Best Flatbed Microwaves UK: No Turntable, Easy Clean

Our verdict at a glance – four ways to choose Best value:Toshiba MW3-EM23PFF(BK), a 23L, 800W flatbed with 11 power levels for around £119.99. Best for families on simple controls:Russell Hobbs RHFM2365S, a 23L flatbed with button controls, child lock and published dimensions for around £139.99. Best higher-power flatbed:Sharp YC-QS254AU-B, a 25L, 900W model with eco mode and an LED cavity light for around £149.99. Best with a grill:Sharp YC-QG204AU-B, a compact 20L flatbed with a 1050W grill for around £119.00.

A turntable is the part of a microwave most people never think about until it goes wrong. It rattles on its roller ring, it traps crumbs and spills around the edge, and it dictates the shape of dish that fits. A flatbed microwave removes it. The floor of the cavity is a smooth, fixed surface, the microwave energy is distributed by other means, and the whole interior wipes clean in seconds. For anyone who has ever tried to squeeze a rectangular dish or a large dinner plate into a round-turntable oven, the appeal is obvious.

Flatbed models are still a small corner of the market, which is why choosing between them is easier than it is with ordinary microwaves. This guide covers four flatbed models that are currently listed on Amazon UK, from a plain and affordable solo microwave to a larger 900W model and a compact combination with a grill. If the wider picture is what is needed first, the best microwaves UK round-up covers every type of microwave, turntable or not, and explains when a solo, grill or combination model is the sensible choice.

Prices below are the listed prices at the time of writing and move around regularly, so treat each figure as a guide rather than a promise. Every specification quoted comes from the product listing itself.

Why choose a flatbed microwave?

The practical benefits of a flatbed design come down to three things. The first is cleaning. With no glass plate, no roller ring and no central coupling, there is nothing to lift out, wash and replace. Spills stay on a flat floor that can be wiped in one pass, which matters in a household where microwaves get used for reheating pasta, porridge and soup several times a day.

The second is usable space. A turntable oven can only accept dishes that will spin without catching the walls, so a 23L cavity often behaves like a smaller one. A flatbed cavity has no rotation to allow for, so a large rectangular container, a wide plate or a casserole dish sits inside without any clearance calculation. The listing for the Toshiba below makes exactly this point about large dinner plates and family portions.

The third is evenness. Without a turntable moving food through the field, flatbed microwaves rely on how energy is delivered into the cavity, and manufacturers claim that food heats evenly without hot and cold spots. It is still good practice to stir soups and sauces halfway and to leave food to stand for a minute after cooking, as with any microwave.

There are trade-offs. Flatbed models are usually a little more expensive than equivalent turntable models, the choice is narrower, and some flatbed microwaves lose a little cavity height to the mechanism underneath. For most households cleaning and flexibility outweigh these points.

Toshiba MW3-EM23PFF(BK): best value flatbed microwave

The Toshiba MW3-EM23PFF(BK) is a 23L, 800W solo microwave in black, and at around £119.99 it is the least expensive flatbed model in this round-up that does not include a grill. It is a straightforward digital microwave built around the flatbed cavity, and the listing highlights larger usable space and easy cleaning without a turntable as the main selling points.

Control is by digital panel with 11 power levels and seven auto menus, which is more choice than the ordinary dial-and-button models at this price. There is a Chef Defrost programme intended to avoid the familiar problem of food that is hot at the edges and frozen in the middle, and a +30 second Express Cook button for quick top-ups when a bowl of soup needs another few moments. A clock and timer complete the feature set.

Capacity is the strong point. The 23L cavity is described as large enough for big dinner plates and family portions, and because there is no turntable to clear, the listing also positions it for flats, student kitchens and caravans where every centimetre of worktop counts. For a household that mainly reheats, defrosts and cooks simple meals, it covers everything needed without paying for features that will not be used.

The limitation is that it is a solo microwave. There is no grill and no convection, so it will not brown or crisp food. It also does not have the larger 900W output of the Sharp below, though 800W is the standard rating for most everyday microwaves and is fine for ordinary reheating. It suits anyone who wants a flatbed for the cleaning benefit and does not want to spend more.

Russell Hobbs RHFM2365S: best for families on simple controls

The Russell Hobbs RHFM2365S is a 23L, 800W flatbed in silver, listed at around £139.99. Where the Toshiba leans on digital programmes, the Russell Hobbs is aimed squarely at ease of use, with button controls, a pull handle, a 95-minute timer and a child lock. It comes across as the more traditional of the flatbed models, and that is precisely its appeal for households where several people of different ages use the microwave.

The listing describes it as suited to families, with the 23L capacity pitched at batch cooking, meal prep and reheating leftovers. There are five power levels, eight auto-cook menus and a defrost function, so it covers the usual jobs without the complexity of a dozen settings. The child lock is a useful extra where young children are around, since it stops the microwave being started by accident.

The listing also gives dimensions, which is helpful when planning a worktop or shelf. Internally the cavity measures 22cm high, 33cm wide and 31cm deep, and externally the microwave is 29cm high, 48cm wide and 38cm deep. That makes it a mid-sized unit, and the 33cm internal width explains why a standard dinner plate fits comfortably. The product also carries a one-year guarantee.

Against the Toshiba it costs around £20 more and has fewer power levels, so the extra money buys the silver finish, the simpler layout and the Russell Hobbs name rather than more capability. That is a fair reason to choose it if the design and the button-and-pull-handle layout appeal, but anyone comparing purely on features will find the Toshiba the better deal.

Sharp YC-QS254AU-B: best higher-power flatbed

The Sharp YC-QS254AU-B is the largest and most powerful microwave in this round-up: a 25L, 900W flatbed in black, listed at around £149.99. Sharp describes it as part of its flatbed range, and it is the model to look at when a household wants faster cooking times and a larger cavity than the 23L, 800W models offer.

The extra 100W over an 800W microwave means shorter cooking times for the same food, and the 25L cavity gives more room for larger dishes. Controls combine touch buttons with a dial and a digital display. The LED clock shows the time when the microwave is idle and doubles as a kitchen timer, and there is a child safety lock. Cooking options include 10 power levels and eight automatic programmes, including drink reheat, plate reheat and time or weight defrost.

Two features stand out. The first is an eco mode aimed at reducing standby energy use, which appeals to anyone watching running costs. The second is an LED cavity light, which makes it easier to see what is happening inside than the dim bulbs on cheaper models. The listing also confirms a 12-month warranty.

At around £149.99 it is the most expensive solo flatbed here, and it is fair to ask whether the extra power and capacity are worth around £30 more than the Toshiba. For a larger household or anyone who cooks straight from frozen regularly, the answer is probably yes. For a couple who mainly reheat drinks and leftovers, the cheaper models are enough.

Sharp YC-QG204AU-B: best flatbed with a grill

The Sharp YC-QG204AU-B is the odd one out in this list, because it adds a 1050W grill to an 800W microwave in a compact 20L flatbed. It is listed at around £119.00, which makes it the cheapest model here despite having the most cooking options. That makes it the natural choice for anyone who wants to brown toast toppings, finish cheese on toast or crisp the top of a dish, not just heat it.

The listing gives 12 automatic cooking programmes and 10 power levels, and describes drink and plate reheat, grilling and time or weight defrost settings. Controls mirror the larger Sharp, with a dial, touch buttons and a digital display with an LED clock and timer, plus a child safety lock and an eco mode. The 12-month warranty applies here as well.

Capacity is the compromise. At 20L it is the smallest model in the round-up, and the listing describes it as compact and aimed at smaller kitchens. It will cope with a plate, a bowl of soup or a jacket potato, but it is not the choice for large family dishes. There is a second, more practical point: a grill microwave needs a little care, since only suitable containers and the correct rack or tray should be used in grill mode, and the manual should be followed.

For a single person, a couple or a small kitchen, it is a sensible way to get microwave and grill in one flatbed unit without paying for a full combination oven. Anyone who wants a larger cavity should pick one of the 23L or 25L models above instead.

How to choose between them

The decision usually comes down to three questions. The first is capacity. A 20L cavity suits one or two people, 23L suits most households, and 25L gives a little more room for large dishes and family portions. The second is power. Higher wattage cooks faster, so the 900W Sharp will shave time off most jobs, while 800W is perfectly adequate for reheating and defrosting.

The third question is whether a grill is worth having. A grill adds browning and crisping, which a plain microwave cannot do, and the Sharp YC-QG204AU-B provides it at a price that is lower than the solo models. If cooking beyond reheating matters, that is the model to choose. If it does not, the extra feature is unnecessary and the extra cleaning of a grill element is not welcome.

Finally, check the worktop. A flatbed microwave is not necessarily smaller than a turntable model, and only the Russell Hobbs listing gives its outer dimensions here, at 29cm high, 48cm wide and 38cm deep. Measure the space, including clearance around the vents, before buying any of them.

Frequently asked questions

Is a flatbed microwave better than a turntable microwave?

It is better for cleaning and for fitting awkward dishes, since there is no glass plate to remove and no rotation to allow for. For heating performance the two types are broadly comparable, and both benefit from stirring and standing time. A turntable model is the cheaper choice, so a flatbed is worth it mainly for convenience.

Do flatbed microwaves heat food evenly?

Manufacturers state that they do, and the Toshiba and Russell Hobbs listings both make the claim. As with any microwave, thick or dense food benefits from being stirred or turned halfway and left to stand for a minute or two so the heat can spread through it.

Which flatbed microwave has the biggest capacity?

Of the four models here, the Sharp YC-QS254AU-B is the largest at 25L. The Toshiba MW3-EM23PFF(BK) and Russell Hobbs RHFM2365S are 23L, and the Sharp YC-QG204AU-B is a compact 20L.

Can you get a flatbed microwave with a grill?

Yes. The Sharp YC-QG204AU-B combines an 800W microwave with a 1050W grill and is listed at around £119.00. It is the most affordable model in this round-up and the only one with a grill.

Is a 900W microwave worth paying more for?

Higher power shortens cooking times, so it is worth considering for larger households and for anyone who cooks from frozen. The Sharp YC-QS254AU-B at 900W is around £30 more than the 800W Toshiba, so it is a real trade-off. For occasional reheating, 800W is enough.

The final word

A flatbed microwave costs a little more than an equivalent turntable model and rewards that with easier cleaning and more usable space. For most households the Toshiba MW3-EM23PFF(BK) at around £119.99 is the sensible starting point, with its 23L cavity, 11 power levels and seven auto menus. The Russell Hobbs RHFM2365S at around £139.99 suits those who prefer button controls, a child lock and published dimensions, while the Sharp YC-QS254AU-B at around £149.99 is the pick for a bigger household that wants 900W and a 25L cavity.

Anyone who wants to brown and crisp as well as reheat should look at the compact Sharp YC-QG204AU-B, which adds a 1050W grill for around £119.00. Whichever model is chosen, check the price and availability on Amazon before buying, since both change often.

Related guides

If you are still deciding, these related Kitchen Kit guides are worth a look:

• Best microwaves UK: solo, grill and combination compared
• Best solo microwaves UK
• Best combination microwaves UK
• Best mini ovens UK
• Air fryer vs mini oven: which replaces your oven?
• Best air fryers UK