Best microwave 2022: built-in and countertop ovens If you’re on the hunt for the best microwave, you’re in the right place. With the power to reheat and cook your food, these speedy countertop cookers are perfect for making light work of time-consuming tasks. Steaming veg and even cooking rice is quick and easy with a microwave, and they only take up a fraction of your counter space. In our best microwave guide we’ve included 10 of the top combi and solo microwave ovens on the market, as well as some built-in options that won’t even have to sit on your kitchen counters. It’s very possible to pick up one of the best microwaves for under £100, and you can even find a few microwaves under £50 if you know where to look. With these budget-friendly and handy appliances, you can cut the amount of time it takes to cook a jacket spud in half. All you need to do is put it in for a quick spin in the microwave and then finish it in the oven for that classic crispy skin. And of course, when it comes to meal prepping, there’s nothing like a microwave for reheating your leftovers. For more cooking essentials, take a look at the best air fryers Most of the best microwaves in our guide come from brands like Sage, Swan, Beko, Russell Hobbs, and Panasonic. You can also pick up a couple of in-built microwaves that sit flush against your kitchen cabinets. They can be more tricky to install, but often come with added functions that will let you grill, air fry, and even steam cook all manner of meals in a larger and smarter model. Best microwaves 2022 1. Swan Nordic Digital Microwave Best microwave overall Type: DigitalCapacity: 20 litresFeatures: Defrost, express, auto cook, advance timerReasons to buy: • It looks the part • Comes in a range of fun colours • Far more multi-functional that it first appears Reasons to avoid: • The controls took some adjusting to The Swan Nordic Digital Microwave can be spotted (by the eager-eyed among us) in the Great British Bake Off kitchen. It comes in this striking forest green, but there’s also white, blue, and grey to choose from. The nordic style works well with a range of other swan appliances and the dimensions are well suited for small kitchens. The microwave has fully adjustable strength settings, which is done by adjusting the micro power button. The dial can be used to scroll through timings, up to one hour, and the soft-touch finish also matches the door handle. The front of the microwave is mirrored but did not attract smudges when testing. With only 800 watts there are more powerful microwaves out there, but the Swan Nordic Digital Microwave is a top pick for those who have a little more than £100 to spend on a microwave that looks the part and performs well. Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Read our full Swan Nordic microwave review 2. Russell Hobbs Inspire Microwave Oven Best microwave for under £100 Type: StandaloneCapacity: 17 litresFeatures: Three colour options, five power levels, defrost setting, mirror door finish, easy clean exteriorReasons to buy: • It’s super affordable • Six settings • Non-slip feet Reasons to avoid: • Fingerprints leave marks You can expect the best microwave for under £100 to be lacking in combination features, but we loved how easy to use the Russell Hobbs Inspire Microwave Oven was when we put it to the test. It has six settings: Low, Defrost, Medium Low, Medium, Medium High and High. It’s also surprisingly compact for a larger capacity option, with dimensions of 34.5 x 45.2 x 26.2 cm. We did dock the Inspire Microwave half a star because the front leaves fingerprint marks which can mean more frequent cleaning, but found that its defrost and high power settings were brilliant for day-to-day use. The timer goes up to half an hour which is convenient for the defrost mode especially, and the non-slip feet meant it stayed secure through testing. You can also pair this microwave with the Inspire toaster and kettle for some added coordination. Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 3. Hotpoint Curve MWH 1311 Best microwave for corners Type: Corner, standaloneCapacity: 13 litresFeatures: Space-saver, four cooking levels, memo button, safety lockReasons to buy: • A top compact pick • Can fit into the corner of the kitchen • Four power levels Reasons to avoid: • Its small internal capacity This compact microwave (no combi grill or oven) has a curved back designed to fit into a corner, the front facing out in any direction. It’s a clever design because corners are the least useful bit of any kitchen worktop. You can however put it anywhere: it’s a great space-saver full stop at just 39cm wide and 35cm deep (but pretty tall at 36cm because the brains are all under the cavity). Capacity is just 13 litres but it somehow manages to fit a 28cm glass turntable in there, so it can handle a dinner plate. We loved its simplicity. You can microwave cook at four power levels (700W, 500W, 350W and 160W) or defrost by time or weight. Despite 700W being a bit low-powered, we found it could cook a respectable large jacket spud in 10 minutes. Features are basic but include clock, kitchen timer and child-safety lock. Controls are self-explanatory. Press the plus and minus buttons to select cooking time or just press Start to cook on full power for multiples of 30 seconds. The memo button lets you save a favourite program. Ideal Home’s rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 4. Panasonic NN-DF386BBPQ Best freestanding combi microwave Type: Freestanding, oven and grillCapacity: 23 litreFeatures: Pull-down door, wire grilling rack, metal crisper plateReasons to buy: • Multi-functional combi design • Decent capacity • Good at defrosting and cooking jacket spuds Reasons to avoid: • It has a large footprint This freestanding, 23-litre, 1000W microwave combi thinks it’s an oven and it’s not wrong: it does a good job of oven and grill…

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