No one likes to eat cold leftover spaghetti! Thankfully we have microwaves. In short, microwaves pass through the food and cause the water molecules to vibrate and produce heat which in turn cooks the food. One common misconception is that the food is cooked from the inside out like with hot dogs when they explode in the microwave. The reality of it is that the outer layers are cooked first by the reflecting microwaves in the cooking chamber. Oftentimes when dense food or large portions are cooked in a microwave it may need to be stirred or moved around for even cooking so that the inner layers aren’t cold or room temperature. However, knowing which microwave will suit your needs can prove challenging.

There are microwaves designed specifically for RV and tiny home living. These are usually smaller in size and use less electricity. Most models have a cooking space of 0.9 to 1.1 cu. feet.

Another type is the standard over-the-range style which comes in a typical size of up to 2.2 cu. feet or a low profile style that is about 1.1 cu. feet. These usually have a built-in light and fan functions that a standard range hood would have so there will be the need to change lightbulbs or filters from time to time.

In the United States, the most abundant style of microwave is the countertop microwave, and as the name says it just sits on the countertop and uses the customary microwave technology to cook or reheat your foods.

Also, there are built-in style microwaves that are built right into the wall. There are 2 installation types for this kind of microwave. First is the stand-alone built-in where the unit itself is installed above a separate built-in oven. The second is a combo unit where it is installed with a built-in oven as one unit.

Smart Microwaves have hit the market in recent years and come with many smart home integrations such as voice command. Some models have smart barcode reading where the microwave will scan the bar codes of frozen products and automatically set itself to the typically recommended cook settings. Almost every unit has the capability to use either WiFi or Bluetooth to allow you to operate the unit via your smartphone or a smart home hub

Convection microwaves have now combined small countertop convection ovens with the microwave. In addition to reheating things, you can also bake, crisp and roast things. Buffalo wings anyone?

For more in-depth information, reviews and comparisons see our individual articles on each of these types of microwaves. If you have a brand or model that we haven’t reviewed yet and would like to leave us feedback on it please fill out the form at the bottom of the page.