About HeatVerdict
HeatVerdict is an independent review and buying-advice site about microwaves. Our aim is simple: help you choose the right model for your kitchen, honestly, without hype.
Why HeatVerdict exists
Buying a microwave is more confusing than it should be. The market is full of near-identical models, baffling jargon about solo, grill and combination types, headline wattage figures that mean less than they suggest, and reviews that read like they were written by the marketing department. We started HeatVerdict to cut through that — to test the models that are genuinely available in the UK and tell you plainly which one suits which kitchen, and where each one falls short.
We believe a good review tells you who a product isn't for as clearly as who it is. A combination microwave is the wrong buy for someone who only reheats; a 28-litre grill model is the wrong buy for a tiny worktop. Most of our advice comes down to matching the type and size to how you actually cook and the space you have, and we would rather say that plainly than sell you the most expensive thing on the page.
Who writes our reviews
Our reviews are written by Olivia Bennett, a kitchen appliance tester who has spent years testing and comparing cooking, reheating and food-preparation products. Olivia buys the models, sets them up exactly as you would, and judges them on the things that matter in everyday use: how evenly they actually reheat a plate of food, how easy the controls are, how much room the cavity really gives you, and how simple they are to clean. The verdicts you read here come from hands-on use, not spec sheets.
How we stay independent
HeatVerdict is funded by affiliate commissions: when you buy a product through one of our links, we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. That funding lets us keep the site free and keep testing. Crucially, it does not buy a place in our rankings. We are not paid by manufacturers to feature or favour their products, and our order is decided by how the models perform — never by who pays the most. You can read more in our affiliate disclosure.
What we cover — and what we don't
We focus narrowly on microwaves because that is where we can be genuinely useful. Rather than spreading ourselves across every kitchen gadget, we go deep on the models most people actually buy: how evenly they reheat, how the inverter or power levels behave, how usable the cavity is, and how the type — solo, grill or combination — affects what you can do. That focus is deliberate. A site that reviews everything tends to review nothing well, and microwaves are a category where small, practical details — the evenness of reheating, the ease of cleaning, the real footprint on the worktop — make the difference between a model you love and one you regret.
We don't cover built-in or commercial cooking appliances in depth, except where understanding them helps you make a better microwave decision. If a microwave isn't the right answer for your situation, we'll say so plainly rather than push you towards a product just because we can link to it. Honest guidance sometimes means telling you that a cheaper solo is all you need.
How we keep our advice current
The microwave market refreshes regularly. Models are discontinued, replaced or rebadged, prices move, and a model that was excellent value last year can be quietly superseded. We revisit our rankings regularly, update prices and availability, and replace models that are no longer the best choice for their buyer. When a recommended model is discontinued, we don't leave a dead end — we point you to the closest current alternative and explain why. Our goal is that whenever you read a recommendation here, it reflects what we'd actually buy today.
Who we write for
Most of our readers are dealing with a very ordinary task: replacing a microwave that has died, or fitting one into a kitchen, and wanting to get it right without spending an afternoon on it. Some have a tiny worktop and need the most compact model that still works; others want one machine that can also grill and bake. We write for those people first — the person who wants one good recommendation and a clear explanation, not a 5,000-word essay or a wall of affiliate buttons. If that's you, every page on this site is built to get you to the right microwave as quickly and honestly as possible.
Our promise
We'll always tell you the honest downsides as well as the strengths, we'll always explain our reasoning, and we'll never recommend a model we wouldn't buy ourselves. If you want to see exactly how we arrive at our verdicts, read how we test. And if you're ready to choose, start with our best microwave ranking or our buying guide.