Microwave ovens are modernizing. Today you can find units that not only zap your food but also brew your coffee and make a rotisserie chicken.

So the Good Housekeeping Institute just evaluated 17 new and unusual microwave ovens to see which was the best of the bunch.

One of the models tested included a regular built-in heating element and rotisserie setup. Its an either-or situation, though. You cant microwave and roast at the same time. But no matter how fancy the features, all the units had to pass standard heating tests.

A plate of cold leftovers was used to test for evenness of heating. For a whole bird it should be 180 degrees in the thigh, explains Marjorie Cubisino, Appliances Tester, Good Housekeeping Institute.

The LG, LCRM-1240, a model with a built-in 6 cup coffeemaker, programmable timer and some very advanced technology, was the top performer in the Good Housekeeping Institutes tests and the easiest to use.

It has a sensor that detects the steam given off by the food and then automatically calculates the remaining cooing time, says Cubisino.

An inexpensive Sharp R-230KW was an excellent space saver thats big on performance.

It was the best of all the small sized microwave ovens we tested. Its under one cubic feet capacity. It cooked food evenly and popcorn came out perfectly, says Cubisino.

And the Good Housekeeping Institute calls the Panasonic NN-T995SF a family favorite. It is big enough to fit a full size lasagna dish and so powerful it can cook an entire meatloaf in just 10 minutes.

The big Panasonic microwave also simmered soups and sauces without splattering. To learn more about the best microwaves to meet your family's needs, check out the April issue of Good Housekeeping or visit www.goodhousekeeping.com.