You love the convenience that a warming drawer can bring, and you also adore the benefits of having a microwave. However, you only have the space or budget for one – that means you need a microwave with warming drawer.
Is there such a thing as a microwave and warming drawer combo? What are the best microwaves with warming drawer available today?
So, let’s dig into exactly what a microwave with warming drawer is, what the pros and cons are, and which model is best for you!
CONTENTS:
What is a microwave with warming drawer?
Pros and cons of a microwave with warming drawer
Our top 3 picks for microwaves with warming drawer
What Is a Microwave with Warming Drawer?
A standalone warming drawer is a kitchen appliance that allows you to keep cooked dishes warm until they’re ready to serve.
Therefore, a microwave and warming drawer combo is simply a microwave that has the ability to keep foods at a warm temperature until you’re ready to eat. The keep warm feature, as you can find in many microwaves these days, is actually meant to do that.
That is to say, when you’re looking for a microwave with warming drawer, you’re actually in need of a microwave with keep warm feature.
What Are the Pros and Cons of a Microwave with Warming Drawer?
As we have explained above, a microwave with warming drawer, also known as a microwave with a keep warm feature, is a popular choice these days.
However, how does a microwave with keep warm function compare to a standalone warming drawer? What are the pros and cons of it?
Here are some common reasons why you should or shouldn’t opt for it:
Pros of a Microwave with Warming Drawer
- Space-Saving
Small kitchens in studio apartments, office break room, and dorm rooms just weren’t designed with much space for all sorts of appliances.
If you have limited space in your kitchen, a microwave with warming drawer is an ideal option for you, as it combines two appliances into one.
- Budget-Friendly
Microwave ovens are incredibly affordable these days, even those with a keep warm feature. Hence, you can expect to save a bit of money by getting a microwave and warming drawer combo, instead of buying these two appliances separately.
- Versatility
Since microwaves with warming drawers are much larger than standalone warming drawers, there’s more space to use.
Wouldn’t it be great to easily fit large bowls or awkwardly shaped containers in the appliance, and keep your cooked dishes in the perfect condition?
Cons of a Microwave with Warming Drawer
- Microwave-safe containers only
If you want to keep foods warm in the microwave with warming drawer combo, you’re allowed to use microwave-safe containers only.
With that being said, you can’t use stainless steel, metals, glass, etc in the microwave with warming drawer.
- Time limit
For most microwaves with warming drawers out there, the time they can keep foods warm is limited to 30-90 minutes, while standalone warming drawers can hold foods for a relatively longer time.
If you wish to keep your cooked dishes warm for a longer period of time, you’ll need to start the keep warm feature again after the first period of time.
Best Microwaves with Warming Drawer Available to Buy
Now that you have a basic idea of what a microwave with warming drawer is, let’s get into our top picks for microwave warming drawer combo:
Toshiba EC042A5C-SS Countertop Microwave Oven with Convection
BEST MICROWAVE WITH WARMING DRAWER OVERALL
Reasons to Buy:
- 1.5 Cu. Ft. Capacity
- Smart Sensor with 13 Auto Menus
- Warm Hold Function
- Easy-to-Clean Stainless Steel Interior
Toshiba is one of the most popular brands when it comes to making quality microwave ovens. As such, the Toshiba EC042A5C-SS is one of the best microwaves with warming drawer we can buy today.
The warm hold function allows you to keep cooked dishes warm for up to 99 minutes, which is a longer time than many other models out there.
Its stainless steel finish makes it easy-to-clean, so you can easily wipe down oil stains and spills with a damp cloth.
With 1000 Watts of cooking power and a large capacity of 1.5 cu. Ft., the microwave with warming drawer is powerful enough to cope with the cooking requirements of a medium family.
This filter also has the ability to bake and roast. With its 4 auto bake menus and 4 auto roast menus, it’d be extremely easy to make French Fries, muffins, roast beef and more.
It has a smart sensor built in, which offers 13 auto-cooking menus that enable you to cook a wide range of foods with one press of the button.
Panasonic NN-SN686S Countertop Microwave Oven
BEST FULLY-FEATURED MICROWAVE WITH WARMING DRAWER
Reasons to Buy:
- 1200 Watts Cooking Power
- Keep Warm Feature
- Inverter Technology with Turbo Defrost
- Smart Cooking Sensor with Preset Menus
Panasonic’s microwave oven is nice to look at and easy to use. On its top surface, there’s a large digital display and intuitive buttons that ensure a high-end look.
Aside from the smooth design, it boasts a lot of well-thought-out features. The keep warm feature lets you keep soups, dishes, or deserts warm until all your family members are ready to eat.
Inverter Technology can generate a seamless stream of power to ensure your favorite foods are evenly and perfectly prepared.
It has a 1.2 cubic foot capacity and is best for a family of 3-4 members. The microwave oven with a warming drawer has a high power output of 1200 Watts, so it can help you have dinners ready in a flash.
It also contains a smart sensor and 14 preset menus. This means it can automatically adjust the power level and cooking time while cooking, so you can achieve optimal cooking results without any guesswork.
Other thoughtful features of this microwave oven include child safety lock, turbo defrost, quick minute timer, delay start, and more.
Sharp SMO1854DS Over-the-Range Microwave Oven
BEST OVER-THE-RANGE MICROWAVE WITH WARMING DRAWER
Reasons to Buy:
- 1.8 cu. ft. Capacity
- Keep Warm Feature
- 3-Speed, 450CFM Venting System
- Precise Cook Sensor Technology
If you’re looking for an over-the-range microwave with a warming drawer, the Sharp SMO1854DS is a dream, and not just because it looks so advanced.
The edge-to-edge stainless steel exterior and grey interior makes it a breeze to maintain, so the microwave with warming drawer is going to age beautifully.
The spacious 1.8 cu. Ft. capacity makes sure you can make big-batch meals at once. And the 1100 Watts of cooking power is ready to make quick meals and heat up your leftovers in a snap.
Despite its sleek appearance, it has a powerful, 450 CFM exhaust fan that can operate at 3 speeds. Therefore, it can effectively remove smoke and steam from your kitchen.
For sure, there’s a keep warm feature to help you hold cooked dishes warm until they’re ready to serve. There’s a Sharp Carousel turntable to help prepare foods evenly and quickly. And the Precise Cook Sensor Technology is especially helpful for taking out the guesswork, so you can have a worry-free cooking experience from day to day.