The 5 Best Under Counter Microwaves of 2024

 

As culinary enthusiasts, we’re often torn between our passion for owning all the top-notch cooking gear and the appeal of a clutter-free, minimalist kitchen (like the drool-worthy ones we see on social media and in movies). Microwaves, for instance, offer convenience we would never want to live without because it’s the easiest way to make corn on the cob or twice baked potatoes! But its bulky presence can disrupt the flow of a small kitchens or those with minimal storage — enter: the best under counter microwaves. 

These space-saving marvels are designed to tuck neatly beneath countertops or in kitchen islands, providing easy access without occupying precious counter space. And, as it turns out, there’s a market for the best under counter microwaves that boast sleek, high-tech designs.

Meggan stands by the Breville Compact Wave Soft Close Microwave she has in her kitchen, but when creating this list, a few others from brands like Sharp and Panasonic caught her eye, too. We worked together to research the best options and outlined everything to look for while shopping for the best under counter microwaves. See our picks below! 

Our Top Picks 

1. In Meggan’s Kitchen: Breville Compact Wave Soft Close Microwave – $249.95 at Amazon
2. Best Splurge: Sharp Microwave Drawer Oven – $1,399.99 at Best Buy
3. Best Value: Panasonic Microwave Oven – $248.93 at Amazon
4. Best Built-In with Trim Kit: Panasonic Built-In Microwave Oven with Trim Kit – $555.29 at Amazon
5. Best Affordable Large Capacity: Frigidaire Gallery Built-In Microwave – $499.99 at Best Buy

Reviews of The Best Under Counter Microwaves

1. What’s In Meggan’s Kitchen: Breville Compact Wave Soft Close Microwave

If you look under the counters in Meggan’s kitchen, you’ll find the Breville Compact Wave Soft Close Microwave. It has innovative, user-friendly features like a soft-close door to prevent slamming, Sensor IQ Technology that adjusts cooking time and power levels based on food type, and intuitive controls to operate. 

“Like all the Breville appliances I’ve tried, this microwave is a top performer,” says Meggan. “It has all the classic functionality that you love, plus some sleek and clever shortcuts. I love it because it’s big enough to do what I need (like defrost and reheat food) without wasting space.”

Technically, it’s a countertop model that she placed under her counter. This is something you can do with many models, but you’ll just need to make sure the microwave has enough room around the sides to let air flow. If you want, you can even choose one that fits a microwave trim kit to make it look like a fancy-schmancy built-in model. You’ll save a ton of money AND space, which makes it a winner in our book.

The Specs:

• Wattage: 900 watts
• Capacity: .9 cubic feet
• Dimensions: 11.5 by 19.1 by 17.3 inches
• Settings: Popcorn, beverage, food menu, defrost, reheat

The Pros:

• Sleek design
• Soft close door
• Compact
• One-touch buttons
• High performance

The Cons:

• Limited capacity

What Others Are Saying:

Besides being Meggan’s favorite, the Breville Compact Wave Soft Close Microwave has a 4.5-star rating from more than 1,000 Amazon buyers. 

Buy the Breville Compact Wave Soft Close Microwave:

2. Best Splurge: Sharp Microwave Drawer Oven

This microwave boasts so much futuristic energy that we imagine it’s the one The Jetsons family would pick for their kitchen. We love its contemporary black stainless steel finish and the concealed control panel that pops out at a 45-degree angle when you need it and then tucks back in for a seamless look. 

We also can’t get over the easy-touch automatic drawer that smoothly slides open when you touch a button, or how it only takes a small nudge for it to smoothly slide back shut. Both of these are game-changing details when you’re juggling dinner prep while talking on the phone or wrangling small children. 

Some microwave drawers are tight on space, but this one fits a 20-ounce beverage so you can easily use it to reheat your coffee. And it fits a 4-quart casserole dish, which is very exciting, because you can open the drawer to stir the casserole without having to take it out of the microwave to do so. That might sound like a trivial detail, but it truly changes the game.

The only drawback is the price, which is pretty high.

The Specs:

• Wattage: 950 watts
• Capacity: 1.2 cubic feet
• Dimensions: 15.9 by 23.9 by 23 inches
• Settings: Not listed, but there are 6 automatic defrost settings, 12 automatic cooking functions, 2 automatic reheat functions, and a ‘keep warm’ setting

The Pros:

• Easy touch automatic drawer
• Concealed control panel
• Hands-free close
• Contemporary black stainless steel
• Large capacity

The Cons:

• Expensive

Buy the Sharp Microwave Drawer Oven:

3. Best Value: Panasonic Microwave Oven

This little Panasonic is a great value choice for an under counter microwave because it’s affordable without sacrificing performance. It also looks modern and offers high-wattage. It’s one of the best small under counter microwaves because it doesn’t need a lot of room in a cabinet to operatesafely. 

It also comes with great bells and whistles like its Inverter Technology, which generates consistent power and delivers evenly prepared food without overcooking. One of my favorite features is the pads on the buttons, which stick out a little so you can feel what you’re doing. 

You can use it as a built-in with or without the trim (sold separately). No matter what, it will still look great in your space.

The Specs:

• Wattage: 1,250 watts
• Capacity: 1.6 cubic feet
• Dimensions: 9 by 18.5 by 16.5 inches
• Settings: Popcorn, reheat, power level, cook, turbo defrost, keep warm

The Pros:

• High power
• Compact
• Cooks evenly
• Built-in sensors

The Cons:

• Beeps can be annoying

What Others Are Saying:

The Panasonic Microwave Oven has a 4.3-star rating from more than 2,000 reviews on Amazon. Additionally, it was named the best value built-in microwave by This Old House. 

Buy the Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SN766S:

4. Best Built-In with Trim Kit: Panasonic Built-In Microwave Oven with Trim Kit

If you don’t want to hassle with trying to find the right trim kit to perfectly fit a new microwave, why not just buy them from Amazon as a bundle? This model by Panasonic comes with a stainless steel trim kit, so all you have to do is unbox it and start the easy install. It was made to be used as both a built-in and a freestanding microwave, so you can still use it if you don’t get around to installing it right away. 

We love how quiet the microwave operates and that the buttons on the control panel stick out slightly, making it sensory-friendly and easy to verify your finger is on the right place. It also offers a lot of versatility in cooking functions, along with a decent amount of power at 1,250 watts. 

The price of the trim kit makes it a little more expensive, but you’ll get years of use from it, so you’ll appreciate its sleek look for a long time. 

The Specs:

• Wattage: 1,250 watts
• Capacity: 2.2 cubic feet
• Dimensions: 14 by 23.4 by 19.5 inches
• Settings: Popcorn, reheat, cook, power level, turbo defrost, keep warm

The Pros:

• Comes with a trim kit
• Both a built-in and freestanding microwave
• Sensor adjusts cooking temperature
• Keep warm setting

The Cons:

• Buttons may feel stiff

What Others Are Saying:

The Panasonic Built-In Microwave Oven without the trim kit has a 4.2-star rating from more than 8,000 reviews on Amazon.

Buy the Panasonic Built-In Microwave Oven with Trim Kit:

5. Best Affordable Large Capacity: Frigidaire Gallery Built-In Microwave

This Frigidaire model is extra spacious with a 2.2 cubic foot capacity and a 16-inch diameter rotating plate that can accommodate an entire large casserole dish. We like that it has a wide variety of cook settings like “add 10 seconds” and “add 30 seconds” with automatic sensor-cooking technology for just-right temperature control. Plus, it’s powerful, even at the relatively affordable price point! 

Design-wise, the darker color might be a good touch for many kitchens with stylish design. Meanwhile, the stainless steel exterior is fingerprint-resistant, so it’s one less thing to have to wipe down. Just make sure to double-check the dimensions of your space because it could be too large for others. 

The Specs:

• Wattage: 1,100 watts
• Capacity: 2.2 cubic feet
• Dimensions: 13.7 by 24.5 by 19.7 inches
• Settings: Potato, popcorn, veggies, melt/soften, auto cook, defrost, sensor cook, sensor reheat, power level

The Pros:

• Smudge-proof stainless steel
• Bright interior lighting
• Trim kits available (sold separately)
• Large capacity
• A lot of settings

The Cons:

• Large footprint

What Others are Saying:

The Frigidaire Gallery Built-In Microwave has a 4.5-star rating from more than 640 buyers on Home Depot. 

Buy the Frigidaire Gallery Built-In Microwave:

Other Under Counter Microwaves to Consider

Café Built-In Microwave

It’s great that modern technology offers a convection microwave. This one has all the bells and whistles like sensor cook technology, touch sensitive controls, and a pretty stainless steel design! While we love that it comes with a wire rack for elevating food such as pizza and casseroles, it shouldn’t cost as much as a full-sized convection oven. The Café Built-In Microwave is available at Best Buy for $1,979.99.

Sharp Built-in Microwave Drawer 

The bottom portion of this Sharp microwave drawer is so thick that it leaves very little room to fit food in the drawer. The drawer also takes a long time to open and close, which bothered reviewers. It’s so shallow you can’t fit large items or tall mugs inside, plus it shakes and makes liquid spills when you push the button to close the drawer. The Sharp Built-in Microwave Drawer is available at Best Buy for $1,099.99.

Why You Can Trust Us

Hi! I’m Belle, an award-winning content creator and product tester. For over 20 years, I’ve held almost every position imaginable in various restaurants, including ownership of a Korean-concept hot dog cart (which was named after my dog’s teeth!). My writing and on-camera work are on the Better Homes & Gardens website. I am constantly on the hunt for great kitchen gadgets, and I always keep minimalism in mind. 

Meggan is the founder of Culinary Hill and works to develop, test, and share recipes with her readers. She’s also a classically trained chef and professional writer with a kitchen that is packed with all the best appliances and gadgets, like the best portable blenders, muffin pans, and under counter wine fridges.

To pinpoint the very best under counter microwaves, I started with what Meggan has in her own kitchen. I then researched highly recommended brands of microwaves, looking specifically for models that can be placed under counters or in small spaces while reading hundreds of online reviews to find the best options out there. 

Everything to Know Before Buying an Under Counter Microwave

What to Consider Before Buying an Under Counter Microwave

Buying an under counter microwave can be a smart choice for optimizing space and improving the look of your kitchen. Since it’s a fairly large purchase, there are a few considerations to keep in mind before purchasing the best under counter microwave:

Size and Clearance: You need to measure the height, width, and depth of both the microwave and the counter space to ensure a proper fit. Leave enough clearance around the microwave for ventilation to prevent overheating.

Ventilation: Microwaves generate heat during operation, so it’s important to provide adequate ventilation, especially when placing it in an enclosed space like under a counter. 

Features and Functions: Consider the features you need. Do you want basic functions or do you need additional features like sensor cooking and presets? 

Design and Style: Part of the draw of under counter microwaves is a beautiful end result. Look for one in the color or with a finish that complements your design aesthetic.

Installation: Check the manufacturer’s installation instructions and decide whether you can install it yourself or if you should hire a professional. Some models may require specific installation procedures for proper fit.

Accessibility: Consider the convenience of accessing the microwave when it’s placed under the counter. Would a drawer be easier to reach? Ensure that the height is comfortable for you to reach and use the controls easily.

Can You Put a Regular Microwave Under the Counter?

Yes you can, as Meggan has proved. You can seek out a “microwave trim kit” to make it look like a built-in microwave which is sleek and useful. 

If you’re unsure, consult with a professional installer or refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines for guidance on installation.

How Do You Install an Under Counter Microwave?

Installing an under counter microwave requires careful planning and attention to detail to ensure proper fit, ventilation, and safety. You’ll want to follow the manufacturer’s directions step-by-step. If you’re uncertain about any of the details, make sure to contact the manufacturer or consider hiring out the job.

Why Put a Microwave Under the Counter?

There are several reasons why people choose to install a microwave under the counter:

• Space Saving: Placing the microwave under the counter frees up valuable counter space, making the kitchen appear more spacious and organized.
• Aesthetic Appeal: Installing the microwave under the counter creates a seamless and integrated look in the kitchen, especially if the microwave is designed to blend in with the cabinetry. If you strive to achieve minimalism in the kitchen, it’s a great first step to clearing the clutter. 
• Convenience: Having the microwave positioned at a lower height can make it more accessible and easier to use, especially for individuals with mobility issues or for households with children — or for just when your casserole dish is really, really heavy!

Are All Under the Counter Microwaves Standard Size?

Nope. Not at all. While there are some common sizes and dimensions that many under counter microwaves adhere to, there can still be variations in size, particularly in terms of width and height. Some may be designed to fit standard cabinet sizes, while others may be more compact or larger to suit specific needs.

The Best Microwave-Friendly Recipes

Meggan has built out a list of the easiest recipes you can make in a microwave. Some of them may surprise you! Check them out:

• Peanut Brittle
• Homemade Chex Mix
• Microwaved Bacon
• Vegetable Casserole
• Twice Baked Potatoes
• Corn on the Cob

Prices were accurate at time of publication.