Best Mid-Size Microwave Oven: Six of Ten Stop at 1000W

1. TOSHIBA ML-EM45P(BS) Microwave Oven with Smart Sensor, 1.6 Cu Ft, 1200W — Best Overall

The cheapest way on this page out of the 1000W class, with the largest stated turntable and an interior you can measure.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This is where the page stops being a 1000W page. Six of the ten ovens here state exactly 1000W, and every one of them is 1.1 or 1.2 cubic feet. The Toshiba ML-EM45P(BS) is the cheapest oven that breaks out of that group, and it does so in both directions at once: “This 1200-watt high power countertop microwave” with a “1.6 cu. ft. capacity”. Toshiba’s own 1.2 cubic foot, 1000W model is the EM131A5C-BS. The step up to this oven buys 200 watts, 0.4 cubic feet and 1.2 inches of turntable.

Per cubic foot it is the better use of the space it needs. At 1.6 cubic feet it gives the most room of any 1200W oven here, and more than every 1000W oven. Only three ovens, the Chefman, the BLACK+DECKER and the 1.2 Farberware, are lower-priced per cubic foot, and all three are 1000W. On a straight space-and-power reading of the listings, this is the best-value oven on the page.

It is one of only two listings to give interior dimensions. “internal dimension (WxDxH): 15.51”x17.05”x10.24””. Multiplied out, that is about 1.57 cubic feet, in line with the 1.6 claimed, which is more than most listings let you check. The turntable is 13.6 inches, and the listing sizes it against food: “13.6” turntable; fitting a 13inch pizza”. Read that as the upper limit. A “Position Memory” feature returns the turntable to where it started.

The sensor is described as a menu, not a system. The listing says it “includes a pre-programmed sensor menu for optimum heating of popular foods like pizza, potato, vegetable and more”, with 10 power levels, auto defrost, multi-stage cooking, a memory function and a one-touch popcorn button. It does not say what the sensor measures. The 1.2 cubic foot Toshiba says humidity; the GE says moisture.

Measure for the depth. The bullet gives the outside as “21.77”x17.91”x12.87”, width by depth by height. The spec table gives 21.8 wide, 19.2 long and 12.1 high. The 1.3-inch difference in depth may be the door handle, but the listing does not say, so plan for 19.2 inches. It is the second-heaviest oven here at 36.6 pounds, behind the GE. The buzzer can be muted by holding the 8 key.

What to weigh. The 1200W figure is not labelled as output or input, and no input wattage is given, so check the rating plate if the oven will share a kitchen circuit. It ranks #11 in Countertop Microwave Ovens and #2,405 overall, well behind its 1.2 cubic foot sibling at #2. Ranks measure recent sales, not quality. Sold by Amazon.com with a 1 Year Limited Warranty. If your worktop has room for a 21.77-inch-wide oven, this is the most microwave per dollar on the page.

Best for: A household that wants 1200W and room for a 13-inch pizza for the least money on the page, and has the worktop to spare.

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2. TOSHIBA EM131A5C-BS Countertop Microwave Oven, 1.2 Cu Ft, 1000W — Best Value

The best-ranked oven on the page, and the cheapest one that both describes its sensor and labels its watts.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This is the oven the page is measured against. 1.2 cubic feet, 1000W, a described sensor and both wattage figures. At capture it ranked #2 in Countertop Microwave Ovens and #89 overall, the best rank on this page by a distance; the next-best, the Farberware pair, sits at #349 overall. A rank says how many people are buying it right now, not whether they are pleased, but it does tell you this is the default choice in the category.

It labels its watts properly, which most listings here do not. “Microwave output power 1000 watts, input power 1600 watts.” Output is what heats the food; input is what the oven asks of your wiring. Only the BLACK+DECKER gives the same pair. At 120V, 1600W works out at about 13.3 amps, which is worth knowing if the microwave will share a circuit with a kettle or toaster. The 600W gap between the two figures is the power that goes on the magnetron’s losses, the fan, the light and the turntable motor.

It has the plainest sensor description on the page. “Smart Sensor Technology for Optimal Cooking: Automatically adjusts cooking time and power based on food humidity”. That names what is measured, humidity, and what is changed, time and power. Only the GE’s “Monitors moisture as food cooks” is as specific. The listing then oversells: “ensuring perfectly cooked meals every time. Say goodbye to overcooked or undercooked dishes.” A sensor cannot promise that. Six preset menus are named as “pizza, veggle, sensor reheat and more”, typo included, with 10 power levels, defrost by weight or time and one-touch start from 1 to 6 minutes.

Its dimensions disagree with themselves. The bullet says “External dimensions 20.6 x 14.6 x 11.8 inches (WxDxH)”. The spec table says 17.1 wide, 20.5 long and 12.8 high. The two sets look like the same box measured from different sides, possibly with packaging, but the listing does not reconcile them. Measure your space against the larger of each pair: 20.6 inches wide, 17.1 deep and 12.8 high.

Against the 1.6 cubic foot Toshiba, the question is the step up. The ML-EM45P(BS) adds 200W, 0.4 cubic feet, a 13.6-inch turntable in place of this 12.4-inch one, and stated interior dimensions. What it does not add is a labelled input figure. If your space is under 21 inches wide, or you mostly reheat plates and mugs, this oven does the job at a smaller size. If you cook frozen meals for more than one, the bigger Toshiba is the better choice.

What else to note. It weighs 31.1 pounds, and the spec table gives a release date of August 2017, the oldest on the page. Sold by Amazon.com with a 1 Year Limited Warranty.

Best for: A buyer who wants a sensor and honest wattage labels, and does not need more than 1.2 cubic feet.

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3. Panasonic NN-SN67KS Microwave Oven, 1.2 Cu Ft, 1200W, Stainless Steel/Silver — Best Inverter Pick

One of only two 1.2 cubic foot ovens here at 1200W, both inverter Panasonics, and the cheaper of the pair.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This is what the money above the Toshiba buys on this page, and it is not size. The NN-SN67KS is 1.2 cubic feet, the same as the 1000W Toshiba, and 1200W, the same as the 1.6 cubic foot Toshiba. Compared with the 1.6 cubic foot Toshiba it has a smaller cavity and a slightly smaller turntable, 13.4 inches against 13.6, and three things no cheaper oven here claims: inverter power, 11 power levels and 16 sensor cook settings.

The inverter is described as a stream, not explained. “Inverter technology generates a seamless stream of microwave cooking power for evenly heated foods edges to center.” In general terms, a conventional microwave makes its lower settings by switching full power on and off, while an inverter can turn the power itself down and hold it there. That matters for defrosting, softening and gentle reheating, and very little at full power. The listing aims its claim at the right problem, edges against centre, without saying how the power is controlled. The defrost bullet is where it pays off: “Inverter Turbo defrost … accelerates defrosting time to thaw more quickly and thoroughly”. No figure is given for how much faster. For a full comparison of inverter models, see our inverter guide.

It has the most controls stated on the page. 11 power levels, one more than the seven ovens that state 10. A “genius sensor” that “automatically adjusts power and times”, with “16 sensor cook settings”, against six presets on most of the 1000W ovens and eight convenience settings on the GE. And a “3-Level popcorn button” sized to bag weights of 3.2, 2.7 or 1.5 ounces, the only listing here that admits popcorn bags differ. Sensor reheat, the listing says, “warms evenly to retain nutrients and texture in leftovers”.

It gives interior dimensions, one of only two listings that do. “Cavity Dimensions (H x W x D)- 9 15/16 x 13 15/16 x 14 3/8 inches”. Multiplied out, that is about 1.15 cubic feet, close to the 1.2 stated. Outside, the spec table gives 20.7 inches wide, 15.8 long and 12.2 high, with its twin the most compact 1200W ovens here by a long way: the 1.6 cubic foot Toshiba is 21.77 wide and up to 19.2 deep. At 28.7 pounds it is lighter than the 1000W Toshiba’s 31.1. Inverter power supplies generally do without the heavy transformer of a conventional design, which may explain it, though the listing does not say so.

What to weigh. It is sold by Four Seasons Trading Company, not Amazon.com, so the returns and warranty route runs through a third party; the warranty field reads “1 year manufacturer”. It ranks #16 in Countertop Microwave Ovens and #5,047 overall. The listing notes a “mandatory child lock, required for all U.S. countertop microwave manufacturers”, with instructions to disengage it on the packaging. Its near-twin, the NN-SN68KS, lists the same capacity, wattage, power levels, sensor settings and turntable. If you want an inverter oven in the mid-size band, buy this one, not that one.

Best for: A buyer who defrosts and reheats gently most days, wants 1200W in a compact body, and will pay for the inverter.

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4. GE GCST16S1WSS Countertop Microwave Oven, 1150 Watt, 1.6 Cu Ft, Stainless Steel — Best Installation Detail

The other 1.6 cubic foot oven: 50 watts less than the Toshiba, with the only full clearance instructions on the page.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

Next to the 1.6 cubic foot Toshiba, this is a trade of watts for paperwork. Same capacity, “1.6 cu. ft. capacity and 1,150 Watts of cooking power”. That is 50 fewer watts than the Toshiba, and the GE listing leaves out two things the Toshiba states: the number of power levels and the size of the turntable. What it gives instead is the most useful installation detail on the page.

It is the only listing that tells you how much space to leave. “Allow 3 inches of clearance on each side and above, 1 inch at the rear, and keep the bottom fully unobstructed for proper airflow and best performance”. Every countertop microwave needs ventilation space, and most listings leave it to the manual. With the stated outside size of 21.75 inches wide, 17.75 deep and 12.87 high, that means a gap at least 27.75 inches wide, 18.75 deep and 15.87 high. If you are fitting a mid-size oven under a wall cabinet or into an alcove, that is the arithmetic to do for any of these ten, and this is the only listing that gives you the numbers.

Its sensor description is one of the two clearest here. “Sensor Cooking Controls: Monitors moisture as food cooks and automatically adjusts cooking time”. It names what is measured and what is changed. Note that it says time, not time and power, which is what the 1.2 Toshiba claims. Eight “convenience cook settings” and one-touch express cooking sit alongside, with manual and auto defrost modes that the listing says “adjust time and power levels to thaw frozen foods evenly while helping prevent overcooked edges”.

The 1150W is labelled as cooking power, output by another name; no input figure is given. It sits about 4% below the Toshiba’s 1200W, a few seconds on a reheat.

What to weigh. At 39.0 pounds it is the heaviest oven on the page. The warranty reads “1-Year Replacement”, the only warranty field here that uses the word replacement, though the listing gives no terms. It ranks #12 in Countertop Microwave Ovens, one place below the Toshiba 1.6, and is sold by Amazon.com, with delivery quoted at capture for Saturday 10 October for non-members. The spec table gives slightly different dimensions from the bullet, 21.3 wide, 18.7 long and 12.36 high; plan around the larger figure in each case.

Best for: A buyer fitting a 1.6 cubic foot oven into a tight space who wants the clearances in writing before ordering.

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5. BLACK+DECKER EM031MB11 Microwave Oven Countertop, 1.1 Cu Ft, 1000W, Stainless Steel — Labelled Watts, Smallest Box

The cheapest listing on the page that tells you both what the oven cooks with and what it draws.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This listing gives you the two numbers most do not. “1000 Watts Output with 10 power settings” and, in the same bullet, “Input power: 1600W”. It is one of only two listings on the page to label both, and the other is the 1.2 Toshiba. The bullets also give a frequency, 60 Hz, the standard for US mains. It ranked #4 in Countertop Microwave Ovens and #367 overall at capture, the best rank here after the Toshiba 1.2 and the Farberware pair.

It is the smallest box with a stated turntable. “removable 12.4” glass turntable”, the same size as the 1.2 Toshiba’s, in an oven that measures “20.6” x 14.8” x 11.8”. The listing labels those figures length by width by height, but 20.6 is plainly the width across the front and 14.8 the depth; the spec table agrees. At 11.8 inches it is among the lowest stated heights on the page, which helps under a low wall cabinet. It weighs 31.2 pounds.

It does not claim a sensor. Six pre-programmed buttons, “popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetable, beverage and dinner plate”, run fixed programmes. The difference matters for reheating mixed leftovers: a fixed programme runs for a set time whatever the portion, while a sensor programme is meant to stop when the food is hot. If you mostly set the time yourself, it will not matter. There is 30-second express cooking, a kitchen timer and a clock.

The details are practical. “Push-button door release for easy access”, a “Large LED digital display”, child safety lock and interior light. The colour is explained: “Color of door frame is stainless steel, enclosure is black”. The spec table’s colour field reads “1.1 Cu.ft”, a data-entry slip.

What to weigh. At 1.1 cubic feet it is at the bottom of the mid-size band, and 1000W, the same as five other ovens here. The Farberware 1.2 adds 0.1 cubic feet; the Toshiba 1.2 adds 0.1 cubic feet and a described sensor. Sold by Amazon.com, with a “1 year manufacturer” warranty, and released in December 2018 according to the spec table.

Best for: A buyer who wants to know exactly what the oven draws, and sets cooking times by hand.

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6. Chefman RJ55-11-V3 Countertop Microwave Oven, 1.1 Cu Ft, 1000 Watts, Black — Most Controls, Lowest Priced

The longest list of convenience controls among the 1000W ovens, on a listing that calls its own 1.1 cubic feet a mini microwave.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This listing names more controls than any other 1000W oven here. A “MEMORY FUNCTION” to store a frequently used setting. An audio button to “Silence this counter top microwave”. An “Eco Mode” that switches off the display when idle. A “Lock Mode” for the control panel on top of a child lock on the handle. And a +30 seconds key and number-key quick start, where pressing 3 runs three minutes. None changes how food heats.

It describes itself as small, which is the honest reading. The listing calls it a “mini microwave” and praises its “compact frame”. At 1.1 cubic feet it is the bottom of the mid-size band, and at 20.1 inches wide the narrowest oven here. If the cubic feet are the reason you are shopping in this range, note that the turntable size is not stated, so you cannot check it against your largest plate from the listing.

The power claims are standard for the class. “This 1000W digital microwave” with “10 power levels, from a low setting to melt butter to maximum power”. The wattage is not labelled as output or input. The model code in the last bullet, “1000W/120V-RJ55-11-V3”, gives the voltage. Six presets cover popcorn, pizza, beverages, veggies, potatoes and leftovers, with no sensor mentioned.

What to weigh. The “glass turntable is top-rack dishwasher safe”, the only listing here to say so, and the listing states “cETL approved”. It is the cheapest oven here, and the BLACK+DECKER gives you labelled input power and a stated 12.4-inch turntable instead of these extras. It ranks #13 in Countertop Microwave Ovens and #4,125 overall. It weighs 30.91 pounds and is 15.1 inches deep. Sold by Amazon.com. Buy it for the controls, not for space.

Best for: A buyer who values a mute button and a memory key more than an extra tenth of a cubic foot.

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7. Farberware FMO12AHTBKE 1.2 Cu Ft Countertop Microwave Oven, 1000 Watts, Stainless — Sensor Claim to Check

A 1.2 cubic foot oven from Amazon.com, whose title promises a smart sensor that its bullets never describe.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

Read past the title on this one. It says “Farberware 1.2 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave Oven – 1000 Watts Power, Smart Sensor Auto Cook Settings”. The bullets then describe “ten power levels with multi-stage cooking” and “six one-touch options, including popcorn, potato, and pizza”, and the word sensor does not appear in any of them. Its 1.1 cubic foot sibling has an almost identical set of bullets and a title that says only “Auto Cook Settings”. On the evidence of the listing, the sensor is a title claim. If it matters to you, confirm it with the manual or the questions section before you buy.

As a plain 1.2 cubic foot, 1000W oven, it is good value. It is the lower-priced of the two 1.2 cubic foot, 1000W ovens here, next to the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS. What the Toshiba adds is a described humidity sensor, labelled input power, a stated 12.4-inch turntable and the best rank on the page. Those are worth more to most buyers than the saving, which is why this is not our value pick.

The wattage line is missing its unit. “It packs 1000 of output power”. The title fills the gap with 1000 Watts, and the word output tells you which figure it is, which is more than half the listings here manage. No input figure is given. The listing calls the oven “the ideal small-space solution that offers full-sized cooking in a compact space”, at 20.5 inches wide, 17.3 deep and 12.8 high.

Two fields cannot be used. The weight field reads “1.0 Pounds”, which no 1.2 cubic foot microwave weighs, so we leave it out; expect something near the 30-pound range of the similar ovens here. The model field reads “Farberware”; the part number, FMO12AHTBKE, is the one to quote to the seller or in a warranty claim.

What to weigh. The Best Sellers Rank, #349 overall and #3 in Countertop Microwave Ovens, is shared with the 1.1 cubic foot Farberware, so it describes the pair, not this model alone. The listing has a clock, kitchen timer, interior light and child safety lock. Sold by Amazon.com with a “1-year limited” warranty. It is a reasonable 1.2 cubic foot oven at a fair price; just do not buy it for the sensor in the title.

Best for: A buyer who wants 1.2 cubic feet from Amazon.com and does not need a sensor.

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8. Farberware FMO11AHTBKB 1.1 Cu Ft Countertop Microwave Oven, 1000 Watts, Stainless — Smaller Farberware Twin

The same Farberware with a tenth of a cubic foot less space, plus express cooking keys its bigger twin does not list.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This is the 1.2 cubic foot Farberware, one size down. The first five bullets are word for word the same, apart from the capacity: “Measuring 1.1 cu ft, this microwave is the ideal small-space solution”. Ten power levels, multi-stage cooking, six one-touch options, defrost by weight or time, an LED display, a kitchen timer, an interior light and a child safety lock. It is the slightly cheaper of the pair.

The saving is small for 0.1 cubic feet. The outside is slightly smaller, 20.2 inches wide, 16.54 deep and 12.03 high, against 20.5, 17.3 and 12.8. If the extra 0.3 inches of width or 0.76 of depth decides whether it fits, buy this one; otherwise the 1.2 is the better buy.

It lists one thing its twin does not. A sixth bullet: “1 through 6-minute Express Cooking quick start controls and Add 30-Seconds control”. The 1.2 may well have the same keys; its listing just does not say. And its title makes no sensor claim, “Auto Cook Settings” only, which on the evidence of the bullets is the more accurate description of both ovens.

The weight field is unusable. It reads “0.000625 pounds”, about a hundredth of an ounce, so we leave it out. The wattage is again “1000 of output power”, unit missing in the bullet but given as watts in the title. No input figure and no turntable size are stated.

What to weigh. It shares its Best Sellers Rank with the 1.2, #349 overall and #3 in Countertop Microwave Ovens, so the rank cannot tell you which of the two people are buying. Against the BLACK+DECKER, the same 1.1 cubic feet and 1000W, this costs more and gives you less information: no input watts, no turntable size, no usable weight. Sold by Amazon.com with a “1 year manufacturer’s warranty”.

Best for: A buyer whose space is a fraction of an inch too small for the 1.2 cubic foot Farberware.

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9. Sharp SMC1162KS 1.1 Cu Ft 1000W Stainless Steel Countertop Microwave Oven — Medium-Sized by Name

The only listing here that calls itself medium-sized, and the dearest 1000W oven on the page at the smallest capacity.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This is the listing that uses the word the rest of the page avoids. Its first bullet reads “Medium-sized 1.1 cu. ft. capacity, 1000 watts, Stainless”. No other listing here calls itself medium; the Chefman at the same capacity calls itself a mini microwave. So the Sharp agrees with our definition of the band, from the bottom of it. It is sold by Amazon.com.

That makes it the dearest 1000W oven on the page, at the smallest capacity. Six ovens here are 1000W; this is the most expensive of them. The 1.2 cubic foot Toshiba EM131A5C-BS costs less and adds a described humidity sensor, labelled input watts and 0.1 cubic feet. And the 1.6 cubic foot, 1200W Toshiba ML-EM45P(BS) sits only a short step above it.

Its closest match is the BLACK+DECKER, which costs less. The two are almost the same box: 20.6 inches wide and 11.8 high on both, 14.7 deep here against 14.8. Both are 1.1 cubic feet and 1000W with a 12.4-inch turntable and 10 power levels. The BLACK+DECKER labels its 1600W input; this listing gives one wattage with no label. What the Sharp adds is “2-stage cooking”, so you can defrost and then cook in one programme, and the Sharp name.

The controls are stated clearly. “12.4” Carousel turntable for even cooking; 10 Power Levels with 2-stage cooking”. A “+30 seconds” key, “Auto Cook for popular menu items”, “Weight and Time Defrost” and “Express Cook” with a single press up to 6 minutes. Popcorn presets are listed; no sensor is claimed.

What to weigh. The listing is four bullets long, the shortest here, so there is no interior size and no input wattage. It weighs 33.1 pounds. It ranks #17 in Countertop Microwave Ovens and #5,240 overall. The warranty is “1 year limited”. Buy it if you specifically want a Sharp in this size; otherwise the BLACK+DECKER gives the same box for less, and the Toshiba 1.6 gives far more for a little more.

Best for: A buyer who wants a Sharp at 1.1 cubic feet with 2-stage cooking and accepts paying a premium for the name.

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10. Panasonic NN-SN68KS Compact Microwave Oven, 1200W, Sensor Cooking, 1.2 Cu Ft, Stainless Steel — Costliest Twin

The NN-SN67KS again, by every feature its listing names, with no cavity dimensions.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This is the most expensive oven on the page, and its listing names nothing the NN-SN67KS lacks. Read the two side by side. Both say “1.2 Cu.Ft. 1200W stainless steel countertop oven with 11 power levels, smart controls and LED, 3-level popcorn button, 13.4 in. Turntable”. Both give the same inverter sentence, the same “16 sensor cook settings”, the same Inverter Turbo Defrost, the same popcorn bag weights of 3.2, 2.7 and 1.5 ounces. The spec tables give identical outside dimensions, 20.7 by 15.8 by 12.2 inches. The NN-SN68KS is the dearer of the two.

The differences the listings do show run against this one. It gives no cavity dimensions, where the NN-SN67KS gives 9 15/16 by 13 15/16 by 14 3/8 inches. Its colour field says “Stainless Steel” where the other says “Stainless Steel / Silver”, which may be a real difference in trim; check the photos. Its stated weight is 25.4 pounds against 28.7, a 3.3-pound gap the listings do not explain. Both are sold by Four Seasons Trading Company with a “1 year manufacturer” warranty.

Its rank says shoppers have noticed. #99 in Countertop Microwave Ovens and #86,615 overall, the lowest rank on the page by a wide margin. The NN-SN67KS sits at #16. Ranks move constantly, but the gap is wide.

What the inverter and sensor give you is covered under the NN-SN67KS. In brief: 1200W in a compact 1.2 cubic foot body, steadier low-power settings for defrosting and gentle reheating, 11 power levels and 16 sensor settings, more than any non-Panasonic here. The title calls it “Compact”, which at 20.7 inches wide and 15.8 deep is fair for a 1200W oven.

What to weigh. The spec table gives a release date of July 2019. The listing’s child lock bullet reads “MANDATORY CHILD SAFTEY LOCK”, typo included, and says the oven ships with the lock enabled. There is one reason to buy this listing: if the NN-SN67KS is out of stock on the day. Otherwise the same features, as listed, cost less one listing over.

Best for: A buyer set on the Panasonic inverter oven who finds the NN-SN67KS out of stock.

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