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Best Overall
Farberware 1.1 FMO11AHTBKB
The Farberware 1.1 FMO11AHTBKB doesn’t just strike the perfect balance between affordability, functionality, and durability, it’s also the best microwave oven priced at under $100.
Though this Farberware microwave has only a mediocre cooking capacity, its performance and reliability are unrivaled among its peers. Farberware packed this attractive microwave with useful features to help you cook and save money on your energy bills.
Best Value
Magic Chef HMM1110B
Choosing a ‘best value’ appliance from a list of already super affordable products is no mean feat. But we believe the Magic Chef HMM1110B 1.1 microwave is an excellent choice for people on a tighter budget.
Sure, there are a couple of build quality issues, but you won’t find a more substantial, powerful, and effective microwave on the market for a price point this low.
If you don’t want to (or can’t) spend hundreds of dollars on a premium microwave, you don’t need to settle for unreliable, dull, and featureless appliances; there are a whole host of useful products on the market that cost less than a hundred dollars.
In all likelihood, for under $100 you won’t find appliances with massive capacities, have colossal power outputs, or high-end technology. Still, there are plenty of options with reasonable cooking capabilities, useful features, and many sporting 900-1000 Watts of power.
We’re going to look at the most popular models on the market produced by some of the most highly respected brands in the industry to help you find the right appliance for you. We base our opinions on value for money, customer reviews, capacity, functionality, and reliability.
Best Budget Microwaves
Best Microwave Under $100
1. Faberware FMO11AHTBKB Countertop Microwave
Specifications
- Type: Countertop
- Dimensions: 20.2 x 16.54 x 12.03 inches
- Appliance Weight: 25.8lbs
- Capacity: 1.1 cu.ft
- Turntable: Yes
- Available Colors: Stainless Steel
- Wattage: 1000 Watts
Things To Love:
- Spacious: If you’re spending under $100 on a microwave, you have to expect certain limitations in terms of capacity and features. This Faberware microwave has one of the largest capacities you can expect for this price point.
- Stylish Appearance: The sharp stainless steel exterior and sleek control panel looks excellent and will suit most kitchens. The Faberware classic FMO11AHTBKB is available in five metallic colors.
- One-Touch Cooking Programs: The six pre-programmed settings automatically set the time and power levels for some of your favorite snacks. They are popcorn, dinner plate, pizza, frozen vegetable, potato, and beverage.
- Express Cooking & Reheating: For those quick tasks that only require a short blast in the microwave, the express cooking feature gives you one-touch cooking for from 1 to 6 minutes.
- Handle-Only Opening: Many consumers complain about stiff buttons on microwaves; this appliance employs a handle-only system that’s smooth and easy to use.
What’s Not To Like?
- Super Loud for 10 Seconds: Microwaves are either loud or quiet. Bizarrely, this Faberware appliance is super loud for the first ten seconds of use, then quietens down for the rest of the cycle.
- Beeps After the Door Is Opened: The final notification beeps continue to blast even if you open the microwave door. Many consumers find this annoying.
- Bubbling Control Panel: This microwave suffers from the same problem as the Magic Chef 1.1, with unsightly bubbles forming in the film over the control panel.
Final Remarks
The Faberware 1.1 countertop microwave is an excellent choice of a microwave for under $100. It’s almost comparable to the Toshiba 0.9 appliance, but despite its more substantial capacity, there are a couple of annoying issues, and it doesn’t quite have the same functionality. That said, this is an excellent option if the Toshiba EM925A5A-SS is not available to you.
Best Value Budget Microwave
2. Magic Chef HMM1110B Microwave
The Magic Chef 1.1 cu. ft. Countertop Microwave puts delicious cooking just a touch a way. The five preprogrammed 1-touch cooking menus and three auto-defrost menus makes mealtimes so easy. Featuring a spacious 1.1 cu. ft. gray interior that accommodates a wide variety of dishes, this powerful 1000-Watt microwave has 10 power levels that give you a wide variety of cooking possibilities.
Specifications
- Type: Countertop
- Dimensions: 20.2 x 12.1 x 15.7 inches
- Appliance Weight: 30.1lbs
- Capacity: 1.1 cu.ft
- Turntable: Yes
- Available Colors: Black / Stainless Steel (HMM1110ST) / White (HMM1110W)
- Wattage: 1000 Watts
Things To Love:
- Low-Risk Purchase: Though MagicChef 1.1 isn’t the cheapest model on our list, it’s the second most affordable microwave and has the largest capacity.
- Neat Control Panel: All too often, brands try to fill their appliances with tons of functions, and as a result, the control panels are clumsy and cluttered. The panel on this appliance is neat, easy to read, and straightforward to use.
- Six Presets: Six one-touch presets for some of the most commonly cooked microwave foods. They include pizza, dinner plate, frozen vegetables, baked potato, beverage, and pizza.
- Weight/Time Defrost: You can choose whether to defrost your frozen goods based on your food’s weight or a specific time of your choosing.
- Safety Lock: Prevent unwanted access to potentially dangerously hot food or accidental activation with this safety feature.
What’s Not To Like?
- Plastic Bubbles: Magic Chef covered the control panel on this appliance with a plastic film to protect the exterior; some consumers have experienced bubbles forming on the film before it eventually peels off.
- It’s a Little Loud: This microwave is not so loud that you’ll hear it from the bedroom, but loud enough to force us to mention it.
- Stiff Open Button: The button used to open this microwave’s door takes a little extra effort to push.
Final Remarks
While there are more affordable microwave options at under $100, none of them have the size and cooking capabilities of the Magic Chef 1.1 HMM1110B. We’ve seen more expensive appliances with fewer features than this one, and while there are a couple of minor issues, you won’t find better value for money on the market.
3. Black + Decker EM031MB11 Digital Countertop Microwave
Specifications
- Type: Countertop
- Dimensions: 22.52 x 18.9 x 14.57 inches
- Appliance Weight: 34.3lbs
- Capacity: 1.1 cu.ft
- Turntable: Yes
- Available Colors: Black & Stainless Steel
- Wattage: 1000 Watts
Things To Love:
- Large Capacity: As previously mentioned, you won’t find more cooking space on a microwave that costs under $100 than you get with the Black + Decker 1.1 EM031MB11.
- Classic Look: Not everyone wants modern-looking appliances, and this Black + Decker microwave has a timeless appearance akin to those microwaves of the 80s and 90s.
- Weight/Time Defrost: It’s up to you whether you defrost frozen food using a time-based cycle or using the weight of your food as a marker.
- One-Touch Programs: Six presets are available for ease of use. They are dinner plate, beverages, frozen vegetables, popcorn, pizza, and potato.
- Add 30 Seconds: Add an extra 30 seconds to your cook time if you just want to make sure.
What’s Not To Like?
- Ineffective Defrost Mode: While there are two defrost options on the Black + Decker 1.1 EM031MB11, neither of them is particularly effective on larger items such as frozen chicken or turkey.
- Obnoxious Notification Beeps: The final notification beeps on this microwave are not just loud; they’re high-pitched, ear-splitting monstrosities.
- Clunky Doors: The notification beeps aren’t the only loud thing on this appliance. Both opening and closing the door makes quite the racket.
Final Remarks
While the Black + Decker EM720CB7 0.7 Digital microwave is a perfectly acceptable appliance that performs well (for the most part), we’d expect a little more from a machine with this price point. You can get more functionality for less money with the Toshiba 0.9 Countertop Microwave (EM925A5A-SS).
4. Galanz GLCMKA07RDR-07 Retro Microwave
Specifications
- Type: Countertop
- Dimensions: 17.8 x 13.7 x 10.3 inches
- Appliance Weight: 25.3lbs
- Capacity: 0.7 cu.ft
- Turntable: Yes
- Available Colors: Retro Red / Bebop Blue (GLCMKA07BER-07) /
- Surf Green (GLCMKA07GNR-07) / Vinyl Black (GLCMKA07BKR-07)
- Wattage: 700 Watts
Things To Love:
- Easy on the Wallet: This super affordable Galanz microwave is one of the cheapest microwaves on the market.
- Simple to Use: There are no confusing features on this appliance. It’s so easy to use you don’t need any instructions.
- Compact & Lightweight: This tiny microwave is perfect for folks with small kitchen spaces or office environments for simple, everyday tasks.
- Child Lock: It’s always sensible to incorporate simple features to keep your family safe.
What’s Not To Like?
- It Looks Like a Child’s Toy: We understand that Galanz was going for that retro feel, but we reckon they were wide of the mark and failed to achieve their goal. Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and it’s possible that other people love the design.
- Underpowered: This tiny microwave has a lackluster 700 Watts of power that’s not overly effective at performing anything other than small reheating tasks and defrosting jobs.
- Dull LED: This unit’s display is dim and tricky to read.
Final Remarks
There’s no surprise that the cheapest microwave on our list has the smallest capacity, lowest power output, and fewest features. The Galanz 0.7 Retro Microwave (GLCMKA07RDR-07) is ok for its tiny price point and can perform minor tasks to a decent standard, just don’t expect it to shatter any glass ceilings in the small kitchen appliances market.
5. Black + Decker EM720CB7 Digital Microwave
Specifications
- Type: Countertop
- Dimensions: 19.45 x 15.8 x 12.5 inches
- Appliance Weight: 24.1lbs
- Capacity: 1.1 cu.ft
- Turntable: Yes
- Available Colors: Stainless Steel
- Wattage: 700 Watts
Things We love:
- Classic Appearance
- Runs Quietly
- Simple to Use
- Pre-Programmed Settings
- ‘Add 30 Seconds’
What’s Not to Like?
- Low Powered
- Inefficient Capacity to Footprint Ratio
Summary
The Black + Decker EM720CB7 is a microwave that flirts with the $100 mark, occasionally straying over the line, but only just. There’s a lot to love about this compact appliance, and while it isn’t the ‘best microwave oven’, as is the Toshiba microwave, its timeless appearance, ease of use, and small capacity mean it certainly has its place in the market.
We looked closely at this Black + Decker microwave when it featured in our review of the ‘Best Small Microwaves’, and while we like it a lot, its lower power output and poor capacity to footprint ratio stopped it from scoring more favorably.
6. AmazonBasics 0.7 Countertop Microwave
Specifications
- Type: Countertop
- Dimensions: 17.3 x 10.1 x 14.1 inches
- Appliance Weight: 21.9lbs
- Capacity: 0.7 cu.ft
- Turntable: Yes
- Available Colors: Black
- Wattage: 700 Watts
Things We love:
- Super Small Footprint
- Echo Dot Compatible
- Popcorn Preset
- Control Panel Deactivation
What’s Not to Like?
- Reported Safety Issues
- Low Powered
Summary
We have reviewed the AmazonBasics microwave on a couple of occasions because it’s one of the most affordable compact appliances on the market. It’s cheap and cheerful and perfect for any small kitchen, university dorm, or office space for simple, everyday tasks.
While there aren’t many features on this little microwave, it is Echo Dot compatible and has voice control functionality for all the techno aficionados out there. Its 700 Watt power output is nothing to write home about and won’t quickly heat/cook large meals, but it’s sufficient for reheating dinner plates, defrosting frozen goods, and heating a cup of coffee.
We must note; a recent report detailed a tiny number of these AmazonBasic microwaves have suffered malfunctions that resulted in unit failure and/or small fires. There have been tens of thousands of these microwaves sold, and the problematic units are extremely rare, but it would be remiss of us not to acknowledge the issue.
7. Toshiba EM925A5A-SS Countertop Microwave
Specifications
- Type: Countertop
- Dimensions: 15.91 x 19.15 x 11.48 inches
- Appliance Weight: 27.3lbs
- Capacity: 0.9 cu.ft
- Turntable: Yes
- Available Colors: Stainless Steel / Black Stainless Steel (EM925A5A-BS)
- Wattage: 900 Watts
Things We love:
- Looks Excellent
- Superb Performance
- Incredibly Popular
- Energy Efficient
- Pre-Programmed Settings
- ‘Mute’ Function
What’s Not to Like?
- Known Interior Light Issues
- Problematic Door
- Only Front Has Stainless Steel Finish
Summary
There are few microwave ovens that cost under $100 that are as attractive as the Toshiba EM925A5A-SS. Its striking appearance is just the tip of the iceberg as this microwave is packed full of useful features, which is why we named it ‘Best Value Toshiba Microwave’ and ‘Best Value Compact Microwave’. Read the full microwave review.
Though the 0.9 cu.ft capacity is a little smaller than some of the other appliances we feature here, and the 900 Watts of power is marginally lower, too, the superior Toshiba build quality maximizes the unit’s performance to ensure wonderfully cooked food every time. There are a couple of minor annoyances with this appliance (the door is a little stiff and there are known LED issues), but no device costing less than a hundred bucks will be problem-free.