Best cheap countertop microwaves

Top pick: Hamilton Beach 0.9 cu ft countertop microwave. It's the sweet spot for a cheap everyday microwave: a 0.9 cu ft cavity that fits a dinner plate, simple dial-free controls, and a huge track record of owner ratings (4.5 of 5 from over 31,000). Nothing fancy, just reliable reheating.

Who the others suit:

• BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7 — if you want the most features for the least money: express 30-second cooking, auto menus and a memory button.
• Comfee' 0.9 cu ft — if a loud beep bothers you; it has a sound on/off switch.
• Chefman 1.1 cu ft — if you need a bit more room for larger dishes and want 1,000W.
• Mainstays or Farberware 0.7 cu ft — if space is tight and you only reheat mugs, plates and leftovers.
• Panasonic 1.3 cu ft — if you'd rather spend a little more for a bigger, more powerful oven.

Skip the convection and inverter models here unless you plan to actually cook in it.