Best Farberware Compact Microwave Ovens in 2026

GE has always been synonymous with kitchen. This tiny countertop microwave is no different. 1.1 cu. ft. of space with a powerful 950 watts, you can go from reheating leftovers to doing a whole dinner plate of food without the usual hot spots you get with less expensive models. I love how simple it is. With 6 convenience cook settings, one touch express buttons and clear digital keypad, this thing is very quick even when you're half asleep. The auto/manual defrost will get your frozen foods defrosted evenly without cooking the sides. For shared kitchens or even a family with curious kids, the child lock feature is a great touch. As long as you're within the required clearance, this thing is quiet and consistent.

Frigidaire Retro Countertop Microwave: showing small appliances can be cooler than they look. The retro style with black & gold color scheme gives a true 50s style appeal. Looks good enough you'll get compliments on it (rather than hiding in the cupboard). The style isn't all there is though. With a 700W power and 5 different power levels, you can warm up left overs, oatmeal or frozen burritos. Eight 1 touch auto cook menus make it easy to pop your popcorn, pizza, beverages or frozen meals with just a single button press. Auto defrost lets you know how long you need to thaw food and the express cook button is the one you'll be using most for quick work in the morning. Glass rotating turntable help you to get even heat throughout and easy to clean up. It's 0.7 cu. ft. size means it fits well for dorms, office or limited space countertops (although don't plan on cooking a whole chicken in this thing).

Four appliances squeezed into one 1.0 cu. ft. footprint is the whole pitch here, and GE mostly delivers. The 1,050-watt microwave handles reheating and popcorn duty without drama, but the real draw is that crisper pan — air frying in the same box that heats your leftovers means one less machine crowding the counter. Convection mode circulates heat off the wire rack for decent browning on smaller bakes, and broil throws radiant heat for a proper sear or caramelized finish. It runs quiet enough for a dorm or office, and the child lock is a genuinely thoughtful touch for shared kitchens. Just honor the clearance specs: three inches on the sides and top, one at the rear, and nothing blocking the bottom, or performance suffers.

Emerson's 0.7-cubic-foot countertop microwave proves that a small footprint doesn't have to mean a stripped-down feature set. At 700 watts, it won't sear or brown like a full-size unit, but 10 power levels give you real control for reheating leftovers, softening butter, or gently warming delicate sauces. I especially liked the weight defrost — punch in the pounds and it handles the thawing math for you, no guesswork about power cycling. Six preset buttons cover popcorn, potato, pizza, fresh and frozen vegetables, and beverages, and the express cook function skips the setup entirely. The 99-minute timer is genuinely readable from across the room. It fits neatly on a dorm desk or office break counter.

Small kitchens don't need a big appliance to get dinner moving, and this GE countertop microwave proves it. At 700 watts and 0.7 cubic feet, it slides into dorm desks, apartment counters, and office break rooms without hogging room, yet it still handles popcorn, leftovers, and frozen burritos. The one-touch express settings and four convenience cook programs mean you're not punching in times every single night, while the digital keypad and display keep manual control precise when you want it. Both manual and auto defrost thaw meat evenly without cooking the edges, which is the kind of detail cheap microwaves fumble. The child lock is a smart add for shared spaces and curious kids, and GE's build quality feels reassuringly solid for the size.

It's often a tradeoff with compact microwaves. Not in the case of this GE. You can get it smaller but not at the expense of power. This little microwave has 900 watts of power so it warms up leftovers, frozen meals and coffee cups as quick as any full sized microwave. It also has 0.9 cubic feet of room that will hold your standard dinner plate. Got instant access to the things you use most with one touch express keys. Plus there are seven auto cook settings to remove the guesswork in cooking popcorn, baked potatoes, and even reheated pizza. Both manual and auto defrost settings will defrost meat while preventing overcooking the edges. The child lock is handy if you're sharing your kitchen. Just allow the side clearance of 3".

This 3-in-1 countertop oven from Sharp offers you three appliances in one convenient package. It has the microwave, convection oven, and air fryer features, all built into a single 0.9 cu. ft. appliance. Multi-stage cooking lets you go from defrosting chicken to roasting it, to crisping up the skin, all without having to stop and reconfigure anything. Preset buttons help you with common food and drink items, and the +30 button lets you adjust the time as needed. With the auto defrost setting you can trust to get accurate defrosting for meat, poultry, and fish. The interior is stainless steel for easy cleanup, and the air fryer basket and baking pan are dishwasher safe. LED interior lights and 10.6" turntable give you visibility on browning without having to open the door. Truly compact. Truly versatile.

The Nostalgia Retro Microwave looks like it wandered out of a 1950s diner and landed on your counter — chrome trim, rounded edges, soft ivory finish — but it performs like a thoroughly modern appliance. The 1000-watt oven heats leftovers fast, and the 1.1 cu. ft. cavity swallows a full dinner plate or a small casserole without a fight. The rotating glass carousel does the quiet work of keeping things evenly heated, so you are not hunting for cold spots. Eight auto-cook programs cover the usual suspects, express cooking gets a mug of coffee steaming in seconds, and defrost runs by weight or by time. The child safety lock is a thoughtful bonus for busy kitchens.

Counter space is precious, and the Frigidaire 1.1 cu ft countertop microwave earns its spot by staying compact while still delivering 1000 watts of cooking power. The stainless steel finish wipes clean easily and looks sharp beside other appliances, which matters more than you'd expect for a unit that sits out all day. Six pre-programmed buttons cover the snacks people actually make — popcorn, pizza, fries, and wings or nuggets — so there's no guessing at times. Ten power levels plus auto defrost for meat, poultry, and fish give you real control beyond simple reheating. The glass turntable lifts straight out for rinsing, and the child safety lock is a smart addition in a house with curious kids.

The Nostalgia Retro microwave is proof that a small countertop appliance doesn't have to look boring. Its square window and rounded black body give it a distinctly vintage feel that stands out on any kitchen counter, and at 0.7 cu ft it slips into tight spaces without dominating them. The 700 watts handle leftovers, popcorn, and frozen dinners without drama, while the rotating glass turntable keeps everything evenly heated. Ten power levels let you go gentle for melting butter or full blast for reheating, and eight auto-cook programs plus express cooking save you from guessing times. The child safety lock is a genuinely thoughtful touch for households with curious kids.

There's no need for a giant microwave for a small kitchen. You need this one. The GE 700W countertop microwave isn't much wider than 17". And not too tall - maybe 10". So it easily fits under cabinets or on a dorm desk, but the 0.7 cu ft interior is still big enough to hold a plate for dinner or a bowl of last night's leftovers. Express touch keys and 4 convenience cook settings made it easy to get coffee heated up without even entering a time. Chicken defrosted using auto defrost without overcooking the edges. Handy child lock for shared spaces. Just make sure you have 3" on each side and on top. 1" at the back.

GE's 0.9-cubic-foot countertop microwave proves that small doesn't have to mean stripped down. At 900 watts, it heats leftovers and frozen dinners quickly, and the seven auto cooking settings plus one-touch express buttons mean you're not punching in times for popcorn or a baked potato. The manual and auto defrost modes thaw meat evenly without cooking the edges, which is where cheap compact units usually stumble. The child lock is a genuine plus in dorm rooms and shared kitchens. Just respect the clearance needs — three inches on the sides and top, one inch behind, and nothing blocking the bottom. It's a no-fuss, trustworthy pick for tight kitchens.

West Bend squeezed a legitimately capable microwave into a footprint that won't hijack your countertop. The 0.9-cubic-foot cavity swallows a dinner plate or a bowl of last night's pasta without complaint, and 900 watts of power gets leftovers steaming faster than the size would suggest. Ten power levels give you real control instead of the usual on-or-off guessing game, while six one-touch presets handle popcorn, potatoes, and beverages with a single press. Speed defrost and weight-based settings round out the daily stuff, and a child safety lock is a thoughtful touch for households with curious kids. It's not trying to be a do-everything appliance — it's a straightforward, compact reheater that does its job cleanly, and the stainless finish holds up nicely on the counter.

Retro looks usually come with a compromise, but this Nostalgia countertop microwave mostly sidesteps that tradeoff. The 1000-watt oven heats leftovers fast, and the 1.1 cu. ft. interior holds a dinner plate, a casserole dish, or a couple of mugs without crowding. The rotating glass carousel does the unglamorous work of keeping everything evenly warmed, which matters more than any dial or display. Eight auto-cook programs cover the usual suspects, express cooking skips the guesswork when you just want something hot, and reheat and defrost let you go by weight or by time depending on what's in front of you. The child safety lock is a quietly useful touch in a house with curious hands. It's a friendly, unfussy machine that happens to look great on the counter.

LG's NeoChef squeezes 1000 watts of Smart Inverter power into a footprint barely wider than a toaster. Unlike traditional microwaves that blast full power on and off, the inverter holds a steady, lower output, so leftovers reheat without rubbery edges and thin sauces don't spatter. Ten power levels give you genuine control, and sensor cook plus seven auto options — bacon, fresh and frozen vegetables, frozen entrée, oatmeal, potato, and rice — take the guesswork out of weeknight meals. The 12-inch turntable swallows a full dinner plate, the EasyClean interior wipes down fast, and a child safety lock is a smart touch for households with curious kids. It's currently unavailable, so snap one up when it returns.

LG's NeoChef countertop microwave nails the one thing most rivals fumble: even heating. Smart Inverter technology replaces the old on-off power cycling with steady, adjustable output, so leftovers come out hot all the way through instead of scorched at the rim and cold in the middle, and 1200 watts gets a full dinner plate there fast. The 1.5 cu. ft. cavity takes family-sized casserole dishes, while seven sensor programs handle bacon, oatmeal, potatoes, rice, fresh or frozen vegetables, and frozen entrees without any guesswork. The Glass Touch panel wipes clean easily, the EasyClean interior shrugs off splatter, and the child safety lock is genuinely handy. Stainless steel styling keeps it looking sharp on the counter.