Best 6 Small Microwave for Dorm Room (Buying Guide)

small microwave for dorm room

 College students have a lot on their plates. Between classes, homework, and extracurricular activities, it can be hard to find time to cook. But dorm rooms don’t always have space for a full-sized oven or even a microwave. So, you need a dorm microwave that can go with you wherever you need to prepare a meal.

What’s more, many college meal plans only include a small refrigerator and a microwave. Fortunately, small dorm microwaves are available in a variety of shapes and sizes. Our pros in the Kitchen Appliances Lab test the microwaves to make sure they heat evenly, cook food quickly, and have a good power range. We also evaluate how loud they are, how easy they are to use, and how much space they take up.

Here are the best small microwave ovens for college students in 2022, according to testing.

How We Pick And Test:

 Size: We considered microwaves smaller than 1 cubic foot. A microwave with a grill functions to brown.

Power: A microwave that reaches at least 1,000 watts.

Easy to use: A microwave with automatic defrost, simple controls, and a digital display.

Sleek design: A microwave that doesn’t clash with or overpower the rest of your kitchen.

Reader feedback:  We consulted our Wirecutter community for input on what microwaves were missing from the market.

Things To Consider Before Buying:

Microwave size:  A small microwave will work well in a dorm room. Choose a version that can fit under a standard dorm-size cabinet.

Simple controls:  A basic microwave with just three buttons should do it.

Good reviews:  Look for a microwave with positive reviews so that you know it works right out of the box.

Farberware Microwave 0.7 Cu. Ft., 700-Watt, Brushed Stainless Steel

 The Farberware Classic Microwave Oven offers most of the same features as the GE’s JES9010SHJWW, but for $5 less. It has 10 power settings, three one-touch programs, and 30-second buttons, as well as a kitchen timer and clock. The controls take a little getting used to, and, while the Farberware microwave’s overall build quality seems better than it looks, the brushed stainless-steel door doesn’t withstand a drop as well as it does on the GE.

However, the Farberware has an automatic defrost setting, and the LED display has slightly more digits than the GE’s, which means the Farberware’s clock is easier to read. The Farberware’s interior light is easier to see than the GE’s, and the height is adjustable, which makes this 0.7 cubic-foot microwave (versus the GE’s 0.9 cubic-foot) a better fit for the counter.

 For college students looking for a great small microwave for their dorm room, the Farberware Classic Microwave Oven is a great choice. It has all the same features as more expensive microwaves and is ideal for heating up leftovers and quick snacks. And the best part is that it takes up minimal space and is easy on the wallet! So if you’re a college student in need of an affordable and compact microwave, the Farberware Classic Microwave Oven is definitely worth a look.

TOSHIBA EM131A5C-BS Countertop Microwave Ovens Cu Ft, 12.4″ Removable Turntable Smart Humidity Sensor

 Toshiba’s EM131A5C-BS is the best microwave for under-cabinet mounting, offering a generous 1.2-cubic-foot interior, and a 12-inch turntable. It was easy to set up, and the internal light offers a good level of illumination for keeping an eye on the food. The display is small, but it’s easy to reach, and it features options for programs, power levels, and defrosting. It comes with a child safety lock (which is nice to have in a microwave) and is easy to clean—a plus since microwaves generally accumulate more dust than other appliances.

The Toshiba EM131A5C-BS also offers some handy extras: You can turn off the display when you don’t want to look at the timer, and there’s a mute button to silence the buzzer. Its 1,100-watt power rating was adequate in our testing.

 If you’re looking for a dorm room microwave, the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS is a perfect choice. It’s small enough to fit under a cabinet, and it offers more than enough space and power for reheating leftovers, making popcorn, and other microwave tasks. Plus, it’s easy to use, and it comes with a few extras, such as a child safety lock and a mute button, that are nice to have.

Galanz Retro Countertop Microwave Oven with Auto Cook & Reheat, Defrost, Quick Start Functions

 The Galanz GLCMKZ07GNR07 retro-style countertop microwave is tiny, but it’s a bargain and cheap. Although it’s small, it’s surprisingly roomy for a microwave. It’s almost as large as the Galanz GLCMK10BK1 countertop microwave. If you choose this Galanz microwave, the app-controlled feature set will make it easy to cook a meal. The Galanz GLCMKZ07GNR07 comes with seven preset Auto Cook recipes and 10 Auto Reheat configurations.

This Galanz microwave also bakes, broils, toasts, and reheats. The Galanz GLCMKZ07GNR07 is a good choice for homes, apartments, dorms, and offices, especially kitchens lacking the space for a full-size microwave.

 The small size of the Galanz GLCMKZ07GNR07 is ideal for a dorm room. Its compact size means it doesn’t take up much counter space, so there’s more room for other kitchen essentials. It also has a stainless steel exterior, so it looks great in a modern dorm room. The Galanz GLCMKZ07GNR07 also has a convenient 30-minute timer, so you can easily set it to cook something for an allotted time.

The Galanz GLCMKZ07GNR07 is a great choice for dorm rooms due to its small size and convenient features. It’s a great way to make quick meals without taking up too much space. The app-controlled feature set makes it easy to cook a meal, and the 10 Auto Reheat configurations make it easy to heat up leftovers. Plus, the stainless steel exterior adds a touch of style to any dorm room. If you’re looking for a small microwave that’s both functional and stylish, the Galanz GLCMKZ07GNR07 is a great option.

Farberware Compact Countertop Microwave Oven, 0.7 Cu. Ft. 700-Watt with LED Lighting,

 The Farberware 0.7-cubic-foot compact microwave offers a decent, affordable set of features. Its interior light isn’t very bright, but you can set it on a continuous or delayed-on timer, and the ceramic interior is easy to clean.The controls come with a 1-6 minute one-touch cooking program, as well as popcorn, pizza, and potato preset buttons, which we found worked well. There’s also a reheat button, which we found useful.

The Farberware 0.7-cubic-foot microwave comes equipped with child-lock controls, a timer, and a digital display, though the display can’t be removed for placement on a counter.

The light inside the unit isn’t very bright, so you won’t be able to see everything you’re cooking unless you use the delayed-on light. That makes the light’s position somewhat inconvenient, as it protrudes from the top of the microwave.  It’s a great choice for a dorm room. It’s small enough to fit in a dorm room, so it won’t take up too much space. Its 0.7 cubic-foot interior is just big enough to fit a standard dinner plate, and its controls are simple and straightforward.

The Farberware 0.7-cubic-foot compact microwave is an ideal choice for college students living in dorm rooms. It’s small enough to fit even in the smallest dorm rooms and packs a good set of features. It offers simple, one-touch cooking, reheating, and preset functions, as well as a timer and digital display. The interior light isn’t very bright, but it’s adjustable.

Nostalgia Retro Compact Countertop Microwave Oven 0.7 Cu. Ft. 700-Watts with LED Digital Display,

 The nostalgia 0.7-cubic-foot microwave uses generous amounts of plastic, steel, and glass, with prominent chrome accents. It’s functional and compact, with a digital LED display and 10-inch rotating glass turntable—a first for microwaves at this price—and nine power levels that range from 10% to 100%. With 700 watts of power, it was able to warm a frozen dinner faster than most microwaves in this price range, and it had even power when heating a single batch of popcorn.

And this microwave had features that were valuable but not common at this price level, such as a 15- and 30-second button for defrosting without starting a lengthy defrost cycle, and multi-sequence cooking. But like the Danby, the Nostalgia lacked a popcorn button, a one-year warranty, and a turntable auto-reverse feature, which improves airflow for even cooking.

 The Nostalgia 0.7-cubic-foot microwave is the perfect size for a dorm room or small kitchen. Its small footprint saves valuable counter space, while its powerful microwave capabilities warm food quickly and evenly. Its digital LED display and feature-rich controls make it easy to use, while its 10-inch rotating glass turntable ensures even cooking. It can even handle a large frozen dinner with ease. However, this model does lack some features found in more expensive microwaves.

COMFEE’ EM720CPL-PMB Countertop Microwave Oven with Sound On/Off, ECO Mode, and Easy One-Touch Buttons, 0.7cu.ft, 700W, Black

 The COMFEE’ EM720CPL-PMB is small, but it’s surprisingly roomy. It can fit a dinner plate or casserole dish inside, which is just large enough for most families. With 11 power levels, the EM720CPL-PMB offers plenty of cooking flexibility. You can even use it to warm up cold food, as we found in our test. The EM720CPL-PMB has a 1-6-minute Express Cook button that can defrost and cook microwave-safe foods, from frozen dinners to veggies, in minutes.

We found the microwave’s auto-cook functions (popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen veggie, beverage, and reheat) to be particularly helpful, and the turntable rotates clockwise and counterclockwise.

The EM720CPL-PMB also has an ECO mode that powers down after a few minutes of inactivity to help save energy, which is a nice feature. Interior light illuminates the turntable so you can see what’s cooking.

The EM720CPL-PMB has a child-safety lock, along with an easy-to-read digital display with 50- and 60-second timer options. The turntable rotates clockwise and counterclockwise and can be removed quickly for simple cleaning. The interior light turns off automatically after 5 seconds. The EM720CPL-PMB comes with a 1-year warranty. For dorm rooms or small apartments, the COMFEE EM720CPL-PMB is a great choice. It’s a small microwave, but with plenty of room to cook and reheat meals, it’s the perfect size for a student on the go

FAQ’S

Conclusion:

 Be sure to choose a college microwave that’s the right size for your dorm room. Hopefully, this post has made your search a little easier! Do you have a favorite small dorm room microwave?

Leave a comment below and let us know which microwave you go with!