This Top-Rated Microwave Can Replace Your Oven

A microwave is a kitchen must-have. Over-the-range microwaves (or OTR microwaves) are microwaves that can be installed over your stove. Instead of a countertop microwave, these appliances free up counter space and to give your kitchen a neat, streamlined look.

Unlike countertop models, OTR microwaves are not portable, and they boast a higher price tag: However, they also have built in exhaust fans, which serve as a stove-top ventilation system to eliminate smoke, steam, and cooking odors. An over-the-range microwave takes the place of a range hood, and almost all building codes require a venting system to be installed over a kitchen stove but keep in mind an over-the-range microwave ventilation system typically won't vent as well as a range hood.

It can be overwhelming to parse through all the important information on over-the-range microwaves to figure out which model is right for you. That’s why the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances Lab has done the work for you. Pulling from over a century of experience testing appliances from toaster ovens to air fryers and beyond, we narrowed down the enormous field to 22 microwaves and put them through a gamut of tests over two months, like melting cheese, defrosting 44 pounds of ground beed, baking 88 potatoes, popping popcorn, and reheating a dinner plate.

We also assess how easy each product is to use, scoring everything from the control panel and the alert tones to the helpfulness of the user manual, ability to monitor food cooking inside the microwave, and ease of cleaning. Lastly, after considering each products' price, warranty, most useful features, we weigh the scores to find the best OTR microwaves on the market. Here are our top picks: