Consumer Reports – December 2018

MICROWAVES HAVE BEEN a staple of

American kitchens since the mid-

1980s, and for good reason. They of er

quick and easy meal prep and speedy

reheating of leftovers and cof ee.

But with so many cooking appliances

vying for counter space (rice cooker,

air fryer, grill, oh my!) what is a

microwave still best for? And if

you’re in the market for a new one,

how do you pick the right model for

your needs?

Consumer Reports evaluates

microwaves based on how fast and

evenly they heat. Our speed rating is

based on how quickly a microwave

heats a liter of room-temperature

water. To test the defrost function,

we use a microwave’s auto-defrost

setting for a pound of frozen ground

beef. After running defrost, we quickly

separate and weigh the portions that

are cooked, defrosted, and still frozen.

We also test to see how thoroughly

each model pops a bag of popcorn.

All of this data and more informs our

ratings, which start on page 24.

Bigger tends to be better when

it comes to microwaves. CR’s labs

have found that, as a group, small

microwaves (about 700 watts), don’t

perform well; most earn a rating of

Poor for heating a bowl of water.

For this reason, there are no small

microwaves that we recommend.

Midsized microwaves (generally

about 1,000 watts) fare much better

and are the right choice for many

households. About 2 feet wide, 1 foot

tall, and 16 or so inches deep, our

high-scoring midsized models are

great at reheating a meal for two, have

simple buttons for popcorn, and are

quick with heating a cup of tea.

But some of the better midsized

models are still not zippy enough

to earn the top scores of large

microwaves (most of them between

1,100 and 1,250 watts). So if you have

the counter depth and want the best

performance there is, you should

consider a large microwave, about

6 inches deeper than a midsized one

Over-the-Range

Microwaves:

What’s Reliable?

CR’s recent survey on over-

the-range microwaves

includes data on more than

33 ,000 new units purchased

by members. We used it

to calculate our ratings for

predicted reliability and

owner satisfaction.

At the top of the list for

predicted reliability is Ikea

(manufactured by Whirlpool),

earning an Excellent rating,

with Frigidaire, Hotpoint, and

Whirlpool all rated Very Good.

Samsung was the only brand

to get a Poor rating; Electrolux,

Jenn-Air, and Magic Chef

scored a Fair.

When it comes to owner

satisfaction—a measure of

how likely CR members are

to recommend their over-the-

range microwave to family

and friends—Bosch, LG, and

Sharp all rate Very Good.

Source: Consumer Reports’ 2017 Spring Survey.

Predicted Reliability

but usually comparable in width

and height. Large microwaves are

generally more powerful and faster.

Some are big enough to i t a 9x15-

inch baking dish—that’s a whole

lot of lasagna! For those who use a

microwave to feed a family, a large

one makes sense. And in a space

without a conventional oven, such as

a guest suite, a large microwave can

cover most of the cooking territory.

Some microwaves have the technology

to air-fry or grill, but the models with

these capabilities don’t receive top

scores as a microwave in our ratings.

CR engineer Larry Ciufo isn’t surprised.

“The way microwaves are designed and

the way air fryers are designed are very

dif erent,” he says. He advises consumers

to buy appliances tailored to their

cooking needs.

If your kitchen accommodates

an over-the-range microwave, you

probably know the advantages.

These models don’t eat up precious

real estate on your counter and

can help vent air when you’re cooking

on the stove. In terms of power,

they’re comparable to large

countertop microwaves. They

generally measure 30 inches wide to

i t neatly above your range. Some can

accommodate a 9x15-inch baking pan,

so you can expect to warm up a large

meal in no time.

How to Shop Smarter

The path to microwave happiness is to

bear in mind how you plan to use the

appliance most often—and choose a

model that will do that best. Don’t be

distracted by functions that look like

fun but you’ll never use, especially

because you’ll pay more for them. For

example, according to our member

survey , only 16 percent of people who

own a microwave with a popcorn but-

ton use the function at least weekly.

And only 15 percent with a speed-cook

function use it weekly or more often.

Make sure it brings the heat.

One of the most important tests in CR’s

microwave labs is for heating evenness.

Most

Least

PHOTOGRAPH BY BRIAN FINKE DECEMBER 2018 CR.ORG 21