By Belinda Castles
Researcher | Kairangahau
From the outside, flatbed models look the same as regular microwaves. But open the door and you’ll see a flatbed microwave doesn’t have a turntable.
Rather than rotating food on the turntable to heat evenly, a flatbed model has a rotating microwave antenna that is located underneath the base of the microwave.
Flatbed microwave pros
Extra cooking space: as there is no turntable taking up space, the microwave’s internal volume is bigger. This allows you to use bigger dishes or plates.
Flexibility with dishes: you can place any shaped dish inside the microwave without the hassle of plates hitting the side of the microwave while the turntable moves.
Easier to clean: with a flatbed there’s no more removing the turntable to clean it and there are fewer places for cooking grime and food splashes to collect.
Flatbed microwave cons
More expensive: the flatbed models we’ve tested range from $279 to $550. In comparison, you can pick up a recommended microwave with a turntable for less than $250.
How do flatbeds perform?
We’ve tested seven flatbed microwaves from four brands. Only the two Panasonic models were good enough to recommend.
For more information check out our microwave test results.
