We love the design of modern cordless power tools, with their swappable batteries allowing you to use the same power source for different machines. It’s such a clever solution that most companies now use those same battery systems for all sorts of shop and job site equipment, such as work lights and fans. The Makita 40V Max XGT Microwave takes things even further by adding a portable oven to the things their batteries can fit into.
That’s right, Makita made a microwave oven for job sites that can be powered using the same batteries that juice up their power tools. No longer do you have to walk over to the pantry station to heat up a sandwich or get some hot water – just keep this nearby and enjoy hot food all day any time you want it.
The Makita 40V Max XGT Microwave doesn’t really look like your standard microwave, coming in a burly housing that should make it more suitable for camp sites, job sites, and dusty workshops. Of course, it’s every bit as rugged as its exterior suggests, with a tempered glass door and a build that’s resistant to both water and dust. The oven has two battery ports sized to fit Makita’s 40V Max XGT batteries. It only needs one battery to run, but since ovens can use up a lot of power, the outfit recommends loading it with two, so that it can automatically switch to the second battery as soon as the first one drains out.
It has a 2.1-gallon capacity, so there’s enough room in there to heat up most packed food items, making it an excellent companion for those break times at work. Two heating modes are available, 350 watts and 500 watts, so it won’t quite heat up food at the same speed as a standard microwave (might have to wait just a bit longer), while a rotary knob allows you to set heating times up to 20 minutes. For reference, standard home microwaves usually go from 850 watts to 1800 watts, so that’s a pretty massive difference in power output right there.
The Makita 40V Max XGT Microwave has an LED display panel showing the time and battery levels, along with an LED light that switches on when the door is opened and a USB port for charging from the onboard batteries. A pop-up carry handle allows you to easily move it around the job site, with a shoulder strap attachment should make it even easier to handle. And yes, you’ll probably want to use that strap occasionally, as this thing weigh a hefty 20 pounds.
While all those things sound good, the battery endurance is the big question here, since ovens are among the most power-hungry appliances in any kitchen. Even at its rather modest power output, you won’t be doing plenty of cooking here unless you have a stash of batteries nearby. A pair of Makita’s 4.0Ah batteries, for instance, can only last it 21 minutes of 350W cooking or 15 minutes of 500W, so you’ll definitely want to bring the biggest XGT batteries you’ve got along to extend your effective cooking time.
The Makita 40V Max XGT Microwave is available now, priced at $929.