It turns out that microwaves, in general, are only moderately effective at evenly heating food. The evenness of heating depends on the placement of your food in the microwave and its thickness. What you're heating also matters: food with a higher water content heats differently than drier food. If you heat the same food in the same container in different microwaves, the results are indistinguishable from each other when you actually taste the food. You can read all about our journey into the heart of microwaves.

We also wanted to investigate inverters, the latest in microwave technology that allows a microwave to maintain a constant power output at any power level. The result? They really didn't change how your food gets warmed up. You can also read about everything we tried and our conclusions.

So, your next new microwave won't blow you away with its superior performance. The good news is that you can get pretty much any microwave you like. Once you know what kind of microwave you prefer (classic countertop or over-the-range) and the size you need, you can consider its power output (some microwaves are faster) and its features. Features such as multiple power levels, a kitchen timer function, and popcorn, reheat, and defrost modes are standard for most microwaves. Some microwaves feature a mute function for discreet microwave use and include a built-in steam sensor for more automated cooking.

Below, we recommend models that offer good value, organized by size and feature for your convenience. Your best microwave might be the one you find on sale! Check out our list of the best over-the-range microwaves if that's what you want. If you're looking for something that can make crispy foods like French fries and chicken wings, take a look at our recommendations for the best air fryer or the best small air fryer.