If you’re living on your own, don’t cook a ton, and want to save some counter space, a compact microwave is a total game-changer. It’s small, affordable, and perfect for quick snacks like popcorn without taking over your kitchen.
These little guys are also a must-have for dorm rooms or tiny apartments where space is tight. Whether you’re reheating leftovers or just craving a midnight snack, a compact microwave makes life so much easier!
The Benefits of Having a Small Microwave Oven
It’s amazing to think that microwave ovens have been in existence since the mid-1900s and yet they still remain one of the most popular kitchen appliances today. With so many benefits, these small microwaves offer a lot for such a compact appliance!
If you’re ready to get your own microwave oven but are overwhelmed with all of the options available, here are some benefits of having a small microwave oven:
- Space Saving: Not sure where to place your microwave? A small microwave is a perfect size for a crowded kitchen, apartment, dorm room, or office. These smaller microwaves can fit just about anywhere! With many models being under 20 inches wide and under 15 inches deep they are a great alternative to those bulky built-in microwaves that take up so much precious counter space.
- Strength: While traditionally people believe that bigger is better when it comes to appliances, this isn’t always the case. Many standard microwave ovens don’t have enough power for certain jobs such as heating up leftovers in plastic containers or thawing meats quickly. Microwaves with lower wattage (650 watts vs 1000 watts) can heat food faster, cook more evenly, and won’t leave cold spots in your food.
- Convenience: The best thing about having a small microwave is that they are just as convenient as their larger counterparts! Meals can be prepared quickly, hot beverages can be quickly heated up, leftovers can be re-heated without creating a mess inside the microwave oven and popcorn can be popped with ease. Many new microwaves come with power levels that allow you to cook delicate meals like eggs, melt butter, or thaw meats safely. Some models even have automatic settings for cooking specific types of food such as vegetables or potatoes which eliminates any guesswork involved when using them.
These 3 benefits paired together make these smaller microwaves for just about anyone who wants the convenience of having one around!
1. Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven
The Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven is a product for the whole family. With easy to read display and intuitive controls, you can’t go wrong with this stylish microwave. Built with a large cavity to fit almost anything you need to be heated up at any time, the 1.2 cubic feet capacity of this small microwave oven will suit all your cooking needs – no more waiting!
With a pre-programmed sensor menu for optimum heating of popular foods like pizza, potatoes, veggies, and more that are simple to select just by number or letter on the touchpad dial, it’s never been easier to cook quickly without worry about what kind of power setting your food needs.
You can’t go wrong with one of the this small microwave. With exclusive glass turntable and microwave sensor pre-programmed menus for better than ever food quality as well as easy, accurate touchpad controls and a count-up timer to keep you on track, the EM131A5C is perfect for any foodie who demands perfection in their kitchen or busy life.
The sleek stainless steel exterior ensures that it looks just as good sitting out by your sink with dishes drying off from dinner last night while being perfectly functional in otherwise cramped spaces with its 1.2 cubic foot capacity.
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2. BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7 Digital Microwave Oven
The BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7 Digital Microwave Oven features 10 power settings, a clock, and a timer for your convenience. This small microwave oven is loaded with safety features including a child safety lock and an interior light to help protect children from the hot unit as well as preventing accidents.
This microwave also comes equipped with a removable 10″ glass turntable which makes cleaning simple. The electronic pre-programmed buttons perform functions such as Popping Popped Corn, Making Diner’s Plate, Frozen Vegetables Dinner Plate, Beverage Tray, and Pizza.
It also comes equipped with a clock and kitchen timer so you can monitor how long or how short you need to cook food without missing any key ingredients. Other features of the Microwave include a child safety lock, a bright LED display, an interior light so you can see what’s happening inside.
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3. Galanz GLCMKA07BER-07 Retro Microwave Oven
The Galanz Retro Microwave is a popular choice for families with children, providing an easy way to cook meals. With perfect timing and 800 watts of power, the microwave gives you the best result every time! It delivers up to 50% more cooking capacity than other conventional microwaves making it ideal for busy households.
The 700-watt microwave has 6 variable power levels so you can cook your vegetables or reheat lasagne at just the right speed. Use the child lock mode if unsupervised use is not desired by small fingers.
This retro-looking small microwave oven has all the features you need for awesome results when cooking food. The Defrost feature will make frozen dinners taste like they were just made at home, and the timer with sound alert is sure to be a favorite among busy families.
Cooking time can be adjusted depending on your preference, so if you’re feeling lazy one night then that fancy steak dinner won’t take too long! The 360° rotating even heating ensures that no matter what food or dish you are preparing it gets heated evenly, which means amazing meals every day.
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4. COMFEE’ EM720CPL-PM Countertop Microwave Oven
COMFEE’ EM720CPL-PM Countertop Microwave Oven is a new, stovetop replacement oven that will exceed all of your expectations. With 700 watts of power for efficiency without sacrificing flavor or cooking time, you get all the greatness of an electric range with the convenience of a small microwave oven.
Its counter amplified design can fit on any kitchen countertop space and features easy auto cook functions like popcorn, potatoes, pizza, frozen veggie needs to be heated up quickly? One-touch express cooking function with 1-6 minutes and +30 seconds functions means that the dish won’t even have time to cool off before it hits your plate!
The Mute function will lower the volume if that’s what you’re into or just need to use it during a commercial break in the latest Housewives episode! It even has Eco mode so it can help save our planet through its low energy consumption – without sacrificing quality feelings about delicious meals!
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5. Commercial Chef Countertop Small Microwave Oven
Compact and powerful, this Manufacturing Engineer microwave will be your new oven mate. He’s a great guy who’s always down for any meal of the day, but let him do his thing when food needs a little more cooking time. He knows what he’s doing in all sorts of conditions from household use to commercial kitchens with up to 600 watts of power!
Simply turn the dial and this Commercial Chef microwave does the rest; use its power levels and timer features as little or as much as you want every day of the week. From lightning-fast zapping to make your coffee ready in no time flat to classical convenience with just about everything in between – if the up-to-date quality is what you’re after then this product will definitely deliver from the wake-up time all the way through bedtime.
Available for both residential and commercial use, this small microwave oven can quickly cook or even reheat up to 30 minutes at a time while giving your food the freshness that only comes from microwaves. With a removable glass turntable platform for dishwasher-safe cleaning and space-saving design, our stove offers many features that previous models just don’t have – keeping things neat around your kitchen has never been easier!
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6. Farberware Classic FMO07AHTBKJ Microwave Oven
The Farberware Classic FMO07AHTBKJ Microwave Oven provides reliable and durable performance to heat and defrosts food quickly. You can prepare delicious meals in a snap with up to 700 Watts of power output, get the convenience of timers and clocks for better visibility, and cook deliciously by following convenient pre-sets such as “defrost by weight” or “defrost by the time”.
The stylish design features a Brushed Stainless Steel front and handles that are both functional and lovely. With clear LED displays in your kitchens complete set, including timer & clock function, child safety lock feature for added peace of mind, never worry about waiting for things to finish cooking ever again.
The Farberware Classic FMO07AHTBKJ Microwave Oven is a great addition to any kitchen. 10 power levels and 6 one-touch cooking programs make it easy to use, and an efficient cook time of 1-6 minutes makes light work for speedy meals. The memory function allows you to store personal favorites, and with the optional convection oven set, this small microwave oven has everything you need for efficient cooking.
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7. GE Appliances JEM3072SHSS Microwave Oven
Go with GE for your microwaves. With metal construction that is made in the USA, you can feel sure that this small microwave oven will last through your cooking needs. For convenience, enjoy 15 different functions to customize the perfect dish every time.
These include auto and time defrosting, utilizing an easy rotating turntable when cooking multiple dishes simultaneously so nothing burns or sticks to the bottom! Plus it does not take up much space at 10 1/2″ High x 17 3/4″ Wide x 13 D”, making it perfect for most kitchen spaces – even overcooks comfortably on top of most countertops!
Pop open our microwave’s rotating tray to find handy conveniences like auto defrost for meats, reheat setting for what you’ve already cooked, power inverter options, an easy-to-clean interior with no nooks or crannies, convenience cooking controls that end guesswork every time. With 0.7 cubic feet of capacity in both size and performance, your culinary creations can be ready faster than ever before.
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How to Choose the Best Small Microwave Oven for Your Needs
When shopping around for a compact microwave oven, consumers may notice that all models look exactly the same. The numbers on the buttons make it more complicated than it should be. Consumers must know how to choose the best small microwaves oven if they want quality products with features that meet their needs at prices they can afford. Choosing the best type of small countertop microwave for their kitchens is not always easy but following some simple steps will ensure success.
Wattage
Most small microwaves are going to be around 700 watts. This is insufficient for some recipes which require more power, but it is perfect for heating most foods. Some models have higher wattage and will cook or heat faster while others do not. The best device for a particular individual depends upon their cooking habits and needs as well as the size of their microwave’s cavity. In most cases, high wattage small microwaves are only necessary if consumers want to quickly heat up large quantities of food. Many compact microwave ovens allow users to choose between different levels of power so that they can adjust according to what they are cooking.
Popcorn buttons and convenience features
Small microwaves and other small appliances are often designed with certain features to make them more convenient. Many models include popcorn buttons that allow users to pop their bag of corn without having to deal with hot kernels flying all over the place. Auto defrost settings use sensors on the oven cavity to determine how cold or frozen food is, and then automatically defaults to the proper defrosting time. This makes it easier for consumers because they do not have to guess if their ice cream bar is going to be perfectly strawberry flavored by the end of a minute and forty seconds.
Price
The price range for compact microwaves in this category is usually between $50 and $150. Most people find that this amount of money buys an appliance that works well and will not break down in a few months or years. Although you should avoid paying for features and colors that you are not going to need, it is important for consumers to do some research before settling on a price point because it can make the difference between success and disappointment.
Warranty
The warranty on any small microwave oven is very important because this appliance has many electronic parts which are known to malfunction. Most models come with a one-year warranty for all parts but the glass tray. Consumers should pay close attention to how long their microwaves will be covered under specific conditions so that they know what they can expect if something goes wrong after purchase.
Size of the microwave cavity
When considering what size of small microwaves to buy, consumers should keep in mind the amount of space they have for an appliance. Many microwaves can be hung over the range but those that are too large will not fit and must be put on a countertop somewhere else in the kitchen.
Cord length
All small microwaves come with relatively short cords because they are meant to be plugged into nearby outlets. This is great for some people who need their appliances to be close to wherever they happen to be cooking or heating food, but others may find it inconvenient if there is no outlet available that is near the area where they want their ovens installed.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are small microwave ovens safe to use?
Yes, however, if in the course of heating/cooking something in a microwave oven it boils over (especially for the first time) do not remove the cup or container from the oven- this is necessary to keep it from erupting into flame when exposed to oxygen which happens when you remove it from the oven. Turn off the oven but leave cup or pot inside- after several minutes, carefully take out with an oven mitt on your hand- if molten plastic/metal still dribbles down remove first then with other hand pick up the remainder with paper towels and dispose of them safely.
2. What is the average life of small microwaves ovens?
A small microwave oven typically lasts about five years before you need to replace it.
3. What type of food can I cook in a small microwave oven?
You can cook any food that is heat-safe and requires no special ingredients or prep. Some suggestions: vegetables, fish, rice, nuts, slow-cooking soups, and beverages. You just have to make sure everything fits inside the container you are using. Small microwaves don’t cook large plates of food well because there’s not enough time for the full plate to get hot all the way through. You’ll be better off cooking several smaller dishes rather than a single large dish. Never use metal containers in microwaves because they may cause sparking and your oven. Instead, use ceramic or glass containers with shiny and dull sides or paper plates. Paper will ignite if the oven catches fire, but ceramic and glass are safe in case of an emergency.
4. Can I use metal utensils in my small microwave?
You can use metal knives, cookware, bowls, and other utensils without fear of damaging your small microwave oven if you follow a few rules: don’t let them touch the interior walls of the oven because they may cause sparking; don’t place any utensils directly over food when microwaving it; never operate a microwave oven that has been damaged or contains a noticeable amount of water inside.
5. Where can I see instructions on how to replace my own fuse in my small microwave oven?
You don’t need any other instructions than the manufacturer’s since each and every model will have different fuses, so chances are you won’t find any generic instructions outside the manufacturer’s website because they require specific information about your model which only an authorized service center would have. However, some brands may offer online videos with step-by-step procedures on how to replace their own brand fuses as well.
Conclusion
The small microwave oven is a great appliance to have when you’re in need of an extra countertop cooking appliance, or if your home only has minimal kitchen space. It can also be used as a dorm room and apartment staple for quick and delicious meals on the go!
When it comes to finding the best small microwave ovens that exist today, we recommend taking into consideration what you want out of your product. For example, do you prefer one with preset buttons? Or would you rather customize it yourself? Whatever option suits your needs best will help ensure that the right purchase decision is made for this type of appliance.
