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Best microwave deals for January 2023

Scouring the internet for the best microwave deals available? Because we’ve spent more time at home than usual during the past three years, our microwave ovens got a lot more action than before. Even though you might not cook your whole dinner in them, you may use your microwave oven to warm up leftovers like pizza, pop popcorn, melt butter, boil water, and more. When it comes to finding the best microwave deals, we’ve got you covered. Since microwaves have been around for so long now, there are dozens of companies that make really great microwaves at reasonable prices. Whether you need a microwave to install over your range or a stand-alone microwave for your kitchen counter, we have found some of the best microwave sales on these small appliances for you.

Today’s Best Microwave Deals

Insignia 0.9 Cu. Ft. Compact Microwave — $80, was $90

The Insignia 0.9 Cu. Ft. Compact Microwave on a white background with its door opened.

If you want an affordable but dependable microwave oven for your kitchen, you should consider going for this compact microwave from Insignia. Its capacity of 0.9 cu. ft. is just enough to reheat small portions and snacks, so it’s perfect for people living independently or for the other rooms around the house aside from the kitchen. The 900W microwave is powerful enough to cook frozen meals after a few minutes, with its turntable ensuring that the food is evenly heated and properly prepared. The touch controls of the machine offers various cooking programs for items such as vegetables and beverages, with its LED display showing a clear view of the settings that you’ve chosen.

Samsung 1.1 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave  — $180, was $230

The Samsung 1.1 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave with its door opened, on a white background.

This countertop microwave from Samsung features a grilling element that evenly distributes heat, so you can use it to prepare food with crispy exteriors while remaining juicy inside. Samsung’s Triple Distribution System technology makes sure that your meals are heated thoroughly, while a variety of preset options that are accessible on the microwave’s front panel will make sure that you get the perfect cook for different kinds of ingredients and food types. The microwave also comes with a ceramic enamel interior that minimizes scratches and is easy to clean, and 10 different power levels up to 1000W.

GE 1.6 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Microwave — $220, was $315

GE Stainless Steel Over-The-Range Microwave Oven - JVM3160RFSS

This over-the-range microwave from LG is one of the best microwaves because of its combination of performance and reliability. With 1.6 cu. ft. of capacity, you’ll have plenty of space for reheating leftovers, thawing meat, or preparing frozen meals. The microwave also features a two-speed, 300 cubic feet-per-minute external venting system that will help blow away smoke and odors, and a cooktop light that will give you a better look at your stove while you cook. The buttons at its front panel will let you choose preset programs for cooking times and power levels, or you can input these settings manually.

LG NeoChef 2.0 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave — $230, was $260

The LG NeoChef 2.0 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave on a white background.

LG’s Neochef countertop microwave not only provides a large capacity of 2.0 cu. ft., but it also makes cooking simpler and more efficient with various features. The microwave uses sensors to check humidity and determine when your food is cooked, and automatically shuts down once your meal is ready. With the LG Smart Inverter, the microwave is capable of using precise, variable power for more even cooking and improved defrosting, instead of the alternating blasts of full power and no power used by ordinary microwaves. It’s also built with LG’s EasyClean interior that resists stains, so cleanup is as easy as wiping the inside with a damp cloth, while an anti-bacterial coating further maintains cleanliness.

Microwave vs. Microwave Oven

The term “microwave”  is the common name for the ubiquitous microwave oven. When shopping for your new microwave, don’t let the different names fool you. Microwave is just a short way to say microwave oven, which is a small appliance that uses microwave radiation to cook food. In fact, a microwave is not an oven at all. An oven has a heating element inside, which heats the air inside and, in turn, heats the food inside.

Are Cheap Microwaves Safe?

Cheap microwaves are safe, bottom line. There is no reason to think that just because you have a more expensive microwave, it is safer than the more affordable model. According to the World Health Organization, when used according to manufacturers’ instructions, microwave ovens are reliable. This doesn’t negate the fact that several precautions need to be taken when using a microwave oven, but very few of the dangers have to do with the actual radiation the small appliance produces.

Most dangers associated with microwaves involve thermal burns and food handling. These are dangers that you will encounter whether you use a microwave while cooking or not. When it comes to microwaves being emitted outside of the actual microwave, the chance is slim. Microwave ovens are designed so that they only emit microwaves while they are on, and the door is closed. That being said, be sure to maintain your microwave properly because damaged doors and locking devices can mean radiation is escaping. Even cheap microwaves have doors and locking mechanisms to ensure that microwaves are not emitted outside of the actual appliance.

No matter whether your microwave is cheap, damaged, brand new, or in some other state, the food that you cook inside of it does not become radioactive, so you can dispel that myth any time someone brings it up. Absolutely no microwave energy remains in the food after the microwave oven is switched off.

Bruce Brown
Digital Trends Contributing Editor Bruce Brown is a member of the Smart Homes and Commerce teams. Bruce uses smart devices…
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Woman wearing Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones.

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