Top 5 RV Microwaves

RVing is the ultimate way to enjoy traveling, camping, and vacationing. RVing allows you to take all the comforts of home with you wherever you wish to travel. Some of these comforts include a bathroom, a bedroom, and even a kitchen. Speaking of kitchens, what is one appliance that seemingly every home kitchen has? A microwave. So why should the kitchen in your RV be any different?

In this article, we shall discuss the variety of advantages that an RV microwave can offer you, what you should consider when purchasing a microwave for your RV, and our picks for the top five RV microwaves.

Advantages of an RV Microwave

Having a microwave in your RV can provide you with many benefits, some of which you may not even think of right away. Take a look at some of the advantages of having an RV microwave in your RV and the level of convenience having one can bring to you.

Requires Less Cleaning

From the beginning, commercial microwaves were designed to bring convenience to people. The microwave in your RV is no different in that regard. Cooking on a stovetop, flat top grill, and other cooking appliances can often leave behind a big mess. Once the cooking appliance cools off, you will need to clean up this giant mess, or it could lead to odor, attract insects, and more. Cleaning appliances such as these can, and often does, involve a lot of soap, water, and plenty of scrubbing.

An RV microwave is far easier to keep clean and maintained. The turntable, usually made of glass, can often be easily removed and wiped down with a paper towel or a soapy cloth, then put right back into the microwave. The interior of the microwave can easily be cleaned with a damp, soapy cloth then dried with a paper towel, as can the exterior of a microwave.

Doesn't Make the RV Hot

Another advantage of cooking with an RV microwave is that, unlike appliances such as stoves and grills, it will not transfer a lot of heat to the interior of your RV. Heat transfer may not seem like anything important, but if you are camping or vacationing in a hot area, the last thing you want is for the interior of your RV to get hot and uncomfortable as you cook your food.

Unlike other appliances, an RV microwave heats food in a small, enclosed space. A microwave heats food by exciting the water molecules in the food, causing them to vibrate and produce heat. Other appliances, such as stoves and grills, often use flames to produce heat which easily transfers to the air, bringing the overall temperature inside the RV up.

Saves Space

A considerable advantage of having a microwave in your RV is the amount of space it can save. A microwave in your RV gives you a way to heat up and cook food without relying solely on large, bulky appliances.

Standard cooking ranges and ovens can take up a considerable amount of space in your RV, whereas a microwave can often take very little space. The space-saving nature of microwaves is especially true for microwaves that can be mounted to the wall rather than sitting on the counter. You can take advantage of the space saved by a microwave by using it for more storage, food preparation, and much more!

Faster, Safer Cooking

A microwave can often heat up and cook food far faster than a typical stove or oven. Stoves and ovens take a bit of time to warm up before they are hot enough to cook the food. Microwaves work by causing water molecules in the food to vibrate, which begins to heat up and cook the food immediately. Cooking or heating food with a microwave can take minutes, or even just a few seconds!

Cooking with a microwave also tends to be safer than with an oven, stove, or grill. There are far fewer mechanics in a microwave than a stove or oven, which means that there is a much smaller chance of an accident happening. Furthermore, stoves and ovens often produce their cooking heat using a flame. If you are not careful, your stove or oven can become too hot, burning your food or even setting something on fire. Provided you follow the safety guidelines of your microwave, it is doubtful that you will face these issues.

What To Consider When Buying

Ease Of Use

The ease with which you can use a microwave should be among the first things you consider when shopping for a microwave for your RV. Microwaves are excellent at providing extra convenience to your life on the road, but not all RV microwaves are built the same. If an RV microwave is too cumbersome or complicated to use, then it detracts from the goal of improving the level of convenience your RV can provide you. No one wants to struggle with complex controls, so make sure that the microwave you choose will have controls and easy features for you to use.

Power Consumption

Power is a precious commodity when traveling and camping with an RV, a commodity that is in limited supply. Out of all the appliances in your RV, the microwave is among those that use the most power.

With how limited power can be during your time RVing in the wide-open world, it makes sense that you would want to have a microwave that offers excellent power efficiency. A microwave that is efficient with its power consumption means that you will still have plenty of power left for other uses.

Price

Though not always the deciding factor when choosing what to purchase, price always plays a significant role in influencing such a decision. The cost of an RV microwave varies from model to model. With vastly different price ranges available on the market, it may be helpful to develop a budget and a list of features you want your microwave to have. Doing so will make finding a microwave that offers what you want within the price range you can afford significantly easier.

Size

The size of the RV microwave you want is yet another essential factor to determine and consider as you shop around. Although considered space-saving in general, RV microwaves can come in a wide range of varying sizes, both externally and internally.

It can be easy to become distracted or overwhelmed by the many bells and whistles that some models can offer you, causing you to forget about its size. Before you know it, you have a microwave that is either too big or too small for where you want to install it. Think of where you wish to install that RV microwave in your RV, and measure out that area. Keep that measurement in mind or written down as you shop to make sure any RV microwave that catches your interest is the right size.

Additionally, you ought to take note of the internal size of the microwave as well, as it determines the capacity. Most microwaves will have at least one cubic foot of space inside, with plenty of room for smaller foods such as popcorn, soups, baked potatoes, or dinner plates full of leftovers. Any microwave that offers less than one cubic foot of interior space should be disregarded, as it may prove difficult to fit your food.

Mounting Type

One more critical aspect of your RV microwave to think of is how you plan on installing it in your rig. It may come as a surprise, but microwaves can often be installed in various ways. The most common ways RV microwaves are installed are directly mounted to the wall or simply placed on the countertop.

How you want to have your RV microwave installed is a crucial aspect to consider when shopping for such an appliance. Most RV microwaves can simply be set right there on the countertop, with no fuss or stress. However, sitting your microwave on the countertop presents a few issues. For starters, it clearly takes up some valuable counter space you could use for other tasks, such as food preparation. Secondly, it is more challenging to secure the microwave to the countertop so that it does not slide or move around while you are traveling.

The second method of mounting your RV to the wall, typically underneath a cabinet, is far more popular with people that live the RV life. Mounting your RV microwave to the wall saves a lot of that precious countertop space. A wall-mounted microwave gives you ample room for pursuing other tasks, such as cutting vegetables. Furthermore, having your microwave mounted directly to the wall is often far more secure, as it will not move or slide around when your RV is in motion on the road. After all, you would not want to hear the crash of your microwave sliding off your counter as you drive around in your RV!

Top 5 List

With the vast variety of makes and models of RV microwaves on the market, it can feel somewhat confusing to try and find one that feels right for you. Thankfully you are not alone, as there is a multitude of reviews, lists, and more concerning RV microwaves. Compiled below is a short list of our top five picks for RV microwaves, where you will find details about their features and advantages.

RecPro RPM-1-BLK RV Microwave

• It has a long and proven history of making time spent traveling and adventuring more convenient and enjoyable.
• Many highly desirable features set it apart from other models
• Sleek and compact design
• Vent exhaust offers enhanced safety during use
• Quick access door makes opening and closing simple and easy
• 0.9 cubic foot capacity
• 19 1/8"W x 14 1/2"D x 11 5/8"H
• 120V
• 900W (Output)
• 1350W (Input)
• 9 Amp
• ~60 Hz

RecPro RPM-2-BLK RV Convection Microwave

• 1.1 cubic foot capacity
• 20 1/2" W x 14 1/4" H x 18" D
• 9 express cooking options
• Instant start feature adds 30 seconds to the timer with one button press
• Child lock setting
• Mid-section cooking ensures even cooking
• 12V
• 1000W output
• 1500W input
• 60Hz
• 10 Amp

RecPro RPM-1-SS Stainless Steel RV Microwave

• 1 cubic foot capacity
• 19 1/8" W x 14 3/4" D x 11 3/4" H
• Stainless steel build prevents rusting and corrosion
• Compact design to save space
• 8 express cooking options
• Instant start feature adds 30 seconds to the timer with one button press
• 10 power levels
• Child lock setting
• 120V
• 900W (Output)
• 1350W (Input)
• 9 Amp
• ~60 Hz

Commercial Chef CHM660B RV Countertop Microwave

• Ideal for those traveling with a smaller camper or RV
• Mechanical dials let you set the timer with ease
• 6 different power levels
• Countertop microwave
• Ergonomic door handle - excellent for those with joint issues such as arthritis

Advent MW912BWDK RV Built-in Microwave Convection Oven

• 10 different power levels
• 6 pre-programmed cooking settings
• Easy to read display - great for those with poor eyesight
• Turntable does not become wobbly or shaky, assisting in cooking food thoroughly

The Choice Is Yours

Choosing any old RV microwave is easy. But selecting the RV microwave that is right for your needs and your rig can be a challenge. Armed with this information and a selection of these top five microwaves, you should have no problem making the correct choice.

There is no rush when it comes to choosing the appliances that are right for your rig and your needs. Take the time to carefully consider each aspect of the RV microwave that interests you and how that microwave will fit in with your RV so that you can feel confident in your choice. No one wants to suffer from "buyer's remorse" after all!

If you have any questions or comments about the RV microwaves offered here at RecPro, feel free to give our Customer Care team members a call or reach out to use online. We have many different models available and will be happy to help you find one that is perfect for your RVing needs.