7 Best Red Microwave Ovens of 2025

This vibrant red microwave doesn’t just cook—it performs. With a 900-watt motor and 0.9 cu ft capacity, the Nostalgia retro model delivers rapid reheating and consistent cooking, making it ideal for small families or solo diners who want speed without sacrificing style. The standout here is its mid-century design language—complete with chrome accents, splayed feet, and a vintage dial—that transforms a utilitarian appliance into a kitchen centerpiece. For those tired of bland, boxy microwaves, this one solves the pain point of boring countertops while still offering eight pre-programmed settings for popcorn, pizza, and more.

In real-world use, the program dial is intuitive, though slightly slower than direct-touch panels on competitors. The microwave heats a bowl of soup in under two minutes and handles frozen dinners with ease, though thicker proteins like chicken breasts require occasional manual rotation for even cooking. The LED display is bright and legible, and the delay start function is a rare gem at this price, letting you schedule meals ahead. However, the turntable is fixed—no position memory—so you’ll need to stop and rotate food mid-cycle if you’re cooking unevenly shaped items.

Compared to the COMFEE’ AM720C2RA-R, this Nostalgia model trades a bit of modern convenience (like mute function or express buttons) for bold aesthetic appeal. It’s best suited for design-conscious users who prioritize kitchen cohesion and retro flair over advanced cooking features. While the Farberware 1.1 cu ft microwave offers more power and space, this Nostalgia unit holds its ground as the most stylish entry in the red microwave category, blending nostalgic charm with everyday functionality.

If your kitchen lives in square inches, the COMFEE’ AM720C2RA-R is a space-saving powerhouse wrapped in retro charm. At just 17.3 inches wide and 0.7 cu ft, it’s tailor-made for dorm rooms, RVs, or studio apartments, yet still packs 700 watts of cooking power and a surprising nine preset menus—including dedicated buttons for popcorn, pizza, and beverages. The real hero? The position-memory turntable, which remembers where it stopped when you open the door, so food resumes spinning from the same angle. This tiny detail eliminates uneven heating, a common flaw in compact models.

During testing, the microwave reheated coffee evenly in 60 seconds and crisped up a frozen taquito without sogginess—no small feat at 700 watts. The large LED display is crisp, and the push-button door release feels more modern than pull handles on other retro units. The mute function is a quiet win, perfect for late-night snacking without waking the household. That said, it struggles with larger plates—10-inch dishes rub against the walls—and the lower wattage means dense foods take longer, requiring manual stirring for best results.

Against the Farberware 0.7 cu ft model, this COMFEE’ unit offers more presets and smarter features, though it costs more. It’s the ideal pick for urban dwellers or students who need maximum functionality in minimal footprint. While the Galanz GLCMKZ09RDR09 offers more capacity, this COMFEE’ microwave delivers the best balance of compact design and intelligent features, making it a top contender for small-space living.

Step into power and precision with the Farberware 1.1 cu ft microwave, a 1000-watt beast that dominates mid-sized cooking tasks with authority. This isn’t just a microwave—it’s a kitchen workhorse, offering 1.1 cubic feet of interior space and ten power levels that let you fine-tune everything from delicate fish to frozen casseroles. The six one-touch presets (popcorn, pizza, potato) respond instantly, and the defrost-by-weight function is remarkably accurate, taking the guesswork out of thawing. For families or frequent cooks, this model solves the frustration of underpowered, cramped microwaves.

In daily use, it reheats leftovers in 90 seconds with zero cold spots, thanks to its 9.65-inch turntable and even wave distribution. The LED display is sharp, and the interior light makes monitoring easy—a small but meaningful touch. It handled a full-size frozen dinner without crowding, and the child safety lock is simple to engage, a must for households with curious kids. However, its larger footprint (18.9” x 15.2” x 11.4”) may not fit in ultra-tight spaces, and the red finish, while bold, shows fingerprints easily.

When stacked against the Nostalgia 900-watt model, this Farberware unit offers more power, more space, and better cooking control, making it a superior all-rounder. It’s the ideal choice for home cooks who want full-sized performance without upgrading to a built-in. While the COMFEE’ CMO-MMP02AA(RD) matches it in features, this Farberware microwave delivers the best blend of size, power, and reliability, standing as the undisputed best overall red microwave.

Don’t let its size fool you—the Farberware 0.7 cu ft microwave is a budget-savvy titan that punches well above its weight. With 700 watts of power and a compact 0.7 cubic foot cavity, it’s perfectly scaled for dorm rooms, offices, or minimalist kitchens, yet still delivers six auto-cook presets, weight-and-time defrost, and express 30-second start. The bold red finish adds a pop of color, while the easy-clean interior resists stains and spills—ideal for messy midnight snacks.

In testing, it reheated ramen in under two minutes and handled frozen waffles without burning edges. The +30 second button is a game-changer for quick boosts, and the child lock is intuitive, preventing accidental starts. The 9.65-inch turntable ensures even cooking, though larger plates can scrape the walls. While it can’t match the 1000-watt speed of its bigger sibling, it’s more than capable for light-to-moderate use. The only real limitation? Lower wattage means longer cook times for dense foods.

Compared to the COMFEE’ AM720C2RA-R, this model offers similar size and power but fewer presets and no mute function. Still, it’s the best value for tight budgets, especially for students or renters who need reliability without overspending. While the Galanz retro model has more charm, this Farberware unit wins on functionality and affordability, making it the smartest pick for cost-conscious buyers.

The Galanz GLCMKZ09RDR09 is where retro aesthetics meet modern convenience, offering a 0.9 cu ft cavity and 7 auto-cook + 10 auto-reheat programs that make daily meals feel effortless. With 900 watts of power and a 10.5-inch rotating glass turntable, it delivers even heating across dishes, while the quick-start and defrost-by-weight functions eliminate guesswork. The pull-handle design and curved edges give it genuine vintage appeal, matching other retro appliances in the Galanz lineup—perfect for those building a themed kitchen.

In practice, it reheats leftovers uniformly and handles frozen meals with confidence. The LED display is large and responsive, and the removable turntable simplifies cleaning—a must for sticky spills. It’s ideal for apartments or kitchenettes, fitting neatly on cramped counters. However, it lacks multi-stage cooking, so you can’t program defrost then cook in sequence, and the interior light is dimmer than competitors, making it harder to monitor food in low light.

Versus the Nostalgia model, this Galanz offers more auto-reheat options and a larger turntable, but with a bulkier footprint. It’s best for design-focused users who also want smart cooking features. While the COMFEE’ CMO-MMP02AA(RD) adds mute and multi-stage cooking, this Galanz unit stands out as the most cohesive retro design, blending style, capacity, and functionality better than any other in its class.

The COMFEE’ CMO-MMP02AA(RD) is a feature-packed innovator in the red microwave space, combining 900 watts, 0.9 cu ft capacity, and true multi-stage cooking—a rarity in this category. This means you can program defrost then cook in one go, saving time and reducing user error. With 11 power levels and six auto menus, including soup, pasta, and reheat, it’s built for daily efficiency, while the mute function lets you cook silently at night—perfect for shared living spaces.

During testing, it defrosted chicken breasts evenly, then cooked them without manual input, a feature absent in most rivals. The LED display is bright and responsive, and the two-step child lock adds serious safety. It reheats coffee without overheating and crisps pizza edges just right. However, the interior is narrower than expected, so 10-inch plates touch the sides, and the pull handle can snag sleeves—a small ergonomic flaw.

Compared to the Farberware 1.1 cu ft model, it offers smarter programming but less space. It’s ideal for tech-savvy users who value automation over raw capacity. While the Galanz has more reheat presets, this COMFEE’ unit wins on cooking intelligence and flexibility, making it the best red microwave for multi-stage cooking—a step ahead of the competition.