When they were introduced a few decades ago, microwaves changed the culinary world forever – they made cooking much quicker and straightforward, and defrosting food a very simple process. No wonder that many of us consider them an essential and convenient part of life – and one that can fairly easily extend to your touring lifestyle, too.
But how do you go about choosing the best microwave for a campervan? There’s a lot to think about: you’ll need to take into consideration the amount of space and payload you have available. Some of them can be quite weighty, and you’ll need to make sure that you don’t exceed the load carrying capabilities of your vehicle.
Microwaves also consume a fair bit of power, so you’ll need to have a think about whether you’ll be on mains electric hook-up or not – if not, you could consider taking one of the best portable power stations for van life with you on tour. In this guide we’ve included microwaves that are all at the lower end of the power scale, to give you more flexibility on when and where you use them.
The other thing you’ll need to bear in mind is your budget and the number of features that you want your microwave to have. The most basic only offer a limited number of functions, but you might decide that these are sufficient for your needs, particularly if you are only likely to use your campervan microwave every now and then.
If after reading our guide you decide that a microwave isn’t quite right for your needs, you could also consider a low wattage air fryer instead.
But I think that, as long as you have enough space for it, a microwave is a great addition to a campervan. I’ve recently bought a campervan that doesn’t have one, and I’ve been considering my options – below you’ll find all of the models that I’ve been looking at, and my thoughts on them.
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The best microwaves for a campervan:
Toshiba 20-litre Solo Small Microwave
Russell Hobbs 20 Litre Solo Microwave
Beko Solo Microwave MOC20100W1
Tower T24042WHT Manual Microwave
Toshiba 800w 20L Microwave Oven
Haden Cotswold Green Microwave Oven
SHARP Compact 700W Digital Microwave with Grill
Cookology 800W Freestanding Microwave
CASO Design MG20 Ecostyle
Low wattage microwaves for a campervan: our top picks
Toshiba 20-litre Solo Small Microwave
- Wattage: 800W
- Dimensions: 44 x 35.7 x 25.8cm
- Capacity: 20 litres
- Weight: 12kg
Reason to buy:
- Simple to use
Reason to avoid:
- Fairly weighty
This 800W Toshiba microwave is one of the more power-hungry examples in our guide, but if you regularly use electric hook-up in the UK then we think you should find it suitable for campervan use. We like its smart white styling, and while it’s fairly basic in design, it offers five different power settings (including a defrost mode) and a 35-minute analogue timer. Inside you’ll find a 25.5cm glass turntable, which can be removed and washed in the dishwasher when you return home after your travels.
This Toshiba microwave isn’t the smallest unit here, or the lightest, so you’ll need to make sure that you have the space and payload available to take it away with you in your campervan.
Peace of mind is important when buying electrical appliances, of course, so it’s reassuring to see that this microwave comes with Toshiba’s one-year guarantee.
Russell Hobbs 20 Litre Solo Microwave
- Wattage: 800W
- Dimensions: 44 x 33.8 x 25.9cm
- Capacity: 20 litres
- Weight: 11.35kg
Reason to buy:
- Smart styling, five power levels
Reason to avoid:
- Higher power consumption than some others here
This Russell Hobbs microwave is similar in function to the Toshiba unit above, so which you choose between the two is likely to come down to personal preference on styling – personally, I like the mirrored finish of the door of this Russell Hobbs microwave.
Otherwise, you’ll find that it offers 800W of power, and has a width of 44cm. It’s slightly lighter than the Toshiba, but only just.
Five different power levels are available, so you can easily choose the most suitable for your needs and food type, and a defrost setting is included. The 35 minute timer should be more than adequate for most dishes you’ll want to cook in your campervan, and the removable glass plate inside can be washed in the dishwasher back at home. A one-year warranty comes with this microwave, to provide additional peace of mind during your ownership of it.
Check the latest price of the Russell Hobbs RHM2027 on Amazon now.
Beko Solo Microwave MOC20100W1
- Wattage: 700W
- Dimensions: 44.4 x 36.8 x 24.3cm
- Capacity: 20 litres
- Weight: 10.8kg
Reason to buy:
- Sturdy handle, fairly lightweight
Reason to avoid:
- Deep width
I’m a big fan of Beko products – I have a Beko dishwasher and fridge at home, both of which have proved both straightforward to use and reliable over the years that I’ve owned them. So this product caught my eye when browsing for the best microwave for a campervan.
It may not look as fancy as some other options here, but pleasingly it comes with a sturdy handle that I think might make it easier to open and shut the door when compared with push-button versions. It’s only 700W, but that means it will require less power when you’re on electric hook-up. Also, it has six different power settings available, giving you a good range of options when it comes to cooking your food.
One thing to bear in mind is that it is slightly larger than other units here, with a depth of almost 37cm.
Check the latest price of the Beko Solo Microwave MOC20100W1 on Amazon now.
Tower T24042WHT Manual Microwave
- Wattage: 800W
- Dimensions: 45.1 x 34.4 x 25.5cm
- Capacity: 20 litres
- Weight: 10.3kg
Reason to buy:
- Light in weight
Reason to avoid:
- Wider than others in this round-up
As with Beko, I have experience of using Tower products – I take a Tower air fryer away in my own campervan when I go on tours and it’s one we consider to be among the best air fryers for a motorhome. So this microwave looked tempting to me.
It’s fairly basic when it comes to the number of features that it offers, although it does have five different power settings as well as a defrost option. The 30-minute analogue timer should prove sufficient for most types of cooking, and the large handle will make the door easy to open. Peace of mind will come from the standard one-year guarantee (a two-year extension is also available), and I like that this model is lighter than many of the others in this guide, at just 10.3kg in weight. You’ll need to check that it fits in the space you have dedicated to it in your campervan, though, because it’s slightly wider than other microwaves here, at 45.1cm.
Check the latest price of the Tower T24042WHT Manual Microwave on Amazon now.
Toshiba 800w 20L Microwave Oven
- Wattage: 800W
- Dimensions: 43.9 x 35.7 x 25.8cm
- Capacity: 20 litres
- Weight: 11kg
Reason to buy:
- Smart design, eight presets, mute button
Reason to avoid:
- You might prefer buttons over dials
I really like the look of this Toshiba 800W microwave, with its smart black design – it has a digital timer display, too, which is always handy in the confines of a campervan. What’s even better is that it has eight presets – including for potatoes, fish, vegetables, soup, pasta and more – so you can quickly and easily find the right power and timings for the dish you’re planning to cook.
You’ll also find a quick-start button, so you can start cooking at full power (at 30-second bursts) with a single touch, and the mute button is a nice addition – it allows you to silence the end-of-cooking beeb, so you can avoid disturbing others in your campervan. The handle on this microwave is large and looks sturdy, so it should prove easy to open and close the door.
Haden Cotswold Green Microwave Oven
- Wattage: 800w
- Dimensions: 34D x 45W x 25.5H centimetres
- Capacity: 20 litres
- Weight: 10kg
Reason to buy:
- Smart design, light in weight
Reason to avoid:
- Colour might not appeal to everyone
I really love the retro looks of this smart little microwave – if you have a vintage campervan then this would be a great fit for it.
It’s not just a pretty face, though: besides its attractive exterior it has a lot of features to help make it a good choice in a campervan. It has five different power levels to provide a fast, even cook, and there’s a defrost function if you need to thaw food more quickly. The 60-minute digital timer will allow you to easily keep an eye on the progress of your food, and there’s an express cook button for when you’re in a rush. It has a capacity of 20 litres, and it’s also one of the lightest microwave ovens in this round-up, at just 10kg, helping to save a bit of your payload when you’re out and about in your campervan.
SHARP Compact 700W Digital Microwave with Grill
- Wattage: 700/1000W
- Dimensions: 45.2 x 34.5 x 26.2cm
- Capacity: 20 litres
- Weight: 12kg
Reason to buy:
- Combined oven and grill
Reason to avoid:
- Grill aspect uses a fairly high amount of power
This is an interesting product – it’s a combined microwave and grill. The microwave part outputs 700W of power, but when using the grill that rises to 1000W – as such, you’ll need to make sure that you have a good electric hook-up source, and that you’re not using other high-drain products at the same time. Still, this could be a good choice if you’re looking for a microwave that you can use at both home and away in your campervan.
What’s clever about it is that you can use it during cooking as a microwave alone, as a grill alone, or various combinations of the two, giving you lots of control over how you cook your food. It’s simple to control, thanks to the clear, 30-minute timer dial, and despite its dual function, it’s not particularly large in size. I like its smart black design, too.
Cookology 800W Freestanding Microwave
- Wattage: 800W
- Dimensions: 44 x 35.5 x 25.9cm
- Capacity: 20 litres
- Weight: 11kg
Reason to buy:
- Eight preset modes, digital display
Reason to avoid:
- Controls might be less intuitive than those of others here
This Cookology microwave looks quite different to the others in this round-up, and it’s all the better for that: it has a sleek black design that I think looks quite stylish. Its good looks are backed up by a number of handy features, too, which helps it stand out in a market that is quite crowded.
A total of eight preset modes are available (in addition to defrost and standard cooking power), so you can easily choose the one that best suits the food you are planning to cook, whether that’s fish, pasta or more; there The digital display looks smart and easy to read, and the dial selector should be fairly straightforward to use. If the black colour scheme isn’t to your taste, there’s a white version available too.
CASO Design MG20 Ecostyle
- Wattage: 700W
- Dimensions: 40D x 46.5W x 27.5H
- Capacity: 20 litres
- Weight: 12.3kg
Reason to buy:
- It’s a flatbed, at 700W!
Reason to avoid:
- The price
Possibly not a brand you may have come across much, but this microwave has the virtue of being a flatbed model, and with a power rating of only 700W – at least when it’s in microwave mode. So you shouldn’t have to worry about any plate sliding out of the oven while you are en route and smashing on the floor.
With a capacity of 20 litres, it does have a rack you can fit in so you can cook on two levels, but this can easily be removed for when you set off again. The flatbed set up of course make it easy to clean, and along with five power levels it has three programmes you can use in combination microwave and grill mode – although as this could take wattage up to 1000W make sure you have enough capacity before you start doing this.
Check the latest price of the CASO on Amazon now.
Can I use a microwave in a campervan?
If you’re tempted by taking a microwave away on tour with you, you might be wondering first and foremost – can I use a microwave in a campervan at all? The good news is that, yes you can – but you will need to do a bit of research first.
The most important aspect that you’ll need to consider – before you even begin thinking about which model to choose – is that of power. You’ll need access to mains electricity to power all of the microwaves in this guide, which means that you’ll either have to be on a site that has electric hook-up, or you’ll need an alternative power source – for instance, a portable power station.
If you’re using mains hook-up, it’s really important to check the amount of power that the bollard will deliver. If you’re in the UK, you can expect to see 10A or even 16A, but tour overseas and this might be as low as 5A.
Bear in mind, too, that the wattage figures included here are the amount of output that each model gives, as opposed to the amount it will consume (input). The latter will be higher than the output figure, due to the amounts of energy lost to (for example) powering the turntable and light, and natural wastage.
One final trick that I’ve learned after years of motorhoming – if your microwave has a glass turntable, always remove it before hitting the road (or at least wrap it in a teatowel). It could cause a safety issue otherwise, and it’ll also help to eliminate irritating rattles from the habitation area.
How to choose a microwave for a campervan
When it comes to choosing the best microwave for a campervan, there are a number of things that you need to bear in mind before splashing your cash. Here, I’m also going to reveal a number of things that I had to think about when I was researching buying a microwave for my own campervan.
For starters, there’s the issue of power. As I mentioned above, it’s vital to ensure that you have a means of powering your microwave prior to purchase. These are power-hungry gadgets, so you’ll need either a good and reliable hook-up to the mains electricity (when on a campsite), or a portable power bank that has a large enough capacity.
I enjoy touring off grid, as well as on the Continent (where electric hook-up points are often 5A, as opposed to the 10A or 16A here in the UK), but I have a 1000W Jackery portable power station which I take with me too – it’s perfect for powering a microwave on tour.
All of the microwaves that we’ve included in this guide are either 700W or 800W – they will require more power input than this figure, though, so that’s something else to consider. If you’re thinking about taking your microwave from home, have a look at the specification panel, which will be located on the back of your unit, or elsewhere. It will tell you how much power input the device requires.
Either way, remember that the lower the wattage of the microwave, the longer it will take to cook your dinner!
Then you need to think about dimensions. You’re sure to have a limited amount of space in your campervan, so you need to ensure that you’ll have room for the model you choose, whether it’s going to be safely secured in a dedicated space, or stowed away in a locker once you’ve finished using it.
Knowing your motorhome weights and sticking to your payload is crucial when it comes to choosing the best microwave for a campervan – every kilogram is precious! That’s why we’ve included the weights of every model in this guide, so you can ensure that you’re not buying one that’s too heavy for your everyday needs.
Then you’ll need to think about capacity. If you’re a solo traveller you can likely get away with a microwave that has a smaller capacity (and is therefore probably lighter) than if you’re touring as a family of six. Think about this carefully: choosing one that’s too small could prove to be a costly error.
Then there’s the functions it offers. Are you happy with a limited number of cooking presets? Would you prefer buttons or dials? I own a very basic microwave at home, so I decided that I was very happy to have the same kind of minimalist functions in the microwave for my campervan.
Some even offer a grill function, such as the Sharp Compact 700W Digital Microwave with Grill above – that’s really handy if you don’t have an oven or grill in your van (which I don’t), but you’ll need to remember that the grill part will have higher power demands.
Finally, these days you’ll find so-called ‘flatbed’ microwaves on the market. These don’t include a glass turntable, which means fewer rattles from the habitation area when you’re on the road.
Is there a 12V microwave for a motorhome?
Yes, 12V microwaves do exist – but we wouldn’t necessarily recommend getting one for use in your campervan.
All microwaves require a decent amount of power to be able to heat your food efficiently, and your campervan’s 12V supply might struggle to supply enough energy to meet these demands – you risk flattening leisure battery (or worse, your vehicle battery) quickly, which could cause numerous issues. Instead, we’d suggest purchasing a regular domestic microwave, to be powered either by mains electricity when you’re pitched up onsite (assuming that the supply is up to the task), or via a portable power bank.
Future Publishing Limited, the publisher of Practical Motorhome, provides the information in this article in good faith and makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Individuals carrying out the instructions do so at their own risk and must exercise their independent judgement in determining the appropriateness of the advice to their circumstances. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither Future nor its employees or agents shall have any liability in connection with the use of this information. Double check any warranty is not affected before proceeding with any DIY alterations.
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