A home chef would not settle for a simple microwave oven. A home chef needs an appliance that would complement their culinary prowess.
On top of that, a home based microwave should be large enough and powerful enough to cater to medium to large sized family.
Fortunately, microwave for home use do not have to expensive. While sure, you can choose to go for premium models, their are cheaper options available that can prove to be excellent for an average sized family.
In this article, we will review the best microwaves for home use from both budget as well as premium budget range.
Top 3 Microwaves for Home Use
4.9/5
[Best Overall]
While this is not the largest option in this list, it is quite reasonable for an average family.
The microwave oven has a turntable diameter of about 12.4″ inches. This is about the size of a medium pizza. An average dinner plate also has a size of about 11″ – 12″.
4.8/5
[Best for the Money]
It features a 1000 Watt power rating and an interior capacity of 1.1 CU FT with a turntable diameter of about 12 inches.
Hence, it does meet our requirements for home use as we talked about earlier in the article.
4.7/5
[Best for Large Family]
There is no dinner plate that this microwave cannot handle. In fact, this microwave is suitable for more than just handling average sized dinners plates.
Besides the larger size, this oven also is high powered with a 1200 watt power rating. This is among the highest for the microwave ovens.
List of Best Microwaves for Home Use in 2023
The following microwave ovens are excellent for home use in our opinion and meet the criteria we set out earlier.
- Toshiba EM131A5C – 1.2 CU FT – Recommended Microwave for Home Use
- Farberware FMO11AHTBKN – 1.1 CU FT – Affordable Option
- Toshiba ML-EM45P – 1.6 Cu FT – Large Microwave Oven for Home Use
- Panasonic NN-SD945S – 2.2 CU FT – Extra Large with Inverter
- Panasonic NN-SN97JS – 2.2 CU FT – Extra Large with Cyclonic Inverter
If the aforementioned microwaves are too large or expensive for you, you can look into the following categories:
1. Toshiba EM131A5C – 1.2 CU FT – Recommended Microwave for Home Use
One of the most popular and highly recommended midsize and mid-range countertop microwave oven for home use.
First up, we have the most recommended option for home use. Why? because it checks almost all the boxes for us.
It has a 1.2 CU FT capacity, a medium-high power rating of 1100 Watts, a fairly reasonable price tag, as well as very favorable reviews for a large customer base.
Recall from earlier that the higher the power rating, the quicker and more consistently the microwave would heat. Well, this microwave lies toward the high powered spectrum.
While this is not the largest option in this list, it is quite reasonable for an average family.
The microwave oven has a turntable diameter of about 12.4″ inches. This is about the size of a medium pizza. An average dinner plate also has a size of about 11″ – 12″.
Therefore, in our opinion, this is perfect fit. Physically, this is excellent for a kitchen with an average counter space. Therefore, if you are mindful about minimizing the use of counterspace, then this can serve you well.
Besides that, this also has few very useful features. Firstly, it offers the rare Smart Sensors. These allow the microwave to sensor cook. Meaning, depending upon the preset you choose, the oven can sense and cook the food to the perfection.
If you're in the market for a versatile and efficient kitchen appliance, the oven with 6 different food presets might just be the one for you. With options like pizza, potatoes, veggies, and more, you can cook a variety of dishes with ease.
Not only does it save space on your counter, but it also has a combination of air fry and microwave features.
I so much love its size, power, and affordability, making it a great replacement for a traditional microwave.
The oven's sensor functions and inverter technology have also been put to the test, yielding excellent results and confirming its effectiveness in tailoring wave power for optimal cooking.
Furthermore, it features easy cleaning thanks to the stainless interior and exterior, and it also features the MUTE option to mute the beeping sounds. While not essential, the mute option can be convenient for some.
All in all, if you are looking for a staple option, then this is certainly the best microwave for home use.
2. Farberware FMO11AHTBKN – 1.1 CU FT – Affordable Option
An affordable midsize microwave oven for those looking for minimal features.
If you came here looking for the most affordable model, then this is certainly the best microwave for home use.
While this is slightly less powerful and smaller in capacity as compared to the Toshiba EM131A5C above, it features a value unlike any other.
It features a 1000 Watt power rating and an interior capacity of 1.1 CU FT with a turntable diameter of about 12 inches. Hence, it does meet our requirements for home use as we talked about earlier in the article.
It should be noted, however, that this is a bear minimum microwave oven. While it does feature digital controls, cooking presets and power level selection like all microwaves, it does not feature sensor or sensor cooking.
Therefore, if you are looking for a simple, adequately large, and powerful microwave oven for your home, then you should definitely consider this option.
So far, this oven has proven to cook food well and evenly. It strikes a nice balance, providing warm-hot meals without being overly blazing or bubbling.
I particularly appreciate its sleek design, efficient cooking performance, and compact size. Although it may not have an abundance of fancy features on the display, it does an excellent job of heating anything you place inside.
As far as the reviews are concerned, the oven certainly has won favorable reviews. It is worth noting here that this is a midsize and a midpowered microwave that is is cheaper than even some of the much weaker and smaller 700 Watt 0.7 CU FT microwave ovens.
That just goes to show the value this model offers. Overall, I highly recommend this microwave for its practicality and reliability.
3. Toshiba ML-EM45P – 1.6 Cu FT – Large Microwave Oven for Home Use
A fairly large microwave oven with a high 1200 watt output rating.
Next up we have another microwave oven from Toshiba. However, this one is in a completely different class.
Unlike the Toshiba EM131A5C above, this is a large-size microwave with an interior capacity of 1.6 CU FT and a turntable diameter of 14 inches. Hence, it can fit a standard large size pizza.
There is no dinner plate that this microwave cannot handle. In fact, this microwave is suitable for more than just handling average sized dinners plates.
Besides the larger size, this oven also is high powered with a 1200 watt power rating. This is among the highest for the microwave ovens.
A 700 Watt microwave oven boils a cup of water in 2 minutes, the same cup in a 1200 watt microwave would be boiled in about 45 seconds.
Hence, as far as speed and consistency of heat across the food is concerned, you are covered with this oven.
Besides that, like its smaller variant above, this too offers sensor cooking and reheating for defrosting as well as for common food items like pizza, potato, rice and vegetables.
A high-powered microwave oven is essential for home chefs as it offers the flexibility to experiment with different power levels for various food items. Personally, I found the popcorn option to be particularly impressive.
Unlike my previous Sharp Carousel model, which often resulted in burnt popcorn, this microwave handled the task with ease.
Additionally, it operates at a quieter noise level, earning a thumbs up in my book. The appliance has consistently delivered excellent cooking results, and its sleek design and sturdy construction have left me impressed.
Moreover, I decided to keep it due to the difficulty of finding a comparable black stainless steel model in the same size range.
Overall, this microwave is an excellent investment, offering exceptional quality at a reasonable price. Therefore, if you are looking for a large and a fairly powerful model, then this is the best microwave for home use.
4. Panasonic NN-SD945S – 2.2 CU FT – Extra Large with Inverter
An extra large microwave oven with inverter technology and among the highest power rating for home use.
If you thought that Toshiba ML-EM45P above was large and powerful, then let us unveil this for you.
While this is slightly more expensive, it belongs to an entirely different category. This is an extra large microwave oven that has an interior capacity of 2.2 CU FT and a turntable diameter of about 16 inches – large enough to accommodate an extra-large pizza.
On top of that, this is one of few rare microwave ovens that features a whopping 1250 Watts of output power.
This is, thus, among the most powerful and the largest microwave ovens for home use. Any larger than this and you are looking into commercial appliance.
Of course, you will need to reserve quite a lot of counterspace for settling this microwave, but the experience will be well worth it.
Source: Panasonic
It must be mentioned here that unlike the rest of the microwave ovens above, this features an inverter technology.
Basically, it ditches the old transformer for an inverter circuit. This enables the microwave to be supplied with constant and consistent power. This in turn ensure that your food is cooked evenly.
There is a whole list of reasons why the inverter circuit is beneficial and you can read about that here.
Another important feature worth noting is the oven's extensive range of cooking presets. With a remarkable 19 options, including omelettes, rice, quinoa, and more, this oven truly functions as a versatile multicooker.
In comparison to my current Panasonic model, this oven boasts slightly greater power.
Additionally, the inclusion of a 30-second button has proven to be a convenient time-saver in my daily cooking routine.
The easy-to-use child lock-out feature is a must-have for parents, and despite its compact footprint, the oven provides ample room inside, surpassing the capacity of the smaller unit it replaced.
I am thrilled to have a medium-sized oven equipped with the latest and greatest features. It offers a multitude of new functions that were unavailable when I purchased my older model, making it a valuable addition to my kitchen.
If you are sold by the idea of having an extra large model in your kitchen then this is best microwave for home use.
5. Panasonic NN-SN97JS – 2.2 CU FT – Extra Large with Cyclonic Inverter
A premium microwave oven that features the rare Cyclonic Inverter technology, high power rating, and a large set of auto-cooking presets.
Finally, we have the most expensive and premium microwave oven in this list.
While this too has 2.2 CU FT capacity and 1250 Watt power rating as the Panasonic NN-SD945S above, what separates this is its intrinsic technology.
You may have heard of the fact that inverter microwaves are advanced as Tompared to normal ovens. this, however takes that the inverter technology a step further.
Basically, what separates this microwave oven from the rest is that it features a Cyclonic Wave inverter.
With the Cyclonic Inverter technology, the heat radiates in a circular motion and this reaches every corner evenly. Source: Panasonic
This is a new and a rather peculiar, and even a revolutionizing, technology for microwave ovens.
You see, in normal microwaves ovens, the microwave radiation travels linearly. In others words, it travels in a single direction instead of around the entire cooking chamber.
That is reason why we have the turntable which rotates the food so that different parts of it get exposed to the microwave radiation.
A Cyclonic Wave inverter solves that issue by generating microwave radiation that travels in a spiral motion. In doing so, it sends radiation across the entire cooking chamber. Hence. all of the food is exposed evenly to the heat.
What you get in return is a food that is heated with excellent results all the time.
If that technology sounds exciting to you, then this is certainly the best microwave for home use for you.
Furthermore, like all advanced ovens of this caliber, this one also offers sensor cooking with presets for around 20 common foods. Users have praised its beauty, power, and generous size.
However, some have expressed concerns about its longevity and its compatibility with their existing stove.
Despite these minor drawbacks, the microwave is highly recommended for its excellent craftsmanship, ease of use, sturdy build, quiet operation, and ability to cook food evenly and to perfection.
However, this isn't a cheap model. All of these advanced features, along with its large size and power, contribute to its hefty price tag. Despite the higher cost, I have found it to be durable and the right size and wattage for my needs.
Overall, I am delighted with this large and impressive microwave.
What is a Suitable Microwave Oven for Home Use?
A microwave oven for home use naturally meets different requirements as compared to a microwave for office or home use.
Let us review these briefly here.
Size
The microwave oven should be large enough to fit a large dinner plate. Source: goodhousekeeping.com
For starters, a home-based microwave oven is expected to meet large needs of quite a few family members. It is needed for reheating, breakfast, lunch, dinner you name it.
A microwave oven for home use is thus an essential appliance.
Unlike offices and dorm rooms, microwave ovens at home are needed for cooking complex meals and recipes. They need to accommodate large food as well as large dinner plates.
Hence, it only makes sense to go for larger variants.
The size of a microwave oven can be divided as so:
- Small – 0.7 CU FT – 0.9 CU FT
- Medium – 1.0 CU FT – 1.5 C U FT
- Large – 1.6 CU FT to 2.0 CU FT
- Extra Large – above 2.0 CU FT
For home use, we recommend that you ditch the small size and stick to at least the medium size category.
In fact, a medium sized microwave oven is quite decent for serving the needs of a small family.
Of course, the larger you go, the more convenient your cooking or reheating tasks would be.
Power
The next essential aspect is the output power of the microwave oven.
The output power is directly related to how quickly and how evenly the microwave oven heats up the food. Weaker microwaves with lower power rating take much longer to reheat as compared to high powered ones.
The output power rating of a microwave can be summarized as below:
- Low – 700 – 900 Watts
- Medium – 1000 – 1100 Watts
- High – 1200 – 1250 Watts
For purposes of home, we would recommend that you choose to go with medium or high powered microwave ovens.
This will save you from the frustration of waiting for a long time to wait for the food to heat up and also from the frustration of finding out that your food isn’t heated consistently.
Also Read:
Final Words
In this article we reviewed some of the best microwaves for home use. Basically, we talked about microwave ovens that had an interior capacity of larger than 1.0 CU FT, turntable diameter large enough to handle a medium sized pizza and a power rating of 1000 Watts or higher.
Of course, the choice of premium features like sensors, inverter etc is your personal choice. The more features you choose to have, the more expensive the microwave oven would be.
The good news is that you can choose to keep things very economical by simply going for a microwave oven with minimal features that meets the size and power requirements as stated earlier.
FAQs:
1. Which brand of microwave is best?
Here the best microwave the we tested and recommended:
1. Toshiba EM131A5C – 1.2 CU FT – Recommended Microwave for Home Use
2. Farberware FMO11AHTBKN – 1.1 CU FT – Affordable Option
3. Toshiba ML-EM45P – 1.6 Cu FT – Large Microwave Oven for Home Use
4. Panasonic NN-SD945S – 2.2 CU FT – Extra Large with Inverter
5. Panasonic NN-SN97JS – 2.2 CU FT – Extra Large with Cyclonic Inverter
2. How much should I spend on a microwave?
When it comes time to buy a microwave, there are a few things you need to consider. How much do you want to spend? What features do you need?
Countertop microwaves range in price from around $50 to $350. The most basic microwaves have just a few buttons and a power level. More expensive models have pre-programmed settings, sensors that automatically adjust cooking times, and convection features that cook food evenly.
If you only use your microwave for simple tasks like reheating leftovers or making popcorn, then a less expensive model will work just fine. If you plan to use your microwave for more advanced tasks like cooking whole meals, then you may want to consider spending more money on a model with more features.
3. Are inverter microwaves worth it?
Inverter microwaves are definitely worth it. They're more expensive than traditional microwaves, but they cook food more evenly and use less energy. They're also a lot quieter, which is a plus.
4. What size microwave fits a 9x13 pan?
A 9x13 pan will fit in a standard-sized microwave. If you have a larger microwave, you may be able to use a larger pan, but if your microwave is too small, your pan will not fit.
5. What is the best wattage microwave to buy?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best wattage microwave to buy depends on your specific needs and preferences. That said, if you're looking for a general guideline, it's typically recommended that you purchase a microwave with at least 1000 watts of power. This will ensure that your microwave can handle most cooking tasks.