8 Best Countertop Microwaves of 2023, Tested by Experts

If our pick is sold out or you want to save a little money, the Whirlpool WMH31017 is also worth a look. It has way fewer control options than the GE, lacking quick-start shortcuts on the number pad as well as sensor-cook settings. But its fan is quieter than that of the GE JVM6175 while moving the same amount of air, and it performed just as well in our tests. If when you hit the power level button, nothing happens, then you can try entering in a cook time. Some microwaves have you enter the cook time before determining the power level.

The GE JVM6175 has all of the most popular express-cooking buttons (such as Add 30 Seconds), a mute option, and a warm night-light setting for its cooktop light—none of which you’re guaranteed to find on lower-end models. It’s also one of the few models we’ve seen at any price that has an option to turn off the turntable to help fit extra-large dishes. Installation is a little easier whirlpool microwave oven than with most of the other models we tested, and the GE JVM6175 should have no trouble sliding into an existing OTR slot, if you’re replacing an old model. It also comes in more finishes than any other microwave we looked at. In our recent side-by-side Lab test, we tested 12 new countertop microwave models, conducting over 10 tests and collecting more than 500 data points.

Modern microwave ovens use either an analog dial-type timer or a digital control panel for operation. In the 90s brands such as Panasonic and GE began offering models with a scrolling-text display showing cooking instructions. Whether you’re dashing out the door to soccer practice or heating up breakfast, countertop microwaves from Whirlpool help you quickly create meals or reheat leftovers at the touch of a button. Browse our selection to find the countertop microwave that fits your needs and style today and explore our microwave sales for current deals and savings on Whirlpool® microwaves. In our recent testing, this microwave had the most even heat distribution out of all microwaves tested.

Most people will get along just fine without any of those settings, and most won’t even miss any of them, aside from the express-cook options. Over-the-range (OTR) microwaves are all pretty similar to one another—and they’re not notably better than good countertop models. But one of these can save you some space, while doing double-duty as a basic range hood.

After spending an enormous sum to get that dedicated circuit the microwave worked until April when just opening the door caused a spark that the electrician and I observed. By now I am sure that I purchased a defective unit but Whirlpool was not believing it. (As as aside, expect to stay on hold whirlpool side by side refrigerator for at least minutes when you call Whirlpool). The Microwave on the whole works well but the interior turntable is awful. I complained and they sent a new device but it’s the same and does not stay in place. It took over 2 months to get it installed, because they don’t have “real” installers.

He was screaming at my daughter, who is 35, lied to Whirlpool and his company and just ordered a new rack. The new technician told my daughter and I that the cavity should be replaced. Keep food warm and ready to serve for up to 90 minutes while you wrap up the rest of your meal using the low-heat Keep Warm setting.

Pre-heating the food in a microwave oven before putting it into the grill or pan reduces the time needed to heat up the food and reduces the formation of carcinogenic char. Microwave ovens heat foods quickly and efficiently because excitation is fairly uniform in the outer 25–38 mm (1–1.5 inches) of a homogeneous, high-water-content food item. The countertop microwaves that we’ve tested range from $70 to $760 in price and after rigorous testing we have found that price didn’t correlate with performance. High-end countertop microwaves tend to be geared towards aesthetics, boasting a sleek exterior that pairs well with luxury large appliances, but with similar performance to affordable countertop microwave models. High-end microwaves are worth it if the design of your kitchen is important to you, otherwise we don’t see the need to splurge on a high-end microwave.

To select our top picks, we went through 124 slices of bread, 48 potatoes and 18 pounds of mac and cheese. We rate each model on performance, ease of use, heat distribution and range of settings and presets. Food and cookware taken out of a microwave oven are rarely much hotter than 100 °C (212 °F). Cookware used in a microwave oven is often much cooler than the food because the cookware is transparent to microwaves; the microwaves heat the food directly and the cookware is indirectly heated by the food.

Uses microwave energy in addition to other heating (convection, or supplemental halogen or quartz bulbs) so as to ‘speed cook’ foods normally cooked in an oven or skillet. Shopping whirlpool low profile microwave for a microwave oven doesn’t have to be overwhelming. However, taking your time to make the right choice will help you enjoy quick and hassle-free cooking for years to come.

In general, the more watts an oven offers, the greater its cooking power-and the faster your food will be cooked. That said, differences in claimed wattage of 100 watts or less are unlikely to result in significant differences in performance. This Whirlpool® Countertop Microwave gives you the space and quick cooking you need to cook day-to-day meals. Extend cook time with the Add 30 Seconds Option, activate Keep Warm so your food stays ready to serve and automatically cook popcorn right using the Popcorn Preset. The LG LVM1762ST has a lower average user rating than most of the other models we tested, which is a mark against it. It’s missing some express controls (though it does have an Add 30 Seconds button, and More or Less buttons to adjust the run time by 10 seconds).