Microwave above stove vs. microwave drawer

5 years ago

Designing a new kitchen and cannot decide between microwave drawer or putting it over the range. If it's over the range, it would also serve as exhaust to outside.

Featured Answer

sandk

5 years ago

Have you ever used an over the range microwave? If you’re taller it’s right in your face and cramps the burner space when you cook. Short adults and children can have difficulty reaching up over potentially hot burners to access it. Mine was recirculating so steamy air blew at my forehead, what it captured anyway. Mine wasn’t vented to the exterior, but I haven’t heard good things about them then either. If you don’t need much ventilation and the height is ok, you may like it. Their biggest attribute seems to be as space savers.

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Comments (11)

H K
5 years ago
I love my microwave drawer. Just thought it was something different and did not want an over the range. The only suggestion I would make is to be sure to get one with the controls on the top, like a dishwasher has. I chose to save a couple of dollars and did not do that. Boo.
strathmere thanked H K
K R
5 years ago
It’s a matter of preference. It seems the newer thing to do the drawer, I did one after 14 years with an over the range. I get a lot of compliments on it! I agree, controls on top and not visible because if people lean on the island they can open the door which would be annoying haha.
strathmere thanked K R
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Sue 430
5 years ago
For me it boiled down to space. I put mine over the range because my kitchen is not that large and I didn’t want to give up the space to put it elsewhere
strathmere thanked Sue 430
iamtiramisu
5 years ago
The other option is to put a countertop microwave in a cabinet/shelf above the counter, something like the below. You can get the trim kit to make it look more “finished” or “built in”. This saves a ton of $$ over a microwave drawer and allows for a proper vent hood to be used over the stove/range.
tackykat
5 years ago
We have a situation like ^^. Did not want it over the range. It works in our kitchen. I like that it is at eye level and away from the range-sink zone.
PRO
User
5 years ago
An OTR MW provides poor ventilation compared to a conventional hood. It also presents usability and access issues that make it a less than optimal choice for use as a MW. Sometimes, there is no choice, and the space is so small that it’s the only choice. Or sometimes, the cook doesn’t cook very much, and ventilation is less important to them.

Analyze your our cooking habits first, for your ventilation needs. Then analyze your family use of the MW.
Heather N
5 years ago
how high-end is your kitchen remodel? For a large, high-end kitchen, I would not put over the range. For a small, lower-priced kitchen, you have less space and probably don’t want to spend the extra money for a microwave drawer (much more costly).

aesthetically, I really dislike seeing them over the range. Functionally, they each have their pros and cons.
Helen
5 years ago
It comes down to space and money.

I have a small kitchen but decided to go with a microwave drawer because I didn't want OTR microwave and I didn't have sufficient counter space for it to live on.

Having it OTR is very much a compromise - it's not as good as a dedicated hood would be and it also is a bit high for comfort if you aren't tall. I suspect that it also is subject to premature aging if one does a lot of high heat cooking.

My ideal - if I had space - would be to stash the microwave in a cubby with a pull out landing strip below and have it at optimum height but the configuration making the most sense was under the wall oven.

FWIW, based on my research Sharp makes all the microwave drawers which are then rebranded so there isn't any particular reason to pay for the "name". As others have posted, you do want one with the tilt out controls because otherwise you would be obviating the ergonomic advantages since you would have to squat to read the controls.
coffeesready
5 years ago
we are in the same dilemma. Decided to fit a small one into the cabinet as shown in picture above. We don't really use it for meals. Mostly just warming things up, occasionally.
strathmere
Original Author
5 years ago
I've decided to put a small MWO on a shelf in the pantry cupboard. Kitchen is in the design faze now, and have instructed the electrician to install an outlet in the back of new pantry cupboard. Hopefully, we'll be happy with this plan.