Are you looking for the best microwaves for seniors? Hassle not, you have come to the right path.
Everybody loves food thus cooking is fun. However, seniors have a hard time frequently finding their way around the kitchen to prepare a delicious meal. This is because they can get burns from oven pans, food taking longer to cook, lots of dishes left to do after cooking and risk of fires when they forget to turn off the ovens. That is why A microwave for older adult is very crucial, so that to make their lives more accessible and safer.
Apart from cooking meals, a microwave for the elderly will also help them reheat and defrost meals. But, which is the best microwave for seniors? It would be best to look for the one with distinct features suitable for an older adult’s life.
Regrettably, finding the best can be challenging due to the variety and confusing options in the market. However, we have the easier route for the top selection in this review. But what are the factors to consider while buying a good microwave.
Contents
{Index Table} Top (8) Rated Best microwaves for Seniors.
Buying Guide( what are the factors to consider in before buying?)
To find the best microwave for the elderly, ensure you are looking out for the below features.
Easy Controls
An easy control panel will make the senior’s life in your house straightforward when preparing a meal. Therefore, one with too many buttons and complicated features can be hectic to understand and get used to.
Preferably, it would help if you looked for the one with a few and specific buttons to stay in their mind every time they want to use. So, knobs and dials that require less pressure to activate would be perfect. Also, a microwave for the seniors needs to have a large display with letters and numbers marked. Better yet, contrasting colors and maybe lighting on the numbers/letters and the screen would be best, especially for the visually impaired elderly.
Sound Feature.
With the memory issues in seniors, they tend to forget when the food is cooking hence causing burns to severity to some extents. Luckily, a good microwave made for their needs should come with a sound feature that ‘dings’ when the food is ready.
Apart from notifying them of ready food, it is also very safe as it does not risk any burns and cause fires. Ideally, the ‘ding’ should be loud enough to alert the elderly from wherever they may be in the house.
Auto Shut-Off.
The auto shut off sensor monitors the vapor in the microwave and regulates the cooking time as required. This way, it can also be beneficial in avoiding overcooking or burning. Still, it eliminates the guessing of how much time you would need to prepare your meal as you want.
Moreover, it enables even temperature entirely on the food and prevents mouth burns from the overcooked or unevenly heated meal.
Size.
The size of the microwave is significant as the elderly will have to consider the available counter space and the number of meals to fit in.
If a senior has a small kitchen with limited counter space, usually they can either get a smaller microwave or relocate other things for more area.
Also, do you want a microwave that can heat more than one plate simultaneously or just one? For the older adults living alone, a compact size for a single container would be ideal.
Power.
A microwave that delivers higher wattage cooks faster and more evenly. Typically large and more expensive microwaves have higher wattage.
However, if you can only afford one on the lower end of wattage and price, it’s not a big issue. This only means that food will take a little bit longer.
Best microwaves for Seniors Reviews.
(1) BLACK and DECKER Stainless Steel Digital Microwave Oven for seniors.
View current price Amazon
The Black and Decker model comes with a 10.6-inch removable glass turntable that rotates to ensure an evenly cooked meal. Because it is removable, it is easy to clean with warm soapy water.
Also, it comprises a wide lighted-digital display that has readable control panel, clock, countdown timer. Remarkably, it is powerful enough with 900 watts and ten power settings, providing express cooking of 30 seconds. Besides, it comes pre-programmed for popcorns, pizza, potatoes and frozen vegetables.
Moreover, just by pushing a button, you can open the door quickly and stop the microwave whenever you please.
Pros.
- Easy to clean.
- Large display.
- Easy to control.
- Powerful.
- Express cooking.
- Interior lighting.
Cons.
- Can’t read keys without light.
(2) COMFEE' EM720CPL-PM Microwave Oven for Elderly.
View current price Amazon
This COMFEE’ microwave features convenient one-touch cooking buttons, a removable glass plate and eleven power levels.
On the big digital LED display, there’s a clock function which also works as a timer. Also, an energy-saving eco mode enables you to save energy by turning off the LED display.
Moreover, you can be sure of lasting service as it has a durable stainless steel body. The control panel is easy to read and use hence ideal for seniors use.
Pros.
- Stylish and durable.
- One-touch cooking.
- LED digital display.
- Energy-saving.
- Easy to use.
Cons
- Warms food unevenly
(3) Panasonic Microwave Oven NN- SN686S for seniors.
View current price Amazon
This Panasonic model is efficient to cook whatever your older adult wants without any problem. Why so?
Firstly, it delivers the power of 1200 Watt which enables diversity and even cooking. Better still, it has ten power levels that can soften butter, heat leftovers and even bake a cake. Also, the Advanced Inverter Turbo Defrost enables the shortest time in defrosting.
Moreover, it has a compact design that allows you to use less counter space, not to mention the turntable is light and thin for seniors with hearing problems, the loud enough beep alerts when the food is ready.
Pros.
- Adjustable power and settings.
- Compact design.
- Powerful for versatile cooking.
- Speedy defrost.
Cons.
- Rusts from the interior.
(4) Panasonic Countertop / Built-In Microwave Oven
View current price Amazon
This model of Panasonic microwave has a distinct feature of Cyclonic Inverter Technology. This feature circulates even heat in 3D waves for more effective cooking.
The controls are simple, combining a dial and buttons that are easy to use. Even better, you don’t have to set a timer as the sensor cook and reheat functions provide pre-set options for effortless cooking.
While it can defrost your meal in 30 seconds, it also maintains the food heated until you are ready to serve.
Pros.
- Effective cooking.
- Pre-set options.
- Quick defrost.
- Maintains heat.
- Easy to use.
Cons.
- Cannot use the timer when cooking.
(5) Nostalgia RMO4AQ Retro Microwave Oven for Elderly.
View current price Amazon
Nostalgia is among the best microwaves for senior citizens for its lustrous and historical design that still looms in any kitchen decor. It features an LED-lighted digital clock with 12 pre-programmed cooking settings for delicious results.
As a compact size microwave oven, it will heat your food most evenly and efficiently, thanks to the turntable. Besides, the pre-programmed cooking options provide several food choices. Also, it is among the easiest to use microwaves for seniors.
Seniors can effortlessly use cooking settings by either turning or pushing the program dial. Ultimately, the 800 watts provides enough energy to cook and reheat meals.
Pros
- Adequate energy.
- Sleek classic design.
- Lighted display.
- Easy to use.
- Pre-set cooking options.
Cons.
- Defrost function is ineffective.
(6) Commercial Chef Countertop Min Microwave Oven for seniors.
View current price Amazon
If the older person has a small kitchen with limited counter space, this is it! Still, it allows more room for other kitchen countertop appliances by taking up less space.
It is also effortless to operate by using mechanical dials that has six power levels. All you need to do is turn the dial and set the timer allowing the microwave to do the rest.
For 600 watts of power, it can defrost, reheat and cook frozen meals from 1-30 minutes. The turntable is removable for easy cleaning, not to mention the surface is also straightforward to clean.
Pros.
- Several power levels.
- Space-saving.
- Easy to operate.
- Versatile.
- Easy to clean.
Cons.
- Turning dial makes noise.
(7) Panasonic NE-1025F Light-Duty Countertop Microwave Oven for seniors.
View current price Amazon
This unit has a 1000-watt high power output and a durable, stainless steel body, among other unique features.
Apart from being durable and robust, it is senior-friendly, especially for those who have Dementia. It is easy to use with a large dial for the timer, which is ideal for senior citizens with problems like dexterity and vision.
Also, it has a Grab and Goes convenient handle, offering easy grip and accessibility. Better still, it saves time for you to use it in the kitchen. Aside from reheating meals, it can also cook, defrost and even bake so no need to buy a separate oven.
Pros.
- Durable.
- Powerful.
- Versatile.
- Easy to use.
- Convenient handle.
Cons.
- Overheats food constantly.
(8) Sharp R-21LCFS Medium Duty Microwave For Older.
View current price Amazon
This is a perfect design for the elderly who want to prepare more than one meal plate.
Firstly, it has a classic knob-style design and a simple timer with 6 minutes of maximum setting. This is ideal for the life of a senior.
Moreover, there’s a bright LED indicator that makes it straightforward to monitor and control. Better still, it has a large interior that can accommodate several and different sizes of dishes. Made from stainless steel, you can be confident in its durability and also economical.
Pros.
- Auto-cancel.
- Large interior.
- Easy to maintain.
- Effortless operation.
Cons.
- It does not defrost.
Wrap-up.
The above top selection of microwaves has several benefits for seniors. Some older adults prefer a microwave with a standard rotary dial, while others may want a digital dial.
Moreover, seniors with arthritis need a pull handle and dials, whereas those with impaired vision would be better off with big numbers and lighting. Go ahead and make your decision.