Flatbed Microwaves

Flatbed Microwaves

A flatbed microwave has no turntable and no roller ring. The waves are distributed by an antenna under a flat ceramic or glass floor instead, which changes two practical things. Square and rectangular dishes fit, so a lasagne dish or a takeaway container no longer jams against the door as the plate spins. And cleaning takes seconds, because there is nothing to lift out and nothing for spills to run underneath.

The usable space is the real gain. A 23 litre flatbed will often take a dish that a 25 litre turntable model refuses, since the whole floor is available rather than the circle the plate sweeps. Power still works the same way: 800W suits everyday reheating and defrosting, while 900W and above cuts the time on a full plate or a family portion. Check the internal floor width against your regular dishes rather than going by the litre figure alone.

Flatbed models heat only, so if you want browning or baking as well, look at combi microwaves with a grill and convection. For a worktop that is already tight, a small microwave may suit better, and a built in microwave clears the counter entirely. The full microwave range covers every type in one place.

Flatbed microwaves here come from Panasonic and Russell Hobbs, with Sharp, Samsung and Dimplex across the wider microwave range.

A flatbed carries a small premium over a turntable model of the same capacity, and a reduced price is usually what closes that gap, which makes a sale the easiest moment to upgrade to one. Prices are live all year, so see what is reduced now on microwaves on sale.