Who doesn’t have a microwave today? It’s one of the most significant kitchen appliances that has elevated the kitchen to a new level. Whether you don’t have one or are looking to replace what you currently use, you are in the right place to help you purchase the best microwaves under $100.
This little box of technology can warm your food in no time. It keeps the temperature and taste of food so that you keep enjoying your meal.
Although it is a common kitchen appliance, getting an affordable one is an uphill battle. Most manufacturers will never sell them for less than $150 after adding in a few bonus yet desirable features.
But did you know you can get the best microwave under $100 and still not regret your choice?
To avoid the suspense, let me show you the microwaves that will blow your mind with their impressive features at insanely low prices.
Contents
6 Best Microwaves Under 100
1. AmazonBasics Microwave
First on my list is this awesome piece from AmazonBasics. It’s just what you need when you want something easy to use, has all the features for a basic microwave, and the perfect machine if you are into Alexa.
Why Alexa?
Well, you can pair the two and use your voice to control your cooking, how cool is that? The quick cook presets and keypad lets you speak to Alexa and it does the magic.
Nevertheless, Alexa doesn’t come with the package together. Not everyone loves some “weird” little box controlling their cooking.
You can buy the echo dot separately or together at a discounted prices. You then pair the two to start dominating the kitchen.
Apart from voice technology, the microwave still offers excellent features like 10 power levels, a kitchen timer, a steady turntable, and a child lock for safety.
2. Farberware 1.1 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Countertop Microwave Oven
This Farberware 1.1 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Countertop model looks great and harbours all the fantastic features you might be looking for in a microwave – talk of spacious cooking capacity, digital clock for setting time, and child lock.
The generous 1.2 Cu cooking cavity is large enough to accommodate huge plates measuring up to 12.4 inches.
Plus, the cooking programs are divided into 6 sections, i.e. potato, pizza, popcorn, dinner plate, frozen vegetables, and dinner plate. So no guesswork here, you get everything right.
When compared to some microwave ovens costing the top-dollar, Farberware operates silently even though it has a power output of 1000 W.
The output enables it to make your food hot in the shortest time possible. Precisely, baking potatoes won’t take more than ten minutes.
The good thing is that every part of the food will be equally hot as the turntable spins at a steady and reasonable velocity.
3. Panasonic NN-SB458S Compact Microwave Oven
Panasonic always tries to make affordable kitchenware that can meet any kind of budget. This Panasonic NN-SB458S Compact Microwave Oven is a depiction of this.
Coming at under $100 on Amazon, it still offers you excellent features. It’s an all-round appliance that can fit in any kitchen regardless of size.
Thanks to the compact design, it will settle on any countertop with ease. The dark tint gives it the awesome look of a real kitchen appliance. For extra visibility, it has a cavity light to differentiate it from other kitchen appliances.
When the power goes off when cooking, your food will not get cold even if you leave it for ten minutes. The cook warm feature helps you maintain the temperature and will not overcook the food.
Unlike other microwave ovens in this review, it has 7 preset Auto Cook options. The turntable is 10.6 inches, large enough to accommodate your largest dishes. The 900 W power output will ensure that the food is evenly cooked.
4. COSTWAY Retro Countertop Microwave Oven (Small)
This COSTWAY Retro Countertop Microwave Oven (Small) is one of the smallest appliances but works smartly like the top dogs. It only has 5 power levels up to 700 W.
Due to its simplicity, it is what you need if you don’t spend a lot of time in the kitchen. Besides, the insanely low price is a good deal.
COSTWAY oven gives you some pretty awesome functions that you didn’t expect. For instance, it heats food very fast, defrosts food without pre-cooking, and heats the food evenly.
It doesn’t have an LED display for controlling but a spin knob. Yeah, I know that spin knobs malfunction at the slightest provocation. It is what you expect with standard microwave ovens, though. The company has leveraged on this weakness to make the spin knob comfortable and very easy to use.
The design is something worth mentioning. It’s compact for stability and to save some space on the countertop. So if you’ve dismissed small microwave ovens before, this gives you all the features to win back your trust.
5. ProdBLACK+DECKER EM031MB11 Digital Microwave Oven
It’s a little bit smaller than Farbeware with dimensions of 20” by 15.6” by 12.1.” However, the company manufactures them in different models with the biggest having a capacity range of 1.4 Cu. Ft.
Still, it beats Farberwar when it comes to power settings. These are the ten power settings that make customization a breeze. The power output is the same, standing at 1000 W.
The exciting feature of Black + Decker ovens is the LCD which controls the multiple power settings. It makes operating the appliance very easy because everyone these days is acquainted with LCDs. The one-touch button also makes it easy to open the door.
The appliance cooks very fast. Ideally, you have ten options to cook whatever you want in a few minutes.
For express cooking, 30 seconds is enough. If you want more features besides cooking, the Time Defrost and weight defrost options will thaw frozen meats and casseroles vegetables in a jiffy.
6. COSTWAY Retro Countertop Microwave Oven (Medium)
Costway Retro microwave ovens are the best options for small apartments and studios. The design and appearance add a lively atmosphere to the kitchen.
Something worth knowing is the large viewing door despite the small size. You get to know what’s happening in there. But this does not mean that the timer doesn’t work.
You can set the timer and the LCD will show you everything. The three beep sound alerts you when the food is ready. The child lock function is simple to set up and will guarantee the safety of your child.
Buying Guide For The Best Microwaves Under $100
Cheaper microwaves might look great on the ground but not so great after purchasing. With this in mind, consider checking the following features in your shopping.
Size
One thing to consider is the size. You may find a super cheap microwave but once it arrives you’ll realize you forgot to check dimensions and it’s far too big to fit on your small counter space!
You may also think you found the perfect sized microwave only to find that it costs an arm and a leg.
When buying a more budget-friendly option, you may find that you’re much more limited to the size options out there. So just how much microwave do you need?
While exterior dimensions may vary despite interior size, the average 0.5-1.5 cu ft microwave is good for a 1-2 person household, whereas you’ll want more like 1.5-2.0 cu ft (or more) for a 3-4 (or more) person household.
In addition to cubic feet sizing, make sure you also check the INTERIOR dimensions before purchasing. You will be sorely disappointed if you have to discover that your dinner plate doesn’t even fit inside your new affordable microwave, or if it’s not large enough for your microwave popcorn bag to freely rotate!
Comparison Table
| Product | Color | Special Feature |
| AmazonBasics | Black | Defrost, Turntable, Child lock |
| Farberware 1.1 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Countertop | Stainless | Programmable |
| Panasonic NN-SB458S Compact | Stainless Steel | Safety Lock |
| COSTWAY Retro Countertop (Small) | Green | Defrost, Turntable |
| ProdBLACK+DECKER EM031MB11 Digital | Black | Safety Lock |
| COSTWAY Retro Countertop (Medium) | Green | Safety Lock |
Watts
The higher wattage a microwave is, the faster it should be able to cook food (to an extent).
Make sure you have a minimum of about 700 watts or you won’t really save much time to warrant using the microwave in the first place.
Higher wattage, meaning more cooking power, also typically means a higher price as well, so keep this in mind when shopping.
Features
You’re obviously paying more for every extra feature you add on to your microwave’s capabilities, so the more it can do the more it will cost. Features many people might consider a “staple,” like a preset “pizza” button, may surprisingly only be found on more expensive microwaves, so double check for your must-have features before buying!
Some common features to look for are:
- preset power levels (5-10 are a common number of presets)
- preset buttons (reheat, pizza, popcorn, quick add time (often 30-60 seconds))
- rotating turntable vs. stationary plate
- adjustable power settings (being able to cook at full power vs. half power, for example)
- interior light (some microwaves, surprisingly, do not have a light that comes on when you open the door!)
Safety Features
Not all microwaves come with safety features built in, but some of even the budget microwave options do!
You’ll have noticed that a couple of my options come with a child lockout feature, so your kids can’t just turn on the microwave to watch it light up and spin!
Some other features you may want, that could be considered a safety feature, include:
- smart sensors/heat sensors (adjust the time and power level automatically based on the heat of your food)
- defrost (while not a microwave-based feature, it helps ensure food safety in the kitchen with proper thawing!)
- automatic shutoff (such as if a popcorn bag gets stuck and the turntable cannot rotate properly, the microwave will beep an error)
Warranty
Obviously you’ll want to buy a microwave that no matter the price, you won’t have to replace in a year.
Most microwaves these days come with limited 1 year warranties, so you’re not likely to see much difference across microwave models.
But it is often the case that the longer the warranty the better the quality of the product. The length of time that a company is willing to stand behind what they offer tends to indicate how long they think it should last without defects or failures.
Best Microwaves Under $100 FAQ
What Is the Most Reliable Microwave Brand?
Unluckily for your price tag, the most reliable brands tend to come with a higher cost as well. These brands include:
-Breville
-Hamilton Beach
-LG
-Maytag
-and more
What Is the Best Wattage Microwave to Buy?
While I said above that 700 watts as a minimum will get the job done, the ideal would really be in the 1,000-1,200 watts range for most situations and families.
This will be powerful enough to defrost, reheat, and shortcut your cooking to your heart’s desire, but without overpaying for power that really won’t make much difference. Anything under 600-700 watts will just take so long or never quite heat thoroughly to be worth the purchase.
How Long Should a Microwave Last?
While anywhere from 5-10 years may be the typical “norm” for the life of a microwave, the average lifespan is, as you could guess, about 7 years.
If you’re a large family that really puts the hammer down on your microwave daily, you’ll be on the lower end of that range, and may only get a handful of years out of it before it’s due for a replacement.
If you’re a single or a couple and you only make a bag of popcorn weekly and reheat coffee on weekends, you’ll find your microwave should last quite a long time, more towards the decade range.
What Are the Signs That a Microwave Is Going Bad?
Like I said in the beginning, maybe you’re here because you think it’s time for a new microwave. But how can you be sure, unless it just simply doesn’t even power up?
Some things to watch for that can indicate it’s time for a new one might be:
-sparks (when no metal is inside the microwave)
-burning smells (especially when the food hasn’t been in nearly long enough to burn)
-new, excessive noises
-doesn’t stay shut or seal properly
-keypad glitches or faults
-not properly cooking your food
-it’s just plain old (most won’t last more than 10 years, give or take)
Is It Ok to Buy a Cheap Microwave?
Absolutely, and I’d honestly recommend it for most situations.
When you factor in the possibility that your family may well be replacing it every 3-5 years with heavy use, do you really want to shell out $200 when you could perhaps get away with a $60 option for the same amount of time?
Another thing to consider is that microwaves mostly came into existence to help me out once society at large became super busy and life got hectic…and the kitchen nearly became forgotten in favor of fast food and microwave dinners.
If you’re careful with your time and you learn how to meal prep effectively, you may find yourself using a microwave far less than you anticipated, which means that $ microwave purchase can last even longer than the expected 3-5 years for your family!
Conclusion
Due to the convenience microwave ovens add to the kitchen, every manufacturer is producing its own models. They are available in every store, some costing the top dollar, while others going at insanely low prices.
I will agree that the six best microwave ovens I have reviewed are not some of the cheapest but they are very affordable and reliable. This means that you have to be extra careful with these other even cheaper ovens on the market.
Good thing that you already know 6 best microwave ovens you can give a try today.
Do you have any comments or questions? I would love to know in the comment section!
Richmond Howard started Meal Prepify in 2019 and has helped over a million people learn how to meal prep, get better at meal planning, and create a kitchen they love to use. He’s an avid home chef and loves to bbq, grill out, and make awesome food for family and friends. He’s been featured on MSN, Renaissance Periodization, and Good Financial Cents.
