Best Microwave Ovens of 2026
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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
Top 10 Microwave Ovens
Toshiba 800w 23L Microwave Oven with Auto Cook
The Toshiba Microwave Oven offers a powerful 800w solo cooking experience with a spacious 23L capacity, perfect for busy kitchens. With the Express Cook feature, you can start cooking instantly by selecting a time from just one second to six minutes, making meal preparation quick and easy. The handy defrost option lets you defrost by weight, ensuring your food is ready to cook precisely when you need it. Additionally, the microwave operates quietly thanks to its 5 blade fan, allowing you to use it without disturbing your household.
Russell Hobbs RHM2076S Silver 20L Digital Microwave
The Russell Hobbs RHM2076S Microwave offers an 800 W power output, making your cooking quick and efficient. Its mirrored door finish adds a sleek, modern look to your kitchen. With a 20-litre cavity, you can easily fit a standard dinner plate, and the removable glass turntable makes cleaning simple and dishwasher safe. The microwave also features handy pre-programmed auto cook menus for dishes like pizza and popcorn, allowing you to prepare meals at the touch of a button. Additionally, the automatic defrost function saves you time by selecting the perfect defrosting duration based on your food’s weight.
Russell Hobbs RHM2076B 20L Black Microwave
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.
Toshiba 20L 800W Compact Microwave Oven
The Toshiba Compact Microwave is designed for convenience in smaller spaces. Its 20-litre capacity is perfect for standard dinner plates, allowing you to easily prepare meals like a 9-inch pizza. With 800 watts and 5 power settings, cooking a variety of foods, from popcorn to frozen vegetables, becomes effortless. The automatic defrost feature ensures even thawing without overheating, which is ideal for busy individuals who want quick and effective meal preparation.
Russell Hobbs 20 Litre Microwave with Timer
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.
Toshiba 20L 800W Digital Solo Microwave
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.
Samsung MS23K3513AK Solo Microwave, 23 Litre
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.
Hisense H23MOBSD1HUK 23L 800W Microwave
The Hisense H23MOBSD1HUK Microwave offers a generous 23-litre capacity with a 28.5cm turntable, making it ideal for heating large dinner plates with ease. Its 800-watt power output ensures your food cooks quickly and evenly, saving you time in the kitchen. The built-in timer helps you cook your meals to perfection by allowing precise control over cooking duration. Additionally, the automatic programmes take away the guesswork, so you can enjoy perfectly cooked dishes without any hassle or confusion.
Samsung MC28H5013AS 28 Litre Microwave Oven
The Samsung MC28H5013AS Microwave offers a range of convenient features to enhance your cooking experience. With healthy cooking pre-set menus, you can effortlessly prepare nutritious meals. The power defrost function allows you to quickly and evenly defrost frozen foods, saving you time in the kitchen. Eco mode helps you reduce standby power usage, leading to savings on your energy bills. Additionally, the fermentation function enables you to make your own yoghurt or experiment with bread making, giving you a chance to enjoy homemade treats.
Panasonic NN-ST48KSBPQ Inverter Microwave Oven
The Panasonic Inverter Microwave offers a generous 32L capacity, perfect for cooking larger dishes for the entire family. With its Genius Sensor, you can enjoy perfectly cooked meals every time, as it adjusts cooking times based on internal steam levels. The Healthy Junior Menu is ideal for catering to picky eaters, providing three automatic programmes for nutritious options. Additionally, the intuitive touch controls make operating this microwave simple and effortless, allowing you to spend more time enjoying your meals.
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.
During our microwave oven research, we found 228 microwave oven products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 362,259 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 £78.77.
The microwave ovens are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of microwave ovens, including Toshiba, Russell Hobbs, Samsung, Hisense, Panasonic.
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.