Short-order cooks: very good microwwave ovens are cheaper than ever.(Buyers Guide)

The notion that bigger is better is clearly driving the microwave market, as evidenced by the arrival of high-powered ovens that promise ever-faster cooking. You'll find more models rated at 1,100, 1,200, even 1,300 watts in midsized and large units. But our tests showed that smaller, less powerful ovens are no slouches, with many offering fine performance that may fill the bill when space or budget is tight.

Like their predecessors, the new ovens are still dandy for steaming vegetables, popping corn, reheating leftovers, and defrosting dinner in a hurry, but dreadful for baking, roasting, and toasting. Other types of speed-cooking appliances (like the GE Profile Advantium that you may have seen advertised) combine halogen, convection, and microwave heating to offer the crisping and browning ability that microwave ovens alone lack. But these appliances are expensive and limited in what they can do well, so we doubt that they'll replace microwave or conventional ovens in most kitchens.

In this report, you'll find details on five of these speed-cooking appliances (page 49) along with Ratings of 38 microwave ovens (page 51). An important note: In October, six of the over-the-range models we tested were recalled because overheating could pose a fire hazard. The manufacturer says this has been corrected in units now for sale (see box below).

SIZING UP THE POSSIBILITIES

It's hard to go wrong with most microwave ovens. They're competent at cooking and reheating food, and most are quite reliable (see "Repair History" on page 50).We found the greatest variation among models in auto-defrost mode, with scores ranging from poor to excellent.

Two features enhance performance, in our experience: turntables and sensors. Turntables promote even cooking and have become standard issue on most ovens. Sensors are designed to shut off an oven before food is overcooked, usually by measuring the steam produced. Many, but not all, ovens have sensors, which can add $10 to $20 to the cost of a countertop oven and about $50 to an over-the-range model's price. It's worth spending the money to get this feature, in our opinion.

Size is a consideration for most buyers. Countertop models are 11 to 15 inches tall so they'll fit under upper cabinets. The width and depth vary from about 19x14 inches on compact ovens to 24x20 inches on large units. Models for college dorm-type use are smaller than typical compacts and may have more eye-catching designs than the typical staid, squared-off oven.