Microwave is one of the most utilized kitchen appliances in our house. This is mainly because we like to prep meals, and having a microwave is so convenient for heating up the food and getting lunch/dinner ready in 5 minutes.

We have had our trusted Panasonic microwave (model: Panasonic Microwave Oven, NN-ST25JWYPQ) for the past 7 years since we moved in, and it has finally reached its end of life. So here we are, researching the best microwave in Singapore that would suit our family’s needs best.

Types of microwave

Did you know that there are many types of microwaves? We too, were mindblown as we had all along thought that microwaves are just… microwaves? Anyways, for those interested, there are actually 3 types of microwaves.

Solo Microwave

Solo microwaves are the most basic types of microwaves and are used mainly for reheating, defrosting, and cooking. They are usually the cheapest type of microwaves and serve the most basic functions. If you would like to bake, grill, or roast. solo microwave will not work for you.

Grill Microwave

Grill microwaves are microwaves that can not only microwaves but also grill food, expanding your food repertoire. Some manufacturer may also include a grill tray with the microwave when you purchase them. They are slightly pricier than solo microwaves and are great if you enjoy grilling food without smoke.

Convection Microwave Oven

Convection microwave ovens are the most versatile microwave among the different types of microwaves. It is a vast improvement from other microwaves where it can perform a lot more types of cooking. This includes – baking, roasting, and air-frying food.

Convection microwave ovens are very multi-functional, and you can do many dishes with just one appliance. However, this also means that they have a higher price tag and can cost a few hundred dollars up to thousands of dollars.

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Top 8 Best Microwave Summary

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Sharehook Top 8 Best Microwave in Singapore

Best Solo Microwave for Everyday Use

Specifications

• Brand: Panasonic
• Dimensions: 44.3 x 33.0 x 25.8 cm
• Wattage: 800W
• Capacity: 20L
• Touch Control: Yes
• Functions: 9 Auto Menu Cooking Categories, Auto Defrost Menu, Auto Reheat
• Child Lock: Yes

Pros

• Compact and stylish
• 1 click 30-second cooking button for the lazy bums
• 9 auto cooking menu that allows you to control cooking time by setting the weight
• Flush design, use push button to press to open microwave door
• Can choose between 5 different power levels
• Quickly defrost food from the auto-defrost function
• 20 litre capacity which is decent for a family of 2 to 3 people
• Small physical size that is compact for a small kitchen

Cons

• Countertop microwave, which means it is not as space-friendly
• No inverter technology is used, so food does not reheat as evenly
• Can only do basic cooking functions like cooking, reheating, and defrosting
• Not ideal for large families as the microwave capacity is only 20 litres

We have been using this Panasonic Microwave Oven (NN-ST25JWYPQ) for the past 7 years, and it has served us well over the years. For context, we are very heavy users of microwaves as we meal prep regularly, especially so during the Covid circuit breaker. We used the microwave multiple times per day and it showed no signs of breaking down.

We love the simplicity of the design, and its compact size, and the microwave blends in very well with most kitchen designs. It is also easy to operate, and you can reheat your food easily with just a few buttons. This Panasonic microwave is 20L, which is ideal for families with 2-3 people. The control panel is touch control, but is pretty sensitive, even after multiple years of use.

Best Easy-To-Use Grill Microwave

Specifications

• Brand: Toshiba
• Dimensions: 48.5 x 39.2 x 29.3 cm
• Wattage: 800W (Microwave) / 1000W (Grill)
• Capacity: 25L
• Touch Control: Yes
• Functions: 6 Auto Menu Cooking Categories, Auto Defrost Menu, Auto Reheat
• Child Lock: Yes

Pros

• Stylish with a mirror finishing
• Come with a grill, so your grilled food will be crispy on the outside
• Can microwave, grill and combine both functions to cook
• Preset quick cooking buttons from 1 minute to 6 minutes
• 6 auto cooking menu that allows for different cooking methods
• Easily increase cooking time by 30 seconds using a 1 click button
• Can choose between 10 different power levels
• Quickly defrost food from the auto-defrost function
• 25 litre capacity which is decent for a family of 3 to 4 people

Cons

• Protruding handle to open microwave door
• Countertop microwave, which means it is not as space-friendly
• No inverter technology is used, so food will not reheat evenly as well
• Not ideal for large families as the microwave capacity is only 25 litres

This Toshiba 2 in 1 Grill + Microwave Oven (MM-EG25PE) is more affordable than we expected. We love the grilling function and its potential to expand our cooking range with its easy-to-control grilling function. The preset buttons are also easy to control and allow us to quickly choose our cooking settings when we are in a rush.

The handle is a pull-out handle on the microwave door, which we do not love so much as we have a small kitchen and we worry that we may ram into it when we are in a rush. This 2-in-1 Toshiba microwave is slightly bigger at 25L capacity and can fit a whole small chicken if you choose to grill them. This would make cooking a breeze.

Best Convection Microwave Oven for All-Purpose Cooking

Specifications

• Brand: Panasonic
• Dimensions: 50.0 x 48.0 x 39.1 cm
• Wattage: 1000W (Microwave) / 1300W (Grill) / 1300W (Steam)
• Capacity: 31L
• Touch Control: Yes
• Functions: Grill, Convection, Steam, Microwave, 10 Auto Menu Cooking Categories, Auto Defrost, Auto Reheat
• Child Lock: Yes

Pros

• Classy and elegant, looks modern in any kitchen
• Comes with a steamer, so you can steam your food easily
• Equipped with 2 layers, so you can cook more food at a single time
• Inverter technology is used, so food will cook evenly
• Can grill, cook, steam, and perform basic microwave functions like reheating and defrosting
• Can microwave, grill, convection, steam or do a combination of different cooking methods
• 10 combination cooking and 36 auto-cooking menu that allow for different cooking methods
• Quickly reheat food from the one-click auto-reheat function
• 31 litre capacity which is decent for a family of 5 to 6 people

Cons

• More complicated control settings that need a bit more setup before cooking
• Potential alignment issue with drip tray
• Price point is a little high as it has many functions
• Very bulky, ideal to have a dedicated spot to put the microwave

This Panasonic 31L Convection Steam Grill Microwave Oven (NN-CS89LBYPQ) is probably our dream oven if we are not looking at price tag. We love how it has so many functions all in one appliance. We can throw away many of our electronics if we get this. This is definitely a good buy for our family as we love to steam food as it is healthier and easier.

This Panasonic 4-in-1 microwave is definitely on the bulky side and you need to be prepared to have a space for it. Note that it opens by pulling on the handle at the front, so make sure to leave plenty of walking space at the front. You can also use it for baking which is amazing if you are a hobbyist baker on the side.

This Panasonic microwave looks like it can last many years, which would help us do our girl maths to justify the purchase. This microwave is equipped with 2 layers, so you can cook more food while spreading them out to prevent uneven cooking.

Best Cheap Microwave For Budget-Friendly Kitchen

Specifications

• Brand: PowerPac
• Dimensions: 45.1 x33.2 x 25 8 cm
• Wattage: 700W (Microwave)
• Capacity: 20L
• Touch Control: No
• Functions: Auto Defrost, Auto Reheat
• Child Lock: No

Pros

• Can choose between 6 different power levels
• Flush design, use a push button to press to open microwave door
• Small physical size that is compact for a small kitchen
• 20 litre capacity which is decent for a family of 2 to 3 people

Cons

• Microwave timer maximum at 30 minutes, and you have to manually set it again for cooking beyond 35 minutes
• Countertop microwave, which means it is not as space-friendly
• No inverter technology is used, so food does not reheat as evenly
• Can only do basic cooking functions like reheating and defrosting
• Not ideal for large families as the microwave capacity is only 20 litres

If you are looking for a no-frills microwave, this PowerPac Microwave Oven (PPT720) is for you. This is one of the cheapest microwaves out there in the market and definitely gets the job done. It looks a little flimsy for our liking, but it is actually pretty sturdy and works well for those who want to heat up or microwave their food.

This PowerPac microwave is a little basic, but it is very easy to use, and there is no special setting to concern yourself with. They are honestly great for elderly or renters who just want to quickly get their food ready without too much effort to set up.

Most Value-For-Money Convection Microwave Oven

Specifications

• Brand: Toshiba
• Dimensions: 51.3 x 51.3 x 31.0 cm
• Wattage: 1000W (Microwave) / 1100W (Grill) / 2100W (Convection)
• Capacity: 26L
• Touch Control: Yes
• Functions: Grill, Convection, Air Fry. 12 Auto Menu Cooking Categories, Auto Defrost Menu, Auto Reheat
• Child Lock: Yes

Pros

• Stylish without looking bulky
• Inverter technology is used, so food will cook evenly
• Can grill, convection cooking, air fry, and perform basic microwave functions like reheating and defrosting
• Comes with a grill, so your grilled food will be crispy on the outside
• Comes with an air fryer, so you can fry food without deep frying in wok
• Comes with low-temperature cooking function, so you can raise yeast dough or make yoghurt
• Can microwave, grill, convection or do a combination of different cooking methods
• Can choose between 5 different power levels
• 12 auto cooking menu that allows for different cooking methods
• 1 click button to choose between different cooking methods
• Quickly defrost food from the auto-defrost function
• 26 litre capacity which is decent for a family of 3 to 4 people

Cons

• More complicated control settings that need a bit more setup before cooking
• Airfryer settings can only adjust timing, not temperature
• Slightly bulky countertop microwave which takes up a bit more space in a kitchen
• Not ideal for large families as the microwave capacity is only 26 litres

This 4-in-1 Toshiba microwave (MV-TC26TF) – microwave, grill, air fry, and convection looks amazing. We love how the price tag is so affordable for the number of functions it can perform. With this monster microwave, it is slightly bulkier, but it can allow us to get rid of our existing air-fryer and oven as it can perform similar functions.

However, it seems that in terms of performance, it is not comparable to a stand-alone air fryer and oven as it takes a longer time to cook the food. But we are so tempted by the price tag as it is so much more worth it to get this multi-functional microwave, rather than many standalone appliances. We also love how space-saving we can get if we can get rid of our existing kitchen appliances.

We also love the low-temperature function as it would allow us to try out some new dishes and menus that we previously did not have the appropriate kitchen appliance for. For the price point, it seems like we are getting a great deal.

Best Small Microwave For Small Kitchen

Specifications

• Brand: Panasonic
• Dimensions: 44.3 x 33.0 x 25.8 cm
• Wattage: 800W
• Capacity: 20L
• Touch Control: No
• Functions: Quick Defrost, Quick Reheat
• Child Lock: No

Pros

• Compact and stylish
• Can choose between 5 different power levels
• Flush design, use the push button to open microwave door
• Easily set power and timer with a simple turn of the knob
• 20 litre capacity which is decent for a family of 2 to 3 people
• Small physical size that is compact for a small kitchen

Cons

• Microwave timer maximum at 35 minutes, and you have to manually set it again for cooking beyond 35 minutes
• Countertop microwave, which means it is not as space-friendly
• No inverter technology is used, so food does not reheat as evenly
• Can only do basic cooking functions like cooking, reheating, and defrosting
• Not ideal for large families as the microwave capacity is only 20 litres

This Panasonic Solo Microwave Oven (NN-SM21QWYPQ) catches our eye as it looks very simple and easy to use. Honestly, we love the simplicity of the microwave as it literally only has 2 functions for you to set – power level and timer. This honestly makes it really beginner-friendly for those who does not really care for the other more fancy functions of a microwave.

We also love that the setting is set using a knob, and as far as we hear from the elders, it seems that knob does not break down, compared to the touch screen. But we have used our touch screen microwave for years, and our touch screen did not breakdown either.

Best Big Microwave for Large Families

Specifications

• Brand: Samsung
• Dimensions: 51.7 x 29.73 x 42.53 cm
• Wattage: 1400W (Microwave) / 1650W (Grill)
• Capacity: 30L
• Touch Control: Yes
• Functions: Grill Fry, Auto Cooking, Auto Defrost, Healthy Cooking
• Child Lock: Yes

Pros

• Stylish white colour that looks good in most kitchen
• Can grill and microwave
• Comes with a grill, so your grilled food will be crispy on the outside
• Can perform basic microwave functions like reheating and defrosting
• 6 buttons to easily control functions as needed
• Can make desserts with a simple click of a button
• Quickly defrost food from the auto-defrost function
• 30 litre capacity which is good for a family of 5 to 6 people
• Comes packaged with a plate and grill for easy cooking
• Comes with a smart energy-saving function to help save electricity when not in use

Cons

• Slightly bulky as it has a bigger capacity
• May take slightly longing to heat up food
• Control settings are complicated to set if you want to customise to weight of food

This Samsung Grill Microwave Oven with (MG30T5018CW) has a 2-in-1 function – microwave and grill – and is pretty value-for-money given the size of the microwave. It is 30L, and can comfortably accommodate a small pizza or a large plate of food for 5 to 6 people. They are really great for larger families who do not like to microwave in batches. However, the food does get longer to heat up even though the wattage is pretty decent.

We love that it comes with a grill function and is large enough to grill a whole chicken in it. There is also a smart energy-saving function, that is similar to other Samsung appliances where it will go on standby mode if it is not in use.

Best Retro Microwave

Specifications

• Brand: Midea
• Dimensions: 44.0 x 35.5 x 25.9 cm
• Wattage: 1270W (Microwave)
• Capacity: 21L
• Touch Control: No
• Functions: 8 Auto Cooking Menu, Auto Defrost
• Child Lock: Yes

Pros

• Retro green that looks amazing in any farmhouse decor kitchen
• 5 levels of power to customize based on the type of cooking you prefer
• Can perform basic microwave functions like reheating and defrosting
• 1 click to set 30 seconds for reheating
• Easy defrosting and cooking via a click of a button
• Compact in size for any small kitchen

Cons

• Timer only goes for 95 minutes, so extra manual work if you want to cook food that takes longer
• Button controlled may need time to get used to
• Countertop microwave, which means it is not as space-friendly
• No inverter technology is used, so food does not reheat as evenly
• Can only do basic cooking functions like cooking, reheating, and defrosting
• Not ideal for large families as the microwave capacity is only 20 litres

If you are a fan of SMEG retro-like kitchen appliances, this Midea Retro Microwave Oven(AM820C2RA) is right up your alley. We love the retro design and the popping green colour that helps to make the kitchen look a bit cheeky and fun. In line with the retro design, the microwave is button-controlled instead of having a touch screen.

Looking past the design, it is a pretty basic microwave that does defrosting, reheating and simple cooking. We love that the price point is pretty affordable for a simple microwave and is great for those who just want a microwave that does a job well.

Last Updated: 06 Oct 2024