Top 5 compared
The best microwaves
Leftovers reheated, frozen food defrosted and milk warmed in a few minutes, with controls that are easy to use.
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The top 5 at a glance
A microwave warms and cooks food in minutes without heating up the oven. The first popular one for the home was Amana’s Radarange, in 1967. A solo model only microwaves; a grill model adds an element in the roof to brown and crisp the top of a dish, and a combination model adds a fan oven too, so it can roast and bake.
A bigger capacity takes family-sized dishes but needs more worktop. Dials keep things simple, while digital panels add auto-cook menus and exact timings. Whichever kind, a microwave needs space round it for air, so measure the worktop with that gap included.
What matters
- A turntable wide enough for your largest plate.
- A child lock, if little hands can reach the door.
- Inverter power, which helps with gentle defrosting.
- One-touch express buttons for a quick reheat.
#1Russell Hobbs 20L Digital Microwave (RHM2076B)
£75–£100
At 44.5cm wide and 25.8cm high, this 20-litre microwave suits a small kitchen or a first flat. It has 800W, five power levels and eight auto-cook menus behind a mirrored black door, with a 95-minute timer and a clock.
What owners say: Owners say it heats food through fast, find the inside quick to wipe clean, and like the mirrored door; they disagree on the buttons (simple to some, too many to others) and on whether a big plate fits.
Heads up: The turntable is 25.5cm across, so measure the biggest plates in the cupboard first: a large dinner plate may only just turn.
A closer look: Everyday reheating and defrosting run on the five power levels, while the eight auto-cook menus handle common foods without working out times. A quick wipe of the inside after any splashes, while it’s still warm, stops them baking on, and the glass turntable lifts out for the sink.
- 5 power levels
- Automatic defrost
- 95-minute timer and clock
- Mirrored black door
Best for: Leftovers and frozen food
- Type
- Solo
- Capacity
- 20L
- Microwave power
- 800W
- Controls
- Digital, buttons and dial
- Auto programmes
- 8
- Turntable
- 25.5cm
- Size (W x H x D)
- 44.5 x 25.8 x 35.6cm
#2Toshiba 23L Digital Microwave (ML-EM23P)
£75–£100
More room than the Russell Hobbs at #1: 23 litres and a 27cm turntable, a number pad for keying in exact times and 11 power levels, in a stainless steel finish. Toshiba fits a five-blade fan to keep it quiet.
What owners say: Owners like the quick-start time buttons and the roomy inside, and say the steel front is simple to keep clean.
A closer look: One press of the express buttons starts cooking at full power, the quickest way to warm a mug of coffee or a bowl of soup, and the number pad sets exact times for everything else. The steel front shows fingerprints, so a soft damp cloth keeps it looking smart.
- 11 power levels
- Express cook buttons
- Defrost by weight or time
- Five-blade fan for quiet
- Stainless steel finish
Best for: More room, exact timings
- Type
- Solo
- Capacity
- 23L
- Microwave power
- 800W
- Controls
- Digital number pad
- Auto programmes
- 6
- Turntable
- 27cm
- Size (W x H x D)
- 48.5 x 29.3 x 39.7cm
#3Toshiba 23L Digital Grill Microwave (MW3-EG23PFI)
£75–£100
Adds a 1,000W grill to 900W of microwave power, with two combination modes that run both at once, so a lasagne heats through and browns on top in one go. Behind the mirrored black door are 11 power levels and 20 auto menus.
What owners say: Owners find it easy to use, roomy inside for its size and quick to wipe clean; the complaint that comes up is units giving up after a couple of years.
A closer look: Grill-only is the setting for crisping toast, cheese on toast or a pie lid, while the combination modes suit gratins and reheated roasts. The walls and roof get hot after grilling, so use oven gloves and give it a few minutes before wiping out any spatter. The +30s button starts it at full power without setting a time.
- Two combination modes
- 11 power levels
- +30s quick start button
- Child lock and Eco mode
- Mirrored black door
Best for: Browning and crisping
- Type
- Grill (1,000W)
- Capacity
- 23L
- Microwave power
- 900W
- Controls
- Digital panel
- Auto programmes
- 20
- Turntable
- –
- Size (W x H x D)
- 46.9 x 28 x 37.7cm
#4Tower 20L Manual Microwave (T24042BLK)
£69.99 RRP
Two dials and nothing to program: one sets the power, the other a timer of up to 30 minutes. It suits anyone who mainly reheats and defrosts and would rather not deal with menus and buttons.
What owners say: Owners find the two dials simple to get the hang of, and say it defrosts well and fits a small kitchen.
A closer look: With no screen or clock, there’s nothing to set up when it’s first plugged in or after a power cut: choose the power, turn the timer and it starts. Defrost sits on the power dial, and the glass turntable and its roller ring come out for washing in warm soapy water.
- No clock to set
- 30-minute dial timer
- Defrost on the power dial
- 3-year guarantee on registration
Best for: Reheating with two simple dials
- Type
- Solo
- Capacity
- 20L
- Microwave power
- 800W
- Controls
- Two dials
- Auto programmes
- None
- Turntable
- 24.5cm
- Size (W x H x D)
- 45.1 x 25.8 x 34.4cm
#5Panasonic 27L Combination Microwave with Air Fry (NN-CT57RM)
£269.99 RRP
Four appliances in one slim box: a 1,000W inverter microwave, a 1,300W quartz grill, a fan oven from 30 to 220°C and an air fry basket that takes up to 800g of chips, so it roasts and crisps as well as reheats.
A closer look: Inverter power holds a steady low heat instead of switching on and off, which helps when defrosting or softening butter without cooked edges. The air fry basket and enamel tray go in the dishwasher, and the flat ceiling inside wipes down easily after grilling.
- Quartz grill
- Fan oven, 30 to 220°C
- Air fry basket takes 800g
- Dishwasher-safe basket and tray
- Flat ceiling wipes clean
Best for: Microwave, oven and air fryer in one
- Type
- Combi: grill, oven, air fry
- Capacity
- 27L
- Microwave power
- 1,000W inverter
- Controls
- Touch panel
- Auto programmes
- 19
- Turntable
- 34cm
- Size (W x H x D)
- 52 x 31 x 39.1cm
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Russell Hobbs RHM2076B | #2Toshiba ML-EM23P | #3Toshiba MW3-EG23PFI | #4Tower T24042BLK | #5Panasonic NN-CT57RM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best budget | Best combination | |||
| Picked Rating | 9.1 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.7 |
| Price | £75–£100 | £75–£100 | £75–£100 | £69.99 RRP | £269.99 RRP |
| Type | Solo | Solo | Grill (1,000W) | Solo | Combi: grill, oven, air fry |
| Capacity | 20L | 23L | 23L | 20L | 27L |
| Microwave power | 800W | 800W | 900W | 800W | 1,000W inverter |
| Controls | Digital, buttons and dial | Digital number pad | Digital panel | Two dials | Touch panel |
| Auto programmes | 8 | 6 | 20 | None | 19 |
| Turntable | 25.5cm | 27cm | – | 24.5cm | 34cm |
| Size (W x H x D) | 44.5 x 25.8 x 35.6cm | 48.5 x 29.3 x 39.7cm | 46.9 x 28 x 37.7cm | 45.1 x 25.8 x 34.4cm | 52 x 31 x 39.1cm |
| Best for | Leftovers and frozen food | More room, exact timings | Browning and crisping | Reheating with two simple dials | Microwave, oven and air fryer in one |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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