Microwaves for Effortless Countertop Cooking
The classic microwave oven is one of the most useful small kitchen appliances for busy households. These powerful electrics can cook convenience foods, reheat leftovers and more with just a few button pushes. Some also include additional cooking programs, like air fry mode, to expand your cooking possibilities. Browse to find the best countertop microwaves from popular brands like Breville, Cuisinart, Panasonic and Open Kitchen by Williams Sonoma.
Versatile Cooking, Reheating and More
All of the bestselling microwaves in this collection are designed to cook, reheat and defrost foods in just minutes. They can be set to any amount of time via the easy-to-use control panel and typically offer different power levels to customize the performance. If you often defrost and cook foods in sequence, look for a unit that has two-stage cooking programs. By using this setting, it will first defrost, then automatically move onto the cook setting you've selected, saving you time. Most of these appliances also include preset buttons to facilitate common tasks, like making popcorn, reheating pizza, cooking potatoes, melting chocolate and more.
In addition to the basic cooking modes, some models also feature advanced cooking functions, like air fry or convection. When using air fryer mode, the appliance circulates hot air evenly to brown and crisp your ingredients, giving you delicious results with minimal oil. In convection mode, the machine heats like an oven, allowing you to achieve oven-like cooking results with no preheating necessary. Some models also offer a sensor cook function, which uses built-in sensors to monitor your food and automatically adjusts the time and temperature accordingly. This smart feature takes the guesswork out of microwave cooking.
Other Countertop Appliance Features
When browsing for countertop microwaves, the cooking functions are sure to stand out first. However, these units also offer a variety of other features that will definitely come in handy. Consider the list of potential features below, then use it to narrow down your options and find the best model for your household.
- All of these units have a digital clock display, making it easy to check the time at a glance. They also typically offer a built-in kitchen timer to help keep you organized.
- If you often use the same cook modes, look for a model with a memory function to save you time.
- An extra time button will also come in handy in busy households. With a quick touch, you can add an extra 30 seconds to the cook time without restarting the cycle.
- For families with small children, consider selecting a model with a child lock feature to prevent unapproved use.
- Models with soft-close doors and mute buttons are great options for those looking to reduce noise in their kitchen.
- For small spaces, a compact microwave is a smart choice. With their small footprint, they won't take over your kitchen countertops.
- If you want your new appliance to match your existing electrics, you'll want to pay close attention to the finish. Most options come in multiple finishes, like stainless steel or black stainless steel.
Shop for microwaves at Williams Sonoma to expand your countertop cooking possibilities. Use them for cooking, defrosting or reheating food for easy everyday meals, or try out their advanced cooking functions to expand to new recipes. With a variety of bestselling options from brands like Breville, Cuisinart, Panasonic and Open Kitchen by Williams Sonoma, it's easy to find one with all of the features you love.