Best microwaves for everyday home cooking, tested and reviewed

The microwave is one of the unsung heroes of the kitchen. From reheating leftovers and defrosting ingredients to cooking entire meals from scratch in little time, the microwave is a seriously versatile piece of kit. Not only do they save both time and effort, cooking in a microwave can also save energy, and therefore cost, when compared to using the oven.

And the benefits don’t stop there. When it comes to reheating food, using a microwave saves on washing up, as meals can be reheated in their serving dish, rather than decanted into saucepans or oven dishes.

While the most basic microwave models on the market are designed to simply heat or defrost foods, many of today’s models go far beyond these capabilities, offering multiple settings for different cooking needs, like grilling, steaming and baking. Some are also equipped with innovative settings to make life easier in the kitchen, whether it’s a ‘keep warm’ button, or a deodorising function to eliminate lingering odours.

With so many options available, choosing the right microwave can be a daunting task. We’ve researched and tested a range of microwaves from basic low-wattage solo models, to powerful combination units, covering a wide variety of different sizes and budgets, so you can find the best microwave to suit your needs.

The latest additions were tested and reviewed by Annie Collyer.

Best microwaves at a glance

JUMP TO REVIEWS

• Best combination microwave: Sage the Combi Wave 3-in-1 microwave oven, £359.95
• Best microwave/air fryer combi: Ninja CRISPi Microwave MW101UK, £359.99
• Best stylish microwave: Smeg microwave with grill MOC01, £349.95
• Best solo microwave for families: Samsung 32L Solo Microwave MS32DG4504ATE3, £169
• Best flatbed microwave: Sharp digital combination microwave YC-QC254AU-B, £179.99
• Best budget microwave: Russell Hobbs RHM1731, £78.99
• Best combination microwave for style: Smeg 34-litre combi microwave oven MOE34CXIUK, £449
• Best microwave for precise cooking: Bosch Serie 2 FFL023MS2B, £149

How we tested microwaves

When asked, our readers told us their main reasons for using a microwave were defrosting, reheating meals and cooking porridge. So, we defrosted chicken breasts to see how long it took and how even the results were; microwaved soup to check for any hot and cold spots; and blasted jacket potatoes to make sure they cooked through to the centre yet stayed moist at the edges.

With microwaves that came with a grill function, we then grilled the chicken breasts too, looking for a tender, juicy finish. If the microwave had a steam function, we made gooey toffee puddings.

Each product was tested against a set testing matrix. The results of this decided each product's overall star rating. The following were:

• Ease of use: microwaves are used mainly by those who want to make life simpler. We looked for pared-down functionality, simple design and easy-to-follow instruction booklets.
• Cooking versatility: we wanted to know if customising settings and using presets delivered equally good results.
• Defrosting: an essential function for most, we looked for effective thawing, with presets a bonus.
• Moisture retention: we checked the food didn't dry out before it had finished cooking.
• Additional features: small extra features like a child lock or kitchen timer were appreciated, plus we looked at how well more prominent features such as grills and convection ovens performed.
• Size: we assessed the size of the microwave and the space it took up in the kitchen. The models we tested need to be installed a specified height above the floor, with plenty of room all around for ventilation.
• Sustainability: we looked at everything from the recyclability of the packaging, spare parts information, the warranty of the microwave, the wattage and more.
• Cleaning: the ease of cleaning both inside and out and finger marks, especially on stainless steel.

Jump to:

• Best microwaves to buy in 2026
• What are the differences between standard, grill and combination microwaves?
• How to choose the right microwave

Best microwaves to buy in 2026

Sage the Combi Wave 3-in-1 microwave oven

Available from Harts of Stur (£358.95), Sage (£359.95)

Best combination microwave overall

Pros:

• Super easy to use, endless clever functions
• Great for families

Cons:

• Need adjusting from usual temperatures

Wattage: 1100W

Star rating: 5/5

As we have come to expect from Sage, with their intuitive technology, good looks and ease of use, this combi microwave is no exception and more. Thanks to the well-written, logical instruction book of many preset programmes and cooking methods, we found it was one of the fastest to get up and running.

Say hello to healthy cooking with the 3-in-1 merging of air-frying, convection and microwave and perfectly cooked food using their Element iQ™ inverter system, which steers power to where and when it's needed.

Read our full Sage the Combi Wave 3-in-1 microwave oven review.

Wattage: 1100W
Capacity: 32L
Settings: Smart Cook, Smart Defrost, Smart Reheat, Fast Combi, Cook From Frozen, Air Fry, Oven, Microwave, Grill, A Bit More™, Child Lock,+30 Instant Start, Turntable Off, Shortcuts
Dimensions (W, D, H): 51.9 x 51.3 x 31.6 cm
Defrost function: Yes

Available from:

• Harts of Stur (£358.95)
• Sage (£359.95)

Ninja CRISPi microwave MW101UK

Available from Ninja (£359.99), Amazon (£359.99), Argos (£359.99)

Best microwave/air fryer combi

Pros:

• Child lock
• PFAS-free
• Very easy to clean
• Three colourways
• 13 preset modes
• Timer setting works in five-second increments

Cons:

• Very large footprint (plus it requires clearance space)
• Heavy to move
• Premium price tag

Star rating: 4.5/5

As a leader in the appliances game, it should come as no shock that Ninja has released a new microwave which also doubles as an air fryer – aptly named the Ninja CRISPi microwave. Easy to use with heaps of usable cooking space available thanks to its flatbed design (yes, no turntable to clean!), this powerful 5.2L cooking machine comes with a sizeable glass dish, complete with a crisper tray. It’s got a two-year warranty and even boasts a child lock function to prevent tiny hands from getting into dangerous messes. It heats to 240C and has 2,000 watts of power behind it in air fryer mode, or 1,000 watts when used as a microwave.

Though feature-packed, this microwave is super intuitive thanks to its chunky yet easy-to-read manual, plus its 13 preset modes – that’s eight for the microwave and five for the air fryer. We used its functions for warming soup, cooking jacket potatoes and defrosting chicken. We did find that some of these presets, since they are set on weight, were a little inaccurate. Its air fryer functionality also matches that of the Ninja CRISPi Deluxe air fryer, making an easy job of everything from wings to fries, sausages and more. Its FusionCrisp function blends microwave cooking with air frying; it automatically switches the setting once your food is cooked to crisp it to finish.

Design-wise, it’s worth bearing in mind that this microwave is very sizeable on a countertop. And since it has air fryer technology inside, it also requires some clearance space away from walls and shelves. It gets warm to the touch if in use for some time. Thanks to its lack of a turntable, it’s very simple to clean, plus it even features a dedicated cleaning setting. Available in your choice of three colourways, the Ninja CRISPi Microwave has replaced two of our kitchen appliances, and we’re not mad about it one bit.

Wattage: 1,000W microwave/2,000W air fryer
Capacity: 5.2L
Settings: Microwave: Porridge, Potato, Popcorn, Defrost, Soup, Beverage, Soften Butter, Frozen Vegetable. Air Fry: Air Fry, Max Crisp, Air Roast, Air Bake, Air Grill) and FusionCrisp
Dimensions (W, D, H): L51.56cm x W44.6cm x H35.81cm
Defrost function: Yes

Available from:

• Ninja (£359.99)
• Amazon (£359.99)
• Argos (£359.99)

Smeg Microwave with Grill MOC01

Available from Currys (£349), AO (£349), Smeg (£349.95)

Best stylish microwave

Pros:

• 18-programme Chef Menu
• Keep warm setting
• Grill function and accessory
• Multi-step cooking feature
• Four colour options
• Eco-friendly packaging
• Child lock

Cons:

• Limited grill functionality
• Large footprint
• Premium price tag

Star rating: 4.5/5

Smeg is renowned for its good-looking brood of kitchen appliances; the Microwave with Grill is no exception. Available in four colours, the combination of sleek glass door, matte metal casing and brushed LCD display is as easy on the eye as it is to clean. The handle is concealed, the door closure is soft, and it’s quiet in use.

I found the minimal control panel fairly intuitive, while inside it handily lists the 18 Chef Menu programmes (including rice, jam, melting butter), five Auto Defrost presets, and a keep warm setting. Set the volume or weight and it adapts the time to suit. I really liked the full manual control too, in precise second and minute increments, while the Multi-step feature allows you to set a two-stage sequence – e.g. microwave a lasagne then grill the cheese top.

The Smeg excels at the everyday. In my tests, it heated soup evenly, produced an as-good-as-oven jacket potato in seven minutes and defrosted a chicken breast with minimal signs of cooking in six. While the grill adds to the versatility, with a removable stand accessory provided in the box, it’s quite small, and designed for toast, bacon and finishing dishes, rather than fillets of meat.

Wattage: 900W (oven) 900W (grill)
Capacity: 29L
Settings: Four functions plus Chef Menu: meat and poultry, fish and shellfish, vegetables and side dishes, cakes and sweets, bread/pizza and pies
Dimensions (W, D, H): 50.4 x 38.1 x 30.5 cm
Defrost function: Yes

Available from:

• Currys (£349)
• AO (£349)
• Smeg (£349.95)

Samsung 32L Solo Microwave MS32DG4504ATE3

Available from Argos (£169)

Best solo microwave for families and entertaining

Pros:

• Large size, great for families
• Lots of cooking modes plus a dessert option for sweet treats
• Eco mode saves energy on standby
• Lock for safety purposes
• Sleek design

Cons:

• No warranty
• No grill mode
• Defrost mode is a little slow
• High wattage doesn't equal faster cooking

Star rating: 4.5/5

This Samsung microwave boasts the perfect d