Microwaves: Best Buys 

Solo, grill or combi? Which type of microwave is best for you? Buying the best microwave for you and your kitchen can be tricky – but our reviews can help.

Every microwave sent to the Which? Test Lab is tested in at least 17 different ways to find out how well they heat, how evenly they defrost and how easy they are to use. For grill microwaves we test grilling power as well, and for combis we see how well they grill and bake. Our tests include big name brands as well as cheaper supermarket own-brands – And we've found that it isn't always the big names that perform the best.

• We cook the equivalent of five microwave meals and de-frost 2kg of mince for every microwave we test, so you can be sure that the microwave you choose will do the all-important basics brilliantly.

• Every year we use 80kg of frozen mince to find out how well solo, grill and combination microwaves defrost.

• We also reveal the poor-performing microwaves that might leave your food dry, shrivelled and inedible.

Find the best microwaves around and avoid getting stuck with a dud by taking out a trial to Which?

What makes a Best Buy microwave?

Microwave reviews you can trust

Models from the biggest microwave brands are tested at the Which? Test Lab – including Panasonic, Sharp, Samsung, LG, Zanussi and Whirlpool. We also test microwaves from cheaper brands and from supermarkets. Our tests include real food such as minced beef and fairy cakes, and we carry out ten ease-of-use assessments on each model including how easy they are to set, how clear the instructions are to follow and how easy it is to open and close the door.

Which? is independent - we work for you, the consumer, so you can be sure that our product recommendations are influenced only by our test results. We don't take advertising and we buy all the products that we test ourselves, so our advice helps you to make the right choice first time and avoid costly mistakes.

More ways to save money

Which? reviews thousands of products and services each year, shedding the light on the best and worst and helping you with your everyday decisions. With advice and reviews on everything from energy suppliers and high street shops to ebook readers, cars and mobile phones, Which? can help you save money.

Try a Which? trial membership, and you'll receive access to all our online content and get Which? magazine delivered monthly to your door. You can also phone our Which? Legal Service and personal finance experts for one-to-one help, plus you'll get access to Which? Local, where members share recommendations for the best services in your area.