Microwave Oven Cooking Capacity and Size

The most common microwave ovens are the countertop microwaves. These ovens can be small and compact (18" wide with less than 1 cubic foot capacity), inexpensive and simple, or they can be fully equipped with a variety of features.

If you use a microwave frequently, you might consider a larger model (24" to 30" wide with 1 - 2.2 cubic feet) with some special features for more accurate cooking, reheating and defrosting. For the best results, look for models with one or more sensors and multi-stage cooking, which allows for gradual defrosting and prevents pre-cooking of food edges.

If you don't use your microwave often or only for reheating leftovers, a simple, inexpensive unit with a few preset programs should suffice.

Another factor to consider is where in the kitchen the microwave will be placed. Microwave ovens are often built-in or placed over the range, but many buyers still opt for countertop models. Built-in microwave ovens come with the most options and are mostly sold as OTR models, eliminating countertop clutter while utilizing stovetop ventilation and lighting. They're mounted to a cabinet mounted over a range or cooktop.

Wattage in microwaves is largely dependent upon size; smaller ovens have lower wattages and larger ovens have higher wattages. Ovens today vary in wattage from 500 to 1,000+ watts: the higher the wattage, the faster the oven will cook. However, choosing a microwave by type, placement, size and features is far more important than focusing on wattage alone.

Many newer microwaves offer additional features and upgrades to consider: microwave grill-and-broil ovens, microwave/convection oven combinations and speed-cook/halogen units.

Speed-cook/halogen models cook by heat produced by halogen bulbs combined with the traditional features of a microwave oven offering the fastest combination cooking cycle - some cooking times are cut up to 50%. Microwaves featuring convection combination cooking will be more expensive than models with a grilling or broiling element.

Some speedcook and convection microwaves come with recipe guides that feature up to 100 pre-programmed recipes; you can also add your own favorite recipes.