Best 1100-Watt Microwaves

The built-in grill element is the standout here - it browns and crisps in ways a standard microwave can't, useful for finishing a casserole top or getting a grilled edge on a sandwich without a separate toaster oven. Eleven power levels give finer control than the 10-level standard most competitors use.

The retro-styled control panel and chromed handle are a genuine design choice, not a filler feature, if a vintage look matters in your kitchen - just know it's a newer listing without the long track record of some picks below.

At 28.4 lbs it's noticeably lighter than most 1100W microwaves in this range, worth noting if it needs to move between a dorm setup, an RV, or a kitchen counter. Six one-touch menus plus weight and speed defrost cover most daily reheating without digging through settings.

Digital controls run from 30 seconds up to 99 minutes in one setting, more headroom than most microwaves offer if you're using it for slow-cook tasks rather than quick reheats.

Functionally the same Commercial Chef unit as the black model above - same 10 power levels, same six one-touch menus, same 1.1 cu. ft. cavity - just in white and currently the cheapest pick in this entire lineup.

There's no functional difference from its black sibling; pick based on kitchen color scheme and whichever listing is priced lower at the time you buy.

At 1.6 cu. ft. this has meaningfully more cavity room than the Commercial Chef and Emerson picks above, useful for a full casserole dish or a large mixing bowl rather than just a single plate. Multi-stage cooking chains two power settings into one run, handy for a defrost-then-cook sequence.

The LED display includes both a kitchen timer and a clock, a small but genuinely useful detail if this is the only clock visible from where you're cooking.

The Alexa integration is a real functional feature here, not a gimmick add-on - paired with an Echo device, you can start, stop, or check remaining time by voice without touching the panel, useful with full hands during meal prep. The two-step child lock also requires a specific sequence to open, harder for a young child to trigger by accident than a single-button lock.

The humidity sensor reads steam output to auto-adjust cooking power, similar to the Toshiba units in the 1000-watt lineup, so if you've used one before this will feel familiar.

This is the only true built-in model in the lineup, designed to sit flush in cabinetry rather than on a counter - the trim kit (27-inch or 30-inch) is sold separately, so budget for that as a second purchase before installing. At 2.2 cu. ft. it also has the largest cavity of any pick here.

Cutout dimensions are precise (24¾" W x 20" D x 16¾" H), so measure your cabinetry carefully before ordering - a built-in unit isn't something you can return easily once cut in.

At 550 CFM this vents more air than the other range-hood-style microwaves in this category, worth it if your stovetop produces a lot of steam or smoke. Wi-Fi and voice control let you start a cook cycle or check remaining time from a phone app rather than standing at the panel.

It's also by far the most expensive pick in this comparison at nearly $500 - a real premium for the smart features and vent power, not something to buy for basic reheating needs.