Countertop microwaves have clearance requirements for top, sides, and back. You would likely be OK for rear clearance in a lower cabinet (since it's usually 24" deep), but top and sides could be an issue. I have seen anywhere from 1 to 2 inches on each side and 2 to 5 inches above as needed clearance. It all depends on the model.

Measure the opening you would have if you removed the drawer microwave and the start looking at options whose clearances would work with what you have (look at the owner's/user's manuals for each to find this info).

I think you will find several small countertop microwave models that would fit in that space with plenty of clearance.

You might need to stain/paint the interior of the cabinet that will now be visible, to make it look like a design choice and not a mistake.

Skmom, your kitchen is gorgeous and the island is the nicest one I’ve seen.

Good point, chispa, on having to fix up the interior of the opening. It definitely won't look as nice as skmom's, which I agree looks lovely.

Skmom: how much of a pain is it to have to use the microwave in that position?

If you rarely use it, it might be fine there. However, if you use it a lot or if you and your family are average heght and above, you may find it a pain to use b/c you have to squat or lean far down to use the controls and to see while you're removing items.

How long have you had your MW drawer? I've had mine over 10 years now and have had no problems (knock on wood!). [I'm going to start putting water in the MW when I melt butter!]

I wonder if it's the "newer" models. Mine was installed in early 2008. Hmmm...I wonder if the removal of the front venting has anything to do with it...it shouldn't, but you never know!

Well we don’t use ours a ton, just for the odd reheating here and there. I usually reheat on the stovetop or cook fresh, so I might go a day or two without using it. I would’ve loved to have a pantry large enough to keep a microwave in, but that wasn’t going to happen in this kitchen. I’m in my mid 40’s, I’ve had back problems before, and I’m about 5’6” and the shortest person in my family. None of us have any complaints about it being too low. I wondered if pulling liquids out of there was going to be a problem like it can be when a microwave is up high, but I haven’t found it to be an issue at all. I could see where it might be a small problem if my kids were all still little and into pushing buttons, but my youngest ones are 16 now. Really, the only inconvenience is that you can never see the clock on it... the angle is wrong, and in the model I have the display isn’t very bright. So I never keep the clock set now but I have other places in my kitchen where I can see the time... and I use a separate digital timer (that can run three separate timers at once) near my range since my range doesn’t have electronics like that. (And sometimes I just use the timer on my smart phone, especially when I’m grilling outside). The only other time it’s moderately inconvenient for a minute or two is when I’m cleaning out the inside of it, and I tend to just sit in front of it when I do that. It’s also a little bit more to move it aside to clean under it periodically compared to just shoving it aside when it sits on a counter. But I don’t do that very often, LOL! Thank you for the compliments on my kitchen too! It was a gut job diy remodel and my hubby designed and built all of the cabinetry, including the waterfall walnut island. I’m very proud of the work he did. :)

If all you do with a microwave is heat chicken nuggets or leftovers, get a $60 microwave from walmart. I have a smaller West Bend 900watt counter top model that nicely holds a 10in dinner plate. I am an older bachelor, I cook a lot and I use the darn thing all the the time. I have had it for 3yrs now and I think that for $20 a year, I've gotten my money out of it. For what it's worth, when I redo my kitchen, I will still use a counter top microwave. However, to gain counter space, I plan to put it on an open shelf above the counter (NEVER above the stove, need that space for TALL pots). Why spend so much money on something that really is just an appliance?

Samsung has a class action lawsuit against them for the microwave drawers. Mine was installed in 2013 and just caught fire this year. Needless to say-Samsung would not honor the class action suit I filed with them, they said it was too old. funny? I guess if it catches fire a year after you buy it or 10 years it doesn't matter.

My Sharp microwave drawer, installed in 2015, started sparking a couple months ago, and after a protracted battle, Sharp decided not to honor the Class Action Suit settlement which required it to replace the unsafe appliance. So like the original poster, I now have to figure out how to remove and replace this stupid microwave, which we installed because our kitchen is small and has limited counter space to begin with. I am so angry at Sharp that I will never, ever buy another of its products, of any sort.

Be aware, all microwave drawers are made by Sharp, even if they are branded differently

@taxlady2: "Mine was installed in 2013...Needless to say-Samsung would not honor the class action suit I filed with them, they said it was too old. funny?"

@heidifielding: "My Sharp microwave drawer, installed in 2015, started sparking a couple months ago, and after a protracted battle, Sharp decided not to honor the Class Action Suit settlement which required it to replace the unsafe appliance."

As I read it, the settlement provided an automatic 5-year warranty extension to owners who installed their appliances between Jan. 1, 2009 and Aug. 5, 2020. Your oven was installed in 2013/2015 so it would have been covered until 2018/2020 (or 2020/2021 if the 5-year extension was in addition to the warranty provided with the appliance). As your oven began arcing in 2022 it would not have been covered under the extended warranty why is why Sharp would have rejected your claim.

@Michelle misses Sophie: "Be aware, all microwave drawers are made by Sharp, even if they are branded differently"

Correct.

So I have placed a 25 year old GE microwave that by the way still works in the hole left by my now defunked Sharp microwave drawer for wveryone to see and when asked I tell them. I entertain high dollar clients and have had many of them change their mind about anything made by sharp.

Just make sure you have adequate top, side, and rear clearances for that countertop microwave now that it's in a cubby.

Most mfrs require at least 2, often 4, inches space above and 1 to 2 inches on each side and the rear for airflow around the microwave. This is to prevent damage to the unit as well as the cabinets. These specs will be in the user guide, but you might not have it for a 25 year old micro.

Since Sharp makes all drawer-style microwaves, your "high dollar clients" will have to avoid all drawer units, no matter the brand. But in this case, what exactly is the complaint? The unit was 9 years old and past the already-extended warranty period by a year or more.

Most MWs made today will have a lot of the same issues as the drawers. I've had an Amana countertop, Sharp countertop, and one other brand I can't remember right now (b/f the other two) and they all died with arcing and one even actually started a fire (the Amana). It often has to do with how you use your MW (MWing foods with very little water content, e.g., can be problematic).

If your "high collar" clients want a MW, not sure what they'll get today.

The only MWs that we've had that lasted more than 7 or 8 years is my old Montgomery Wards Convection MW Oven (old - they don't exist anymore!) bought in the 1970s or 80's -and- my Sharp MW drawer (2007).

ALL others have died in 8 years or less. My Sharp MW drawer did eventually die, but DUE TO USER ERROR (me) - in mid-2019 and we replaced it with another Sharp drawer. It didn't arc, it just stopped working. (I'm confident the 2007 MW would still be working if it weren't for me.)

The only thing I don't like about the 2019 one is the venting -- the 2007 one vented out the bottom, the 2019 vents out the top.

Note: It was incredibly easy to replace - we simply slid out the old one and slid in the new one -- cutout and electrical placement were identical!