For reheating leftovers, Consumer Reports’ heating-evenness test is the most relevant measure: it checks whether food warms without hot or cold spots. Its 2026 roundup names the Café CVM721M2NS5, but the available results do not establish a complete leftovers-specific ranking or publish that model’s numerical evenness score. The useful takeaway is to compare evenness first, then weigh speed, usable capacity, controls, venting, and installation fit.
What Consumer Reports measures for reheating leftovers
Consumer Reports evaluates over-the-range microwaves on heating evenness, defrosting, speed, ease of use, microwave and vent noise, vent airflow, claimed and usable capacity, wattage, and features. For leftovers, heating evenness is the closest match to the question: does the food warm throughout, or are some spots hot while others stay cold?
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CR describes a test in which a bowl of cold mashed potatoes is heated for 10 minutes, then measured with thermocouples at 20 locations. A high score indicates more even heating across the food. As CR puts it, “A top-scoring model warms center and edges alike, helping heat foods like leftovers.” Consumer Reports’ GE JVM6172SKSS review explains the criterion.
This test is a useful proxy, not a guarantee that every food, container, portion size, or starting temperature will heat identically. Speed is a separate rating: a microwave can heat quickly without distributing heat as evenly.
#1 Best Overall
- Space-Saving Over-the-Range Design: Maximize kitchen space with this 30-inch microwave that mounts above your stove. This microwave hood vent combo combines cooking and ventilation in one appliance. Measures: 16.12" H x 29.87" W x 15.56" D
- Trusted GE Performance: From quick breakfasts to late-night snacks, this GE over-the-range microwave delivers the reliable performance, user-friendly controls, and everyday convenience that have made GE a trusted name in kitchens for generations
- Powerful 2-Speed Ventilation: Keep small spaces clear of cooking odors, steam and smoke with a 300-CFM ventilation system and 2-speed fan
- Charcoal Filter: Enjoy cooking and cleaner air, too. The replaceable charcoal filter removes fumes and odors that are released from foods during cooking
- Simple One-Touch Controls: One-touch express cooking settings and 4 convenience cook settings provide easy operation for busy lifestyles, while the digital display and electronic keypad provide precise control of cook time and power settings
What the available model results say
Consumer Reports’ 2026 article, “10 Best Lab-Tested Over-the-Range Microwaves of 2026,” names the Café CVM721M2NS5. The accessible model-specific results support a few useful comparisons, but not a complete ranked list for leftovers.
| Model | What Consumer Reports reports | What that means for leftovers |
|---|---|---|
| Café CVM721M2NS5 | Named in CR’s 2026 roundup; excellent defrosting evenness, very good heating speed, sensor cooking, and not quite as good heating evenness. The model page lists 1,000 watts. | A current roundup example with a stated evenness tradeoff; no numerical heating-evenness score is available in the excerpt. |
| Insignia NS-OTR16SS8 | CR’s model review rates heating evenness “very good.” Listed configuration: 1.6 cubic feet, 1,000 watts, sensor, auto-defrost, and touchpad controls. | A model-specific evenness result, but it is not evidence that this microwave appears in the 2026 best-of roundup. |
| GE JVM6172SKSS | CR expects performance similar to the tested GE JVM6175YKFS, while noting that price and features may differ. | An expected-similarity assessment, not a direct test result for the JVM6172SKSS. |
CR’s Café CVM721M2NS5 model page identifies its 1,000-watt rating. The available 2026 roundup excerpt does not give every selection or each model’s individual leftovers-related score, so it does not support naming a definitive best model for reheating leftovers.
Rank #2
- Large Capacity: 13.9"D x 29.9"W x 16.4"H. Featuring a spacious interior, this 1.7 cubic feet microwave oven includes a 12.4-inch turntable and will serve as your top sous chef for any meal or cooking adventure.
- 10 Cooking Levels: With a 1000-watt output, this over-the-range microwave oven has 6 quick menus for your daily meals, including settings for Popcorn,Potato, Beverage, Melt/Soften, Reheat, and Defrost.
- Speedy Cooking: For quick action, press numbers 1, 2, or 3 for using the 100% power level at 1-3 minutes.
- Multi-stage Cooking: Save time by cooking with 90% microwave power for 10 minutes and then cooking with 50% power for 20 minutes in one time setting.
- 300 CFM Vent Fan with Light: With a 2-speed strong suction, the powerful vent on this stainless steel microwave helps to remove fumes and odors while an integrated light offers focused lighting while cooking.
How to choose an over-the-range microwave for leftovers
Prioritize even heating, not just speed
Look for a model-specific heating-evenness result when one is available. A fast heating-speed result may save time, but it does not establish that the center and edges warm equally. CR reports these as separate factors.
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Check usable capacity and installation fit
Advertised cubic feet do not always represent practical room. CR notes that its lab measurements can find only 40–50 percent of advertised capacity usable in over-the-range models. Compare measured usable capacity where available, then verify the exact model’s dimensions and installation requirements against the manufacturer’s instructions. Cabinet clearance, cooktop placement, and vent configuration all matter.
Rank #3
- Large Capacity: 13.2"D x 29.9"W x 16.4"H. Featuring a spacious interior, this 1.7 cubic feet microwave oven includes a 12.4-inch turntable and will serve as your top sous chef for any meal or cooking adventure.
- 10 Cooking Levels: With a 1000-watt output, this over-the-range microwave oven has 6 quick menus for your daily meals, including settings for Popcorn, Beverage, Melt/Soften, Reheat, and Defrost.
- Speedy Cooking: For quick action, press numbers 1, 2, or 3 for using the 100% power level at 1-3 minutes.
- Multi-stage Cooking: Save time by cooking with 90% microwave power for 10 minutes and then cooking with 50% power for 20 minutes in one time setting.
- 300 CFM Vent Fan with Light: With a 2-speed strong suction, the powerful vent on this stainless steel microwave helps to remove fumes and odors while an integrated light offers focused lighting while cooking.
Consider sensors and controls as convenience features
Sensor cooking can automate cooking decisions, but its presence does not prove that leftovers will heat evenly. Check whether the controls are easy to read and operate, and whether the sensor functions suit the foods and portions you commonly reheat. The Café CVM721M2NS5, for example, has sensor cooking; CR also describes its recessed handle and controls integrated into the glass.
Separate microwave noise from vent performance
CR rates microwave noise, vent noise, and vent airflow as distinct factors. If the microwave will be used over a busy cooktop or in an open kitchen, consider these separately rather than treating “quiet” or “good venting” as a single feature.
Rank #4
- Pre-programmed auto menus for popcorn, potato, vegetable, pizza, snack, bacon, frozen dinner, rice, and frozen breakfast..Rated Voltage : 120V - 60Hz
- 1000 Watts with ten power settings, clock and kitchen timer, 30 seconds express cooking and child lock.
- Cooktop LED lighting that offers a clear and bright vision for your meals on cooktop.
- Two-speed, 400-CFM venting fan system.
- Turntable On/Off function allows you to cook large dishes.
Read reliability data as brand-level context
CR’s overall scores combine lab results with brand reliability and owner-satisfaction survey inputs. Reliability estimates concern newly purchased units and estimated problem rates by the end of the fifth year; they are brand-level estimates, not a promise about the life of one particular microwave. In its latest member survey, CR rated Café’s predicted reliability very good and owner satisfaction middling.
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In a 2025 Consumer Reports survey covering 36,707 over-the-range microwaves purchased new between 2015 and 2025, owners reported these problems:
Best Value
- One-touch-cook with 18 Auto Menus, and you can make popcorn, pizza, defrost, soften cream cheese, rice, potato, and so on. Feel free to create delicious dishes efficiently and easily.
- 1.7 cu.ft capacity with 12.4 inch turntable can easily hold your big rotisserie chicken and 12 inches pizza.
- 10-level power settings satisfy your different heating needs. (With 1000W outcome power)
- CFM 300 strong suction power with adjustable fan speeds, effectively removes the unpleasant fumes and odor.
- Bright cooktop light to serve your cooking with a clear view.
- 6 percent reported a noise problem.
- 6 percent reported a broken control panel.
- 4 percent reported a door that did not close or lock properly.
- 4 percent reported unevenly heated food.
These are survey-reported issue rates across the covered population and period, not forecasts for any one model. They provide context for the ownership experience, while lab results address tested performance.
Bottom line: choose by evenness, then verify the fit
For the best over-the-range microwaves for reheating leftovers, use heating evenness as the first filter, then compare speed and practical capacity. The Café CVM721M2NS5 is named in CR’s 2026 roundup and has strong reported defrosting and speed results, but CR notes a relative weakness in heating evenness. Because the available roundup evidence does not show the complete shortlist or numerical evenness scores, it cannot establish a single leftovers winner. Before buying, confirm the exact model number, dimensions, usable space, and installation compatibility.
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