Coming home to a cold dinner after a long day at work is one of the most frustrating things that can happen to a person.
The food in question will still be nutritious and help quell hunger pains but won’t be as tasty, which is a shame if you prepared your meal diligently, then something came up that you had to deal with, and when you returned, your spaghetti was cold.
A great way to ensure this doesn’t happen is to have a device that you can use to heat up food that has gone cold in a matter of minutes. Generally, a regular microwave would be adequate here, but if you live alone or don’t prepare large meals, you may not need a regular-sized microwave oven.
Our solution to your problems can be found if this describes your situation. Microwaves come in the form of specialized ‘subspecies’ called – compact microwave ovens. Basically, these devices are smaller versions of a microwave. They don’t use as much electricity, can easily be carried, and tend to cook food faster.
Top 5 Bestseller Microwave
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During this article, we will talk about compact microwaves and why they are so useful when it comes to heating up or preparing food at home. We prepared five compact microwave models to show why using a compact microwave has many advantages over a regular one.
Furthermore, there is a brief buyer’s guide to help you become familiar with the ins and outs of these devices, as well as some Q&A towards the end that should answer any questions you have regarding compact microwaves.
The 5 Best Microwave Reviews
Toshiba Microwave Oven with Sound On/Off ECO Mode and LED Lighting
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With a stylish stainless steel exterior, this Toshiba microwave oven is both a stylish kitchen appliance that will blend into the rest of the décor and a powerful appliance that has plenty of options when it comes to the way you use it.
The most interesting thing about it, as far as functionality is concerned, would be the presets, since you can choose one and then let the microwave handle temperature adjusting and timer setting. There are six presets, each devoted to one common microwave meal, such as pizza, baked potatoes, popcorn, and more.
With a power rating of 900 Watts, this thing packs more than enough heat to let you prepare a wide variety of meals. Furthermore, Toshiba made sure the heater was set to the appropriate power. With a scale from one to ten to work with, you have more than enough options when it comes to making different dishes.
Pros:
- Made out of high-quality stainless steel
- Power-saving ECO mode
- 900 Watts of power
- Comes with a bright and easy-to-read digital display
- 6 pre-programmed settings
- Features a mute option
Cons:
- Some users complained that heating up food can take longer after a while
- Some users may not like the design of this unit
Nostalgia Retro Countertop Microwave Oven
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This Retro countertop microwave oven can be a perfect choice for anyone looking for a microwave with all the functionality of a modern-day kitchen appliance, but with the nostalgic appearance of one of the old microwave models. Aqua light blue, red, ivory, jet black, as well as seafoam green, are some of the colors available.
The description of the product indicates that it has an impressive heating power of 800 Watts, which is more than enough to handle any cooking or heating task. With regard to cooking, if you’re looking to make some of the most common dishes in this microwave, you’ll appreciate the fact that there are 12 presets for quickly making popcorn, pizza, vegetables, and other items.
A retro chromed handle and a control panel with stylish buttons are also included with this model. There is a digital display, as well, so you can see the timer and the presets you’ve chosen.
Pros:
- 800-Watts of cooking power
- 12 pre-programmed cooking settings
- Easy-to-read digital display
- Comes with a sleek retro handle
- Compact size
- Elegant retro design
Cons:
- Some users may not like the design of this unit
- Some users reported problems with the faulty turntable
COMFEE Countertop Microwave Oven
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Offering an eco-mode for saving energy and stainless steel with a black finish, this COMFEE countertop microwave can make for a great option for anyone looking for a microwave that does the job they need and looks handsome while doing it.
One of the things that sets this model apart from the rest is how many smart features it has. In the microwave, you get a special child safety lock, a kitchen timer, and even a mute function in case you get irritated by the different bleeps microwaves emit when your food is ready.
One interesting thing about this model is that it has two quick defrost options, so you can easily thaw whatever you place inside in a matter of minutes. (Well, depending on how long it has been stored in the freezer). What’s more, it comes with an easy-to-use digital display that allows you to control all of the different functions, so setting up the heating, cooking, or defrosting process is a snap.
Pros:
- Comes with a child safety lock and a kitchen clock
- Thawing function for easily defrosting food
- Energy-saving eco mode
- 11 power level settings
- 700 Watts of heating power
- 1-year limited warranty
Cons:
- Some users complained that the heating-up takes too long for cold foods
- The control panel is not lit
Commercial Chef Countertop Small Microwave Oven
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Featuring a white color scheme and a small capacity of only 0.6 cubic feet, this Commercial Chef model is a compact microwave for people who don’t plan to cook only for themselves. Despite the fact that this model is not the best option for a family or a professional chef, it is perfect for someone who needs a simple microwave for heating up and cooking.
It’s fairly straightforward to operate this model as far as controls are concerned. The model has two knobs you can move left or right. The upper one controls the power (temperature intensity), while the lower one allows you to set a timer.
Among the controls are a low-intensity setting, a defrosting setting, as well as four additional settings ranging from medium-low to high. With the timer, you can set up a variety of combinations to complete a variety of cooking tasks.
Pros:
- Tough construction + a white coating
- Easy-to-hold handle
- Defrosting function
- 5 levels of heat intensity
- Easy-to-use timer
- Rotary controls
Cons:
- Fairly small in size (not suitable for families, but works well for a single person, or two people at most)
- Some users reported that the turning table inside the microwave makes a lot of noise
BLACK & DECKER Digital Microwave Oven with Turntable Push-Button Door
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As the latest product from world-renowned digital appliance company BLACK&DECKER, this microwave oven is a cutting-edge appliance that can heat up and cook a variety of foods. Despite the fact that it may not be the most powerful microwave on the market, this model’s 700 Watts can do wonders for small to medium cooking ventures.
BLACK&DECKER designed ten power settings so you can control these 700 Watts effectively and easily. Thus, you won’t have to go full blast on some smaller cooking tasks, which will help you save energy. Furthermore, since this thing has a built-in timer, you can set the exact parameters for the heating or cooking process of your choice and then look after something else – since it will notify you when the food is ready.
Among the features of this model are a large LED digital screen, a child safety lock, as well as an easy-to-read control panel.
Pros:
- Pre-programmed buttons for a variety of foods
- LED digital screen
- 30-second express cooking mode
- 700-Watts of power
- Comes with a clock and a timer
- 10 power settings
- Child safety lock
Cons:
- No control panel light
- Some users reported that this model doesn’t heat up food that evenly
What To Consider When Choosing Microwave
Power Rating
Regardless of the size of a microwave oven, its power rating will determine how well it heats food.
Essentially, a microwave’s power rating refers to how strong its heater is, so the more power it has (measured in Watts), the faster it will be able to heat up your food and cook it.
A microwave’s capacity (measured in cubic feet) plays a role in this equation as well. As a microwave’s capacity decreases, its power requirements will come down.
For smaller to medium-sized microwaves, the most common power rating varies from 600 to 1,000 Watts, so that’s the range to consider when shopping for compact microwave models.
Capacity
Compact microwaves rarely exceed 0.9 cubic feet in capacity, which is enough to prepare a meal for one or two people. There are many factors to consider, including the shape of the meal and how it is prepared.
These contraptions have a lower capacity limit of around 0.5 to 0.6 cubic feet, and models that fall into this category are best suited to simpler cooking tasks for one person, as well as for heating up and defrosting small meals.
Pre-Programmed Settings
The preset cooking options are one of the most useful features of modern microwave ovens. The way this works is that the manufacturers will set up certain cooking options, which are essentially bundles of preset cooking parameters.
As a result, if you choose the ‘popcorn’ preset, the microwave will automatically set both the timer and the temperature to make popcorn. All you need to do is place a bowl of corn inside the microwave, and the machine will do the rest.
Essentially, these presets are shortcuts for preparing different meals, so they can be quite useful for preparing your favorite meals quickly.
Control Panel
On your microwave, you can set the temperature as well as select the cooking presets and other parameters for the cooking tasks of your choice via the control panel.
There are a few models of microwaves that don’t have control panels per se, but they usually have rotating dials.
Anyhow, those models that do come with a control panel make it easier to choose the settings the microwave in question comes with, so if you don’t like setting the time and temperature manually, look for a model that has a digital control panel.
Warranty
If you have a lemon of a product or something that doesn’t go the way it’s supposed to during the usage of the product, it’s always helpful to have some kind of warranty on hand.
A microwave’s turntables and heaters are the most frequently broken parts, both of which can be expensive to replace. Further, if either of these parts breaks down, you might as well just buy a new microwave instead of trying to fix the existing one.
Microwave FAQs
What is the smallest 1,000-Watt microwave?
There are many different microwave models on the market today that fit the description of a 1,000-Watt microwave.
Some microwave oven manufacturers, such as BLACK&DECKER and Oster, offer many models with this power rating, so it all depends on the other functions you’d like to see in your microwave oven besides the power rating itself.
What is the smallest-size microwave?
At present, probably the smallest microwave on the market is the Whirlpool WMC 20005. The countertop space it takes up is just 213 square inches, and it has a volume of 0.5 cubic feet. (Or, wherever else you plan to put it.)
Also, models such as the 600-Watt Commercial Chef rotary microwave oven with 0.6 cubic feet of cooking space would be close behind.
Is a 900-Watt microwave powerful enough?
For most cooking tasks – it is. In general, microwave ovens do not need to be as powerful as stoves, because the cooking tasks you may wish to perform with them are not as elaborate as those you might need a stove for.
Also, many compact microwave models have less than 700 Watts and work just fine, so a 900-Watt model will likely perform well as long as you don’t plan to prepare elaborate meals in it.
Can I use a microwave in a cupboard?
Putting a small microwave in a cupboard where it will fit snugly and not take up too much space may seem like a good idea, but it may not be the best solution.
Microwave ovens, even the smallest ones, have an exhaust system that allows them to control the temperature and eliminate excess hot air or steam.
Thus, putting a microwave in an enclosed space will only cause the air inside to become stuffy and the entire area to become moist after a while. Eventually, mold will grow in the cupboard, causing it to smell and become unsanitary.
When it comes to finding a place for your microwave, it’s best to just place it somewhere on the countertop, where it won’t take up too much space. This can be a surface (or something else – the important thing is that it is not enclosed)
Do microwaves open left-to-right?
Most microwaves open the other way around – right-to-left. This design may seem counterintuitive at first, but it has a very simple reason behind it. Chances are, when you open a microwave, you have a plate of food or a cup full of a beverage in your other hand.
As most people are right-handed, you open the microwave door with your left hand and then place whatever you are holding in your right hand in the microwave.
Thus, the entire process of placing food in the microwave and taking it out can be completed at the same time.
Conclusion
In addition to performing many functions related to food preparation, microwave ovens are useful appliances. If you don’t have enough space for a full-sized microwave in your kitchen, getting a compact model may be just what you need. I wish you a merry and hassle-free holiday season and hope this article has been helpful.
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