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Thursday, January 23rd
Whirlpool's history dates back to 1911 when they started out as a small business in Benton Harbor, Michigan. We have them to thank for introducing the first automatic washing machines in 1948. Since that time, they've won over 20 CES Innovation Awards. In their domestic U.S. market, Whirlpool has 11 manufacturing facilities and employs about 15,000 workers where they work to distribute washers and dryers as well as refrigerators, cooking appliances, dishwashers, hoods, ice makers, compactors, and more.
25 choices
We had some déjà vu when shopping at Whirlpool since their website is nearly a cookie cutter copy of their sister companies, KitchenAid and Maytag. Their 4 categories of microwaves include over-the-range microwaves, countertop microwaves, low profile over-the-range microwaves, and built-in microwaves. In total there are 25 microwaves here, which is a decent selection compared to many other retailers who only had a handful for us to explore. You can sort them by type, category, price, hood width, range height, depth, color, customer rating, and features.
Important details are obvious
When you're scrolling a list of model images and names, you can also see the colors they come in (mostly variations of black, gray, and white stainless steel), the overall customer rating, dimensions, price, and any promotions that you might be able to take advantage of. We like that Whirlpool doesn't waste your time with having to read through endless information and dive into each model just to get the basic information you need to narrow down your best choices.
Reasonable price ranges
The price ranges you're looking at when shopping at Whirlpool for a microwave start at $99 for a 0.9 cu. ft. countertop microwave with 900 watt cooking power to $944 for an air-fry over-the-range oven with advanced sensing technology. The relevant offers available from Whirlpool when we were shopping at their site were a 10% savings when you open a new account, free delivery on all appliances on orders over $399, and free haul-away and install on appliances over $1,000.
1-year warranty
A limited warranty is included with each microwave. It's a standard 1-year warranty that starts the day of purchase. A full warranty manual is accessible for download with each product listing. If you want to upgrade your warranty, you have the option to pay extra (around $100 or so) for either 3 or 5 years.
15-day returns for a full refund
The return policy from Whirlpool gives customers 15 days to request a return from the date of delivery for a full refund. A phone number is provided for customers to call with their order number and serial number to initiate this process. Delivery, shipping, and service fees won't be refunded, but Whirlpool does say that they won't charge any restocking fees, which is a relief. However, if you make a return between day 16 and 30 from delivery, you can still get your money back, but you'll pay a 15% restocking fee with a $50 minimum.
Honest reviews
The Better Business Bureau gives Whirlpool an "A+” rating, and thankfully Whirlpool makes it easy to see what other customers really think of their microwaves straight from their website. You could quickly search just by 4- or 5-star reviews if you want to stick with a selection that people really recommend. Otherwise, be sure to read favorable and critical reviews of each product to gauge the pros and cons. People will leave explanations about how their microwave oven performed over the months or years, issues they had with it, and features they really like. Some people also leave photos so you can see what the microwave model would look like installed.
Worth your time
Whirlpool is a trustworthy brand with a solid selection of microwaves. None of them are crazy expensive, so if you find one that's highly rated, it's a win-win. You should have no issues gathering all the details necessary to make an educated decision about your purchase. Their models and warranty are similar to what you might find at some other retailers, so your best bet is to find something here that you like the look of and is highly rated by customers. It's definitely worth your time to look through Whirlpool's selection, so we've given them one of our highest ratings.
More than likely you moved into your home and a microwave oven was already there, ready for you to use at your convenience. We rarely think twice about these powerful little appliances that allow us to nuke a hot pocket, reheat last night's takeout, and quickly appease a child's demands for chicken nuggets. If yours suddenly breaks and you find yourself in the market for a replacement, you'll quickly realize just how much you depended on your microwave. Can you even live without one?
You may not have paid much attention to it before, but there are actually quite a few different designs for microwaves. Do you want stainless steel? Black? White? Red? Most people choose to match the color and design of their microwave to their oven and refrigerator, but you could always switch things up for a more modern style you like better.
Many homes have a place built into the wall specifically for a microwave so that they don't stand out or take up counter space like they used to. Still, microwaves differ a bit in which features they come with and their size. Most over-the-range ovens are around 30”, open from the side, and have basic heating functionality.
More advanced microwaves act more like an oven with pull-down doors and convection technology that allow you to make things like cookies or rolls within minutes. Some even let you air fry, allowing you to have lots of important cooking functions without needing multiple appliances to get the job done.
Most microwave oven brands all get their microwaves from the same manufacturer, so rather than focusing or worrying too much about which brand provides the best quality, you'll want to pay attention to the designs offered, selection, prices (and how often they run sales), warranty, policies, and feedback about customer service. More specifically, here are some things we recommend paying close attention to when you're browsing all the different companies you might choose to buy your microwave oven from:
The experts at Top Consumer Reviews have researched the most important things you'd need to know about choosing a microwave oven. We hope this helps you find a microwave that makes cooking food a breeze and lasts for years to come.
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