Best Microwave Ovens in India - Reviews and Comparison 2021

There are mainly two types of microwave ovens, the conventional mode and the convection mode. The conventional oven further splits into solo and grill ovens. This is an equally important thing to look for alongside other important features.

• Solo Microwave Ovens

A solo microwave is a basic microwave oven that is used for uniform heating of food, reheating and defrosting.

• Grill Microwave Ovens

A grill microwave oven, as the name suggests, can do everything similar to a solo microwave and also grill the delicacies for you. Grill microwaves use a special grill heater and other additional accessories to operate.

• Convection Microwave Ovens

A convection microwave oven has a fan to circulate the hot air as well as it utilizes radio-frequency energy to cook the food inside out and retain the moisture which helps in having a much better flavour. The food can be heated and baked too.

There are 2 styles of microwave ovens that you'll usually see in the market. They are discussed as under.

• Countertop Microwave Ovens

Countertop microwave ovens are portable ones. Which can be placed anywhere and cooking can be done inside them.

These ovens perform many functions such as thawing frozen food, reheating and cooking tasks.

Having a 1 cubic foot capacity, these ovens normally work on a power range of up to 500 to 1000 watts. Therefore, it's advisable to have a separate electricity outlet for these, preferably with a circuit breaker. The limitation with these ovens is that they occupy a lot of space.

• Above-Range Microwave Ovens

The above-range microwave ovens are the ideal options if you are looking to save a considerable amount of kitchen space.

Relatively new to the Indian market, these ovens are placed above the cooking range in the kitchen. They feature multispeed fans that recirculate air with the help of charcoal filters. Also, external ventilation is also not needed. Many high-end models have automatic exhaust fans that are turned on when the microwave oven turns hot from the inside.
These ovens require to be installed by professionals and some adjustments may also have to be done before the installation.

The capacity or content of a microwave oven is measured in litres. The larger the number of litres, the larger interior the microwave has. So, if you buy it for a large household, a 40-litre microwave will prove to be good.

If you have a small household, a combi microwave with a capacity of 21 litres will be good. Similarly, if you live alone, you don't need a very large one. However, the contents differ among small microwave ovens. They can be available in the capacity of 20 litres, but there can also be microwaves that can only have a maximum of 13 litres.

The solo microwave comes with just one function, i.e. reheating the food. However, other types of microwaves have a lot of features. They might have just a few settings or it can be a combination of features such as hot air function, grill, oven, crisp, steam.

Let’s know about a few of the special features in detail:

Crisp Function
This function lets you cook a crispy dish. The advantage of a crisp dish is that it heats up extra fast and is heated from the bottom. If this function is present, you can even bake crispy oven fries.

Steam Function
This function has become more and more popular over the last few years since it healthily prepares your food while retaining nutrients. The steam function makes your meals extra healthy and tasty. A microwave with this feature works with a steam tray with water. In contrast, some models require a separate steam reservoir with water.

Pizza Mode
Nowadays, many people use a microwave for baking a pizza. We suggest buying a microwave oven with a pizza setting as that will heat the pizza from the bottom side and gives you a crispy base. The hot air function will ensure that your pizza is baked thoroughly.

Grill

The grill function allows you to cook elaborate recipes. This feature helps you in setting up various recipes even faster and easier. Microwaves with a grill function have a slightly higher price than a solo microwave.

Here is a table to guide you on what features you actually need to perform certain functions.

The power consumption of a microwave is measured in watts (W). The more power a microwave has, the faster your food will be ready. Usually, microwaves have power between 700 W and 1000 W. In fact, there are microwaves where you can enter the power yourself. In other words, some microwaves allow you to choose the power level, which usually lies between 1 to 10 as per the food weight.

In a grill and convection microwave, you get various automatic programs. You just have to choose the dish, press start and the rest is done automatically. It calculates the ideal cooking time and chooses which functions to use. For instance, if you want to defrost minced meat, then you indicate which meat it is, and you enter the weight. The microwave calculates how long it takes to defrost the minced meat.

Such microwave also uses a combination of different functions to get the desired result. For example, most microwaves first choose the microwave function for a lasagna, followed by the grill function to get a crispy layer. 

Some of the microwaves have a turntable ensuring that the food is heated evenly. This proves useful for a dish to be heated in a larger bowl as such a size bowl will be too big to turn around. So pay attention to this when you buy a microwave. 

If you have children at home, then a child lock facility is the utmost feature to consider because not only does the oven have the risks associated with electricity, it also bears a significant amount of heat within itself. Therefore, a child lock must be put in place while a kid is around.

The rotisserie brings an absolute delight to non-vegetarians. The rotisserie is a grille that can be used for barbecuing meat, poultry, paneer, and vegetables.

The defrosting feature is the one that helps you to unfreeze food without thawing frozen food. This easy to use facility needs you put the food weight and the oven well handle the rest for you. The defrosting can be done manually depending if the need arises.

The food can then be consumed straight out of the oven while the taste and nutrition value is retained.

Certain food types such as baked food viz. cake and pastries take a lot more time to cook than the usual. Also, they require the oven to be pre-heated before baking can be done.

The timer is useful comfort functionality that allows you to heat/cook the food depending on the nature of the food. The timer can be set manually as well.

Setting the timer allows you to take care of the other tasks in the kitchen without being concerned about the food, as the system will automatically turn itself off after the expiry of the time set.

Some of the microwave ovens feature single touch control mechanical buttons. These controls help in adjusting the temperature set the time, and select any pre-set programs.

The sensor feature enables the microwave to analyse the time required for cooking and adjusting as per need.

Luxury microwaves even have an infrared function. With this feature, the microwave, fix the required time and measures at last if your dish is completely warm. So, your dish is always fully reheated, and you no more have to find out halfway through your lasagna that the centre is still frozen. 

As the name suggests, microwaves with memory functions remember the most used setting. They remember the time and power needed to prepare specific recipes.

The quick start function gives you the option to add 30 seconds/ 1 minute/10 minutes more to the cooking time whether the microwave is operating or to. So, you do not have to select each second/minute one by one, but you can choose a particular time straight away. In fact, there is a specific button with a specific time mentioned on it. It is very useful.

The auto-cook menu has a defined set of programs that helps to simplify the preparation of recipes. You just have to select the type and weight of the dish and the oven automatically calculates the required time to cook the ingredients.

The prices of microwave ovens vary a lot, a basic model can be pretty cheap, but there are also many models with extended functionalities. A basic model is beneficial if you only want to heat food. There are also types with a built-in grill.

A microwave work by producing electromagnetic waves. There is a generator inside which converts the energy into waves. These waves are reflected by the walls and carried by means of a waveguide to the part where the food is placed. Since the food is on a turn plate, the waves hit the food from all sides, and you get an evenly cooked meal.

Cleaning a microwave is vital to get rid of the grease and dirt that’s stuck firmly to the walls. There are various ways to clean the combi microwave in practice.

• Use a special cleaner for smooth parts, and a scouring sponge can be used to clean heavily soiled parts. As far as the glass plate is concerned, simply put it in the dishwasher. 

• If you do not want to use chemical products, then place a bowl with water and lemon in the microwave. Next, heat it at full power while keeping the door closed, of course. This will not only clean the microwave oven but also make it smells a lot fresher.

• Always use oven friendly utensils for cooking food in the oven. The excess heat generated by the ovens may cause severe damage to the oven and the utensil itself.

  • Do not keep plastic utensils inside a microwave when you set it on medium or high power levels.

  • Cover the food with paper to retain its moisture and support even heat distribution.

  • The ideal temperature for cooking and reheating food items is 4˚-60˚C. Try to operate the oven at this.

  • If you set the cooking mode to a high power level, you should set the timer for fewer minutes. Otherwise, the food gets spoiled easily.

  • Read the instructions, warning labels, safety tips and precautions carefully provided on the user-friendly manual before using and cleaning an oven.

  • Check for the leakage of food items from the microwave oven to ensure efficient functioning.

  • The packaged food should not be heated directly in the oven. Instead, it should be placed in a bowl before heating.

  • To address foul odours and fungal contamination, clean the oven regularly using a soft wet/dry cloth. Avoid using hard and abrasive cleaning items.

  • Always seek professional help to repair a microwave oven.

  • Never sterilise water bottles or other food utensils in the microwave.

IFB is a household name in the segment of microwave ovens. Suiting all your baking, grilling, and heating needs, this powerhouse appliance makes it super easy to cook with 24 auto cooking modes.

This oven bears a capacity of 20 litres and consumes the power of 1200 W. With a wide range of easy access features such as grill, convection, defrost, micro and grilling, timer/clock, child lock, this is one of the most robust appliances on the list, and surprisingly, you get all of it at a very reasonable price.

Also, the oven comes with a variety of useful accessories and attachments such as:

• Daffodil

• Measuring tub

• 2 idli stands

• Roti crisper

• Ladle

• 1500ml bowl

With exceptional customer service suiting the reputation of the brand, the oven comes with a 1-year warranty on the product, a 3-year warranty on magnetron & cavity.

Godrej has been a name that equals trust and durability in India. From electronics to kitchen appliances to furniture, Godrej has always delivered class apart from performance. This microwave oven is no exception and an excellent bearer of the Godrej legacy.

Talking of the specifics, the oven has a 19-litre capacity which makes it well suited for small families. It can be put to multiple uses such as baking along with grilling, reheating, defrosting and cooking. Having an amazing range of 125 insta-cook menu options, this appliance makes cooking a cakewalk for you. It comes with tactile buttons to set the temperature/timer and jog dials to control specific menus.

It features a child lock which makes it absolutely safe for homes with small children. One limiting factor with the oven is that it does not come with a starter kit, so it may be a bit challenging for those who are using it for the first time or who doesn't have any hands-on experience with microwave ovens.

The oven accessories and essentials include:

• Glass turntable

• Roller ring

• Grill stand

• User manual with warranty card

It bears a 1-year product warranty and a 5-year warranty on magnetron.

This solo microwave comes with a stunning blend of features and finish. Its body is made up of stainless steel and mirror frames. The built-in ceramic cavity provides sufficient reflection of the microwave to cook food evenly. They are easy to clean and scratch-resistant.

The food warming feature and 16 pre-programmed recipes in the autocook mode are possibly one of the most important comfort functionalities of the appliance. The combo of both makes cooking easy and efficient. Defrosting can also be done proficiently.

It features solo, tact, and dial control buttons and an LED display where all controls are placed, viz. power levels, timer etc.

This oven isn't pricey at all and is the very best solo microwave you can go for. It comes with a turntable and user manual. It holds a 1-year warranty on the product and 5 years of warranty on magnetron.

Here again, comes an IFB appliance in the solo microwave segment and we are not surprised. This microwave oven has practically all the features sought in a solo microwave. It can reheat, warm, defrost, and cook your food. However, it doesn't have baking and grilling features.

The oven features like auto cook setting and three standard cooking menus enable easy cooking. It also has manual controls in the form of jog dials and it also has a 30-minute timer which will tick off automatically preventing the peril of food being overcooked.

With a 1 year on product warranty and 3 years of magnetron and cavity warranty, this pocket-friendly appliance also has a warranty card, user manual included in the box.

This is the third IFB oven and it proves the mettle of this brand in the market of microwaves. The volume of the microwave (20 litres) makes it an ideal choice for a mid-size family.

It has all the usual functions like defrosting, cooking, reheating, and warming, the grill. However, this is not the one meant for baking or roti making. The power grill and combi tech modes grill it well without the food being overheated and these types of ovens are the most ideal for reheating meals.

This oven comes with an auto cook setting and 41 standard menus. Moreover, it offers ten power levels to adjust the temperature of the food. The Steam Clean feature is available to clean and sanitize the internal cavity.

IFB offers a 1-year warranty on the product and a 3-year warranty on the magnetron.

This bajaj microwave oven has a capacity of 20 litres and has nine preset auto-cook options. It perfectly suits the needs of a small size family or bachelor's living alone.

With dual defrosting options, it enables you to defrost by weight or by time. It also has a grill inside its cavity for preparing delicious barbecue meals.

It features five power levels and jogs dial controls to adjust settings as needed. This lightweight oven comes with a child lock and timer. It has a 1-year manufacture warranty.

Having the basic features of grilling and reheating, this 20 litres grill microwave is an ideal appliance for small and mid-size families.

26 of its 38 auto cook menus are dedicatedly crafted for Indian cuisine. It has a turntable embedded which ensures cooking of food from all sides evenly. It is one of the most budget-friendly and energy-efficient appliances on our list and comes with a wire rack and a started kit alongside.