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WHETHER you're a ready meal regular or just use it for occasional re-heating, steaming and defrosting; a microwave is an ultra-handy appliance for speedy cooking.

But you don't have to spend a fortune to get a good quality microwave that ticks all the boxes when it comes to size, power and performance.

In fact, some have just as many functions as the higher end ones but without the price tag to match.

We explain what to look for and round up some of the best models on the market.

How do you choose the best one for you? We’ve rounded up some of the best cheap microwaves to get you delicious meals in minutes in 2022.

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1. Essentials CMW21 Compact Solo Microwave

• Essentials CMW21 Compact Solo Microwave, £49.99 at Currys - buy here

With a 15-litre capacity and 700W power, this is a great starter microwave with 6 power settings, which you can adjust to what you're cooking.

The compact design makes this microwave ideal for smaller kitchens will less worktop space.

Set the power high top rapidly heat soups and drink, or a lower heat to slow-cook a chilli. Plus, there's a defrost function so you can thaw fish, meat and bread straight out of the freezer.

Key specs - Capacity: 15L Power: 700W Defrost function Y

2. Cookworks standard microwave P70B

• Cookworks standard microwave P70B, £65 at Argos - buy here

The Cookworks standard microwave is another budget-friendly alternative that’s also available in silver, black and white.

The digital panel means you can control precise cooking times and there are 10 different power levels to choose from.

This 17 litre device also comes with a child safety lock.

Key specs - Capacity: 17L Power: 700W Defrost function Y

3. Ikea Tillreda microwave

• Ikea Tillreda microwave, £69 at Ikea - buy here

Ikea’s freestanding microwave is a 700W machine with a two-year guarantee.

The compact model is designed for smaller kitchens and can be placed just about anywhere.

The power and cooking times are controlled using two knobs on the right hand side of the door.

Key specs - Capacity: 20L Power: 700W Defrost function N

4. Dunelm manual microwave

• Dunelm manual microwave, £45 at Dunelm - buy here

This 700W microwave has a 20 litre capacity, which makes it the biggest of the ultra-budget friendly options on our list.

It has six different power settings, including defrost, and the timings are all controlled via a knob.

The door is manual so you have to open it by hand rather than at the push of a button.

Key specs - Capacity: 20L Power: 700W Defrost function N

5. Panasonic NN-E28JBMBPQ compact solo microwave

• Panasonic NN-E28JBMBPQ microwave, £100 at Argos - buy here

The Panasonic NN-E28JBMBPQ compact solo microwave is a powerful 800W machine with a 20 litre capacity.

The timing and power is programmed via a control pad and there are three preset functions - auto defrost, auto reheat and auto cook - that are adjustable depending on the amount of food you’re cooking.

When we tested this model, we found that it was straightforward and easy to use. When we defrosted some salmon for example, it did it in less than 10 minutes without cooking the fish in the process.

The function we were most impressed by was multi-stage cooking, which lets you set three different times and power levels for one continuous program, great if you're cooking an entire meal.

Key specs - Capacity: 20L Power: 800W Defrost function Y

6. Russell Hobbs RHMM701R 17L microwave oven

• Russell Hobbs 700W microwave, £67.99 at Robert Dyas - buy here

This compact microwave from Russell Hobbs has a 17 litre capacity and a 700W power.

The six power settings, including defrost, are controlled using dials - the dial for the timer is directly above it and goes up to 30 minutes.

The door is manual open only and you can also get the same model in cream, black and silver.

Key specs - Capacity: 17L Power: 700W Defrost function N

7. Kenwood K20MW21 solo microwave

• Kenwood K20MW21 solo microwave, £79.99 at Currys - buy here

Ideal for bigger households, this microwave has a 20 litre capacity and 800W of power - enough for most kitchen tasks.

The control pad lets you select 11 different power levels for super-simple heating and re-heating.

There are also six pre-set cooking programmes for specific meals such as frozen veggies, pizza or popcorn. Plus, two auto defrost programmes for thawing frozen leftovers.

Key specs - Capacity: 20L Power: 800W Defrost function Y

8. Sharp YC-MG01U-S microwave

• Sharp YC-MG01U-S microwave, £69.99 at Amazon - buy here

This 800W microwave has a 20 litre capacity with five different power levels.

But even better - it also includes a grill with four different settings so you can crisp up foods as well.

All the functions, including power levels and to toggle between the microwave and the grill, are controlled using the knobs on the right hand side of the device.

Key specs - Capacity: 20L Power: 800W Defrost function Y

9. Tower T24034WHT 20 Litre 700W Manual Microwave

This tower microwave has a generous 20 litre capacity and 700W of power with five power levels to precisely cook a wide range of meals.

There's a 35-minute timer and you can use the dials to choose the exact time you need and a glass turntable so your food can rotate and be evenly cooked through.

The magna wave technology also ensures a good, even heat distribution - and the 3-year guarantee can give you great peace of mind - this model is a great all-rounder for a good price.

Key specs - Capacity: 20L Power: 700W Defrost function Y

10. Sharp R20DSLM 20 Litre Microwave

• Sharp R20DSLM 20 Litre Microwave - Silver, £65 at Boots - buy here

The second Sharp microwave to make our list, the R20DSLM has a 20 litre capacity and 800 watts of power.

It's easy to use with simple dial controls and the handy minute minder timer will let you know when your meals are ready to serve.

There's a defrost feature to let you thaw food quickly and safely, straight from the freezer - plus, eight pre-programmed recipes for tasty meals in no time.

Key specs - Capacity: 20L Power: 800W Defrost function Y

11. George Home 17L 700W Manual Microwave

• George Home 17L 700W Manual Microwave - Silver, £49 at Asda - buy here

It's super quick and simple to prepare delicious dinners with this great value silver manual microwave from George Home.

If your kitchen counter space is limited, this compact oven could be just what you need - with 700W of power and a stylish silver finish.

There are five power levels as well as a defrost function for quick and easy thawing.

Plus, this model has plenty of five-star reviews from content customers - one says '100% happy with the microwave - very good value'.

Key specs -  Power: 700W Defrost function Y

12. Cookworks 700W Standard Microwave MM7

• Cookworks 700W Standard Microwave MM7 - White, £55 at Argos - buy here

Finally, a second Cookworks' microwave to make our list - the MM7 has a 17-litre capacity and 700w of power.

It looks sleek and stylish in white and is compact so won't take up too much space in your kitchen.

There are six power levels to choose from and a rotating turntable to ensure your food is cooked evenly throughout - plus, a handy defrost option.

Also, extra safety measures include an automated safety-cut off to prevent overheating and a child safety lock on the door.

Key specs - Capacity: 17L Power: 700W Defrost function Y

What size microwave do I need?

Cheaper microwaves often have a smaller capacity, which may well be a good thing if you only have a small kitchen.

But the capacity of a microwave and its size might not always match up so double check the external dimensions to make sure it will fit where you want it to.

Remember, you also need to give microwaves room to “breath” as they have vents to release the heat produced during cooking.

In terms of capacity, if you’re only planning to use it to reheat leftovers or to cook ready meals, you don’t need a huge microwave.

Smaller “solo” ones that are around 15 to 20 litres are more than enough. For bigger families, you’ll want one that’s over 20 litres - but only if you’re planning to do more with it.

The internal dimensions of the microwave are important too.

Some microwaves are taller and narrower while others are wider but have low ceilings so you need to choose one where most of your containers will fit inside.

An easy way to do this is to measure your plates up against the size of the turntable plate - but if you’re using it to heat up jugs or bottles then you’ll need to consider the height as well.

What power microwave do I need?

In terms of power, most microwaves are between 700W and 900W.

A more powerful microwave will cook your food faster, saving you time, especially when you're cooking larger quantities.

It can also cook the food more evenly, reducing the chances of a charred exterior and uncooked interior.

However, on a defrost function where you have to lower the power level anyway to avoid cooking the food, it won’t make much of a difference.

How to clean a microwave

We’ve all been there - that moment when the bowl of food we’re heating up unexpectedly explodes all over the inside of the microwave.

But cleaning the microwave is actually quite easy.

All you need is some water and a couple of slices of lemon or a couple of tablespoons of white vinegar - combine these in a microwaveable bowl and heat on high power for a couple of minutes until the water comes to a boil and steam is produced.

Leave the mixture to cool in the microwave with the door closed for a few minutes - it needs to be cool enough to touch but not completely cold.

When ready, you just need to wipe down the interior of the microwave with a clean cloth and any stubborn, stuck on food should come away easily.

When was the microwave invented?

The microwave oven was invented by accident in the 1940s by American Physicist Percy Spencer.

He was working on magnetrons - a vacuum tube that produces microwaves and is used in radar - when he realised the chocolate bar in his pocket was getting hot and started melting.

After some experimenting, the microwave oven was born.

The design was patented in 1945. However, it wasn’t until 1946 that the first commercially available microwave ovens were produced by Raytheon, Spencer’s employer at the time.

At more than five foot tall, it was so big and expensive that its first customers were actually restaurants.

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