REASONS TO BUY
Efficient defrosting
User-friendly
Great for frozen burritos and wraps
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Uneven heating
Not the best craftsmanship
Cuisinart CMW-100 Review
This compact, user-friendly model is suitable for individuals with limited space, but its overall performance could be better
Credit: Cuisinart
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Our Verdict
The Cuisinart CMW-100 performed well in a few of our tests, particularly heating frozen burritos and its user-friendliness. However, it underperforms in various other aspects. It inconsistently heats different types of foods and often leaves them undercooked. If the unit were slightly more affordable, it may have stood a chance against our top-ranked microwaves.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product Cuisinart CMW-100 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Microwave |  Best Microwave for Heating Frozen Food |  Best Value Microwave | Best Microwave on a Tight Budget | |
| Price | $200 List $199.95 at Amazon | $219 List $175.98 at Amazon | $120 List $112.99 at Amazon | $125 List $124.95 at Amazon | $82 List $69.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Although ideal for those with a smaller space, this microwave falls short in terms of overall performance | A crowd-pleaser with robust performance in every aspect - you can't go wrong with this excellent appliance | A full-size microwave that is a solid performer across the board with outstanding frozen food heating capability | A middle of the road product for a reasonable price, scoring similarly to many others that were priced much higher | Ideal for those on a budget or with limited space, but this model falls short in terms of premium build quality and high-level performance across our evaluated metrics |
| Rating Categories | Cuisinart CMW-100 | GE JES1109RRSS | Magic Chef MC110MB | Panasonic NN-SB458S | Comfee EM720CPL-PMB |
| Heating (40%) | |||||
| Frozen Foods (30%) | |||||
| Defrosting (20%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Cuisinart CMW-100 | GE JES1109RRSS | Magic Chef MC110MB | Panasonic NN-SB458S | Comfee EM720CPL-PMB |
| Measured 45 Sec Heating Temp Rise | 78 F | 71 F | 106 F | 89 F | 67 F |
| Measured Weight of Defrosted Meat | 12.8 oz | 15 oz | 12.5 oz | 8.8 oz | 11.8 oz |
| Average Temperature Difference | 31 F | 9 F | 7 F | 29 F | 13 F |
| Measured Unpopped Kernels | 66 | 37 | 23 | 8 | 192 |
| Wattage | 1000 watts | 1050 watts | 1000 watts | 900 watts | 700 watts |
| Measured Turntable Diameter | 12.4" | 12.4" | 12.4" | 10.6" | 10" |
| Measured External Dimensions (WxHxD) | 20.5" x 12.8" x 17.5" | 20.6" x 11.9" x 16.6" | 20.6" x 11.8" x 14.7" | 19.1" x 11.5" x 14.8" | 17.1" x 10.1" x 12.4" |
| Measured Internal Dimentions (WxHxD) | 12.9" x 9.0" x 12.9" | 13.0" x 8.4" x 12.4" | 13.1" x 8.2" x 12.5" | 13.9" x 8.1" x 12.4" | 10.8" x 6.8" x 10.1" |
| Size | 1.0 cu. ft | 1.0 cu. ft | 1.1 cu. ft | 0.9 cu. ft | 0.7 cu. ft |
| Child lock | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Cuisinart CMW-100 didn't disappoint in too many areas of our testing, but considering its price, we had higher expectations for its performance. That's not to say it's a poor appliance, as it does well in certain aspects. It efficiently handles defrosting, and the interface is user-friendly.
Performance Comparison
The Cuisinart CMW-100 is straightforward and easy to use, thanks to its well-designed interface.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Heating
We conducted a series of tests to assess the product's heating performance, including microwaving various food items.
Heat Map Test
To start, we evaluated the evenness of heating. We spread marshmallow fluff on a parchment paper piece sized to match the turntable and heated it for two minutes to gauge the uniformity of browning. The Cuisinart had no visible scorch marks, and the fluff was cooked pretty evenly, minus a couple of hot spots.
The heat map from the Cuisinart CMW-100 was mostly even with no scorch marks. Not a bad result!
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
Heating Speed Test
Next, we monitored each microwave's heating speed. We quantified this by heating a 125 mL beaker of water for 45 seconds. We measured the temperatures before and after heating and then measured the discrepancy. During this duration, the Cuisinart increased the water's temperature by 78 degrees, progressing from 42 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. While it didn't claim the top spot among the products tested, it delivered a decent performance.
After 45 seconds of heating, the Cuisinart CMW-100 increased the water temperature by roughly 78 degrees.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Leftover Heating
To see how efficiently the microwave could reheat a well-rounded dish, we loaded up a plate of leftovers, including potatoes, green beans, and sausage links. We employed a preset microwave option set for two minutes and 30 seconds. The sausage links and green beans were heated adequately, maintaining relatively consistent temperatures, with minor variations of 12 and 15 degrees, respectively. However, the mashed potatoes had a much larger temperature range. Mixing up the potatoes after heating would likely lead to more uniform results, although this action falls outside the scope of the test.
Placing our full plate of leftovers in the Cuisinart CMW-100 to see how well it can reheat.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Soup Heating
We tested each microwave's performance in heating canned soup. After heating for the recommended three minutes, the soup was very hot but still edible at 162 degrees. Unfortunately, the CMW-100 didn't boast the same results with leftover pizza. We warmed two slices for 45 seconds, resulting in uneven temperatures throughout. Each slice was heated to different temperatures, and both included large cold spots.
We had mixed results after reheating two slices of pizza. Part of the slice was warm, while other sections had cold spots.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
Frozen Foods
In our next metric, we assessed each product's ability to heat frozen food, including burritos, lasagna, and hot pockets. Our first frozen food item was a burrito, heated for a minute and a half per the 1000-watt microwave instructions. The outcome was favorable, with even heating and a perfect tortilla texture. It was free from hard or soggy areas while remaining thoroughly cooked. This was a big win for the Cuisinart.
Next, we placed a personal-sized frozen lasagna in the microwave. Adhering to the package instructions led to slightly undercooked lasagna, with a cool center around 140 degrees Fahrenheit. It was close to the ideal temperature but would require additional cooking time to reach it. The hot pocket fared slightly worse here, not cooking evenly at all. The center was mostly undercooked and soggy, while the outer edges were overcooked.
The Cuisinart does a great job cooking frozen burritos - a staple of the microwave.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Defrosting
To test the defrosting abilities of the Cuisinart CMW-100, we used one pound of beef and defrosted based on the product's instructions. This model offers warming options based on time or weight. We chose the weight option, which led to satisfying results. The meat was uniformly thawed after nine minutes and 20 seconds, with only a small frozen section in the middle.
The beef thawed by the Cuisinart.
Credit: Genaveve Bradshaw
Ease of Use
We were quite impressed with the ease of use with this appliance. The interface is well-labeled and straightforward to use. The microwave includes all the essential functions, such as a timer, item-specific cook times, power control, and defrost. In use, it offers good stability, remaining steady during operation.
The CMW-100 microwave has a high-contrast interface that is easy to read and use.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Should You Buy the Cuisinart CMW-100?
While the Cuisinart CMW-100 covers essential microwave functions and is easy to use, it doesn't excel among top performers. It was inconsistent among our heating tests, resulting in some items being cooked thoroughly while other items needed extra time. Its price is above average compared to other models we tested, which doesn't completely align with its ability. Choosing a similar-performing microwave at a lower price point would be a better investment.
What Other Microwaves Should You Consider?
The GE JES1109RRSS excelled at nearly every test we threw at it, and it is available at a similar price point. If you're on the hunt for a budget-friendly option that still performs well, check out the Comfee EM720CPL-PMB. This option is also compact and ideal for those with limited counter space.
—Genaveve Bradshaw and Ryan White
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