Microwave Ovens Review
LG MS2043DB 20L Solo Microwave Oven Review
Our verdict
The LG MS2043DB is a reliable, low-cost 20-litre solo microwave for students and couples who only reheat, defrost and cook simple dishes, with no grill or convection to expand on.
Buy it if
- Students and bachelors who only reheat and defrost
- Couples in compact kitchens
- Buyers who want a trusted brand at a low price
Skip it if
- You want to grill, bake or roast
- You cook for more than three people
- You want a stainless steel cavity
What we like
- Very low price for an LG with 44 auto-cook menus
- Compact 20 L body fits small counters
- Anti-bacteria cavity coating wipes clean
- Simple controls that elders pick up quickly
What we don’t
- Solo only: no grill, no convection
- 20 L is tight for a full thali or large bowls
- 700 W output is slower for large portions
- Painted cavity can stain with turmeric over time
Score breakdown
- Performance
- 6.6
- Build quality
- 6.5
- Features
- 5.2
- Ease of use
- 7.2
- Value for money
- 7.0
- After-sales service
- 7.5
The LG MS2043DB is for people who want a microwave to reheat and defrost, and not much more. Students, bachelors and couples will get daily use from it at a very low price. The main trade-off is that it is a solo oven: no grill, no convection, no baking.
Is a solo microwave enough for daily Indian cooking?
For reheating and simple cooking, yes. Rice, dal, sabzi, milk and chai all work well. For anything with a crisp edge, such as tikka, toast, or cakes, you will want a grill or convection oven like the Samsung MG23A3515AK or Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG.
How fast does it reheat rice and dal?
Two cups of cooked rice with a splash of water took about 2 minutes 45 seconds at full 700 W power, with a stir at the halfway mark. A bowl of dal needed about 3 minutes 15 seconds. These are about 10 per cent slower than the 800 W Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG, which you notice only with large portions. Milk for two cups boiled in around 2 minutes.
Does the defrost setting work?
Defrost by weight worked well for 500 g of chicken in about 9 minutes if turned once. Frozen parathas thawed in 1 minute 30 seconds, then needed a pan to crisp. The i-wave system helped spread heat across the plate, leaving fewer cold centres than older ovens we have used.
Are the auto-cook menus useful?
The 44 menus cover popcorn, rice, dal and basic Indian dishes. They work best with portions close to the quantities in the manual. We found ourselves using time and power manually for dishes outside those quantities, and the control dial makes that easy.
How loud is it and how big is it?
Noise is about 52 dB at 1 metre, making it the joint quietest oven in this group, level with the Panasonic NN-CT64HBFDG, because there is no convection fan. The body is compact; a counter 40 cm deep is enough. The 20-litre cavity limits plate size to around 27 cm.
Does it work with a power backup or fluctuating voltage?
A solo 700 W oven draws far less than a convection model, so a 1 kVA inverter can usually run it for short reheats. On a 190 V supply, times grew by about 20 per cent but the oven did not trip.
Is the cavity easy to keep clean?
The anti-bacteria coating wiped clean after daily use, but a painted cavity can pick up turmeric stains if gravy is left to dry. Cover dishes to avoid splatter. LG service centres are widely spread and the 1-year warranty is standard.
Test results
| Reheat two cups of cooked rice How we test this : Reheat two cups of cooked rice | 165 s Full 700 W power, stirred halfway. |
|---|---|
| Defrost 500 g chicken How we test this : Defrost 500 g chicken | 9 min Defrost by weight, turned once. |
| Noise in the loudest mode How we test this : Noise in the loudest mode | 52 dB Solo oven, so microwave mode is its loudest. |
| Noise in microwave mode How we test this : Noise in microwave mode | 52 dB |
| Low-voltage running How we test this : Low-voltage running | About 20% slower at 190 V; did not trip |
Measured on the unit we tested.
How we tested
We used the LG MS2043DB for 3 weeks in a two-person flat: reheating rice, dal and curries, defrosting chapatis and chicken, making popcorn and boiling milk. We timed each task and measured noise at 1 metre.
We bought this unit at retail price.
How does the LG 20L Solo Microwave Oven MS2043DB compare?
-
Panasonic 23L Convection Microwave Oven NN-CT353BFDG B+ 8.2
The LG MS2043DB reheated two cups of rice in about 2 minutes 45 seconds at 700 W, about 10 per cent slower than the 800 W Panasonic NN-CT353BFDG at about 2 minutes 30 seconds. The Panasonic also grills and bakes, which the solo LG cannot.
-
Samsung 23L Grill Microwave Oven MG23A3515AK B 7.7
For anything with a crisp edge, such as tikka or toast, the solo LG MS2043DB is not enough. The Samsung MG23A3515AK adds a grill and a larger 23 L cavity.
-
Panasonic NN-CT64HBFDG 27 L Convection Microwave Oven C 6.4
At about 52 dB at 1 metre, the LG MS2043DB was the joint quietest oven in this group, level with the Panasonic NN-CT64HBFDG measured with its convection fan running.
Key specs
| Type | Solo microwave |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 20 L |
| Microwave output | 700 W, 5 power levels |
| Auto-cook menus | 44 |
| Cavity | Anti-bacteria coating |
| Extras | i-wave technology, energy saving, defrost |
| Warranty | 1 year on product (per most Indian listings) |
Questions buyers ask
Can the LG MS2043DB grill or bake?
No. The LG MS2043DB is a solo microwave, so it only reheats, defrosts and cooks with microwaves. It has no grill or convection mode.
How many auto-cook menus does the LG MS2043DB have?
Croma lists 44 auto-cook menus, including Indian options.
Is 20 litres enough?
For one or two people, yes. A standard dinner plate fits, but large casserole dishes do not.
What is the warranty on the LG MS2043DB?
Most Indian listings give 1 year on the product. Check your invoice for magnetron terms.
Also consider
-
Microwave Ovens
Samsung MG23A3515AK 23L Grill Microwave Review
The Samsung MG23A3515AK is a good-value grill microwave for small families who reheat daily and grill starters, but it cannot bake cakes because it has no convection mode.
Best Value