The thing that failed on our last microwave was the push-button that opened it. So I got a microwave whose door opens just by pulling on it.
Didn’t know these existed. Definitely want that feature now.
Our current microwave has a grilling element, which we have yet to use. We don’t bother with any of the autocook buttons, either
The ceramic coating was what sold us. Our last microwave had started to rust inside.
We just put in a drawer microwave that goes under the counter. So far, it’s been great.
https://www.subzero-wolf.com/wolf/microwave-ovens/24-inch-transitional-drawer-microwave
I’ve got a countertop Breville microwave, this one:
We like it. At one point a few years back we went through three microwaves in a year so I went to Best Buy and bought the most expensive compact countertop microwave they had, which happened to be this one. It was worth the extra money. Haven’t had a problem with it at all. Doesn’t do anything besides microwave, but it works. And the soft-close is a feature I never knew I wanted until I had it. They have fancier models with all the extra stuff. I’ve not tried them but I’m sold on the brand.
Helpful tip: if you’re getting about the same size microwave, save the glass plate out of the old one. Useful to be able to put one in the dishwasher and still use the microwave.
I’ll second the advice to buy a UI you like. Mine has a “1 minute” button and an “add 30 seconds button” and I use them ALL the time. Also, mine is easy to set to cook 3 or 5 or 6 minutes, which is about how long I want to cook a block of frozen veggies, or a casserole of broccoli. I’ve used some microwaves that require a LOT of buttons to cook something for 2 minutes. Don’t get one of those.
I had a convection microwave way back before some ad firm came up with the term ‘air fryer’. I think it was from the late 1980’s, but perhaps early 90’s. It was a Kenmore model and actually cooked very well, and I did use all 3 cooking methods, Microwave/convection& ‘microconvection’. That last one would get the thing up to temp and alternate the heat and the microwave. I actually cooked a thanksgiving turkey on that setting and it came out great. The biggest downside was that the interface was a royal PITA, and even for microwaving it was a series of button steps which should have been unnecessary and also was unintuitive.
Overall I would consider another microwave/convection if my current one goes out, but also considering a convection oven which would make the former not needed.
I’m happy with my basic, no-frills Insignia™ 0.7 ft³ model. Cheap, dependable (lasted 13 years so far) and it has the 30-second button I use almost every single day to warm up tortillas and flatbread for wraps and snacks.
I recently bought this Panasonic microwave when my old one suddenly died a few months ago. It is larger than I would prefer, but it was the highest rated unit on Consumer Reports’ list that was available. (For some reason I couldn’t find any of the top 5 or 6 models anywhere.) It does have inverter tech which was a requirement for me. I like the knob to select cook time rather than punching in numbers on a keypad. It does have the inexplicable and useless “popcorn” button that all microwaves seem to have.
My most recent microwave crapped out. It was a Kenmore model that I bought at K-Marts some 7 years ago. I put a dish in to heat up, and there was a loud pop.! The timer and the rotisserie plate and the light all went on, but the fish was cold. The microwave tube popped several times I tried to initialize… minutes on end it came out cold, without the modulation of the microwaves. Just threw it away. My friends gave me an oldeer model solid state Magic Chef that seems to make sense. Maybe a 900w to my 1100ww.