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A microwave without a turntable is a valid alternative to the more common units with glass plates for shops and offices, but also for personal use.
At ConsciousEating, my team 20 microwaves to find out the best microwaves without turntable.
Among the units we tested, the Sharp R-21LCFS was incredibly spacious and easy to use. However, the less-known Midea microwave had some remarkable features as well.
However, if you’re looking for the very best microwave without a rotating plate, keep reading below to find out which unit made it to the top of our list.
| Image | Product | Our Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Editor’s Choice
|
Panasonic NE-1054F
|
10
|
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|
Most Versatile
|
Panasonic NE-1025F
|
9.5
|
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|
Best Value For Money
|
Sharp R-21LCFS
|
9
|
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|
Best Seller
|
Sharp R-21LVF
|
9
|
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|
Budget Option
|
Midea 1025F0A
|
9
|
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The Best Microwaves without Turntable
Table of Contents
A microwave oven without a turntable is usually meant for commercial use, which means they’re made to last for a long time and to be used quite often.
You could use a microwave without a turntable at home and it would be a great choice because they’re very spacious and easy to clean since they lack a glass table, however the very mechanism used in this kind of microwave is bound to make them more expensive than microwaves with turntable.
In fact, just because these units do not have a glass plate doesn’t mean they only heat food on one side.
These microwaves have a hidden rotating motor that is meant to distribute the microwaves and heat the food evenly.
If you’re looking for a personal-use microwave and you want to keep your electricity bill in check, take a look at low wattage microwaves.
Instead, if you need a microwave for high-volume use that can fit more than one dish at once, is easy to clean, and could work in an office lunchroom or restaurant, we compiled a list of the 5 best microwaves without turntables below.
Panasonic NE-1054F
- Quick heating
- Easy to use and clean
- Strong door handle
- Braille touchpad for the visually impaired
- Pricey
Panasonic is one of the top brands in the microwave market, and the NE-1054F deserves first place on our rank for many reasons, but the most important one is perhaps its Braille touchpad.
Even if nowadays it is not easy to find microwaves that fulfill the needs of the visually impaired, Panasonic proves to be very attentive to the needs of its customers by adding Braille pads on its front keyboard.
This unit has 34 pounds of quality and power. It’s quite compact in comparison with other microwaves in the same category, so you can fit it in the corner of your countertop and yet make great use of it since it can handle high-volume work.
This is one of those machines that really doesn’t suffer the lack of a glass turntable: it will heat your food quickly and evenly, and you will also avoid shaking and spilling your liquids, which translates to a lot of time saved cleaning.
Its weight makes sure it won’t budge when you pull its solid door handle.
The lack of a release button is considered an advantage by many customers: indeed, that’s one of the parts in these appliances that it’s easier to break and you’ll be left looking for a microwave repair specialist. In this case, the door handle completely eliminates the problem.
What I really love?
The Panasonic NE-1054F has 6 power levels and it’s programmable and customizable.
You can save up to 20 programs and you can also choose to power off the beeping sound when cooking’s done. The beeping is quite loud and might not be ideal for domestic use, while it’s great for restaurants and loud places.
This microwave without a plate is pricey in comparison with similar products, but we believe it is worth every buck because it’s a purchase you will enjoy for a long time.
Panasonic NE-1025F
- Easy to operate
- Quick heating
- Safe mode
- Time resets when you open the door
Panasonic takes second place on our list as well. This model is very similar to the NE-1054F, but the main difference is that this one will come with a dial timer instead of a touchpad.
This unit is solid and compact as its brother, with a capacity of 0.8 cu. ft. and its 1000 watts of power, but it’s much cheaper.
This is your typical commercial microwave that is capable of handling the heaviest jobs, but it is so easy to operate that it also makes the ideal gift for the elderly. The dial timer is well-thought-out and easy to set even for those who are not used to this kind of product.
In fact, this microwave comes with some safety measures, for example, its cooking time doesn’t last longer than 6 minutes, in order to prevent overheating, so you don’t have to worry even if by mistake you forget something inside of it.
The rotating motor hidden under the flatbed reduces the distance that the microwaves need to travel to reach the food, which in turn translates into quick heating and cooking.
The only flaw we found in this non-rotating microwave is that if you happen to open the door mid-cooking to check on the food, you will have to reset the program before operating it again. However, this is a very small disadvantage in comparison with all its great features.
Sharp R-21LCFS
- Powerful
- Easy to use
- Handle mechanism prevents latches damage
- 1 cu. ft capacity
- Time resets when you open the door
When looking for microwaves it is impossible not to stumble upon Sharp products. This brand has been producing high-quality electronics for many years and its microwaves are among the best you can find on the market.
The Sharp R-21LCFS takes only third place in this rank, but rest assured it was a hard fight because this unit is really remarkable and we had great pleasure in testing its full capacity.
In fact, this model may not be as compact as the previous ones on this list, however, it makes up for it with a spacious flatbed of 1 cu. ft. which can fit up to several bowls or dishes at once.
The one flaw of this microwave is that time resets when you open the door, so if the cooking’s not done, you need to remember how much time was left on the timer.
However, Sharp made up for it by adding bright LED indicators around the timer, which make it easier to remember the time left. The LEDs flash while in use, then turn off as time decreases. When cooking’s done, the machine emits a long beep, which we found of acceptable volume.
This is another powerful industrial microwave without a turntable that comes at a rather cheap price that makes it an absolute best-seller.
Sharp R-21LVF
- Lightweight
- Quick heating
- Programmable
- No clock on display
As we’ve already mentioned, Sharp is a guarantee of quality when it comes to electronics, that’s why their microwaves without turntable deserve an additional place on our list.
The R-21LVF is a solid and powerful unit that fulfills basically all cooking requirements. It’s made completely from stainless steel, which not only increases its visual appeal but together with the absence of the glass turntable makes it easier to clean.
The Sharp R-21LVF is the biggest microwave on this list, however, it’s also the lightest and the one with the largest internal capacity (1 cu. ft. like its brother). The internal capacity allows you to fit in several small containers at the same time or odd-shaped containers and plates.
This countertop microwave is really simple to operate and its 1000 watts power guarantees a quick and flawless cooking process.
The touchpad can memorize up to 20 programs, of which 10 are pre-programmed. One of its best features is surely its silent mode. In fact, this microwave without a turntable is particularly quiet when operating and you can also turn off the buzzer that signals when the cooking’s done.
Although industrial microwaves are made for commercial uses, we believe this model can be a great addition to your personal kitchen as well.
Midea 1025F0A
- Easy to use
- Cooking guide
- Compact
- Fan stays on after cooking is finished
In comparison with the other two brands in this list, Midea might not be as well-known. However, we found their commercial microwave to be a good value for money.
The Midea 1025F0A features 1000 watts and 0.9 cu. ft. of capacity. It is indeed a powerful unit, but unlike other industrial microwaves is meant for medium-volume use, so it’s perfect for your home.
The set-up leaves no doubts about its mode of operation: you can use the dial timer to set the preferred cooking time, and when you don’t know exactly how long the cooking time should be, you can refer to the guide printed on the front.
Thanks to its see-through door, you can watch closely and determine when the food is done heating. To stop the timer, it’s enough to open the door. On the contrary, if you think that your meal will need more time, you can simply add more seconds by turning the dial timer while the microwave is working.
As you can see, the Midea microwave without a turntable is among the easiest units to operate, so it can bring comfort to your life or be a great gift for the less tech-savvy.
Both the interior and the exterior of this microwave are in stainless steel, which is pleasant to the eye and easy to clean. When we tested this model, we noticed that the fan sometimes stays on after you open the door, which can be unsettling at first, but it’s just so that it can cool down.
Industrial microwaves are usually quite expensive, so the Midea shines on its own in this category, since it’s a good commercial microwave with a reasonable price.
How To Choose A Microwave Without Turntable.
So you set your mind on a microwave without a turntable, but it’s hard to choose one with so many worthy models around. What characteristics should you consider before purchasing a microwave without a plate?
After spending several days testing model after model, we realized that when choosing a microwave oven without a plate there are mainly two aspects to consider, and we will talk about them in detail below.
Digital/Manual
Unlike microwaves with a glass plate, most microwaves without turntables come with a dial timer. However, you can also find some non-rotating microwaves with touch control keypads.
There are pros and cons on both sides, so there’s no better or worse control panel. It depends on what you are comfortable with. Some people would rather not waste time pressing a button over and over and are grateful for the dial timer and its simplicity.
On the other hand, having a dial timer means you don’t have either memory pads or customized programming. All you can do with a dial timer is choose the number of seconds you want your food to be heated, and while this is more than enough for many customers, it can be limiting for others.
High-volume/Low-volume use
Let’s be honest: microwaves without turntables are expensive. In fact, they’re quite pricey in comparison with the average microwave with a glass plate. That’s probably due to the internal mechanism that makes microwaves reach your food quicker.
They are a good investment if you need them for your restaurant, but if you need them for your private kitchen you should consider what you want to do with them.
Many people turn to this kind of microwave because they are easier to clean and can usually fit more than one plate at a time, so they will overlook the price. But there is still a way to save some money by choosing the right model for your needs.
In fact, microwaves that are meant for high-volume use like the Panasonic NE-1054F are the most expensive, but that’s because you could potentially use them 24/7 and they would still last for a long time and work really well. These are perfect for your shop, office, or restaurant.
There are also medium or low-volume use microwaves without rotating plates, which are slightly less powerful but also less expensive. An example of this type of microwave is the Midea 1025F0A. This kind of microwave is perfect for your home.
He likes to call himself a ‘tech freak’ and if you ask him anything about whatever tech-trend is on these days, he will likely go on for hours.
Apart from his passion for technology, Lucas has worked in an appliance store for many years and is also an over-enthusiastic foodie.
He considers his job at ConsciousEating a ‘dream come true’ because it allows him to explore the two things he loves the most in the world: technology and food.
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