How many watts of microwave do I need?
Short answer
For normal use — reheating food, defrosting, making a coffee — between 700 and 900 watts is plenty. Those of 1000 watts or more heat faster and more evenly, useful if you cook a lot in the microwave, but they aren't necessary for typical use. More important than the watts for most people is the size in litres, which decides which containers fit.
The microwave is one of those purchases where the box bombards you with watts and programmes, and the real decision is much simpler. For most people, litres matter more than watts.
How many watts by use
| Power | For what |
|---|---|
| 700 - 900 W | Normal use: reheating, defrosting, coffee. Plenty. |
| 1000 W+ | Heats faster and more evenly. Useful if you cook a lot in the micro. |
More watts only means it heats faster. To reheat a meal or make a coffee, the difference between 700 and 900 W is seconds. 800 W is more than enough for 90% of people.
Litres: what really decides
The interior size defines which containers fit, and that’s more practical than power:
| Litres | For |
|---|---|
| 20 L | Compact: flat, 1-2 people. A large plate may not turn well. |
| 23 - 28 L | The comfortable point for a family: a large plate and most dishes fit. |
| 30 L+ | For someone who cooks a fair bit in the micro or uses big dishes. |
The common mistake: buying the 20-litre for price and then fighting because the usual plate won’t turn.
The grill: useful but limited
The grill is a heating element on top that browns the surface: gratinates, toasts a sandwich, browns the cheese on a tart. Something the microwave alone can’t do.
What it doesn’t do is replace an oven: it doesn’t cook evenly inside or bake. Useful if you like to gratinate quickly without firing up the big oven; if you almost always reheat and defrost, you’ll rarely use it.
Which functions matter (and which are filler)
Actually used:
- Adjustable power (to defrost without cooking the edges)
- A defrost that works well
- A turntable of the right size
Almost nobody uses: the automatic ‘popcorn’, ‘pizza’, ‘drink’ programmes and the twenty-option menus. They sound good on the box; in practice you heat by time by eye, as always.
Don’t pay for a panel full of programmes. Pay for adequate power, adequate litres and a brand with service — because the first thing to fail tends to be the turntable or the door.
Frequently asked
Do more watts heat faster?
Yes, and it's the only thing power does. A 1000-watt microwave heats a plate in less time than a 700-watt one, and more evenly, because it distributes the energy better. But for normal use — reheating a meal, making a coffee, defrosting — the difference between 700 and 900 watts is seconds and doesn't justify paying much more. Watts start to matter if you use the microwave to cook seriously, with recipes that depend on precise timing, or if you're impatient and heat large things often. For 90% of people, 800 watts is more than enough.
How many litres do I need?
The litres define the interior size, and that decides which containers fit, which is more practical than the power. The 20-litre ones are compact, ideal for a flat or one or two people, but a large plate or dish may not turn well inside. The 23 to 28-litre ones are the comfortable point for a family: a large plate and most dishes fit. And the 30-litre or larger ones are for someone who cooks a fair bit in the microwave or uses big dishes. A common mistake is buying the smallest for price and then fighting because the usual plate won't turn.
Is the grill function useful?
It's useful for something specific and limited, and it's worth having clear expectations. The grill is a heating element on top that browns the surface of food, something the microwave alone can't do: it gratinates, toasts a sandwich, browns the cheese on a tart. What it does NOT do is replace an oven: it doesn't cook evenly inside or bake. It's useful if you like the idea of gratinating or toasting quickly without firing up the big oven, but if you almost always reheat and defrost, it's a function you'll rarely use and it doesn't justify paying more.
Which functions matter and which are filler?
The ones actually used are few: adjustable power (to defrost without cooking the edges), a defrost that works well, and a turntable of the right size. The rest of the automatic programmes — 'popcorn', 'pizza', 'drink', the menus with twenty options — sound good on the box and almost nobody uses them: you end up heating by time by eye, as always. Don't overpay for a panel full of programmes; pay for adequate power, adequate litres and a brand with service, because the first thing to fail tends to be the turntable or the door.
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