Magic Chef MC110MB Review

The Magic Chef MC110MB falls on the larger end of the spectrum of the microwaves we reviewed, measuring in at 1.1 cu. Ft with an ample 12.4-inch turntable. We found its interface very user-friendly, with a wide array of presets and useful features for nuking your favorite foods.

Performance Comparison

Heating

The MC110MB delivered a balanced performance across the five unique metrics we tested in our rigorous assessment of its heating capabilities. It fell short only in our heat map test, where a hot spot was discovered in the center of the microwave.

Heat Map

We create a heat map of each microwave's heating capability by spreading an even layer of jet-puffed marshmallow creme on a circular piece of parchment paper cut to the turntable's size and heating it on high for two minutes. The Magic Chef's results were lacking in this area, exposing a hot spot in the center. Aside from this, heating seemed much more consistent across the rest of the area tested.

Heating Speed

We tested the speed at which each microwave can heat by placing a beaker of 125 mL of refrigerated water (45 degrees) and giving each microwave 45 seconds on high to see how quickly it could raise the water's temperature. After 45 seconds, the beaker of water is removed, and we measure the difference in temperature.

The MC110MB was a top performer in our heating speed test, raising the water from 45 degrees to 151 degrees in just 45 seconds, netting an increase of 106 degrees, and surpassing the results of nearly all competitors we tested.

Leftovers Heating

To test each microwave's leftover heating capabilities, we serve up equal portions of mashed potatoes and green beans along with four pre-cooked sausage links on a plate and let each microwave's “dinner plate” function get to work.

The Magic Chef reheated our leftovers admirably. Being a 1,000-watt microwave, the “dinner plate” function allotted three minutes and 30 seconds to heat the leftovers. While this did do a good job of evenly heating the variety of food on our plate to an edible temperature, it could, ideally, use another 30 seconds to reach an optimal temperature.

Soup Heating

To measure each microwave's ability to heat soup we crack open a can of chicken noodle soup and add three minutes to each microwave's timer (or two and a half minutes if over 1,100 watts). After heating, we allow the soup to stand for one minute before stirring with a thermometer and taking numerous temperature readings to calculate the average overall temperature of the heated soup.

The MC110MB performed well heating up the soup, almost too well, as we noted in our test. After three minutes the soup was piping hot at 157 degrees.

Pizza Heating

Replicating a task many of us are familiar with, we tested how well each microwave heats two slices of cheese pizza, allowing 45 seconds (or up to one minute 30 seconds for lower wattage microwaves) for microwaves to heat and then used an infrared thermometer to measure the temperature of each slice to compare. We then eat the pizza and record our findings to determine which one heats pizza the best.

The MC110MB did not disappoint in the pizza heating assessment, averaging temperatures between 140 to 150 degrees on each slice. The pizza slices were heated to a higher average temperature than many of the others tested, seeming to have an advantage over most of the microwaves with lower wattage ratings. After heating, the slices gave us great cheese pulls and were ideally heated to be able to eat right away. The temperature ranged from 130 to 190, suggesting some uneven heating occurred.

Frozen Foods

There is a plethora of frozen foods marketed to consumers with microwaves. In our testing, we selected frozen burritos, frozen lasagna, and hot pockets as our test subjects to put each microwave through its paces and test how well they heat up frozen foods. We review the instructions provided with each frozen food item and adjust timers accordingly, taking into account the different wattage ratings of each microwave. Once the frozen food is heated, we use temperature probes to gauge the temperature in several different locations, noting where hot and cold spots are and the average overall temperature reached. We also note any physical attributes the foods exhibit as they're heated, some change very little, and some split open or bubble over.

The MC110MB was our top performer among the 14 other microwaves we tested, easily reaching the recommended heating temperatures and often surpassing them. We noticed that all three frozen foods exhibited temperature readings close to each other, showing that the heating was not reaching the desired temperature but was doing so very evenly.

Defrosting

To test each microwave's defrosting capabilities, we use one pound of frozen meat that we freeze overnight to ensure that it's fully frozen before we begin testing. We make sure to pay attention to defrosting features, noting if defrosting by weight and time are both options. Beginning the test, we select the defrost function and set the weight to one pound, only flipping if the microwave instructs us to do so. Any meat that is cooked during the defrosting function is a bad sign, high-scoring microwaves succeed at defrosting the meat without cooking it and defrosting the meat thoroughly and evenly.

The Magic Chef has settings for both weight and time for defrosting. We selected the latter, and the microwave allotted seven minutes and eight seconds to defrost the meat. None of the meat was cooked, but a small amount remained partially frozen, weighing about 2.5 ounces.

Ease of Use

We evaluated how easy each microwave is to use by reviewing and comparing all of the different buttons and their functions, ranging from preset heating functions to timers. We also gauged how well the interior lighting appears to users, how well each microwave stays in place while opening and closing it on different surfaces, and how well the popcorn function works.

The MC110MB includes many different presets, including quick-select options for various types of food and a 30-second quick heat button for convenience. The lighting is okay, but it is somewhat difficult to see inside the microwave when your food is heating. The timer is simple and has no fuss. Just type in your time and hit start. We found that it is stable on most surfaces but tends to move a bit when closing the door too hard. The popcorn preset did a good job of popping all of the popcorn, leaving behind only 23 un-popped kernels, which is lower than many of the others tested. A small number of the pieces of popcorn had a slightly burnt taste, but overall, the popcorn tasted great.

Should You Buy the Magic Chef MC110MB?

After reviewing 14 different microwaves, the MC110MB performed quite well across our gamut of testing. Faltering only on our heat map test, where a hot spot was discovered. This unit is for anyone who often depends on their microwave for frozen foods and is looking for an easy-to-use kitchen appliance with an adequate number of features that's not too complicated and available at a fair price.

What Other Microwaves Should You Consider?

If you're in the market for a new microwave, based on our research, there are two other commendable options that we deem award-worthy to consider. The GE JES1109RRSS created delicious meals of any kind, whether it was frozen burritos or leftover pizza. This microwave is unmatched when it comes to all-around performance, but it comes at a high cost. If you're looking for a new microwave on a budget, check out the Panasonic NN-SB458S. It's half the price and still creates delicious meals, but you'll likely need to heat your food a smidge longer.