In any modern kitchen, counter space is prime real estate. I remember my first apartment kitchen; it was a narrow galley space where every inch counted. The bulky, hand-me-down microwave I had dominated the limited prep area, a constant, noisy reminder of compromised space and basic functionality. Finding an appliance that can do its job effectively without staging a hostile takeover of your countertop is a universal struggle. We need a machine that heats our food quickly and evenly, but we also crave intelligent features that simplify our daily routines. The challenge is finding a microwave that is compact, powerful, stylish, and smart—a combination that often seems just out of reach, forcing us to choose between size, features, or budget. This is the precise dilemma the Chefman 20L 800W Microwave Oven aims to solve.
- EXPRESS COOK: 6 presets for popcorn, potato, pizza, veggies, beverages and leftovers take the guesswork out of perfectly cooked food
- LOW TO HIGH POWER: 800 watts with 10 power levels to heat, defrost, cook and more all in one compact microwave oven
What to Consider Before Buying a Solo Microwave
A solo microwave is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for rapid cooking, reheating, and defrosting. For busy professionals, students in dorms, or families needing a quick meal solution, it’s an indispensable tool. Its primary benefit lies in its simplicity and speed, turning cold leftovers into a hot meal in minutes or perfectly defrosting ingredients for a dinner you forgot to prep. It streamlines the cooking process, saving precious time and energy. However, it’s crucial to understand what you’re buying. This isn’t a combination oven with grilling or convection capabilities; its strength is pure, efficient microwave heating.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing space constraints in their kitchen, or who primarily uses a microwave for reheating beverages, leftovers, popcorn, and defrosting. It’s perfect for small apartments, office break rooms, or as a reliable secondary appliance in a larger family kitchen. Conversely, it might not be suitable for those who want to bake, roast, or achieve a crispy, browned finish on their food. If you’re a culinary enthusiast looking for an all-in-one countertop cooking solution, a combination or convection microwave oven would be a more appropriate, albeit more expensive and larger, alternative.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Dimensions & Space: Measure your intended space carefully. Consider not only the width and depth but also the height, ensuring enough clearance for ventilation around the unit. The Chefman 20L 800W Microwave Oven measures 44D x 32.9W x 25.9H cm, making it a contender for tighter spaces, but you must confirm it fits your specific nook.
- Capacity & Performance: Capacity is measured in litres. A 20-litre model like this Chefman is ideal for standard dinner plates and mugs. Performance is dictated by wattage; at 800 watts, this microwave sits in a sweet spot, offering a good balance between cooking speed and energy consumption for its size, which is a key factor when evaluating its overall value.
- Materials & Durability: The exterior is often stainless steel, plastic, or a combination. Stainless steel, like that on the Chefman, offers a premium look and is generally easy to clean, resisting rust and odours. The interior material and the quality of the turntable glass are also vital for longevity and cleaning ease.
- Ease of Use & Maintenance: Look for intuitive controls, clear presets, and features that simplify your life. A touch controller, like the one on this model, should be responsive. For maintenance, a smooth interior and a removable, dishwasher-safe turntable make cleaning significantly less of a chore.
While the Chefman 20L 800W Microwave Oven is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- MIRRORED FINISH - The Russell Hobbs RHM2076B features a sleek black body and contemporary mirror door finish
- Ceramic Enamel Interior - It's exceptionally smooth antibacterial surface makes it easy to clean. It is also highly rust and scratch resistant so it won't discolour over time.
- COMPACT EVERYDAY COOKING: A practical 20L capacity with a 24.5cm glass turntable fits standard dinner plates and bowls, delivering reliable, even heating for quick meals, snacks and reheats in busy...
Unboxing the Chefman: First Impressions and Standout Features
Pulling the Chefman 20L 800W Microwave Oven from its packaging, our first impression was one of surprising substance. For a compact unit, it feels solid, weighing in at just over 9 kilograms. The stainless steel finish gives it a sleek, modern aesthetic that looks more expensive than it is, effortlessly blending into our test kitchen’s decor. There’s no assembly required beyond placing the 25.5 cm glass turntable onto its rotating axis. The control panel is a clean, touch-sensitive surface, and the prominent handle feels sturdy and ergonomic—a nice touch compared to the push-button door releases that can feel flimsy on other budget models. One user noted they “love the handle,” and after a week of use, we have to agree. It provides a satisfying, mechanical feel. When we plugged it in, the bright LED display came to life, clearly laying out the array of functions, from the six express cook presets to the 10 distinct power levels. It immediately presents itself as a feature-packed appliance ready to punch above its weight class. You can see its full feature set and user reviews to get a better sense of its capabilities.
What We Like
- Feature-rich for its size and price (Mute, Memory, Multiphase)
- Compact footprint ideal for smaller kitchens
- Sleek stainless steel design looks premium
- Intuitive controls and handy presets make it easy to use
- Generally quiet operation compared to older models
Drawbacks
- Reports of significant quality control issues from some users
- Casing can get hot during longer cooking cycles
Putting the Chefman 20L 800W Microwave to the Test: A Performance Breakdown
A microwave can look great and boast a long list of features, but its true worth is measured in performance. How evenly does it heat? How intuitive are its “smart” functions? And does the build quality hold up to daily use? We spent weeks with the Chefman 20L 800W Microwave Oven, putting it through a gauntlet of tests—from reheating day-old pizza to defrosting a block of frozen chicken and exploring its more advanced settings—to bring you our comprehensive findings.
Everyday Heating and Cooking Performance: Power and Precision
At 800 watts, the Chefman isn’t the most powerful microwave on the market, but for its compact 20L capacity, this wattage is perfectly calibrated. We found it heated food efficiently without the long waits associated with lower-wattage models. Our leftover lasagna test, a notorious challenge for microwaves, yielded impressive results. A standard dinner plate-sized portion was piping hot in the center without the edges turning into volcanic rock, a common sign of uneven heating. This aligns with feedback from one user who was happy that it “heats food evenly and gets the job done quickly.” The 25.5 cm turntable is just large enough for full-sized dinner plates, ensuring consistent rotation for uniform cooking.
The ten adjustable power levels offer a fantastic degree of control. We softened butter for baking on a low setting (P20) and boiled a cup of water for tea in under two minutes at full power (P100). This versatility is a major advantage. However, we did note, as one user review pointed out, that during longer cooking cycles, such as making a baked potato using the preset, the exterior metal casing became noticeably hot to the touch. It wasn’t dangerously hot, but it’s something to be aware of if you have it placed in a tight spot with little ventilation. The popcorn preset worked reasonably well, though we had to add 20 seconds to get the best result and avoid a large number of unpopped kernels. A standout feature for us was the Multiphase Cooking. We tested this by programming a defrost cycle followed immediately by a 50% power cook cycle for a frozen sausage patty. As one detailed review mentioned, this is perfect for items that get chewy when blasted with full power. It worked flawlessly, a feature usually reserved for more expensive machines and a real highlight you can explore further on its product page.
The User Experience: Presets, Mute Function, and Smart Features
This is where the Chefman 20L 800W Microwave Oven truly begins to separate itself from the budget crowd. The user interface is exceptionally straightforward. The six presets (popcorn, potato, pizza, veggies, beverage, leftovers) are genuinely useful. We found ourselves using the beverage button daily for a perfect cup of tea and the leftover button for quick lunches. Each preset is intelligently timed, though you can easily add 30-second increments with the Start button if needed. This simplicity was echoed by many users, with one stating, “This microwave is very easy to use and the preset features are very handy.”
The two features that truly elevated our experience were the Mute and Memory functions. The Mute function, activated by holding the “8” button for three seconds, silences all operational beeps. For anyone who has ever been woken up by a family member making a late-night snack, this is a game-changer. One reviewer mentioned that their unit’s mute function didn’t work, which suggests potential unit-to-unit variance, but on our test model, it worked perfectly and was a celebrated feature. The ability to cook in silence is a small luxury we didn’t know we needed. The Memory Function is equally brilliant. We programmed it to our preferred setting for reheating a morning coffee (45 seconds at 90% power) and could activate it with a single button press. These thoughtful additions transform the appliance from a simple heater into a personalized kitchen assistant.
Design, Build Quality, and Long-Term Durability
Aesthetically, the Chefman is a winner. The stainless steel finish gives it a clean, professional look that belies its affordable price point. It looks fantastic on the countertop, and its compact dimensions make it a viable option for even the most space-challenged kitchens. The interior is a standard, easy-to-clean coated metal, and the glass turntable feels substantial. We agree with the user who said it was “an aesthetic addition to my kitchen.”
However, the conversation around durability is more complex. While our test unit felt sturdy, with a solid handle and responsive controls, we cannot ignore the significant number of negative user reviews reporting catastrophic failures. Reports of the unit catching fire, the glass turntable shattering, or the machine simply ceasing to function after a few months are deeply concerning. One user stated, “After 6 weeks it went on fire,” while another reported, “Microwaved something for 2 mins and the glass shattered.” This points to a potential problem with quality control in the manufacturing process. It seems that while a good unit is very good, there is a non-trivial chance of receiving a defective one. We did not experience any of these issues during our extensive testing. Our unit ran quietly, heated reliably, and showed no signs of defect. The included limited 2-year warranty provides a crucial safety net, and we would strongly advise buyers to register their product and be vigilant during the initial months of use. For the price, the value proposition is high, but it comes with this noted risk.
What Other Users Are Saying
Sifting through a wide range of user feedback, a clear picture emerges of the Chefman 20L 800W Microwave Oven. The majority of owners are highly satisfied, often praising its combination of performance, features, and value. One user summed up this sentiment perfectly: “A lot of the smaller microwaves you can pickup for under $50 are inexpensive for a reason. They lack wattage and the better features. This little microwave offers more features and a higher level of quality.” Many others echo this, calling it “good quality for the money” and “a great addition to my kitchen.” The ease of use and the stylish appearance are recurring themes in positive reviews.
However, the negative feedback, though less frequent, is severe and cannot be overlooked. The reports of critical failures, such as the unit catching fire or the glass plate shattering, are serious safety concerns. Other complaints mention uneven heating, loud buzzing noises, and receiving units that appear to be used or have cosmetic defects. One disappointed customer noted, “Worst microwave I have ever purchased. This microwave is only good for short warmups.” This stark contrast in experiences suggests a significant inconsistency in manufacturing quality. It appears you are likely to either get a fantastic, reliable appliance or a complete dud.
How Does the Chefman Compare? Top Alternatives Explored
No product exists in a vacuum. To give you the full picture, we’ve compared the Chefman 20L 800W Microwave Oven against three distinct alternatives, each catering to a different user need and budget.
1. Russell Hobbs RHMD714MG-N Digital 17L Microwave
- STYLISH - Wooden effect handle and dial for a Scandinavian inspired finish
- COMPACT - Ideal for kitchens with limited space
The Russell Hobbs microwave is all about style. If aesthetics are your top priority, its unique matt green finish and wood-effect handle offer a retro charm that the utilitarian stainless steel of the Chefman can’t match. However, this focus on design comes with compromises. It has a smaller 17-litre capacity and slightly less power at 700W, meaning it will take a bit longer to heat food. It’s a fantastic choice for a design-led kitchen where the microwave is used less frequently or for smaller items. For those who value a specific look over raw power and capacity, the Russell Hobbs is a compelling alternative.
2. Sharp YC-QS302AU-B 30L 900W Digital Flatbed Microwave
- 900 watt flatbed microwave oven: Part of SHARP's unique Flatbed range. Fully digital solo microwave cooker, easy clean with no turntable, large 30L capacity, pull handle and energy-saving eco mode
- Easy touch control, full digital display: Simple to read LED clock screen shows the time when the microwave is not in use, and features a handy kitchen timer function and child safety lock
The Sharp represents a significant step up in both size and technology. Its key feature is the flatbed design, which eliminates the need for a turntable. This makes cleaning incredibly simple and allows you to use rectangular dishes that wouldn’t fit in a traditional microwave. With a cavernous 30-litre capacity and a more powerful 900W output, it’s built for larger families or those who microwave large dishes frequently. While it lacks the intricate memory and multiphase cooking of the Chefman, it’s a workhorse designed for capacity and convenience. If you have the counter space and your primary frustration with microwaves is the turntable, the Sharp is the superior choice.
3. Sage The Smart Oven Pro
- The Sage Smart Oven Pro with Element iQ System is a high performance countertop oven. Reduce your cooking time by up to 30 Percent using the convection setting and choose from 10 cooking functions as...
- Elemet iq System. Using 5 independent quartz elements, smart algorithms steer power to where and when it's needed to create the ideal cooking environment for perfect results every time. Fast 2400 Watt...
Comparing the Sage Smart Oven Pro to the Chefman is like comparing a swiss army knife to a scalpel. The Sage is a premium, multi-function countertop oven that also happens to have cooking functions, but it is not a dedicated microwave. It’s designed for people who want to bake, roast, toast, and grill without using their main oven. It uses smart “Element IQ” technology for precise temperature control, offering vastly more cooking versatility. It’s a completely different class of appliance at a much higher price point. If you’re a passionate home cook looking for a do-it-all countertop appliance and have a flexible budget, the Sage is an outstanding investment. If you just need to reheat coffee and defrost chicken, it’s complete overkill.
Final Verdict: Is the Chefman 20L 800W Microwave Oven Right for You?
After weeks of rigorous testing and careful consideration of user feedback, our verdict on the Chefman 20L 800W Microwave Oven is one of conditional recommendation. On paper and in our hands-on experience, it is a phenomenal value. It packs an impressive suite of features like a mute function, multiphase cooking, and a memory setting into a compact, stylish, and affordable package. It heats evenly for its class, is simple to operate, and looks great on the counter. For a small apartment, office, or anyone needing a capable, feature-rich microwave without a large footprint, it seems like the perfect solution.
However, the shadow of potential quality control issues looms large. The severe nature of the negative reports—though in the minority—cannot be ignored. Our final advice is this: if you’re drawn to its excellent feature set and price, it is a worthy contender, but buy it with the understanding that you should be vigilant in the early days of ownership. Make sure to register the 2-year warranty as a safety net. For those willing to take that chance, you will likely be rewarded with one of the best-value compact microwaves on the market. If you’re ready to add this smart and stylish appliance to your kitchen, you can check the latest price and availability here.
Last update on 2025-11-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API