Ask most people who own a caravan what their most prized appliance is inside and many would say a microwave.
For most, the mere thought of touring without a microwave is ludicrous! As with home microwaves, the caravan type needs to be functional and convenient to use.
Depending on the space you have in your caravan or motorhome, you may not have all the luxuries of cooking that your home’s kitchen may have.
That is why a microwave can be even more vital when on the road.
It allows you to cook quick ready meals, reheat leftovers, defrost the Sunday roast as well as many more options. In other words, you want a microwave to be as good as the one in your home.
If you choose the right model, you will be roasting, baking, and grilling food in it with ease, saving time for exploring more of the country you’re travelling in.
We understand that choosing a top-quality microwave can be quite tough.
That is why we have compiled a list of the top 4 microwaves to help you choose the right one today.
Our helpful buyer’s guide will talk you through all the aspects that make up a good quality microwave.
To finish off, our FAQs should answer any queries you may have to make that final decision.
If the road is beckoning and your belly is grumbling, maybe it's time to see our top choice. Without further ado, here it is:
OUR TOP PICK
If you’re basing your decision on efficiency and power (it is a good place to start), then the Russell Hobbs RHMM701C Cream Caravan Microwave delivers all you need.
The quality and performance of this model are unmatched placing it in top place.
The Russell Hobbs Cream microwave is top of the line and offers the magic ingredients of convenience and top functionality.
Its compact design with installation dimensions of 36.6 x W 45.1 x H 25.6 centimetres means it can be conveniently installed in most caravans or mobile homes on the road today.
Although its dimensions are on the smaller size, it still provides a good amount of space for cooking with a capacity of 17-litres and a 24cm turntable diameter.
Its stylish cream design would look at home in any kitchen easily blending with the interior of your motorhome or caravan.
One of the best aspects of this microwave is its versatility. Whatever you wish to cook or warm-up, the Russell Hobbs RHMM701C microwave will have you covered.
You won’t have to rely on fast food or expensive restaurant food when you’re on the road again as this allows you to prepare easy meals quickly and effortlessly fitting most rigs.
Its mirror finish door lets you keep an eye on your cooking to make sure it doesn’t burn.
If you’re living a hectic life on the road or on a relaxing holiday, the Russell Hobbs RHMM701C Cream Caravan microwave will make you feel at home offering supreme reliability.
It doesn’t matter what you like to cook. It could be a full Sunday dinner, a simple bowl of soup, or some popcorn for a late-night movie, this microwave has a range of cooking options to cover all.
This versatility and convenience will leave you safe in the knowledge that you can prepare a range of meals at any time for friends and family.
Pros
- A very stylish yet practical design that would brighten any caravan or motorhome’s kitchen
- Simple to control with just 2 dials to use for heating and cooking your food
- Very compact and flexible design to fit into smaller spaces if required
- Highly efficient and convenient for ease of use when warming up food or cooking full meals
- 5 power level selection including a defrost feature for added convenience
Cons
- It can be a little too noisy for some owners and vibrates slightly when on full power
EDITORS CHOICE
The simplistic design of Beko’s MOC20100W Freestanding microwave stands out straight away. For added convenience to your cooking when travelling, you can’t go wrong with this choice.
For those of you who like to feel the comfort of home when you’re on the road, you will be able to rely on this microwave for just that.
If you have a large family, that means you have more mouths to feed.
With Becko’s freestanding microwave, you will have no problem in cooking large amounts of food for all those hungry bellies.
It has a generous amount of space inside compared to many microwaves out there as well as being easy to install.
Some models can be very difficult to set up but you shouldn’t have too many problems getting this one up and running.
Alongside its easy installation process, it has some outstanding features such as a digital programmer enabling you to set your cooking time up to 30 minutes without any problems.
You won’t have any problem using this microwave either as it comes with easy to follow instructions so you can set it up and start using it immediately.
An important aspect of many microwaves is the amount of power it consumes. Thankfully, the MOC20100W microwave consumes very little energy due to its 700W power.
Even when you use the 5 power levels, including a defrost function, you will still be using very little energy overall.
With so many impressive features, it is hard to ignore the Bekos MOC20100W Freestanding microwave.
Its compact size will fit in any recreational vehicle and still leave space. You are guaranteed to get your desired cooking results with this very well designed model.
Pros
- Very easy to understand controls so you can start cooking immediately
- Very simple design to fit seamlessly into any kitchen environment
- Ultra-efficient with a digital timer to set the cooking time up to 30 minutes
- Made by a very reliable and trusted brand to leave you safe in the knowledge that you are purchasing a good quality item
- A very quiet microwave with the sound level staying within 1db
Cons
- No interior lighting to see the food clearly but its glass door design allows you to check on the food as it cooks
BEST VALUE
The Tower T24034WHT Caravan Microwave has made the lives of thousands of caravaners much easier with its top-quality convenience.
You should always look for a microwave with different stages of power to cook various foods and Tower’s Caravan microwave offers not just a few stages but five altogether.
These are ideal for heating soups, pizza, and various ready meals.
The microwave’s inside is spacious enough to fit a plate as big as 10 inches at 20-litres without any problem whatsoever. 700 watts of power will have your food cooked in very little time.
It also comes with an impressive 35-minute timer for accurate cooking results which is quite unique compared to its counterparts.
If you forgot to defrost something last night, there is no need to worry with this microwave! It includes a defrost function to quickly and efficiently defrost food in time for lunch.
What I like about the Tower T24034WHT is how it consumes very little energy saving you money in the long run.
I also liked the microwave door’s handle for added convenience when your food is ready.
This microwave is also very easy to clean and it's simple, black and white design would fit in with all interiors.
Pros
- A very compact design to fit into most kitchen spaces
- Includes a 35-minute timer for accurate and efficient cooking results every time
- Built with a defrost feature to quickly defrost foods straight from frozen
- Consumes a small amount of energy saving you money over time
- Perfect for a couple or small family offering superb convenience and efficiency
Cons
- On the smaller side so not ideal for larger families
RUNNER UP
Last but not least is the highly durable Rusell Hobbs RHM1401s 14 Litre Silver Microwave. This is a bestseller amongst caravan and motorhome owners and there are many reasons why.
Not only is it ideal for being on the road but you can use it in a small indoor space if required due to its very compact design.
With a powerful enough 600W, this microwave will warm your food up sufficiently in just a few minutes but will use very little energy on your leisure battery.
This way, you can cook countless meals for as long as you like without any hassle. Although it’s compact, that doesn’t mean you can only warm up small plates.
You will be able to cook a large-sized meal on a 10.5-inch large plate and it’ll be ready!
Another important feature of this Russel Hobbs microwave is its defrost function to cook food safely from frozen.
A 35-minute timer will allow you to cook your food without any delay leaving you with more time in the day to enjoy yourself!
Its internal diamond cavity design ensures your food is cooked evenly throughout for maximum health and safety.
With its 6-level power settings and reheat function, you can cook all types of food just the way you like them.
The mirror door allows you to keep an eye on your food as it swirls around inside and you won’t need to worry about replacing it any time soon.
Its silver housing adds to its durability for easy long-lasting use.
Pros
- Includes a defrost and reheat function helping your cooking process cut time enormously
- A 35-speed timer cooks food efficiently and quickly without any delay
- Ultra-compact design that is suitable for smaller caravans and motorhomes as well as indoor spaces
- A mirrored door allows you to keep an eye on your food as it cooks to ensure it doesn’t burn
- Highly durable with a solid silver lining for ultimate protection
Cons
- It’s very small, compact design may not be suitable for larger groups or families
Best Microwave For A Caravan/Motorhome Buying Guide
There are a number of aspects to consider before buying a microwave for your caravan or motorhome.
Apart from its basic specifications, these microwaves require a host of important requirements to ensure their quality. Here are some of the most important considerations:
The size
Unless you have a very large motorhome, most do not have huge amounts of space, including caravans. External measurements are a vital factor.
You should consider how much space is around the microwave in order for air to circulate sufficiently. Without proper ventilation, microwaves are prone to overheating so space around one is critical.
A standard microwave’s specifications
You need to consider many factors when buying a microwave including the basic specs of the item.
These include the price, the brand, the warranty, its external and internal dimensions, its internal capacity, its power (wattage) and many more.
Think about the type of cooking you will be doing most regularly and decide which is best for your style of cooking.
Manual or digital
A manual microwave has controls that you need to manually operate such as a rotary dial to be turned. These tend to a small amount of power and with fewer buttons to use, are easier to operate.
A digital microwave tends to have a control panel for heating options with several rows of buttons. These typically use more power but may take less time in heating up food.
At the end of the day, it is down to personal preference but if you’re thinking of energy-saving, manual may be the way to go.
Travel abilities
Microwaves for caravans and motorhomes have to withstand bumps in the road and continuous movement. Home microwaves aren’t generally designed for this movement.
It is important you purchase a microwave with components and circuits that can stand up to life on the potholes. I recommend contacting the manufacturer to double-check if the product is up to the task.
The power consumption
Unlike a home, power is rather limited in a caravan or motorhome. This is why you need to consider how much power your microwaves will consume.
The power rating is the output it generates. If a microwave has a rate of 800W, it will require about 1600W to function properly (double the ratio for every power). It will also need an added power boost just to startup.
Be aware of the amp supply when you’re on the road. A 5 amp supply wouldn’t be enough and could even overload the entire electrical circuit. I advise you to check the amount of power required with the manufacturer.
The weight
Most microwaves are pretty light, especially freestanding products. Nonetheless, you should check the weight before you go ahead and buy one.
Remember, a caravan or a motorhome can only support a specific amount of weight. Installing a microwave that is too heavy could push them over the edge and beyond their payload.
Fitting height
This is critical whether you are fitting the microwave yourself or buying a caravan or motorhome with a pre-fitted appliance.
If your microwave is placed too high, you will find it very difficult in removing any food without spilling and making a great mess.
Not only will this require cleaning up, but hot foods can be dangerous. Set the microwave up at a comfortable level for you to easily and safely remove food when needed.
The warranty
Nearly all touring microwaves come with a warranty. This should cover you in the case of an accident or the appliance malfunctioning.
However, some warranties specify that the microwave can not be used for touring purposes. If so, you will not be covered in the case of an emergency.
I recommend that you check with the manufacturer before you buy one to avoid any trouble down the line.
12V microwaves
12V microwaves are something you should look into. They are an ideal option for caravans and motorhomes.
The power from these is perfect for larger families who need to heat a great deal of food quickly.
However, you should bear in mind that these need a high current so you will require a suitable cable. Your battery may also run down quicker if 12V microwaves are used for an extended period of time without outside power for campers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum wattage for a caravan or motorhome microwave?
As we have mentioned, a microwave’s power rating is shown through its wattage (600W, 800W, etc) This is just the cooking power and will require double this amount to power the whole device.
Most British campsites offer around 16 amps of power which should be more than enough to power your microwave.
Of course, you will probably be running other devices at the same time so make sure they can all be powered by the given amps.
Some microwaves can offer 1000 - 1200W but 800W is around average, producing enough power for most needs.
What microwave is best for me?
This depends on many factors such as its main purpose when you’re on the road. You should think about if you will be reheating food or cooking mainly.
If you are reheating regularly, lesser powered appliances may be better. Determine your family’s size too.
A compact microwave will be perfect for a couple on the road but if you have the kids and friends with you, find one with a good capacity amount inside with a sufficient level of power.
How should I care and clean for my microwave?
Luckily, this is easy! All you need to do is wipe down the interior’s surface with a damp, soft cloth (a kitchen towel would do).
Make sure you don’t spray any solution directly on the controls. This could damage the electrics or the movement over time. The exterior can be cleaned with some soap and a damp cloth.
Then dry it with another cloth. DO NOT let any water get into the openings of any operating parts of the microwave as this could destroy the appliance altogether.
We also wrote an article on Electric Camping Stoves (to go alongside our best camping stove article), that also makes a great an easy way to cook your food whilst staying inside.
