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In order to keep your electricity bill low, you have to be mindful of your kitchen appliances, that’s why we have tested more than a dozen low voltage microwaves for an entire week and found out which are the best ones.
Among these, we were particularly impressed by the Kenmore 70729 0.7 cu. which proved to be quite compact, and by the Emerson MW7302B, a quiet and small unit that has everything you need at a reasonable price.
However, one unit we tested had some really remarkable functions that you can’t miss out on. So what is the best low wattage microwave? Read below to find out.
Image | Product | Our Rating | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Editor’s Choice
|
COMFEE’ EM720CPL-PMB
|
10
|
Check Current Price |
Most Versatile
|
Emerson MW7302B
|
9.5
|
Check Current Price |
Best Value For Money
|
Kenmore 70729
|
9
|
Check Current Price |
Best Seller
|
BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7
|
9
|
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Budget Option
|
Farberware Classic FMO07ABTWHA
|
9
|
Check Current Price |
The Best Low Wattage Microwaves
Table of Contents
Kitchen appliances are a big number on our electricity bill, however, nowadays we can hardly live without a good coffee machine or a good microwave.
Luckily, the market of kitchen appliances recognizes the importance of reducing this expense and is growing more and more to include low watts appliances. Today, most energy-efficient microwaves prove to be quite great, so how to choose the best one for our needs?
We took it upon ourselves to test different units, see for ourselves how well they work, what different functions do they have, what pros and cons come with them, and finally, we compiled this list of the 5 best low wattage microwaves.
COMFEE’ EM720CPL-PMB
- Perfect for small spaces
- Mute function
- Eco mode
- Lightweight
- Might not fit full-size dinner plates
The Comfeé low voltage microwave is the perfect unit for those kitchens that have little countertop space or even no space at all. In fact, you can fit this small and compact microwave almost anywhere, even on a shelf or on the top of the fridge.
The small size makes it perfect for college students, cabins, studios, and small homes.
With its 700 watts of power, this microwave will allow you to keep your electricity usage in check while carrying out all the functions of more powerful microwaves.
One of the main issues people encounter with kitchen appliances is the loud noise. That’s why in addition to auto-cooking and express cook functions, the Comfeé also has a mute function that lets the microwave work really quietly. This is one of its strongest points as it’s not often included in other units.
Comfeé takes the game a step forward by adding one more function that will surely become fundamental if you want to further reduce the microwave power consumption.
In fact, their microwave also includes an Eco Mode option. The Eco Mode turns off the display of the microwave and minimizes the standby power when it’s not in use. It is easily accessible: it’s enough to press the Eco Mode button below the keyboard.
When we tested this small but powerful microwave, we noticed how it heats some foods more slowly than others, due to its reduced watt power. However, its benefits and its additional functions definitely convinced us that the Comfeé EM720CPL-PMB is one of the best low wattage microwaves currently on the market.
Emerson MW7302B
- Quick heating
- Lightweight
- Quiet
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Difficult to open
This low watt microwave from Emerson Radio does its job perfectly even with reduced power. With a weight of only 21 pounds and its small size, this microwave is perfect for small kitchens and cabins, and it’s also easy to transport.
On top of being quite compact and easy to use, its simple but effective design makes for an aesthetic addition to every room. That’s why this unit is great for personal use but would also make for a great gift.
Despite having less than 900 watts, the Emerson MW7302B deserves its place among the best because this low power microwave won’t make you miss the more powerful ones.
In fact, thanks to its several modes and extra-functions, there is little this unit cannot accomplish, and it’s quite remarkable how quickly and efficiently it manages to heat up a wide variety of foods.
Defying our expectations, this power doesn’t translate into a loud or noisy kitchen appliance. The Emerson MW7302B might in fact just be one of the quietest microwaves we tested.
The only flaw we found in this microwave resides in its door handle, which can be slightly tough to pull. It is made harder by how lightweight the microwave is because the risk is that you’re going to shift the entire unit while trying to open the door.
However, this can be quickly fixed by either keeping the microwave steady with one hand or finding a permanent solution to secure the item onto the counter. We think this is a quite small flaw in a machine that is otherwise perfectly functional and well-designed.
Be it for your kitchen, cabin, office, or room, you can trust that this little unit will carry out its job in the most efficient and silent way possible.
Kenmore 70729
- Intuitive control panel
- Compact
- Quick heating
- No express cook function
Kenmore products are known for being very reliable and this compact unit makes no exception. This low-watt microwave is the smallest among those we tested and we believe it could literally fit anywhere.
We placed it in a corner of the counter, in a cabin, and even in the small space between the fridge and the cabinet above. This small but powerful unit is completely versatile, although it weighs a little more than the other microwaves in this list.
The Kenmore 70729 will heat your meals, snacks, and popcorn quite quickly and conveniently. It is rather powerful for a 700 watts microwave, which is surely one of its strongest points.
Despite not having an express cook option which usually saves some time, there is an added function to the Start button which proves quite useful: by pressing the button once, the cooking time sets on 30 seconds; by pressing it a second time, you can double the time quickly and easily.
As with most of the microwaves, we can find on the market today, also the Kenmore 70729 has an Auto-cooking control panel that features 6 options, including two options for frozen and fresh vegetables which will surely make the happiness of veggie lovers.
Other remarkable functions of this unit include its defrost settings, the family-friendly child-safety lock, and a convenient turntable which proves fundamental for your meals to be heated evenly.
Among the products we tested, the Kenmore might not be the one with the most functions, but its small size and powerful heating definitely make up for it and secure this unit a place among the best low-wattage microwaves currently on the market.
BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7
- Quiet
- Stainless steel design
- Easy to operate
- Loud beeping sounds
Black & Decker is another well-known brand that in time has become synonymous with quality products. The Black+Decker EM720CB7 microwave falls rightfully in this category by being a unit that is both aesthetically pleasing and perfectly functional.
This low-power microwave oven is quite compact, with both its size and weight greatly reduced in comparison with the average microwave. With its 22.5 pounds of weight, the Black+Decker is not the lightest in the category, but it’s not particularly heavy either.
When we tested this machine, we realized we could easily move it wherever we wanted to, which makes this unit perfect for camping and similar activities.
Despite the small size, the inside of this microwave is quite spacious and as we tested it with plates of different sizes, we found that we could fit most of them inside the microwave without any problem.
One of the strongest points of the Black+Decker EM720CB7 is how easy it is to use. The display and control panel are easy to read and feature many functions, including auto-cooking, defrost setting, child safety lock, and express cook.
Thanks to the express cook function, it is enough to press one of the numbers on the keyboard to set the cooking time that corresponds to the said number (for example, pressing the number 1 will set the timer to 1 minute). It is a great tool to save time when heating a meal or preparing a snack.
The machine operates really quietly, which is another great advantage that the Black+Decker has over other products in the same category.
When the cooking time is up, the unit beeps several times. We found this function really useful if we’re not in the kitchen while the microwave operates, however some people may be bothered by the sound.
The Black+Decker EM720CB7 comes at a reasonable price, despite being a little higher than other products in the category. However, we believe this microwave to be a guarantee of quality and efficiency.
Farberware Classic FMO07ABTWHA
- Easy to operate
- Compact
- Powerful
- Noisy
- Short power cord
Farberware gives us a microwave that has it all: it’s compact, powerful, and visually pleasing. It comes in three colors, of which the white version is particularly elegant and makes a great fit in most rooms.
With its small size and reduced weight, the Farberware is the ideal unit for college rooms, cabins, small studios, and kitchens. Despite a power of only 700 watts, you will hardly notice any difference with more powerful microwaves.
In fact, the Farberware Classic features many functions aimed at heating meals in the quickest and most efficient way possible. It has 10 power levels and a multi-stage cooking function, meaning that you can set the power level so that it adjusts during cooking, for best results.
This low-wattage microwave features similar functions as the Black+Decker, including 6 programs for auto-cooking, child safety lock, defrosting, and express cooking.
In addition to that, the Memory Function allows the microwave to store your favorite cooking settings, saving the time you would spend setting up each meal over and over. You have options for custom-cooked meals and the control panel also features a button to quickly add 30-seconds of additional cooking time.
The glass turntable along with the multi-stage cooking function is meant to help the unit heat your meals evenly, plus the turntable of the microwave is removable, which allows easy access for cleaning.
The Farberware Classic is one of the most affordable low watts microwaves on the market, which considering its large variety of functions makes it an unbeatable value for money.
How To Choose A Low-Wattage Microwave
As the demand for low-wattage microwaves increases, the market fills up with a large variety of products that feature more or less very similar functions and characteristics, making it hard to choose the right microwave.
We spent several days testing many different microwaves in order to provide you a list of the best low wattage microwaves, and while doing so we also compiled a list of characteristics to look for when choosing a low wattage microwave.
Family needs
Low wattage microwaves are quite smaller in comparison with the average microwave. While this is hardly a problem for students or people living alone, it becomes bothersome for larger families, where you need to heat bigger plates or several things at the same time.
Some low watt microwaves like the Black+Decker should still have enough internal space to fit big plates, however, it may not be the case for all low power microwaves, so it’s important to read the technical sheet carefully before deciding on a model.
Power-convenience ratio
Sure, a low wattage microwave is supposed to help you reduce your electricity bill, but what if it’s not powerful enough to heat your food properly?
Some microwaves suffer from reduced power output and take a longer time to heat up meals and snacks, effectively nullifying their main purpose. If the watts are lower, but you need to keep your microwave on longer, where is the saving?
Many low wattage microwaves are between 700-900 watts of power, however not all of them work the same way. It will be important to do your research beforehand to know whether a microwave is a quick heater or not.
On this same topic, some microwaves like the Comfeé feature an Eco Mode, which shuts the microwave down while it’s on standby. These products should be preferred because all the power you save thanks to the Eco Mode is a further cut on your bills.
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