Countertop microwaves have legs of various lengths and sharpness. If you have an expensive or weak countertop, do cap the legs with additional protection.