Ever see a home without a microwave today? Probably not. They are ingrained in our lives and we need them all day, making it a staple in every home.
When you are looking for a new microwave, however, do consider some top factors which can affect the way it serves you in the long run.
Of course, there are microwaves today that are dirt cheap, and will look very attractive initially. But these have lower power and wattages and usually do not support your needs as well in a consistent manner.
This is why we have listed here some of the best 1100 watt microwaves the market has to offer so the oven can serve you for long years to come.
Other factors which you might want to consider like the size of the oven itself, the turntables, and many more have been discussed in detail below.
Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven
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This Toshiba EM131A5C-BS microwave oven comes with an impressive 1100 watts that reach an entire 10 power levels. Surely, this is one of the better choices in the market, but these are not all the features you will love.
There is a pre-programmed sensor menu. This is for all the food items that you cook or heat in general a lot. Things like pizza, popcorn, potatoes, or veggies. The oven takes good care of these food items and knows well how to cook and heat them at the right temperature, so you do not need to fret here.
On the exterior, it is covered in black stainless steel for a sleek and modern look. On the inside, it is highly spacious with 1.2-cubic feet of space. This is perfect for medium-sized families, where you can cook and heat a good amount of food at one go.
You will also find a turntable on the inside. Having this ensures us that the heat will be evenly distributed as the turntable rotates.
On the front, there is a large digital display. You do not need to squint every time you want to see the timer. Moreover, there is a sound on and sound off button. If you like midnight snacks, this will help you heat food up without letting the whole house know with those loud beeps.
Highlighted Features
- The turntable has a diameter of 12.4 inches
- Oven capacity is 1.2 cu. ft.
- A pre-programmed sensor menu is included
- The large digital display provides clearer visuals
- Power saving mode helps to save bills over time
Emerson Griller Microwave Oven
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Emerson is one of the more popular and oldest brands when it comes to microwave ovens, and they are well known for their affordable, yet amazing oven models. This one is no exception.
With 1100 watts and 11 power levels, we know right off the bat that this is a good and powerful oven we have here. On top of that, there is 1 pure grill power level.
So you do not need to get an extra device when grilling, this one will suffice. It helps to save space, not to mention the extra costs that would go for the grill as well.
As for pre-programmed recipes, you get 9. So you can cook up a good variety of snacks and meals where the oven itself takes charge and you do not have to.
More specifically, you can make popcorn, potatoes, frozen pizzas, and vegetables, or put in dinner plates with any red meat. For busy bees, this is surely an advantage.
The oven has an average size, has a compact design, and comes with 1.2 cubic feet of cooking space. This is not too much, or too less, but just enough to make cooking comfortable. You also get a 99 minute and a 99-second digital timer.
Highlighted Features
- 1.2 cu ft of cooking space provided
- Comes with a total of 9 preprogrammed recipes
- 11 power levels included in microwave
- The turntable has a diameter of 315mm
- 99-second- and 99-minute digital timer
Panasonic NN-SU696S Microwave Oven- Best Small 1100 Watt Microwave
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This model from Panasonic has a sleep stainless steel body all over which makes it an attractive addition to any home or apartment. But exterior beauty is not all this provides.
On the inside, you get 1.3 cubic feet of cooking space. This makes it the right choice for smaller families, or up to 4 people. Of course, you could choose to heat food in turns, in which case it can be used for everyone.
Even though it has a smaller size than most, it still packs good power. It has 1100 watts of power that cook food fast and efficiently along with 10 power levels.
Moreover, there are 7 pre-programmed menu items. This can be used for cooking frozen foods and heat snacks quickly. Popcorn itself has 3 different power levels, so movie-watchers rejoice! When buying, you will find a complete list of all the food items included in this feature in the manual.
A child safety lock is also added. And this makes this particular model a good choice for people who have kids at home. They will not accidentally open the oven door and burn their hands anymore.
Highlighted Features
- 1.3 cu. ft. of cooking space provided
- 3 power levels included in the microwave
- The turntable has a diameter of 13.4 inches
- A sensor and child lock is included
- Comes with 7 preset auto cook items
Farberware Professional FMO16AHTPLB
[amazon box=”B07TM72TFX”]
This Farberware Professional model can be called one of the finest in terms of microwave ovens in the market, and you will soon find out why.
It has an impressive power of 1100 watts so you can quickly heat your food. With this, there are 10 power levels to further elevate the performance of the oven.
You also get the Smart Sensor Cooking Technology feature here. This helps to monitor the heat as well the humidity inside the oven, which tells the device how far the food has cooked or warmed up, and how long it needs to spend time inside.
In other words, it takes away your trouble of having to guess or think about the time every time you put food in.
There are 9 one-touch cooking programs added too, which let you cook up common foods with just one touch of a button. Once again, making the process easier and faster.
The oven also comes with Inverter Precision Cooking Technology. This creates an even temperature throughout the oven, so the food is not inconsistent, and cooks through properly.
Highlighted Features
- 1.6 cu. ft. of cooking space provided
- Includes a total of 9 one-touch cooking programs
- Temperatures are even with Inverter Precision Cooking Technology
- Child safety functionality makes it children-safe
- 10 power levels included in the microwave
Farberware FMO12AHTBSG Microwave Oven- Best 1100 Watt Countertop Microwave
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This one from Farberware is a countertop microwave oven, designed in a manner that it fits nicely onto kitchen countertops. Space-wise, this has a 1.2 cubic foot capacity inside, which is enough to cook or heat food for small families, or a maximum of 3 to 4 people.
The compact size makes it a good choice for any who is tight on space, yet needs a functional oven for their daily foods.
Even though this is not the biggest in size, it still comes with 1100 watts of power to make sure that all the food this cooks is done to perfection. Then there are the 10 power levels too, which lets you adjust this power between 10 and 100 percent, depending on what you require.
This oven also comes with a dual cooking functionality. You can use this as a microwave, as well as a grill, and this gives you more options in a smaller space.
The 9 one-touch cooking programs are added so you can cook up everyday snacks and meals without having to calculate the time and process over and over again.
Highlighted Features
- 1.2 cu. ft. of cooking space provided
- Comes with a grill function
- 10 power levels included in the microwave
- One-touch heat up can be done with 9 programs
- Interior LED lighting lets you see the inside
1100 Watt Microwaves Buying Guide
Size
When deciding on the size of the microwave, you need to decide on how much space you have on the kitchen counter, and more importantly, how much you can give up. If you live in a rental and are limited on space, look for compact and smaller ovens.
Cubic Feet
This is the space inside the oven. So when you are buying the best 1100 Watt microwaves, do check this out to understand usage. When it comes to microwaves, you will find that this ranges from 0.5 cubic feet to over 2 cubic feet.
0.5 is spacious enough to accommodate 10-inch dinner plates. But if you are looking for something to heat bigger dishes in, then look for bigger sizes. Most ovens you find will have something between 1 and 2 cubic feet.
On average you can go with 1.5 cubic feet if you are confused between the two. This will both be enough for medium to larger dishes and can accommodate dinner plates too.
Type
The type of microwave you get depends on your usage. Think of what you will be doing first, and then match against what the market has to offer. This way you will find the right one.
There are convection microwaves. Besides heating, these also blow air which helps to distribute the heat evenly in the oven. This is definitely more reliable and ensures that the food is cooked or heated throughout evenly.
The other kind comes with inverters. These do not run at full power, and they help to maintain an even heat, unlike regular ovens where there is a lot of heat variation with the pulse on and off.
This is the kind to go for if you plan on using the microwave for a lot of cooking besides just heating. Especially if you draw creamy food items like butter or chocolate a lot.
Controls
Microwaves come with a heap of extra features today which work to increase efficiency. Not every oven will have these. Some might have all, while others have a combination. It is up to you to decide and choose the ones you need.
Automatic defrost is one. Like the name, it helps to defrost the food you take out of the freezer. This way you do not have to put in an extra command for this to happen or wait for the food to defrost on its own before heating it.
Pre-programmed settings are another feature some microwave ovens have. They have sensors that detect the humidity and temperature inside the oven and cook or warm the food accordingly. You do not have to be there on standby.
Child Lockout
If you have kids in the house, then this is a feature to look out for. It is fairly simple to use. Put in a key password, and enter the password before opening the microwave.
This way you do not have to worry about kids accidentally opening or holding a hot plate.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is 1100 Watt Microwave Good?
Yes, 1100 watts is a really good wattage for a microwave that can create very high temperatures for quicker and better cooking. If you like the food to be done quickly and seek more power in your oven than average picks, then 1100 Watt is a good power to have.
How Long Does It Take To Boil Water In 1100 Watt Microwave?
In a microwave of 1100 Watts, it will take you around 1-3 minutes to boil water. The time difference is owed to the different quantities of water you put in.
Can You Change The Wattage On A Microwave?
No, you cannot change the wattage on a microwave. What you can do is change the power and temperature depending on what the particular model allows. But changing the wattage is not something you can do, it is fixed.
Conclusion
That concludes our discussion here on buying the best 1100 watt microwave. If you have read the whole piece, by now you know that it is always good to have all those extra features on, be it the child lock or the auto defrost.
Yes, they add a bit more to the cost, but this is a one-time-investment, and features like these really come in handy in the long run.
Other than that, be sure to check that the dimensions are okay and that they match with the space you have in mind. This will be good enough for you to score the right one and get yourself and brand-new microwave.
Jen Lin-Liu is the founder of Black Sesame Kitchen. A Chinese-American writer and a nationally certified Chinese chef in Beijing. Jen is the author of two memoirs, Serve the People: A Stir-Fried Journey Through China and On the Noodle Road: From Beijing to Rome with Love and Pasta.