Microwave ovens.(RATINGS)(Buyers guide)

Most models did a respectable job of basic microwaving tasks such as defrosting meats, reheating leftovers, and making popcorn. Whichever unit you consider, you'll probably pay more for an oven with a large capacity, stainless-steel finish, lots of presets, and additional functions such as convection. Microwaves that did well at convection cooking, though, rarely excelled at more common functions.

Guide to the Ratings

Overall score is based mainly on evenness of heating, ease of use, and auto- defrosting ability. Heating evenness reflects how evenly a model reheated a dish of cold mashed potatoes. Auto defrost is based on how well the automatic-defrost program defrosted one pound of frozen ground chuck. Ease of use includes how easy it is to set the microwave without referring to the instructions. Turntable diameter (inches) is the measured diameter of the oven's turntable, rounded to the nearest tenth of an inch, not including rim. "NA" indicates a rectangular turntable; most are 14.8x12 inches. Usable capacity (cubic feet) is the usable space based on our measurements, and excludes the corner spaces for models with rotating turntables. Watts is the manufacturer's figure of the microwave power output. In general, the more watts an oven offers, the greater its cooking power, and the faster your food will be cooked. A few microwaves include a convection mode oven feature, which has a heating element and a fan that distributes heat. In convection mode, you can set the oven temperature as you would in a traditional oven to bake or roast items. A sensor controls the cooking and reheating time automatically. It shuts off the oven when it determines (usually by sensing steam) that the food is hot enough. Detailed prompts guide you through the cooking process. Price is approximate retail.

Quick Picks

For a basic countertop unit:

1 Kenmore (Sears) 6325[2], $110, CR Best Buy

8 GE JE1460[B]F, $130, CR Best Buy