Magic Chef RA42056 900W Countertop Oven Front MCM990ST 0.9 cu.ft. Microwave
- Countertop Microwave Oven
- 0.9 cu ft
- 900 watts
- Push button
- Better rated than 81%
A capable small-footprint microwave for everyday reheating and defrosting, though one buyer's account of an older MCM990ST outlasting a newer one by a decade suggests build quality may have shifted over time.
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How it ranks among the 85 countertop microwave ovens we track
4.5★ across 264 Amazon ratings, Bayesian-smoothed toward the category average.
264 Amazon ratings, weighted on a log scale so huge counts don't drown everything.
Brand identity, imagery, description and spec coverage.
The ProductDome score is separate from the Amazon rating shown above: it combines the Bayesian-smoothed Amazon rating with evidence volume, tracked demand, and data quality across the 85 countertop microwave ovens we track - how the scorecard works · full countertop microwave ovens data report. Confidence: medium - useful but incomplete evidence.Last refreshed Jun 13, 2026. Data-computed, not a hands-on test. Compiled by the ProductDome Research Team.
Overview
The Magic Chef MCM990ST is a 0.9 cubic foot, 900-watt countertop microwave with a stainless steel front, 10 power levels and 8 preprogrammed cooking modes, sized for kitchens with limited counter or cabinet depth.
Its main appeal in the reviews is the compact 14-inch depth paired with a push-button door rather than a protruding handle, letting it fit into tight appliance nooks. One long-time owner who bought a second unit after years of use with an original model reports the newer unit not matching the older one's durability, citing interior paint peeling and an earlier failure.
- 0.9 cu ft interior, 900 watts
- Auto cook and auto defrost menus
- Kitchen timer and child safety lock
- Stainless steel front, silver cabinet
Who it's for
Kitchens with a shallow appliance nook or small counter space that need real cooking power in a compact footprint, more than households wanting a heavy-use, multiple-times-daily microwave.
What buyers say
From Amazon customer reviews.
Owners like the compact depth, the push-button door and the price relative to microwaves with similar power. The recurring complaints are that the unit can slide when buttons are pressed and, from one long-time buyer, that a newer unit did not last nearly as long as an older model of the same name.
Strengths and trade-offs
Drawn from this product's published specifications.
- Compact 14-inch depth fits shallow counter nooks
- Push-button door instead of a protruding handle
- 10 power levels with 8 preset cooking modes
- Cook times only adjust in 30-second increments
- Can slide on the counter when buttons are pressed
- Not built for continuous back-to-back reheating
Specifications
| Brand | Magic Chef |
|---|---|
| Model | MCM990ST |
| Dimensions & fit | |
| Item Weight | 28.7 pounds |
| Item Dimensions D x W x H | 14.6 × 19.1 × 11.3 inches |
| Capacity & performance | |
| Capacity | 0.9 cu ft |
| Defrost System Type | Defrost |
| Heating Method | Microwave |
| Power & efficiency | |
| Wattage | 900 watts |
| Number of Power Levels | 10 |
| Voltage | 120 volts |
| Energy Consumption | 900 Watts |
| Power Consumption | 900 Watts |
| Construction & materials | |
| Material Type | Stainless Steel |
| Inner Material | glass |
| Color | Stainless Steel |
| Compatibility & installation | |
| Installation Type | Countertop |
| Human Interface Input | Buttons |
| Included components | |
| Unit Count | 9 |
| Included Components | Microwave^Turntable^Roller Guide^Hub^Manual |
| Warranty & support | |
| Warranty Description | 1 year |
| Other details | |
| Control Type | Push button |
| Number of Programs | 10 |
| Cooking Program | auto cook, defrost, high power, medium power, reheat |
| Timer Function | Timer Function Available |
| Item Type Name | Magic Chef MCM990ST 0.9 cu.ft. Microwave Stainless Steel |
| Additional Features | Manual |
| Frequency | 108 MHz |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Residential |
Other Magic Chef countertop microwave ovens
How it compares
This product against the closest alternatives we track in countertop microwave ovens.
| Product | Amazon rating | Ratings | ProductDome score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magic Chef RA42056 900W Countertop Oven Front MCM990ST 0.9 cu.ft. MicrowaveThis product | 4.5 / 5 | 264 | 4.2 / 5 |
| COMFEE' EM720CPL-PMB Countertop Microwave Oven with Sound On/OffCOMFEE' | 4.4 / 5 | 28,000 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SN686S Stainless Steel Countertop/Built-In with Inverter…Panasonic | 4.3 / 5 | 8,400 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Nostalgia RMO4BK Retro 0.9 Cubic Foot 800-Watt Countertop Microwave OvenNostalgia | 4.6 / 5 | 1,200 | 4.4 / 5 |
| TOSHIBA EM131A5C-BS Countertop Microwave Ovens 1.2 Cu FtTOSHIBA | 4.4 / 5 | 32,299 | 4.3 / 5 |
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Questions about the Magic Chef MCM990ST
Common buyer questions answered straight from the product spec data - no fluff, no "it depends".
How deep is the Magic Chef MCM990ST?
About 14 inches, which owners say is unusually shallow for a 900-watt microwave.
Can I set a 15 or 20 second cook time?
The preset one-touch buttons increment in 30-second steps rather than shorter units, according to reviewers.
Is it suited to heavy daily use?
Most reviewers use it for everyday reheating without issue, though one owner reports it overheated after warming several dishes consecutively.