Best Microwave Ovens of 2025

Mohammed Clark Avatar
Mohammed Clark
Last Updated: 8 Feb 2025

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Microwave ovens are a convenient and efficient way to cook or heat up food quickly. They use electromagnetic radiation to heat and cook food, which is absorbed by the water, fat and sugar molecules in the food. They come in a variety of sizes and styles, from countertop models to built-in options. Microwave ovens are a popular choice for busy households and those who want to save time in the kitchen. While they may not be suitable for all types of cooking, they are a useful addition to any kitchen for reheating leftovers, defrosting food, and cooking certain dishes.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Toshiba 800w 23L Microwave Oven with Auto Cook Cover #TOP 1
Toshiba 800w 23L Microwave Oven with Auto Cook
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Toshiba 20L 800W Digital Solo Microwave Cover #TOP 2
Toshiba 20L 800W Digital Solo Microwave
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Samsung MS23K3513AK Solo Microwave, 23 Litre Cover #TOP 3
Samsung MS23K3513AK Solo Microwave, 23 Litre
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Microwave Ovens

Toshiba 800w 23L Microwave Oven with Auto Cook

ML-EM23P(SS)
Black
Toshiba 800w 23L Microwave Oven with Auto Cook Cover
Toshiba 800w 23L Microwave Oven with Digital Display, Auto Defrost, One-Touch Express Cook, 6 Pre-Programmed Auto Cook Settings, and Easy Clean - Stainless Steel - ML-EM23P(SS)

The Toshiba ML-EM23P Microwave offers a fantastic blend of convenience and functionality. With its express cook feature, you can start cooking instantly, choosing a time from just 1 second to 6 minutes. This means you can heat your favourite meals with just one touch, saving you precious time. The handy defrost options allow you to defrost food by weight or time, making meal preparation simpler. Additionally, the low-noise operation ensures a quiet cooking experience, perfect for maintaining a peaceful environment, especially when you have a sleeping baby.

What We Like
Quick express cooking feature
Convenient defrost options
Low-noise operation
Child lock safety feature

Toshiba 20L 800W Digital Solo Microwave

MM-EM20P(WH)
White
Toshiba 20L 800W Digital Solo Microwave Cover
TOSHIBA 20 Liter 800W Digital Solo Small Microwave With 11 Power Levels, One-touch Express Cook with 6 Preset Recipe, Defrost, Digital Display, Perfect for 9'' pizza, Easy Clean, White- MM-EM20P(WH)

The Toshiba Solo Microwave is a compact 20-litre appliance designed for convenience in smaller kitchens. With 11 power levels, you can easily cook a variety of foods, from popcorn to frozen vegetables, tailored to your needs. The one-touch express cook feature includes six preset recipes, allowing you to prepare meals quickly with minimal effort. You can also defrost food evenly, ensuring it’s ready for cooking without any risk of overheating, making it ideal for last-minute snacks or leftovers.

What We Like
Compact size for small spaces
Multiple power settings available
Quick one-touch cooking options
Even defrosting feature
#TOP 3

Samsung MS23K3513AK Solo Microwave, 23 Litre

MS23K3513AK/EU
Black
Samsung MS23K3513AK Solo Microwave, 23 Litre Cover
Samsung MS23K3513AK Solo Microwave, 23 Litre, Black

The Samsung Solo Microwave offers a 23-litre capacity, making it ideal for heating meals and snacks efficiently. This microwave oven is designed to simplify your cooking experience, allowing you to quickly prepare your favourite dishes with ease. With its sleek black design, it not only serves a practical purpose but also enhances your kitchen's aesthetics. The brand’s reputation for reliability ensures that you are investing in a durable kitchen appliance that meets your everyday cooking needs.

What We Like
Spacious 23-litre capacity
Sleek black design
Reliable brand reputation
Easy to use

Hisense 700 Watts 20 Litre Microwave Oven

H20MOWP1UK
White
20 litres
Hisense 700 Watts 20 Litre Microwave Oven Cover
Hisense 700 Watts 20 Litre Solo Microwave Oven H20MOWP1UK White, Automatic Defrost, 5 power levels, Easy Clean, 32.6D x 45.5W x 26.1H centimetres Freestanding

The Hisense Microwave Oven offers a stylish and user-friendly design with a compact 20-litre capacity, perfect for smaller kitchens. With 700 watts of power, you can cook your meals quickly and efficiently. The option to choose from 5 power levels allows you to tailor the cooking process to suit different types of food, ensuring that everything is cooked to perfection. Additionally, the built-in timer helps you monitor your cooking time, giving you peace of mind and preventing overcooking.

What We Like
Compact design for small spaces
Fast cooking with 700 watts
Customisable power levels
Convenient timer feature

Russell Hobbs 20 Litre Microwave with Timer

Russell Hobbs
RHMM827SS
Stainless Steel
Russell Hobbs 20 Litre Microwave with Timer Cover
Russell Hobbs Stainless Steel Microwave 20 Litre 800W Solo Manual with 5 Power Levels, Defrost Function & Easy Clean, 35 Minute Timer, RHMM827SS

The Russell Hobbs Microwave offers powerful performance with its 800W heating capability, ensuring your food is heated to perfection. Its compact design makes it ideal for kitchens with limited space, while the five power levels allow you to tailor your cooking to suit different dishes. Additionally, the 35-minute timer provides precise control, so you can set the cooking time and focus on other tasks without worry.

What We Like
Powerful 800W performance
Compact and space-saving design
Five adjustable power levels
Convenient 35-minute timer

COMFEE' 700W 20L White Microwave Oven

CM-M202CC(WH)
White
COMFEE' 700W 20L White Microwave Oven Cover
COMFEE' 700W 20L White Microwave Oven With 5 Cooking Power Levels, Quick Defrost Function, And Kitchen Manual Timer - Compact Design CM-M202CC(WH)

The COMFEE' Microwave Oven offers five cooking power levels, making it ideal for preparing a variety of foods, from popcorn to frozen vegetables. With a spacious 20L capacity, it easily accommodates dishes up to 9 inches, perfect for couples and families. Its compact design ensures it fits seamlessly into any kitchen space, while the quick defrost function allows you to thaw food efficiently without overheating. This modern appliance combines functionality with style, enhancing your cooking experience.

What We Like
Multiple cooking power levels
Spacious 20L capacity
Compact and stylish design
Quick defrost functionality

SHARP YC-MS01U-S 20 Litre Microwave Oven

YC-MS01U-S
Silver
20 Litre, 800W
SHARP YC-MS01U-S 20 Litre Microwave Oven Cover
SHARP YC-MS01U-S Compact 20 Litre 800W Manual control Microwave, 5 power levels, defrost function, LED cavity light - Silver

The SHARP YC-MS01U-S Microwave offers a stylish and efficient cooking solution with its compact 20-litre capacity and 800 watts of power. With five cooking power levels, you can easily adjust the settings to suit your meal, ensuring that everything is cooked to perfection. The manual control panel features an adjustable timer of up to 35 minutes, allowing you to manage your cooking time with ease. Additionally, the defrost setting is perfect for quickly thawing frozen food, saving you time in the kitchen.

What We Like
Compact size for small spaces
Simple manual controls
Five power levels available
Defrost function for convenience
Modern silver design

Russell Hobbs RHM2076B 20L Black Microwave

Russell Hobbs
RHM2076B
Black
Russell Hobbs RHM2076B 20L Black Microwave Cover
Russell Hobbs RHM2076B 20 Litre 800 W Black Digital Solo Microwave with 5 Power Levels, Automatic Defrost, 8 Auto Cook Menus, Clock and Timer, Easy Clean

The Russell Hobbs RHM2076B Microwave offers a sleek black design with a mirrored finish, adding a modern touch to your kitchen. With 800W of power, it ensures quick and efficient cooking, perfect for busy lifestyles. The easy clean feature, including a removable glass turntable that is dishwasher safe, makes maintenance a breeze. Additionally, the microwave comes with pre-programmed auto cook menus for dishes like pizza and popcorn, allowing you to prepare meals at the push of a button, saving you time and effort.

What We Like
Sleek design with mirrored finish
Easy to clean
Quick cooking power
Pre-programmed cooking options
Large capacity for dinner plates

SHARP 25 Litre 900W Digital Microwave with Grill

YC-MG252AU-S
Silver
25 Litre
SHARP 25 Litre 900W Digital Microwave with Grill Cover
SHARP YC-MG252AU-S 25 Litre 900W Digital Microwave with 1000W Grill, 11 power levels, ECO Mode, defrost function, LED cavity light - Silver

The SHARP 900W Microwave Grill is a powerful kitchen appliance, boasting a spacious 25-litre capacity. With 11 cooking power levels and 8 automatic programmes, you can easily prepare a variety of meals. The microwave grill offers multiple settings, allowing you to choose between grill only, microwave only, or a combination of both for versatile cooking options. The modern design features a sleek silver finish, complemented by a practical LED display, making it both stylish and functional in your kitchen.

What We Like
Powerful cooking capabilities
Versatile cooking options
Sleek modern design
Easy to use controls
Child safety lock feature
#TOP 10

Tower T24042BLK 800W Manual Microwave

T24042BLK
Black & Chrome
One Size
Tower T24042BLK 800W Manual Microwave Cover
Tower T24042BLK Manual Microwave with Sleek Mirror Door, 800W, 20L, Black & Chrome

The Tower T24042BLK Microwave is a powerful kitchen appliance with an 800W output, making cooking and heating your meals quicker and more efficient. With six adjustable heat settings, you can easily customise the cooking process to suit your preferences. The large 20-litre capacity allows you to fit a standard 10-inch dinner plate, perfect for family meals. Additionally, the 30-minute timer and defrost function ensure your meals are cooked to perfection and can quickly handle frozen food, making it ideal for busy days.

What We Like
Powerful 800W output
Large 20L capacity
6 adjustable heat settings
Convenient defrost function
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the most reliable brand of microwave oven?

Microwaves from Breville, Hamilton Beach, Insignia, LG, Proctor-Silex, and Signature Kitchen Suite stand out as the most reliable brands; all six brands earn an Excellent rating. Seven of the 32 brands in our survey earn a Very Good rating.

2. What is the difference between a microwave and a microwave oven?

"Microwave" is just short for "microwave oven". Both terms mean the same thing: an appliance that uses microwave radiation to heat food. Cooking food in this way is called "microwaving". An oven, on the other hand, has a heating element which heats the air inside, which then heats the food.

3. Are microwaves or ovens better?

Because they heat the food from the inside out (rather than outside-in), microwave ovens have a better cooking efficiency (the % of energy that heats food during the cooking cycle) than electric or gas convection ovens. Microwaves also use less electrical power than conventional type electric ovens.

Editor's Notes

During our microwave oven research, we found 218 microwave oven products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 318,797 customer reviews through our big data system to write the microwave ovens list. We found that most customers choose microwave ovens with an average price of £67.58.

The microwave ovens are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of microwave ovens, including Toshiba, Samsung, Hisense, Russell Hobbs, COMFEE'.

Written by
Mohammed Clark Avatar

Mohammed Clark is an architect and a contractor. His architectural skills are not limited to designing the plan for structures alone, but it extends to aesthetics and home décor. Before establishing his firm, he worked under a construction firm for eight years. Mohammed has gathered enough experience from his time practicing as a professional architect and now has vast knowledge in home designs and aesthetics.