The Best Fluffy Pancakes recipe you will fall in love with. Full of tips and tricks to help you make the best pancakes.
INTRODUCTION:
For a kitchen to be well equipped, it must have the essential appliances. Among those appliances is a countertop microwave oven. Many love countertop microwaves for the convenience and versatility they bring. In addition, today’s countertop microwaves can perform so many more tasks than merely reheating leftovers, thawing frozen meals, and popcorn making. They can prepare complete meals, bake goodies like mug cakes, and so much more.
However, with an appliance of their grandeur, the price aspect can be a little daunting. Therefore, we bring you a list of the best countertop microwaves under $100 that will grace your kitchen counter and be your ultimate kitchen partner.
Best Countertop Microwaves Under $100
Nowadays, many brands have premium quality microwaves with reasonable price tags, but wading through these endless options can be somewhat tricky. We have narrowed down some of the best products for you.
5. Toshiba EM925A5A-SS Microwave Oven
This microwave from Toshiba is stylish, compact, and full-featured; it is among the best for daily usage. With its one-touch features like popcorn, pizza, and potatoes, it frees you from having to program the appliance every time for such periodic meals.
The microwave compartment is suitably sizeable at 0.9 cubic feet with a 10.6-inch glass turntable. It has a loud buzzing sound that alerts you to know when your programmed timer runs out. You can also opt to go mute with the buzzer if you prefer. The control panel buttons are not lodged together but have sufficient separation, too. Overall, it is definitely a straightforward appliance. It is budget-friendly and elegantly goes with most of the kitchen decor themes.
Pros
- Child lock feature
- Beautiful, sleek design
Cons
- Somewhat noisy at high temperatures
Power Saving: The microwave comes with unique features and has 900 watts of cooking power with ten convenient power levels that enable quick adjustments. To make things better, it also features a power-saving detail named as the ‘eco-mode.’ When you opt for it, the microwave closes down the digital clock on its LED display and begins consuming minimal power. The LED display is relatively bright, easy-to-read, and works as a clock, too, along with timing cooking.
4. Panasonic NN-SB458S Microwave Oven
The Panasonic NN-SB458S is one aesthetically pleasing microwave favorable for tiny kitchens. Owing to its suitable size, the appliance can fit practically anywhere with zero fuss. The powerful 900-watt contraption can effortlessly deal with periodic meal preparations and reheating. The characteristic that makes this microwave shine is its defrost function. Unlike most underpowered ovens, this appliance wholly defrosts meat, too, minus the usual on/off annoyance.
The microwave has a 0.9-cubic-feet cavity, which is appropriate enough for average household requirements. The cavity is adorned with a bright light, which assists in scanning the flow of the recipe. The illumination is sharp and aptly placed. Therefore, even with the shady tint on the microwave’s glass door, overseeing your preparations is very easy.
Pros
- Inverter turbo defrost
- Premium features
Cons
- The light turns off when you open the door
Keep Warm Feature: Often, you reheat or prepare a meal in the microwave but can find yourself hassled with some other task. This can easily lead to the food getting cold, ignored, and eventually losing its flavor. Panasonic tackles this issue head-on by introducing a keep warm feature. This enables you to retain the food temperature without having to reheat it again. It has ten various power levels that allow you to cook with precision while keeping warmth for longer.
3. Farberware Classic FMO11AHTBKB Microwave Oven
Farberware Classic is among the highest-rated microwaves for its combination of a small footprint featuring a suitably vast cooking cavity. This microwave unit gives you a twelve-inch durable glass inside. The model is beautiful in looks and sports a sleek in design. Its handle is thick and very easy to use, while the turntable whirls with a fixed velocity to stimulate even cooking.
Its memory feature catalogs your custom recipe settings, so once you feed it the recipe, it will take care of it the next time. At 1000 watts with ten cooking levels, it lets you heat an entire dinner plate within one minute and bake some potatoes in ten. The portable size renders this unit an excellent option for a kitchen countertop.
Pros
- Digital controls
- Turntable is removable
Cons
- Its sides tend to heat up
Efficient Silent Cooking: The unique features of this microwave undoubtedly give it a slight edge over most microwaves. It does not beep incessantly if you end up forgetting about the snack you are reheating. Moreover, unlike most microwaves, this works in absolute silence without emitting any buzzing sounds despite its 1000 watts of power. It also comes with a keypad lock to impede unsupervised usage.
2. BLACK+DECKER EM031MB11 Microwave Oven
This elegant and sleek microwave comes with a stunning stainless steel body, a large cooking cavity, and an adequate power of 1000 watts. This appliance also features design standards that rival high-end microwaves. Its cooking cavity has a twelve-inch detachable glass shaft that swirls uniformly to guarantee even heating through the food.
With ten advanced power level options, you get faultlessly cooked meals every time. It encompasses a sharp LED display that also doubles as a timepiece and a cooking timer. The microwave does not feature a door handle; instead, it opens with a push button fixed at the lowermost right area of the front panel. It also offers a child lock feature.
Pros
- Express cooking
- Compact
Cons
- Operates very loudly
One-Touch Meals: It comprises vastly frequent meal choices as pre-set buttons. From popcorn to pizza, you can effortlessly cook famous foods with a single touch of a button. A sensor technology assures excellent results each time. You press one of the six pre-programmed buttons, and it gets to work by modifying cooking time and power level accordingly. The pre-set choices comprise popcorn, pizza, potatoes, frozen vegetable, drinks, and dinner plates. Its control panel features a clear and concise display so anyone can use it without hassle.
1. AmazonBasics Microwave
If you lack counter space or want a small microwave, this unit from AmazonBasics will be your ultimate pick. With its tiny footprint, the appliance hardly troubles you to readjust any countertop devices. Despite its incredibly low price, the microwave offers all the fundamental features and settings: LED display, cooking timer, a ten-inch glass turntable.
The model features ten refined power levels of up to 700 watts and a child lock. The appliance has looks and brains as it delivers smart execution. You can do anything from making oats to thawing sausages. It will also have your popcorn ready in no time.
Pros
- Convenient
- Brings cavity lighting
Cons
- Uneven heating
Alexa Support: This microwave shakes things up with its ability to pair up with Alexa. Users need to purchase the echo dot (Alexa) individually. As it is paired, you can govern the cooking preferences via voice command. This is its one particular trait you will be hard-pressed to find in any high-end microwaves. In addition, you do not need to bother with details as one does during the manual process. You can ask Alexa to warm up a cup of tea, and it automatically utilizes optimal power and duration settings.
FAQs
1. How much space is adequate around a microwave for ventilation?
For sufficient ventilation, you need to keep three inches of space between the ovens’ top, sides, back, and the area where you will place the unit.
2. Can I keep my microwave next to a gas stove?
If your microwave oven is working correctly and that your gas stove is not seeping gas, you can utilize your microwave near your oven without concerns. Naturally, you must keep the microwave and its power cord away from very hot surfaces.
3. What should I put beneath my microwave?
A silicone mat can be a wise choice. It should keep the appliance in place and be fine with any heat that emanates from the food via the microwave’s vents.
4. How can I clean my countertop microwave?
Take a damp microfiber cloth dipped in soapy water solution to rub the interior and exterior clean. Be extra careful not to drip water inside it. For thorough cleaning, soak a sponge with a combination of white vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio. Settle it in the microwave and operate it on its highest power for about three minutes.
5. Should I put food in the center of the microwave?
Try positioning your food in the middle; spread it in a circle around the outer edge of the container or plate. Put a lid over the food to keep moisture from evaporating. This will assist in preventing the food from drying up.
6. Can I put two bowls in the microwave at once?
Yes, you can; however, some measures are necessary. Settle your first bowl in the microwave, and then arrange a coffee mug upside down next to it. Second, place your other bowl on top of the coffee mug, and there you go—a multi-level microwaving operation. Now heat to your heart’s content.
7. Can a countertop microwave be set in a cabinet?
Yes, you can incorporate a countertop microwave into a shelf or cabinet to make it appear built-in. Nonetheless, a professional must do it. There are many considerations regarding ventilation and power that require addressing. You might even need to install a fan.
Conclusion
Countertop microwaves have revolutionized mobility and provided quick access to reheating and preparing food. These appliances are now an integral part of every household, so it is only fair you get the best and most appropriate product. Our list will definitely help you choose your perfect countertop microwave that does not take a toll on your pocket. These machines conserve time, energy, and power to promote better life quality.
