Best Over-the-Range Microwaves of 2022
Save space on the counter with a cabinet-mounted model that stands out in Consumer Reports' tests
In CR's ease-of-use test, we assess a microwave's quick keys, including the one for popcorn.
By Mary H.J. Farrell
An over-the-range microwave oven is a good choice if you have limited counter space and/or prefer a built-in appliance that matches the rest of your kitchen appliance suite.
And you can get a new OTR microwave for as little as $200, not including the installation cost, which varies. Some retailers, such as Home Depot, offer free installation if the purchase price of your new microwave exceeds a certain amount.
There are some drawbacks worth noting, however. Although over-the-range microwaves have a built-in exhaust fan, they don’t vent cooking gases as well as range hoods do. And if you’re short, you might find it challenging to remove a piping-hot bowl of soup from a microwave mounted at least 18 inches above your stovetop.
“Some newer over-the-range microwaves are very squat and might be difficult to reach when you open the door or press buttons,” says Ginny Lui, who oversees Consumer Reports’ microwave testing. “Make sure to consider the size and placement of the microwave in your kitchen before you buy one.”
In our lab, we assess how fast and how evenly microwaves heat. A microwave’s speed score is based on how fast it heats a 1-liter bowl of room-temperature water. For evenness, we put a bowl of cold mashed potatoes in a microwave, heat it for 10 minutes, then take temperature readings of the food in 20 spots. We also incorporate ratings for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction using survey results from Consumer Reports members who purchased more than 60,800 over-the-range microwaves within the past 10 years.
Debating whether you should repair or replace your broken OTR microwave? CR’s interactive tool leverages product costs, depreciation rates, and survey data to help you make the right choice.
There are 70 over-the-range microwave ovens (and even more countertop models) in our ratings. Here, listed in alphabetical order, are eight over-the-range microwave picks that deliver outstanding performance in our tests.
Café CVM721M2NS5
CR’s take: The snazzy Café CVM721M2NS5 has a recessed handle and hidden digital controls that run along the bottom. When you tap on the glass touchscreen, the options for time and cooking modes pop into view. In addition to looking good, it cooks well, earning an Excellent rating in our heating evenness test. It’s also first-rate at defrosting, and it operates quietly. A sensor prevents you from overheating your food. In our member survey, Café earned middling scores for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction.
GE Profile PVM9005SJSS
CR’s take: This GE PVM9005SJSS is a good choice for a busy household. It earns an Excellent rating in our heating evenness test, in which we reheat a dish of cold mashed potatoes. Speed of heating is also top-notch, and this microwave operates quietly. Our testers found the GE to be easy to program, and it vents well, something not all over-the-range microwaves can accomplish. In our member survey, GE received a Very Good rating for predicted reliability and an average Good for owner satisfaction.
Ikea Lagan 704.621.63
CR’s take: The Ikea Lagan is a very quiet microwave (it earns an Excellent rating for noise) and is top-notch at defrosting, so you don’t have to worry about last-minute meals. It’s very good at evenly heating a dish of mashed potatoes but could be a bit faster. It is only average at heating water. Our testers found it easy to use without reading the manual (because few people do). Ikea gets an Excellent rating for predicted reliability but a subpar Fair for owner satisfaction.
Ikea Medelniva 504.621.64
CR’s take: The Ikea Medelniva is the latest addition to our over-the-range microwave tests. And it acquitted itself quite nicely, earning an Excellent rating for defrosting a pound of frozen ground chuck evenly. It operates quietly, so you can have a conversation in the kitchen when it’s on. And venting is on a par with most of the OTR microwaves we test, although a few do a bit better. If you want to reheat a dish of Swedish meatballs, however, you may find this model lacking—it earns only an average score on our heating evenness test.
KitchenAid KMHS120ESS
CR’s take: If you’re not a planner and you tend to take something out of the freezer to make for dinner when you get home from work, the KitchenAid KMHS120ESS is a good choice. It earns an Excellent rating on our defrosting test, in which we defrost 1 pound of ground chuck. The KitchenAid also aces the heating evenness test and is very quiet. It has a cooking sensor and comes with a rack in case you want to cook two dishes at once. KitchenAid received a Very Good rating for predicted reliability in our member survey and an average score for owner satisfaction.
LG LMH2235ST
CR’s take: The LG LMH2235ST is a good choice if you often find yourself having to defrost something straight out of the freezer; it earns an Excellent rating in our defrost test. It’s impressive at heating foods quickly and evenly, too. Plus, this microwave is one of the quietest over-the-range models in our tests. But like most over-the-range microwaves, venting is only so-so. It has a sensor to prevent you from overheating your food and a rack in case you want to cook more than one dish at the same time. LG received a Very Good rating for predicted reliability in our member survey but was rated only so-so for owner satisfaction.
LG LMV2031ST
CR’s take: The LG LMV2031ST is a good choice if you use your microwave to cook and not just for reheating and defrosting. It fits a 9x15-inch baking dish and has a wire rack, allowing you to cook two dishes at once. It’s also equipped with a sensor that turns the microwave off to keep you from overheating your food. This model earns Very Good ratings for speed of heating and heating evenness, and it vents well, although—like most over-the-range microwaves—not as well as a dedicated range hood.
Whirlpool WMH53521HZ
CR’s take: A top performer from Whirlpool, the WMH53521HZ earns an Excellent rating in our heating evenness test, meaning a dish of cold mashed potatoes had few or no cold spots after microwaving. It has a cooking sensor that stops the appliance when your meal is done, and it fits a 9x15-inch dish, allowing you to cook a casserole. Our testers found this microwave to be very easy to use. In our member survey, Whirlpool earned a Very Good rating for predicted reliability and a Good for owner satisfaction.
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