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Best microwaves 2024: combination, grill and solo ovens
For quick midweek meals, speedy defrosting and instant lunches, a microwave is hard to beat. Keep hungry (and impatient) kids happy by investing in the best microwave, as tried and tested by Mumsnetters.
By Natasha Gregson | Last updated Jul 18, 2024
An essential piece of kit for families, the best microwave can save you valuable time and simplify mealtimes for busy parents. Whether you're quickly warming up baby food during weaning or defrosting and reheating a meal in minutes, a good microwave can make life in the kitchen so much easier. What's more, they can cook a decent jacket potato in around 10 minutes – not bad at all.
Much like other time-saving gadgets such as the best air fryer or slow cooker, Mumsnetters regularly rave about how they couldn't live without their trusty microwave. With this in mind, we dug deep into our forums to help you find the top options, whatever your family's needs or budget. We spent hours scouring our Talk boards – home to the UK's largest online network of parents – to find the products our users have tried, tested and wholeheartedly recommend.
Then, we extensively researched feedback from food industry experts and analysed verified consumer reviews to ensure every product we feature is top-notch. So, whether you're after a solo, grill or combination option, here are the best microwaves for 2024.
Best microwaves UK: at a glance
Best overall: Russell Hobbs RHM2076B | Buy now, £79
Best budget: Cookworks 700W MM7 | Buy now, £50
Best for style: Swan Retro Digital Solo | Buy now, £88
Best combination: Panasonic NN-DS59NBBPQ | Buy now, £399
Best flatbed: SHARP YC-QC254AU-B | Buy now, £219
Best with an air fryer: Sage the Combi Wave™ | Buy now, £345
Russell Hobbs RHM2076B Solo Microwave
Sleek and compact design for small countertops
Mirrored finish
Easy-to-use dial control
Door needs to be cleaned frequently but surface is easy to wipe
Price on writing: £79 | Type: Standard | Capacity: 20 litres | Wattage: 800W | Number of programmes: 8 auto cooking and 2 auto defrost | Size: 25.8cm x 44.0cm x 35.9cm
If you’re looking for the best microwave for a busy family, the Russell Hobbs RHM2076B is a great all-rounder.
The mirror-door finish means it's as sleek as it is functional, and there are five power levels and special programmes for pizza, fish and popcorn.
With a 20-litre capacity, a standard dinner plate can easily fit on the removable, dishwasher-safe turntable, while the child safety lock feature means that curious little hands can’t open the door.
On the downside, it doesn’t have as many bells and whistles as some microwaves. That being said, we think it offers unbeatable value for money, which is why it nabbed our top spot.
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Very simple to use
Great quality for the price
Compact design for smaller kitchens
700 watt max power
No additional features
Price on writing: £50 | Type: Standard | Capacity: 17 litres | Wattage: 700W | Number of programmes: 6 power levels, including defrost | Size: H24.3 x W44.6 x D32.3cm
This 700-watt microwave more than does the job and, at just £50, it won’t break the bank.
With a 17-litre capacity, it’s compact enough to fit into small kitchens but can still comfortably accommodate a dinner plate for heating foods effectively.
As well as a child safety lock, this microwave has five power levels and a defrost option. Mumsnet users love how simple and straightforward it is, though it is a relatively basic option.
Fun, stylish design
Different colour options to suit your kitchen
Very simple to use
Relatively affordable
Might not suit all kitchens
May not be as long lasting as some other options
Price on writing: £88 | Type: Standard | Capacity: 20 litres | Wattage: 800W | Number of programmes: 5 | Size: 45cm x 25.6cm x 29.7 cm
Swan’s Retro Microwave combines style and substance. There are 11 pretty colours to choose from including orange, blue and lime green, and the curved silver handle is a nice touch.
It doesn’t just look great. It has five power levels and a 20-litre capacity, which should work well for medium-sized families. And despite its compact design, the turntable fits a standard-sized dinner plate, so it's also ideal for those who are short on counter space but don't want to sacrifice on functionality.
On the downside, some reviewers found it wasn't the most robust option, but like most Swan appliances, it's fairly affordable, plus it comes with a two-year guarantee for extra peace of mind.
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Panasonic NN-DS59NBBPQ 4-in-1 Steam Combination Microwave Oven
Versatile - four-in-one design
Can be used as a grill, steamer and oven
Cooks quickly and efficiently
Five-year warranty
Very expensive
Takes some getting used to
Some found the buttons hard to see
Price on writing: £399 | Type: Combination | Capacity: 27 litres | Wattage: 1450W (oven) | Number of programmes: 28 | Size: H35 x W51 x D46cm
If you can get past the eye-watering price tag, the Panasonic DS59 might just become your new favourite appliance for versatility. Whether it's the best multi-cooker or an all-singing, all-dancing kitchen gadget, Mumsnetters love the space-saving qualities of an adaptable appliance, and this four-in-one Panasonic model is an excellent choice.
Whether it’s used as a conventional oven, a grill, a food steamer, or a microwave, this gadget offers an impressive 28 auto programmes so you can easily heat your porridge, grill a toastie and even cook a whole chicken (though not at the same time). There's also a convenient safety lock, which makes it ideal for families with young children.
It's efficient too; according to Panasonic's internal product tests, it saves up to 55% energy and cooks 55% quicker when compared to some electric built-in ovens. Just bear in mind that it may take some time to learn how to work all the functions.
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Sleek, stylish design
Lots of pre-set programmes
The flatbed design makes it very easy to clean
Bulky
Pricey
Price on writing: £219 | Type: Combination | Capacity: 25 litres | Wattage: 900W | Number of programmes: 14 | Size: 50.9D x 49W x 28.8H cm
If you thought a turntable was an essential feature of a microwave, think again. This Sharp model has a flatbed which makes it far less fiddly to clean and much easier to heat up rectangular dishes as they won’t get caught on the sides.
There are 14 pre-set programmes so you can tailor the microwave to cook everything from pizza to popcorn, and there's even a handy feature especially for reheating drinks - ideal if you often forget to drink your tea or coffee while working from home. It also includes a 1200W grill function, offering a little more bang for your buck.
We love how sleek this microwave looks with its digital timer display and silver accents - it'd look great in a modern kitchen. The main downside is the price - though it is cheaper than some other combination options, such as the Panasonic above.
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Includes a built-in air fryer
Quiet Mark Certified
19 presets
Element IQ™ System for optimised results
Large capacity
Expensive
Complicated to use
A standalone air fryer may perform better
Price on writing: £345 | Type: Combination with air fryer | Capacity: 32 litres | Wattage: 1100W | Number of programmes: 19 | Size: H31.6 x W51.9 x D51.3cm
From pressure cookers to kettles and toasters, Sage has a pedigree for creating high-tech appliances, and the Combi Wave is an excellent example of the brand's innovation.
Not just a microwave, this clever gadget also features a built-in air fryer for ultimate versatility. There's 19 presets included too - our favourite of which is the 'soften butter' mode. Genuis!
It's quite complicated to use, but once you've spent time mastering it, the microwave and air fryer functions are fantastic. Opinions are slightly mixed on the grill function, however, with some reviewers being underwhelmed by its performance.
While it's very expensive, when you consider the separate cost of a combi microwave and air fryer, you may feel it's worth splashing out on - especially when you factor in the space it could save you on your kitchen counters too.
What should I look for when choosing the best microwave?
Size: Whether you want it out on a worktop or want to hide it away, the best microwave should work with your space. Check the door opens easily (some open top to bottom).
Type: If you just need to defrost and heat food then a standard microwave oven will do those jobs for you. But if you’re after something that can be used for roasting and grilling then a combination model may be better. Some new microwaves even have an air fryer mode too.
Cost: Combination ovens are more expensive than standard microwaves as they can do more. The right microwave for you will depend on your budget - they can cost anywhere between £50 to £600.
Style: Looks aren’t everything, but if every appliance in your kitchen is silver you might not want a white or black microwave. Many manufacturers offer a variety of colour options.
Power: A 1200-watt microwave will be more powerful and cook quicker than a 700-watt version.
Programmes: Some cheaper models just heat up food and, if you’re lucky, have a defrost feature. Others have programmes for different food types, which change the way the microwave works, either slowing it down or speeding it up depending on the food type – including pizza and fish settings. In general, the more functionality it has, the more you can expect to pay.
Extra features: Not all microwaves have digital clocks and 30-second buttons. If these are important to you, make sure your new microwave offers these features.
What's the difference between standard, grill and combination microwaves?
While a normal oven uses a heating element that heats the air inside of the oven, a traditional microwave uses radiation to heat or cook your food. Don’t worry, the World Health Organisation says that, when used correctly, the radiation levels won’t harm you.
A combination microwave brings together the different cooking methods in one unit so you can do more than just heat or defrost. You can crisp up food, brown it and roast it as well.
Grill microwaves are part way between the two. They don’t have all the features of a combination microwave, but they do use the microwave’s power to heat up an element so you can grill food rather than just heat it.
How long should a microwave last?
The best microwaves tend to last around seven years. If you have a big family or if you use it a lot then it won’t last that long. If you look after it then you may get as many as 10 years’ use out of it.
How we chose the best microwaves
Recommendations from real parents
To find the best microwaves for all budgets and needs, we first sought the trusted opinions of Mumsnet users, getting their feedback on the microwaves and brands that they rate, recommend and use in their own kitchens, noting the ones that performed exceptionally well.
Expert opinions
Next up, we considered reviews and feedback from trusted food industry experts. Whether they're baking a spud or reheating your leftovers, we want to be confident that the microwaves we recommend are fit for purpose and excel at the job, so we looked out for award-winning products or those that were well regarded in the marketplace.
Authentic consumer reviews
We then thoroughly investigated genuine, in-depth customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon, John Lewis, and Argos to get wider consumer experiences regarding the products on our shortlist.
About the author
Natasha Gregson is a Senior Content Editor at Mumsnet, overseeing all home and kitchen articles with a focus on product round-ups and reviews. With several years of editorial experience under her belt, she has written on many topics, including everything from beauty to parenting, fashion to health, but her true expertise is seeking out the best lifestyle advice and products to make life that little bit easier.
An avid foodie, she loves nothing more than trying new culinary creations in the kitchen, which often includes testing out and researching the latest time-saving gadgets for Mumsnet - including the best slow cookers and Instant Pots. She has also had work published in The i Paper, Stylist Magazine, Gransnet and Exposed Magazine.
Why you should trust us
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