All Microwaves aren’t suitable for college dorms, and those that do are hard to find!
A perfect microwave for college students would be compact, have typical wattage somewhere between 600-900, and is expected to survive regular usage for at least a few years without going bad.
Taking all these factors into consideration, in this post, I have compiled a list of the microwaves for college dorms for reheating and cooking delicious food.
How to Choose The Best Microwave for Your College Dorm: Buying Guide
You should consider several factors before buying a microwave for your college dorm room, but the most crucial ones are size, power, and reliability.
Let’s discuss each one in detail –
1. Size –
Any microwave which is less than 1 Cu. Ft is generally classified as a compact unit.
However, when it comes to small microwaves for dorms, you can go as low as 0.6 Cu. F.t which is a perfect size for a microwave if you intend to use it in a college dorm.
2. Power –
You should choose a microwave with perfect cooking power to optimally cook your food; it should neither be too low nor too high.
The balance of wattage you should go for ranges from 600 watts on the lower end to a max of 1000 watts.
Picking a microwave with power above 1000 wattage would just be a waste of money, as you don’t require higher wattage if you are only cooking or reheating for one or two persons.
3. Reliable –
Last but not least, the microwave you decide to choose for your college dorm must be the one you can easily rely on, meaning it should last longer without giving any headaches by malfunctioning.
Hence it would be wise to have a budget of around 100-150 dollars because if you go below that, you will get a microwave that is more likely to stop working after a year or so.
7 Best Microwave for College Dorm –
Amazon Basics Microwave
The Amazon Basics Microwave is the best microwave for college dorm because it is compact, affordable, and the most reliable unit with advanced features.
The microwave comes with 0.7 Cu. Ft. of cooking capacity, which is what you need if you live in a dorm.
It means you can fit the microwave in almost any small area of your dorm room.
It features 700 watts of cooking power, which means it can cook meals for you without lacking in performance. Also, for reheating or cooking 1 to 2 people, this wattage is sufficient.
What’s more interesting is this microwave is compatible with Alexa, meaning you can use it with voice commands via the Echo device.
You get ten power levels with this microwave for preparing different types of meals.
In short, for a compact and affordable unit, the features that the microwave offers are incredible.
Commercial Chef CHM990B Countertop Microwave Oven
If you have some space and want a more powerful microwave so cooking can be a bit faster, then Commercial Chef CHM990B Countertop Microwave is perfect.
The size or cooking capacity of the microwave is 0.9 Cu. Ft. which is just what you want from an ideal dorm microwave.
The microwave comes with 900 watts of cooking power which is sufficient enough to cook food for 2-4 people at a decent speed, i.e., neither fast nor too slow like other low wattage microwaves.
There are 10 power levels in this microwave, allowing you to set the desired power settings for different meals easily.
Moreover, if you are into making snacks more than usual, then its multi-stage cooking function can turn out to be a blessing for you.
It comes with a total of 6 quick cook settings for making it convenient for you to prepare some everyday meals in no time, which is useful when you feel tired after studying for so long.
Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Oven with Smart Sensor
Now comes the beast; the Toshiba Microwave Oven is literally a beast in both performance and built quality.
Compared to other microwaves for college dorms, this one is actually big, with a cooking capacity of 1.2 Cu. F.t.
This size makes the microwave ideal if you’ve got 3 to 4 roommates as it can handle cooking for a few people without causing any trouble.
When it comes to performance and built quality, the microwave has Stainless Steel interior, which lengthens the lifespan of the microwave and makes it easy to be cleaned from inside.
It comes with 1100 watts of power to prepare meals quickly, and the cooking will also be more optimal with the Smart Sensor included in the microwave.
The best thing I like about this microwave is that it comes with a mute option, which comes in handy if you’ve got roommates who hate loud microwave noises.
So, if you’ve got enough space in your dorm for this microwave, then you won’t be disappointed with its performance and features.
Panasonic NN-SB458S Compact Microwave
A discussion on microwaves would be incomplete without mentioning Panasonic, and this is true here as well.
The Panasonic NN-SB458S Compact Microwave is a perfect combination of small size and appropriate power.
You would only have limited space and power supply in a college dorm, and this microwave can be the best choice for this specific situation.
It has 0.9 Cu. Ft of cooking capacity, which is ideal for any microwave for dorm, means you can quickly cook food for a few people.
The microwave offers you 900 Watts of power to cook the food properly so you won’t find any cold spots in your meals.
Also Read: Microwaves With Drop Down Door
This microwave also meets the criteria of an exemplary microwave for dorm use based on its wattage.
For quick and easy cooking, it has 7 auto cook preset menus so that you can prepare some common foods like popcorn, etc., instantly without any guesswork.
All in all, with functions like Keep Warm mode, delay start, and many more the microwave can be a wise fit in your college dorm.
Commercial Chef Countertop Microwave
If you are looking for the smallest microwave for college dorm, then congrats, you’ve found one!
The Commercial Chef Countertop Microwave is designed for those who like simplicity and want a compact microwave with low wattage.
It is an ideal microwave if you live alone or without one roommate because it has 0.6 Cu. Ft of cooking capacity which is enough for 1-2 people only.
Furthermore, unlike the rest of the microwaves, it comes with turn dial controls so you can simply turn the knob and use it, which makes this microwave extremely easy to operate, even for blind people.
The power output of the microwave is just 600 watts, which could be a downside of this microwave if you prefer your meals to be cooked fast.
Remember, lower watts usually mean the microwave will be small in size, but it also indicates that it may take longer to heat the food in a low watt microwave as compared to other units of higher wattage.
In a nutshell, if you prefer a straightforward microwave with basic functionality at a reasonable cost, the Commercial Chef Microwave is the way to go.
BLACK+DECKER Digital Microwave
The BLACK+DECKER Digital Microwave Oven can be a good option if you have some additional space in your college dorm, and here is why!
The microwave comes with 0.9 Cu. Ft of cooking size which is not too big but still it’s not the smallest either.
With 900 watts of cooking power, the microwave allows you to prepare your favorite meals quickly and optimally.
It includes a push-button door release so you can easily open the microwave door with extra convenience.
There are 10 power settings available in this microwave, using which you can easily select the desired setting you want for your foods.
Not to mention the interior lights that this microwave for college dorms includes so you can clearly monitor your food as it is being cooked.
In conclusion, if you live with 2-3 roommates and want a microwave that can handle regular cooking, reheating, and defrosting, you can consider the BLACK+DECKER College Dorm Microwave.
Check: Left Handed Microwave
Nostalgia RMO7AQ Retro Microwave
If you are more concerned about the looks of your microwave in the college dorm and want a microwave that catches the attention at first look!
If so, the Nostalgia RMO7AQ Retro microwave might be a good fit for you.
The microwave’s 0.7 Cu Ft capacity allows it to fit in small spaces where another average microwave might not.
It comes with 700 watts of cooking power, which you need if you live alone or with two friends in a college dorm.
The biggest plus point that this microwave has which makes it an ideal choice for dorms, is that it features 12 Pre Programmed Cooking Settings.
Hence, you can easily prepare some common dishes without doing any guesswork, all you have to do is select the right setting, and the meals will be ready quickly.
The microwave offers you a turn dial for convenience, along with an Easy-to-read LED display.
In summary, the microwave is best if you want a retro-looking microwave with low wattage and a smaller size for your college dorm.