There are a few kitchen appliances that genuinely earn their place in a family home, and in our house the microwave is absolutely one of them. With teenagers constantly raiding the fridge at all hours, reheating leftovers after sport, making late-night snacks, or attempting to feed themselves between work, school and social lives, we’d be lost without one. So, when I was asked to review the Midea 45L 1200W Smart Inverter Microwave, I was curious to see whether a microwave could actually make much of a difference to day-to-day life. Within just a few days of using it, though, it became obvious that it was a big upgrade from the cheap microwave we’d been using for the last few years.

The first thing that immediately stood out was the size. The generous 45L capacity is fantastic for larger households, especially if you regularly cook family-sized meals or need to heat food in larger dishes. Unlike smaller microwaves where casserole dishes scrape the sides or don’t rotate properly on the turntable, this one comfortably fits large dinner plates, baking dishes and bigger containers with room to spare.

The moment the Midea microwave completely won me over was when it heated a slab of lasagne through perfectly. One of my boys absolutely loves lasagne but has always refused to eat leftovers because the middle somehow stays fridge-cold while the edges become boiling hot. I think most families know this microwave frustration all too well — taking a bite too early and discovering one section is still cold while another feels like molten lava. In the past, we’d often end up chopping the lasagne into smaller pieces just to get it to heat more evenly, but then it loses that lovely layered look and honestly becomes far less appealing to eat. Thanks to the Even Reheat feature and Smart Inverter Technology, though, the Midea heats food consistently right through the centre, meaning the lasagne actually comes out evenly heated from edge to middle without needing to be butchered first.

The Smart Inverter Technology is really what separates this microwave from older models, like the one we used previously. Instead of using uneven bursts of heat, it automatically adjusts the power levels to deliver the exact amount of heat required. This means food holds its texture and flavour much better, rather than becoming dried out, rubbery or overheated around the edges. Leftover pasta reheats beautifully, rice doesn’t dry out, and even more delicate foods heat surprisingly evenly. It also works brilliantly for melting chocolate while baking, unlike my old microwave that would jump from not melting it at all to burning it if I didn’t stop and stir it every 15 seconds.

The Smart Humidity Sensor is another feature that genuinely makes everyday life easier. By detecting the steam released during cooking, the microwave automatically adjusts the cooking time and power level to suit the food, taking much of the guesswork out of reheating meals.

At 1200 watts, the Midea is also noticeably more powerful than many standard microwaves, which makes a real difference when multiple people are constantly using it throughout the day. Whether it’s quickly heating leftovers before somebody rushes out the door, making after-school snacks, or warming dinner late at night after sport or work shifts, the extra power means everything heats faster and more evenly. The ten different power levels also make it more versatile than simply being a reheating appliance, with lower settings ideal for defrosting or gentler heating and higher settings perfect for larger meals.

One feature I particularly appreciate is how quiet the inverter motor is compared to our old microwave. It sounds like a small thing, but it’s surprisingly noticeable when an appliance isn’t aggressively humming away in the background. The sleek black finish with dark stainless trim also gives it a more premium and modern appearance than many larger family microwaves, and despite the generous capacity it fits perfectly in the microwave space under our island bench. That said, it is still quite a substantial microwave, so if you have a smaller kitchen or need to keep it permanently on your benchtop, it’s worth checking the dimensions carefully before purchasing.

From a practical point of view, the controls are straightforward and easy to use. The touch controls are intuitive, the white LED display is easy to read, and useful features like Quick Start, pre-programmed recipes, Time/Weight Defrost and the child lock all add to the family-friendly design. The large 345mm turntable also helps ensure larger dishes rotate properly rather than getting stuck halfway through heating.

What I probably appreciate most about the Midea 45L Smart Inverter Microwave is that it quietly removes so many of the small frustrations associated with older microwaves. There’s less stopping midway through to stir food, no overheated edges with freezing cold centres, and noticeably less wasted leftovers because the food simply reheats properly.

For families wanting a spacious, powerful and genuinely smart microwave, the Midea 45L Smart Inverter Microwave is one of those appliances that ends up becoming far more useful than you initially expect. It’s fast, easy to use, energy efficient and finally solves the age-old problem of uneven reheating.

Considering the generous capacity, even heating and smart features, the Midea 45L Smart Inverter Microwave feels very reasonably priced for the performance it delivers. With an RRP of $239, it feels like a worthwhile upgrade for families wanting a more powerful, reliable microwave that genuinely handles everyday use well.

Available from Bing Lee online and in-store, as well as Electrical Discounters in-store.

Disclosure: I was gifted this microwave for the purpose of providing an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.