You don’t need a degree in appliance-ology to pick a winner. But there are a few features that make life easier (and less annoying).
First, power. Look for at least 900 to 1,000 watts. Anything less and you’ll be standing there, watching your soup warm up slower than a snail in molasses.
Next, ventilation. This is a biggie. Do you cook a lot of bacon? Stir-fry? If so, you want a model with at least 400 CFM (cubic feet per minute). It’ll suck up steam and smells like a tiny kitchen tornado.
Also, check for sensor cooking. This fancy feature reads the moisture in your food and adjusts cooking time automatically. It’s basically a little computer that says, “I got you, friend.”
Don’t forget the stuff that makes you smile
You know what’s underrated? LED lighting. It’s like a spotlight for your stovetop, so you can finally see if your pasta water is actually boiling or just dreaming about it.
And if you’re short (like me), look for a model with a child lock. No, not for kids—for the moment you accidentally nuke a fork because you were too busy watching TikTok. We’ve all been there.
Over The Range Microwave Black Friday Deals
One more thing: size matters. Measure your cabinet space. Most over-the-range microwaves are 30 inches wide, but double-check. You don’t want to buy a microwave that looks like it’s trying to squeeze into a shirt two sizes too small.
