A plate that passes through a microwave door can still catch inside the cavity. Check more than the opening or litre figure. Your largest frequently used microwave-safe plate is a useful starting point for choosing a size.
Measure diameter and height together
Measure across the plate's widest point and include any handles on other cookware. Then compare the appliance's usable internal dimensions. With a turntable, the vessel needs the intended movement space. A model without a turntable has its own loading instructions; lack of rotation does not make every possible container suitable.
Also measure typical bowls with an appropriate cover if you use one. Testing a flat plate says little about a tall soup bowl. You need to grasp and remove the vessel safely with suitable aids. A very tight cavity can make this unnecessarily awkward, even if the vessel technically fits inside.
Check the door at the intended position
Door opening direction affects access. Mark the proposed location and consider the side from which you normally approach. An adjacent wall may prevent you reaching the cavity comfortably. Follow all required installation clearances as well; a microwave should not be enclosed tightly simply to make the layout look tidy.
Imagine inserting a full container. A position that is too high is particularly inconvenient with liquids. The surface in front should support the intended handling. If the only available position is awkward, a smaller appliance may not resolve that access problem. Assess the location and the machine as one arrangement.
Choose functions around dishes
List whether you mainly reheat, intend to defrost or would use additional grill functions. Check appropriate cookware and accessories for each mode. Suitability for one function does not automatically mean suitability for every other function. Avoid accessories whose use in the specific appliance remains unclear.
A suitable microwave accommodates normal plates and bowls, can be operated in its intended position and offers the modes you actually use. Additional programmes can be convenient, but should not distract from an undersized cavity. One carefully measured plate provides more useful evidence for this decision than an impressive programme count.
