Best microwaves in the UK - cook, reheat, defrost and more with these multi-tasking gadgets

One of the best microwaves is simply a kitchen essential, with these appliances working hard in British homes since the 1970s (when they arrived from across the pond) to make cooking easier than ever.

Microwaves have saved many of us, including me, on too many occasions to count, from last-minute defrosting to warming up ready meals or leftovers or even cooking things from scratch.

The microwave you should buy will come down to what you plan on using it for. Just as with our testing process with the best air fryers, I've put a range of popular microwaves through their paces to make choosing one easier. Below you'll find the best six that I've tested, with the standout pick being the Swan Nordic Digital Microwave, which is in fact the microwave they use in the Bake Off tent. It's stylish, practical and impressed me with everyday tasks, like reheating soup efficiently.

Like pretty much all kitchen gadgets, the microwave has moved with the times and today’s offerings include a whole range of gadgets going from small, basic machines that will reheat, defrost and cook, right up to bigger, more complicated bits of kit that not only microwave but can be used as grills, ovens and more - with some hefty price tags to match. For a selection of all types of microwave, simply read on.

Quick list

Best microwave overall

This is a good-looking microwave that’s smaller than some of the bigger machines yet perfectly formed. As the name suggests, it oozes minimalist Nordic vibes and I loved the wooden handle and dial, though during testing, I did wonder how much they’d stand the test of time or whether they’d get dirty and fade.

It's a fairly simple machine compared to some models but it’s got all the different modes you need including an express setting that makes it quick, easy and efficient to reheat soup.

The defrost mode is also reliable, allowing you to select meat, poultry and seafood and then enter the weight, plus it has an easy-to-use straightforward cook function. Some elements felt more basic and less precise than other models, but so is the price tag, so I think this is a fairly good all-rounder if you want to keep things simple and not spend too much.

Read our full Swan Nordic microwave review for more information.

Best microwave for functionality

This microwave looks like it means business, and has all the space-age gadgetry you’d expect from Sage. It also needs a fair bit of space as it’s one of the bigger microwaves I tested, so you’ll be clearing a countertop if you invest in one of these.

There’s a whole array of shortcut buttons just inside the door, plus an easy-to-adjust read-out that will take you from cook, down to reheat and defrost, with options for ‘melt’ and ‘soften’ along the way.

It’s got several ‘smart’ buttons making it easy to cook or grill, reheat or defrost too - allowing you to input the weight and then just hit start. I tried ‘smart defrost’ for the frozen chicken breast but found myself having to add on some extra minutes as it didn’t quite get it completely thawed.

The ‘potato’ shortcut cooked our jacket perfectly, while the soup was incredibly easy to reheat. There are all sorts of little touches, including being able to adjust the beep volume, but the most useful is the ability to grill or ‘crisp’ food. I tried a pizza and it was quicker and easier than using a conventional grill, with the same results. Full marks from me - minus the price!

Best microwave under £100

This is a good-looking addition to your kitchen counter, and isn’t too big, meaning it fits on the worktop nicely. The rose gold handle and trim gives it a sleek feel, but it promises a fair bit of functionality giving you faith that it won’t be style over substance.

Its defrost function recommended a fairly lengthy time for the weight of the chicken breast, which meant it ended up cooking it rather than just defrosting it. Possibly operator error, but it seemed to be over-estimating cooking time.

The auto-cook setting promises to find the right time for various foods - including on my jacket potato that I tried this microwave out with - but that needed a few extra minutes once it was done. Our favourite bit of functionality was the easy way of adding extra minutes on while the microwave is doing its thing - perfect for heating soup.

The door isn’t the easiest to see through, so if you’re trying to watch something like soup to see if it’s boiling over, you might find yourself with your nose pressed up against the rather lovely door.

Best microwave for power

This lacks the space-age feel of the Sage, yet takes up the same space and definitely looks like it’s catering for a busy family kitchen rather than a minimalist set-up. The options are virtually endless, with classic defrost, reheat and cook options, plus grill and convection oven.

Its power cooked the jacket potato more efficiently than some of the other microwaves - plus nice and evenly - while its defrost setting seemed more accurately timed than some other microwaves and the grill function delivered a good cheese melt and crispy crust on a pizza.

The endless possibilities of cooking options come with a comprehensive manual packed with exhaustive charts and information. Useful, but if you’re someone who just wants to do a few simple tasks, it can get a bit intense and I found myself shying away from complex programming and praying for something simpler.

That said, if you were planning on using this as your main cooking tool, the world really would be your oyster. There’s a nice big window to watch what’s cooking and it's well lit so you can see what’s going on. Similar levels of functionality as the Sage, though somehow not quite as intuitive or enjoyable to use, yet a bit cheaper.

Best small microwave

While some microwaves have gone design-heavy and are clearly aimed at impressing with their looks as well as their functionality, this microwave keeps things simple with its straightforward white or black options and metallic handle.

It's all dial-operated without any swanky displays. This is great if you want to keep things simple, though I was thrown by the lack of display and may or may not have questioned whether it was working until I played around with it.

The dials allow you to move through the power levels, and adjust accordingly depending on whether you’re cooking, reheating or defrosting, though they somehow feel a bit less precise than a digital option.

That said, the RHM2060 still did the job - defrosting the chicken, cooking the jacket potato and reheating the soup. A basic microwave, with a price tag to match, but it might be worth spending a bit more to get something better looking and with a bit more functionality.

Best air fryer microwave

As you'll have guessed from our 3.5 star rating, Ideal Home's reviewer Helen did not think this was the best microwave ever when she tried it. She you did however think that it had a solid microwave function, and that it could be a good space-saver and budget stretcher if you want both of these appliances in one.

Helen tried this microwave air fryer out with a variety of foods, starting with making chips with the air fryer function. She was disappointed by the long cooking times that the air fryer setting took, and found that her finished chips (after a very long 44 minutes) were soggy. Her further tests, including trying air fried veg and a bean burger, were also disappointing.

In happier news however, the microwave function on this product is pretty good according to Helen, and she was especially pleased with the delicious gooey chocolate cakes she made in ramekinns with it. They took just one minute to cook.

All in all then, this is is a good microwave with the option to air fry thrown in, but don't expect the same kind of performance you'd get from a standalone air frying appliance.

Our Drew & Cole 3-in-1 microwave air fryer combo review has the full details.

How I tested the best microwaves

As part of our commitment to how we test products that are recommended in our buying guides, I put these microwaves through their paces over several days and in a range of ways. I tested their ability to defrost by thawing out frozen chicken fillets, their reheating function with a classic cream of tomato soup, and their ability to cook a jacket potato from raw. I also tried out a pizza to give the crisping-up function on some of them a run for its money.

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When scoring, I took into account each microwave’s appearance and size, as well as how easy they were to use. I also made a note on how easy they were to clean both inside and out. I also tried to take into account how durable each product was, and how likely I thought it was to last a decent amount of time in a busy home kitchen.

Ellen Manning

Ellen is a journalist specialising in food and drink and writes for a range of national newspapers and magazines. She’s also a judge for awards including the Great Taste Awards and you’ll sometimes find her hosting events or food festivals, as well as writing her own award-winning food blog Eat with Ellen. In between all that, you’ll find her adventuring in her campervan with her two dogs or probably in the gym.

FAQs

How to choose the best microwave

Choosing any kitchen gadget is always pretty personal, with so many factors at play, from how much you’ve got to spend to what you plan on using it for, and where it’s going to live in your kitchen or home. Choosing the right microwave for you is no different. The ones I tested range fairly widely in price, size and functionality and what is one person’s perfect microwave might just not be right for someone else.

A big factor will be what you plan on using it for. The larger, more expensive microwaves have a tonne of settings and different ways of cooking which mean you might be able to use them for all your cooking - perfect for people who maybe only have limited space and few other kitchen gadgets so want to use their microwave for everything. Similarly, if you’re a keen cook with a fully decked out kitchen packed with other appliances and gadgets, you might literally just want a simple machine that will defrost or reheat and do the odd jacket potato. In this case it might be worth going cheaper, smaller and simpler. After all, what’s the point of having an infinite number of functions and paying hundreds for them if you’re only ever going to use one or two.

Where you’re going to put your microwave might make a difference too. If it’s going to be hidden away from view, then a less stylish model will do the trick, but for those of us who care about the way our kitchen looks, you might want to think about how your microwave appears as well as what it does. There’s the practical stuff to take into consideration too. If you’ve got kids you’ll probably want a microwave with a child-lock function, and while all the machines I tested had removable glass plates, making them easy to clean, some were more susceptible to finger marks than others - something you might want to consider if you’re someone who wants everything to look pristine all the time.

How much should I spend on a microwave?

If you're on a budget, then putting away for £100 for a microwave will serve you just fine. If you can afford it, then budgeting up to £300 for a larger combi with all mod cons will really benefit you in the kitchen, as we found when testing the Sage Digital Crisp.

Double the price of the Sage oven if you're looking for something integrated, which will give you much more cooking space, as one of these appliances genuinely doubles as a proper oven.

Does the power of a microwave matter?

Microwave power is measured in watts – the higher the figure, the faster it should heat your food. The average is 800-900W. However, as microwave technology has improved, simply going for the most powerful model isn't a guarantee of a better-performing oven.

What capacity microwave do I need?

Want to cook a whole chicken in there? You’ll need a decent capacity – anything over the 30-litre mark should take a family-sized bird. Smaller households will be better off with a model that takes up minimal space on the worktop, so exterior dimensions will be more important.

Most microwaves have turntables to ensure even cooking. But some newer designs have taken their lead from commercial kitchens and ditched them completely. These flatbed models use the latest technology to distribute the microwaves evenly without the need to turn the food. This frees up lots of space inside for big dishes, such as casseroles, and makes them easier to clean.

If your microwave does have a turntable, keep in mind that the given capacity in cubic litres may not account for the space it takes up. Measure from the turntable up before you buy to make sure your dishes will fit.

Some microwaves also have shelves that allow you to cook on two levels. You’ll need to increase the normal cooking time or move dishes around, but it’s handy for preparing large quantities of food simultaneously instead of in stages.

What auto programmes and presets do I need?

Not sure how long or at what power level your penne or potatoes will need to cook? Don’t worry, your microwave will tell you if it’s got the relevant auto programmes. Most have them for the likes of popular dishes such as pasta, fish and vegetables. The cleverest can even weigh your food and work out the cooking times to the second.

Auto-defrost and reheat functions are also worth investing in, as are one-touch shortcut keys for melting butter or chocolate (saving you from using the hob) or a quick boost of power. Sage microwaves have presets for, among other things, porridge, soup, fish and baked beans. Ding, indeed!