Although they've recently been usurped by air fryers as every kitchen's most essential gadget, there's still a place for the best microwaves on most kitchen counters. Unmatched when it comes to reheating, defrosting and cooking at top speed – as well as giving forgotten cups of tea a second wind – most of us still use our microwaves regularly.
With surface space in the kitchen at a premium, it pays to invest in the best microwave that matches your needs, whether you're looking for something simple, sleek and relatively cheap, one that will match your kitchen’s look or the latest multi-tasking model.
Although some of the less well-known brands, such as Vonshef, performed well in my tests, it was the mighty Samsung solo microwave (£99.99, Currys.co.uk) that came out on top. It’s a relatively straightforward microwave that ticked the most boxes overall, including on price, performance and ease of use.
Whichever type of microwave you’re looking for, I’ve tested and rounded up the best on the market right now, so you can be sure you’re getting enough bang for your buck.
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The best microwaves for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Samsung solo microwave: £99.99, Currys.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Salter Toronto microwave: £84.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for large families – Panasonic 4-in-1 air fry combi microwave oven: £378.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for healthy frying – LG neochef MH6565CPS compact microwave with grill: £179, Currys.co.uk
- Best combi – Salter duowave air fryer EK5817 combination microwave: £237, Currys.co.uk
How I tested
To test these microwaves, I used them as I do my own model at home – mostly to defrost items, cook food such as baked potatoes and to reheat ready meals and leftovers. I also took into consideration a few key criteria like ease of use, style, cooking efficiency and details.
Read more: Best dual air fryers for family meals, tried and tested at home
Samsung solo microwave
Best: microwave overall
Capacity: 23L
Power: 800W
Dimensions: 27.5cm x 48.9cm x 37.4cm
Why we love it
- Ceramic interior is easy to clean
- Very simple to use
- Melting and softening functions are useful
Take note
- Door is too opaque to see inside
The best microwave overall and a fantastic bargain buy, the Samsung solo is compact, easy to use and very effective for its size and price. Equally good at cooking baked potatoes, defrosting meat and heating food, it’s a great all-rounder.
There are a generous 20 pre-sets for items such as ready meals, vegetables and fish, five quick-defrost programs, and five for effectively softening and melting butter and chocolate, which is unusual (and handy) for a microwave in this price range.
Although the auto-defrost setting doesn’t require you to input the weight of your food, it still defrosts impressively evenly and quickly. Then, when it comes to cleaning, the ceramic interior is simple to wipe down.
There are a few minor issues – mainly that the dial that goes up in five-second increments, which can get annoying if you’re setting a long cooking time. It’s also not the easiest to see inside while food is cooking. However these don’t take away from the fact that the Samsung solo microwave is a delight to use. And, for less than £100, it’s a bargain to boot.
Buy now £99.99, Currys.co.uk
Salter Toronto microwave
Best: budget microwave
Capacity: 20L
Power: 800W
Dimensions: 25.9cm x 44cm x 33.5cm
Why we love it
- Looks stylish
- Quiet
- Compact
Take note
- Presets aren’t labelled on the microwave itself
- Not as intuitive to use as other microwaves
Although the Salter Toronto microwave is small, it’s relatively mighty for the price. As well as looking the part, with a stylish wooden handle and matching items, including storage jars (£24.99, Salter.com), available in the range, it gets the job done as the best budget microwave.
There are eight auto cooking presets, which include meat, potatoes and pizza, but these aren’t listed on the microwave itself. The dial and buttons are also labelled with symbols rather than words, making using this model less intuitive than some of the other microwaves I tested.
The Salter Toronto cooks and defrosts effectively, although I had to adjust the time on some of the presets. For example, the potato setting only went up in 200g increments, so I had to add a little extra time. But that's a small issue for such a solid performer.
Luckily, the manual is easy to navigate, with clear, simple instructions, so it won’t take you long to get used to the various functions. It’s also surprisingly quiet, making it ideal for those who prefer their microwaves to be the strong, silent type.
Buy now £84.99, Salter.com
Panasonic 4-in-1 air fry combi microwave oven
Best: microwave for large families
Capacity: 34L
Power: 1,000W microwave / 1,300W grill
Dimensions: 34.3cm x 56cm x 45cm
Why we love it
- It’s an efficient multi-tasker
- A built-in sensor calculates cooking times for you
Take note
- The manual is online-only
- Heavy, with a large footprint
- Pricey compared to others
Although the Panasonic air fry combi microwave oven is pricey, it offers plenty of extras that make your investment worthwhile. With functions that include air frying, convection cooking, grilling and microwaving, and a generous 34l capacity, this is the best microwaves for large families who are looking for one machine to take care of most of their cooking.
The main downside of this machine is the manual, which is only available online – and at 131 pages, it’s relatively tricky to navigate, especially if you’re reading it on your phone. On the plus side, the large display panel walks you through the cooking process as you go, so you don’t need the manual for everything. It’s also quite pricey but it does forgo the need to buy an air fryer, which can cost hundreds.
Once you’ve worked out how to use your desired function, the Panasonic combi microwave oven performs well, whether you’re cooking a potato, grilling toast or reheating leftovers. One-push reheating is another welcome feature, and when you’re inputting the weight of your food, 10g increments allow you to cook both large and small items.
Buy now £379, Currys.co.uk
Salter duowave air fryer EK5817 combination microwave
Best: combi microwave
Capacity: 26L
Power: 900W / 1,500W
Dimensions: 30cm x 52.3cm x 44.9cm
Why we love it
- Easy to operate
- Two programmes can run consecutively
- Excellent air fry setting
Take note
- Presets aren’t labelled on the microwave itself
- Fairly bulky
Despite being an effective multi-tasker, the instruction booklet for this Salter combi microwave, air fryer and convection oven gets straight to the point, while clearly labelled dials and buttons make the basics straightforward to use.
The duowave makes easy work of cooking a wide range of dishes, from joints of meat to frozen chicken nuggets – then keeping them warm if you’re waiting for your herd to arrive at the dinner table.
Two programmes can run consecutively, which is handy if you want to cook a meal that needs defrosting first, and there are 10 automatic programs for cooking dishes, including pizza, potatoes, and vegetables to perfection.
I found the air fryer setting performed just as well as a standalone model, so you can safely do away with having two machines on your counter. Its 26l capacity is roomy enough to cook even a roast chicken, but that does mean its fairly bulky compared to other microwaves.
Buy now £237, Currys.co.uk
LG neochef MH6565CPS compact microwave with grill
Best: microwave for versatile settings
Capacity: 25L
Power: 300W-1000W
Dimensions: 27.2cm x 47.6cm x 38.7cm
Why we love it
- Looks great
- Unique healthy fry feature
Take note
- Exterior gets quite hot in roasting mode
- Grill is small and slow
The first thing I noticed about LG neochef microwave was its style: unusually, the controls are set into the door, which opens at the side, and the dial can be pushed in for a sleek, modern look.
But its beauty isn’t only skin deep: it feels solidly made, and is a winner performance-wise, too. Featuring a grill, microwave and ‘healthy fry’ feature, it cooks well in every mode – although the grill is quite small, making it slower than those in other combi microwaves I tested. At the end of cooking, the microwave plays a tune that can’t be turned off, which could get irritating, although it’s mercifully short.
More unusual (and useful) settings include yogurt proofing and ice cream softening, while an inverter mode promises – and delivers – even cooking and reheating. Add a 30-second quick-start mode, an antibacterial ‘easyclean’ coating and an effective interior light, and you’ve got a model that’s a pleasure to use.
Buy now £179, Amazon.co.uk
Morphy Richards cassini 20L 800W digital microwave
Best: microwave for precise cooking
Capacity: 20L
Power: 800W
Dimensions: 26.2cm x 45.2cm x 35cm
Why we love it
- Stylish design
- Intuitive to use
- Wide range of power levels and cooking times to choose from
Take note
- Turntable is small
- Instructions aren’t always clear
Unlike most of the other microwaves I tested, the Morphy Richards cassini is available in colours other than black, white or silver. Blue and green models are available, plus matching toaster (£69.99, Amazon.co.uk) and jug kettle (£59.99, Amazon.co.uk), making this a nice choice if you like your kitchen appliances to have a splash of colour.
Although the instruction manual wasn’t the clearest, the microwave was intuitive to use, with clearly labelled dial and buttons. It cooked a baked potato, reheated leftovers and defrosted meat with aplomb, and I liked that the quickstart button gives you 30 seconds on the timer, unlike many models, which start at one minute.
If you choose not to use one of the five auto settings on offer, there are 11 power levels to choose from, and cooking times that can be adjusted from 10 seconds all the way up to 95 minutes, making it more versatile than most. Although its compact size means you can’t fit very large plates inside.
Buy now £129.99, Morphyrichards.co.uk
Swan nordic microwave
Best: compact microwave
Capacity: 20L
Power: 800W
Dimensions: 25.7cm x 45.1cm x 34.2cm
Why we love it
- Easy to use
- Looks the part
- Two programmes can run consecutively
Take note
- Outside can be tricky to clean
Small can be beautiful, as proved by my pick for the best compact microwave, the Swan nordic. Compact enough to fit a small space on your countertop yet large enough to hold a dinner plate (plus plate cover), it’s an effective performer when it comes to cooking, reheating and defrosting.
Although it’s intuitive to use, with handy features including a 60-second quick-start mode, there are also six presets to help you cook items such as popcorn, pizza and potatoes – although the potato setting is only suitable for potato strips rather than the usual whole baked potato. Multi-sequence cooking is also available, so you can (for example) defrost then cook items in one go.
The matte exterior and wood trimmings make this a stylish, retro-style addition to your kitchen. But do be aware that the matte finish can attract grease and be hard to shift when cleaning the outside.
Buy now £119, Swan.co.uk
Your questions about microwaves answered
What is the best microwave?
With fierce competition from air fryers, manufacturers are working on creating a microwave to suit every home, whether you’re an occasional user or rely on your model to offer more than just microwaving. After testing, the Samsung solo microwave really stood out as the best microwave for being very practical, easy to use and a great price. The Salter duowave also made its mark as the best combi microwave, thanks to its effective air fryer and combo oven, while the brand’s Toronto microwave is an excellent budget model.
How I tested microwaves
I tested a range of different foods in each appliance, from baked potatoes to ready meals, and took into account the following factors:
How to clean a microwave
Chances are you’ll have everything you need to clean your microwave in your kitchen cupboards. You can squeeze lemon halves, or place thin slices, into a bowl of water and microwave this for two to three minutes. You can also add a tablespoon of white vinegar (for every half cup of water) to enhance cleaning.
Don’t open the door straight away – let the steam build for a few more minutes so it can work to shift any dry, set stains. Then you can open the door and wipe the inside down with a microfibre cloth. You can remove the turntable to wipe down, too.
Do microwaves kill bacteria?
It’s not the microwave itself that kills bacteria, but the process of reheating. That’s why, when cooking or reheating food in a microwave, you need to ensure that it is piping hot throughout.
The simplest way to do this is with regular stirring. The Food Standards Agency says that “microwaves can heat in ‘pockets’, so stirring or turning the food helps to prevent pockets of cold food in your meal”, which in turn helps to kill bacteria.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Rosie Mullender has more than 15 years' experience as a journalist, including roles as content director at Cosmopolitan and editor of Co-op food magazine, and has authored two books. Like all reviews at IndyBest, Rosie has tested these microwaves in her home kitchen and would only recommend products that are truly worth your money.
Elsewhere, IndyBest has expertly tested and found the home appliances to buy from the best hand blenders and the best juicers to the best air fryers.
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