The best microwave turns frozen foods into fresh, home-cooked meals and makes reheating leftovers just as good as last night’s dinner. It should be easy to fire up with just a few presses of a button, but also capable of dialing in specific power settings to get exactly what you need.
But not everyone wants the same thing out of their microwave. What might seem like a standard kitchen appliance now includes models that have leveled up, adding capability to convenience. Now you can get the basic nuking this category is known for and high-end features that cost more but also bring way more to the table. Air frying, smart home connections and other features usually reserved for the latest tech have found their way into the microwaves of today.
For this round of testing, I focused on countertop microwaves that work right out of the box, without installation in your cabinetry or above your oven. These options are a logical choice for anyone looking to outfit a small apartment without a microwave, or for someone moving into a temporary space like a college dorm. After analyzing the performance of seven models across a spectrum of budget brands and top-of-the-line offerings, two microwaves emerged as the best choices for most people.
