Best Countertop Microwaves of 2022
Find a reliable, top-performing appliance for your kitchen
By Mary H.J. Farrell
You can spend less than $100 on a small countertop microwave—or five times that on a larger model. Spending more typically gets you more power and convenience features, such as a sensor that shuts off the oven when your food is hot enough. But according to Consumer Reports’ tests of microwave ovens, a higher price doesn’t necessarily indicate better performance when you’re comparing microwaves of the same size.
First and foremost, you want a microwave that heats your food and drinks quickly and evenly. To test speed, we measure how fast the microwave heats 1 liter of room-temperature water. For heating evenness, we heat a bowl of cold mashed potatoes for 10 minutes, then take the internal temperature in 20 spots. Models that do well will heat your leftovers through and through.
Our testers also rate how evenly a microwave defrosts frozen food, how noisy it is, and how easy it is to operate without checking the owner’s manual (because most people don’t). We incorporate ratings for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction for each brand using survey results from our members, who purchased 61,480 countertop microwaves between 2012 and 2022.
The countertop units in our microwave ratings are grouped by size: small, midsized, and large. Read on for reviews of some of the top countertop microwaves from our tests, listed alphabetically within each group. And for more tips, take a look at our comprehensive microwave buying guide.
Best Small Microwaves
Commercial Chef CHM770B
CR’s take: Small microwaves tend to be underpowered, and the Commercial Chef CHM770B is no exception. But it may be all you need for a college dorm or home office. This one was a champ at heating evenness, earning an Excellent on our mashed potato test, but it was a slowpoke at heating a simple bowl of water. It’s average at defrosting and pretty quiet. And for the price, it’s worth a look.
Galanz GLCMKA07BER-07
CR’s take: If cute and retro is your thing, the Galanz GLCMKA07BER-07 is the microwave for you. Bonus: It’s the best small microwave in our tests. That might not be saying much; small microwaves are typically underpowered. The Galanz lags at heating speed and may try your patience, but once it gets going it heats evenly and operates quietly. And it earns a Very Good rating for defrosting. Plus, it looks good and the price is right.
Insignia NS-MW07BK0
CR’s take: Small microwaves are typically underpowered compared with large and midsized models. That said, the Insignia NS-MW07BK0 performs better than most small models. In our tests, this model’s heating evenness and defrosting earned Very Good ratings. And it’s very quiet. But if you’re in a hurry for your food, you’ll have to wait because its score for speed of heating is Poor. Insignia countertop models earn a Very Good rating for predicted reliability but a Poor rating for owner satisfaction in CR’s member surveys.
Best Midsized Microwaves
GE JES1109RRSS
CR’s take: Although it’s a bit slower than others in its class, the midsized countertop GE JES1109RRSS would make a solid addition to any kitchen. The appliance aces CR’s defrosting and noise tests, and it earns a Very Good rating for heating evenness. But owners surveyed by CR gave GE’s countertop microwaves a middling score of Good for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction.
Hamilton Beach EM031M2ZC-X1
CR’s take: The midsized Hamilton Beach EM031M2ZC-X1 boasts a rating of Very Good for heating evenness. Our testers found the machine’s controls easy to use and understand. Plus, this model is quieter than most countertop microwaves, earning top marks on our noise test. But there are some notable drawbacks. This model’s speed of heating and defrosting receive a middling score of Good. In CR’s member survey, owners of this brand rated it Excellent for predicted reliability but only Fair for satisfaction.
Panasonic NN-SN67HS
CR’s take: For the price, you can’t go wrong with the Panasonic NN-SN67HS, a CR Best Buy and our top-performing midsized countertop microwave. Its speed of heating and defrosting evenness both notch Excellent ratings in CR’s tests. It also evenly heats food, and our testers say it’s easy to operate. It’s a bit noisy when running on high, but typically you run your microwave in such short bursts that the noise might not bother you. As a brand, Panasonic countertop microwaves boast Very Good ratings for owner satisfaction and predicted reliability in our member surveys.
Best Large Microwaves
Panasonic NN-SE785S
CR’s take: In addition to its cooking prowess, the large Panasonic NN-SE785S comes from a brand that earns Very Good ratings for both predicted reliability and owner satisfaction from our members. This machine’s heating evenness and speed of heating are superb, and it defrosts very well, earning a Very Good rating in that test as well. The controls are self-explanatory, and the microwave operates relatively quietly. It’s another model that comes equipped with a sensor, which takes the guesswork out of cooking.
Panasonic NN-SN77HS
CR’s take: We picked the Panasonic NN-SN77HS as a CR Best Buy for its combination of an attractive price and impressive performance. Its heating evenness and speed of heating are top-notch, earning this model Excellent ratings on those tests. It was also superb at defrosting ground beef evenly. It runs quietly, and the controls are easy to understand and use. Because it’s equipped with a sensor, you don’t have to worry about overheating your food.
Panasonic NN-SD975S
CR’s take: Yep, it’s another Panasonic, a countertop brand that earns Very Good ratings for both predicted reliability and owner satisfaction. Heating evenness and speed of heating are both top-notch so you won’t have to dillydally waiting for your food when using the Panasonic NN-SD975S. It’s almost as good at defrosting and operates quietly. And if you’re someone who doesn’t like to read manuals, feel free to skip it; the controls on this model are self-explanatory.
More from Consumer Reports:
Top pick tires for 2016
Best used cars for $25,000 and less
7 best mattresses for couples
Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2022, Consumer Reports, Inc.
