By Mary H.J. Farrell Updated by Daphne Yao An over-the-range microwave oven is a good choice if you have limited counter space or ... overcooking your food. One small drawback is its so-so speed ...

These countertop and over-the-range models top CR's tests in heating and defrosting Countertop microwaves are often cheaper and easier to install, while over-the-range models save you counter space.

Best small At just under $100 ... Ease of use: I looked at how easy and intuitive the microwaves were to use, and how much space they occupied on my counter. I also evaluated how much noise ...

But most microwave ovens have less usable space than advertised, according to our tests: In fact, both over-the-range (OTR) and countertop microwaves have a usable capacity of about 50 percent of ...