Best Microwave Ovens 2026: Reheating, Defrosting and Cooking Compared

1. 1
   3.9
   Best overall

   BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7 Digital Microwave Oven

   Best for small kitchens wanting simple one-touch reheating

   Push-button pre-programmed cooking for popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetables, beverages and dinner plates covers most everyday reheating without menu-diving. At $103.99 it matches the Toshiba's price and the Galanz Retro's, and its 10 power levels beat the Galanz's 6. Two owners did report the child safety lock was difficult to turn off, and one owner said the unit died entirely after seven months, so it is not flawless, but for straightforward daily use it earns the top spot.

   • 0.7 cu ft capacity
   • 700W, 10 power levels
   • 20.2 lb weight
   • 10-inch glass turntable

   Amazon 4.2 out of 5 · 22,906 ratings

   Strengths

   • Six pre-programmed one-touch buttons for common foods
   • Child safety lock and interior light included

   Drawbacks

   • One owner reported the unit died after seven months
   • Two owners found the child lock could not be turned off

   $79.97$95.99 Check price on Amazon Read the full review →
2. 2
   4.6
   Highest scoring

   Galanz GLCMKA07BER-07 Retro Microwave Oven

   Best for RVs and small apartments wanting retro styling

   Retro pull-handle styling and a lighted interior make this the pick for anyone who wants a microwave that looks deliberate rather than purely functional, and at $85.00 it undercuts the BLACK+DECKER by nearly $19. It matches that pick's 0.7 cubic-foot cavity and 700 watts but offers only 6 power levels against the BLACK+DECKER's 10, and an owner reported the power felt lower than other microwaves they had used, best suited to reheating rather than cooking from raw.

   • 0.7 cu ft capacity
   • 700W, 6 power levels
   • 23.1 lb weight
   • 360-degree rotating turntable

   Amazon 4.6 out of 5 · 16,384 ratings

   Strengths

   • Retro pull-handle design suits RVs and small kitchens, per owners
   • Priced lower than the BLACK+DECKER at $85.00

   Drawbacks

   • Fewer power levels than the BLACK+DECKER's 10 settings
   • One owner found power lower than expected, best suited to reheating

   $88.43 Check price on Amazon Read the full review →
3. 3
   4.3

   TOSHIBA EM131A5C-BS Countertop Microwave Ovens

   Best for families needing the largest cavity and quiet operation

   The largest cavity in this lineup, at 1.2 cubic feet, is why this earns third place despite costing the same $103.99 as the BLACK+DECKER; it holds a full-size dinner plate with room to spare and outputs 1000 watts against the BLACK+DECKER's 700 watts. A mute mode silences the buzzer, and defrost can run by weight or time. One owner reported a humming noise appearing after five to six years of daily use, and at 34.6 pounds it is far heavier than the compact 0.7 cubic-foot picks.

   • 1.2 cu ft capacity
   • 1000W output, 1600W input
   • 34.6 lb weight
   • 12.4-inch glass turntable

   Amazon 4.4 out of 5 · 32,695 ratings

   Strengths

   • Largest capacity here, fits a full dinner plate with room to spare
   • Mute mode silences the buzzer, unlike the smaller compact units

   Drawbacks

   • One owner reported a humming noise appearing after five to six years

   $148.99 Check price on Amazon Read the full review →

9 more models that made the cut, ranked 4–12.

1. 4 Chefman Countertop Microwave Oven 0.9 Cu. Ft. Best for cooks who want two-stage cooking cycles Multiphase cooking lets you chain two different power settings and times into a single run, useful for defrosting then finishing at full power. At $119.99 it sits above the BLACK+DECKER, with 900 watts, 10 power levels and 6 presets. The listing states the child lock disengages with a 3-second hold of Stop/Cancel. Two owners did find the display too bright at night with no dimming option.
   • 0.9 cu ft capacity
   • 900W, 10 power levels
   • 6 preset programs
   • UL approved, 1-year warranty
   • Amazon 4.5 · 3,242 ratings
   4.5 $109.99 Check price
2. 5 COMFEE' CM-M093ARD Retro Microwave with 9 Preset Best for retro-style shoppers wanting more preset options Nine preset programs, more than the BLACK+DECKER's or Chefman's six, cover popcorn through soup and pasta, and a 0.9 cubic-foot cavity matches the Chefman and exceeds every other pick on this list. At $108.79 it costs more than the Comfee EM720CPL-PMB below it, and one owner reported the rubber feet slipping when the door was pulled open with force, a fit-and-finish issue the harder-cased picks above it did not report.
   • 0.9 cu ft capacity
   • 900W, 9 preset programs
   • 27.1 lb weight
   • 10.6-inch turntable
   • Amazon 4.5 · 555 ratings
   4.5 $134.99 Check price
3. 6 COMFEE' EM720CPL-PMB Countertop Microwave Oven Best for budget buyers wanting a no-frills reheater At $68.99, this ties the Frigidaire as the cheapest microwave here but still lists two defrost settings, by weight or by time, a feature the Frigidaire's listing does not mention at all. It matches the BLACK+DECKER's 700-watt output and 0.7 cubic-foot cavity at a lower price, though it drops that model's six one-touch presets in favor of a sound on/off switch. One owner reported the paint cracking and rust forming near the turntable track after about six years of use.
   • 0.7 cu ft capacity
   • 700W output
   • 20.2 lb weight
   • 10-inch glass turntable
   • Amazon 4.4 · 28,436 ratings
   4.2 $69.96 Check price
4. 7 COMFEE' Retro Small Microwave Oven With Compact Size Best for studio apartments wanting a compact retro look One owner measured the interior nearly two inches taller than their previous compact microwave, useful for tall mugs that would otherwise need tilting. At $99.99 it costs more than the visually similar Comfee EM720CPL-PMB above at $68.99 for essentially the same 700-watt, 0.7 cubic-foot spec sheet plus retro styling.
   • 0.7 cu ft capacity
   • 700W, 10 power levels
   • 23.4 lb weight
   • 10-inch glass turntable
   • Amazon 4.4 · 28,435 ratings
   4.2 $95.99 Check price
5. 8 Cuisinart CMW-100 1-Cubic-Foot Stainless Steel Best for buyers wanting a stainless steel interior that resists odors Stainless steel lines the cavity here, a detail the painted-interior Comfee and BLACK+DECKER models don't share, and the listing states it resists odors and sanitizes easily. At $174.23 it costs far more than the Toshiba, which is 1000-watt and costs $103.99, but this model's 25 preprogrammed settings and stainless steel interior justify some of that premium. One owner ran an earlier version of this exact model daily for thirteen years before its turntable motor finally failed.
   • 1 cu ft capacity
   • 1000W output
   • 25 preprogrammed settings
   • 12-inch glass turntable
   • Amazon 4.4 · 920 ratings
   4.4 $133.98 Check price
6. 9 Daewoo KOR-7LRER Retro Countertop Microwave Oven Best for buyers who want a retro design as a kitchen centerpiece Styling carries this pick more than power: one owner called it a beauty pageant winner among microwaves, and another said the finish still looked flawless years after purchase. At $169.99 it costs more than double the similarly sized Comfee EM720CPL-PMB at $68.99, while offering fewer power levels, just 5 against the Comfee's basic controls. One owner reported the unit died completely after four years, which weighs against the premium price for a 0.7 cubic-foot, 700-watt spec sheet.
   • 0.7 cu ft capacity
   • 700W, 5 power levels
   • 23.4 lb weight
   • 2-way defrost
   • Amazon 4.2 · 2,813 ratings
   4.0 $109.99 Check price
7. 10 Farberware 1.1 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave Oven Best for buyers wanting the largest capacity for the lowest price Priced four dollars less than the 1.2 cubic-foot Toshiba, this offers a 1.1 cubic-foot cavity and matching 1000-watt output at $99.99, more room than the BLACK+DECKER or either Comfee 0.7 cubic-foot pick for a similar price. Express cooking from 1 to 6 minutes plus an Add 30-Seconds control keep daily use simple. One owner reported nearly ten years of reliable use before the interior light burned out, though another noted the unit's sound level.
   • 1.1 cu ft capacity
   • 1000W output
   • 1 to 6-minute express cooking
   • Add 30-seconds control
   • Amazon 4.4 · 10,874 ratings
   4.2 $119.99 Check price
8. 11 FRIGIDAIRE EMW733BLACKAMZ 0.7 Cu. Ft. Microwave Best for buyers wanting the simplest possible controls No preset menus or power-level dial are published for this listing, just a 0.7 cubic-foot, plug-in-and-go microwave at $68.99, tying the Comfee EM720CPL-PMB for the lowest price here. One owner found it quieter than their previous microwave, and another noted the door only opens after pressing stop/reset, a safety habit that took getting used to. Without published feature bullets to compare against the Comfee or BLACK+DECKER's presets and defrost settings, it ranks behind picks with more documented flexibility.
   • 0.7 cu ft capacity
   • 23.4 lb weight
   • Amazon 4.1 · 3,073 ratings
   3.8 $69.00 Check price
9. 12 GE 4-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven Best for buyers wanting air fryer and convection combined with a microwave Air fryer, broiler and convection modes join the microwave function here, priced at $189.97, the highest of any product in this roundup. It shares the Cuisinart's 1 cubic-foot capacity but rates higher at 1,050 watts against the Cuisinart's 1000.
   • 1 cu ft capacity
   • 1050W output
   • 120V, 12.0 amperage
   • 39-inch power cord
   • Amazon 4.3 · 4,195 ratings
   4.1 $181.99 Check price