Steady Power, Even Heat: The Best Inverter Microwave Oven

Set an ordinary microwave to half power and it does not really run at half power. It runs at full power, switches off, and switches on again, over and over. An inverter microwave, according to the makers who sell them, can run at a steady lower power instead. That matters most for the jobs microwaves are worst at: thawing a pound of ground beef without cooking the edges, or warming a dense pan of enchiladas through without drying out the corners.

This guide narrows our best countertop microwave oven roundup down to inverter models only. It compares eight countertop microwaves from Panasonic, Breville, Toshiba, Sharp and Frigidaire, from 1.0 to 2.2 cubic feet, using each maker’s specifications on its Amazon listing. None of them repeats a pick from that guide.

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Quick verdict: which inverter microwave to buy

What an inverter microwave does differently

A microwave’s power comes from a part called the magnetron. In a standard microwave, lower power settings are made by cycling the magnetron: Panasonic describes conventional ovens as using the same maximum power all the time and repeatedly turning it on and off to create lower energy levels. Emerson’s listing puts it the same way: alternating between full power and no power.

An inverter supplies the magnetron with a steady stream of power at the level you set. Panasonic calls it a seamless stream of power that cooks evenly from edges to center; Toshiba describes smooth, continuous power rather than on and off pulses; Breville calls its version a power-smoothing inverter. What the makers claim follows from that: more even reheating, defrosting without cooked edges, and gentler low-power jobs such as softening butter or keeping a sauce warm.

Two things to keep in mind. The difference the makers describe is at lower power settings, since at full power both kinds run the magnetron flat out. And these are the makers’ descriptions. An inverter does not remove the need to stir, cover and check reheated food, which we cover below.

Five inverter microwaves at a glance

Our five standout picks, one for each kind of kitchen, with the capacity, power and interior each maker states. All eight are reviewed in full below.

Our picks for the best inverter microwave oven

The first five cover most kitchens: a mid-size Panasonic, a quiet Breville, two flatbeds and a large family model. The last three add a large Toshiba, a mid-size Sharp flatbed and a simple Frigidaire. Our countertop guide already covers Panasonic’s 1.2 cu ft NN-SN67QS and Toshiba’s 1.6 cu ft inverter, so they are not repeated here. Each entry lists capacity, power, the maker’s name for its inverter, the interior, the sensor, size and warranty.

How to choose an inverter microwave oven

1. Make sure the inverter is named

Look for the word inverter in the maker’s own description, not just in a seller’s title. Every pick here names it: Panasonic’s Cyclonic Inverter, Toshiba’s Origin inverter, Breville’s power-smoothing inverter, and Sharp’s and Frigidaire’s inverters. Phrases like “gentle reheat” or “low power defrost” on their own do not mean the oven has one.

2. Capacity and interior

Capacity tells you the box; the turntable or floor tells you what fits. A 1.0 to 1.2 cu ft model takes a dinner plate. A 1.6 cu ft model takes a casserole. A 2.2 cu ft model with a 16.5-inch turntable takes almost anything. Flatbeds (Toshiba, Sharp, Panasonic NN-SF57RM) fit square and rectangular dishes and are easier to wipe.

3. Power

Output on these picks runs from 1,000 to 1,250 watts. Package directions assume a stated wattage, so on a 1,000-watt model expect slightly longer times. If a listing gives input power too, that is the figure that matters for your circuit.

4. Sensor

The inverter controls how power is delivered; a sensor decides how long. Most picks have both. Panasonic’s Genius Sensor 2.0 reads food temperature, according to Panasonic, while the Toshiba and Breville sensors read steam or moisture.

5. Noise and controls

If the microwave runs late at night or in an open-plan room, look at the Breville’s soft-close door and quiet operation, or any model with a mute function. If you would rather not learn a menu, the Frigidaire and Sharp keep the buttons simple.

Defrosting and reheating Mexican food in an inverter microwave

An inverter earns its keep on the jobs a Mexican home kitchen does most: thawing ground beef or chicken for tacos, reheating a pan of enchiladas, softening frozen tamales, and warming a pot of frijoles without splattering. Steady low power heats more gently than full power switched on and off, according to the makers, so edges are less likely to overcook before the center warms.

It does not change the food-safety basics. Clemson Cooperative Extension’s Home & Garden Information Center notes that uneven microwave heating can leave cold spots where harmful bacteria may survive, and advises covering food to hold moisture and promote even heating, stirring or rotating it midway, allowing standing time so the heat evens out, and using a food thermometer. Leftovers and casseroles should reach 165°F. Our guide to reheating Mexican leftovers goes dish by dish, and our guide to what tamales are explains why they reheat best in their husks.

If you also want to crisp reheated taquitos or bake, an inverter microwave will not do it on its own. Pair it with something from our guides to the best toaster oven or the best small toaster oven.

How we picked these eight inverter microwaves

We did not test these microwaves. We kept only models whose makers name an inverter, then compared what each maker states on its Amazon listing: capacity, power, the inverter and sensor, turntable or flatbed interior, size and warranty, and we point out where a listing leaves something out. The explanation of how an inverter differs from on-off power comes from Panasonic’s and the other makers’ own descriptions. Every microwave was in stock on Amazon when we wrote this, and we searched the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall database for each brand and found no recall listed for these models.

We left out Panasonic’s 1.2 cu ft NN-SN67QS and Toshiba’s 1.6 cu ft inverter because our countertop guide already covers them, and Panasonic’s NN-SN65KB because it is close to the NN-SN67QS. We also left out the Breville Compact Wave, whose listing describes lower-power reheating but does not name an inverter, inverter combos with convection, a renewed Panasonic, and listings that were scarce.

Inverter microwave questions, answered

What is an inverter microwave?

One that can deliver a steady, lower level of microwave power instead of switching full power on and off to imitate a lower setting. Makers say this heats and defrosts more evenly.

Is an inverter microwave worth it?

If you defrost meat or reheat dense leftovers often, the makers’ case is strong. If you mostly heat drinks and popcorn at full power, you will notice little difference.

Does an inverter microwave cook faster?

At full power, not much. Some makers say inverter defrosting is quicker, such as Panasonic’s Turbo Defrost, but total speed depends mostly on wattage.

Do I still need to stir food in an inverter microwave?

Yes. Clemson Extension advises covering, stirring or rotating midway, letting food stand and checking leftovers reach 165°F with a thermometer, whatever the microwave.

What size inverter microwave should I buy?

About 1.0 to 1.2 cu ft for one or two people, 1.6 cu ft for a family, and 2.2 cu ft if you reheat full casserole dishes.

Our final pick for an inverter microwave

Buy the Panasonic 1.6 cu ft Cyclonic Inverter for most kitchens. Choose the Breville Smooth Wave for quiet, the Panasonic 2.2 cu ft for big dishes, and the Toshiba 1.3 cu ft flatbed if you are done cleaning around turntables. For sensor models without an inverter and for compacts, see our countertop microwave guide.

Related guide: Best over the range microwave.

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