The microwave is the most-used appliance nobody thinks about until it dies mid-reheat, and inverter models have quietly made microwaves better at everything. The three below carry four-figure review counts at the retailer between them.
1. Best Overall: Sharp 34L 1200W Inverter
Sharp's 34-litre rates 4.5 stars across 1,377 reviews. Inverter power means 50 per cent actually runs at half power rather than pulsing, which is why defrost stops cooking the edges of the mince.
At around $249 it's the family standard, in white that suits most kitchens and a footprint that wants a full bench corner.
What We Like:
- True inverter power
- Defrost that works
- 1,200W speed
What We Don't Like:
- Full-corner footprint
2. Best Family Size: LG 42L NeoChef
The 42-litre NeoChef fits the lasagne dish that defeats standard microwaves, with 1,309 owners averaging 4.6 stars. The stable turntable and even inverter heating handle family-scale reheats without the cold-centre lottery.
Around $349, and 42 litres is genuinely large: measure the appliance nook first.
What We Like:
- Lasagne-dish capacity
- Even inverter heating
- Easy-clean interior
What We Don't Like:
- Measure the nook first
3. Best Compact: LG 25L NeoChef
The 25-litre NeoChef brings the same inverter heating to small kitchens at around $199, rated 4.6 by 902 owners. Couples and offices get the full LG behaviour in the smallest sensible box.
A 25L cavity handles plates and containers, not roasting trays, which is its honest scope.
What We Like:
- Inverter at $199
- Compact cavity
- Same easy cleaning
What We Don't Like:
- Plate-sized limit
How to pick a microwave
Inverter is the upgrade that matters. Old microwaves fake half power by pulsing full power; inverters actually deliver it. Defrosting and delicate reheats are where the difference lives, which the review columns repeat constantly.
Size by the biggest dish, not the bench. The classic mistake is a microwave that won't fit the casserole dish. Measuring the workhorse dish beats reading litres.
Wattage is speed, nothing more. 1,100 to 1,200W reheats meaningfully faster than 800W budget units. Convection-combi models add oven tricks at double the price, a different appliance for a different page.
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FAQs
Why does my microwave heat unevenly?
Pulsing non-inverter power and overloaded plates, mostly. Ring-arranging food and the inverter models above close most of the gap.
Are microwave-safe labels trustworthy?
Yes for glass and labelled ceramics; takeaway plastics vary. The one-minute water test beside a suspect container answers it for good.
