We've had our drawer micro for years and love it - easy to get hot things in and out of - and low profile as well

I use mine for each meal and I'm 5 foot tall, so it goes on the counter. I have a very small kitchen. I have a kitchen cart on wheels which not only gives me more counter space, but also I can move it where I want. My microwave is on a pantry shelf in the kitchen.

I put it on a shelf on an oven cart, below the air fryer oven. It’s a casual kitchen and the oven cart works well with the cabinets, so it works.

The microwave isn’t the only extra oven that needs a home. I’m eyeing that ninja combi and I already have an emeril that is used daily. The range gets very little action these days and usually just the stovetop is used occasionally. I wonder how long it will take for the kitchen design standards to change.

"I so rarely see it over the stove doubling as the hood fan anymore."

Appliances Connection lists 238 different 30" OTR microwave ovens and Home Depot lists 87 so these are certainly not rare. Manufacturers now offer low-profile models, flush models (Whirlpool), models with convection, so-called "smart" (wifi) models, etc. These microwave ovens clearly remain popular and make efficient use of space. In contrast, all drawer microwave ovens are manufactured by one and only one company: Sharp.

The microwaves that double as kitchen exhaust fans don't make for good fans. When I remodel I am definitely getting rid of mine. I am going to break through the exterior wall so I can have a real exhaust fan. I don't know yet exactly where I will put the microwave, but both DH and I are tall, so I'm thinking at the bottom of the upper cabinets either built-in or in a box that has doors. If you're shorter or have children I can see the appeal of a countertop model. We had a built-in over the wall oven in our last house. They don't build them the way they used to so we had to replace it twice during the 16 years we lived there. Built-in models cost more than countertop versions.

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@kandrewspa: "The microwaves that double as kitchen exhaust fans don't make for good fans....I am going to break through the exterior wall so I can have a real exhaust fan.

Are you saying that your OTR microwave oven doesn't vent to the outside?

Where is the microwave going? Mine went to a new home over a dozen years ago. Haven't had one since.

My OTR microwave oven/fan does not vent to the outside. I can't speak for anyone else's, but I think a lot of them don't. They just have filters. I think this is or was a common builder shortcut, to eliminate exhausting to the outside. It's usually remedied during a remodel.

My microwave is on the counter in my walk in pantry. I also store other smaller appliances in there including the toaster, crock pot, blender etc...

Counter on top of 24 inch cabinet next to 36 inch Wolf range. Left of the micro is the 6 foot opening into dining room. OTR too high to grab things out of. Drawer too low to grab things out of. Finito.

I like my MW on the counter they do not last forever and so easy to replace when it dies , any size works.

Microwave shelf 14” above counter with short cabinet above. Easy height for access and keeps counter free. Didn’t listen when designer discouraged it, and no regrets.

got rid of the OTR (thank god) and modified some drawers to inset it below the wall oven. Some like it higher, but this one is fine for me. I only use it to reheat things or popcorn

before/after. you can see the behemouth in the before pic

In a perfect world, I'd have a small microwave in the pantry. I rarely use mine -- maybe 2-3 times each week.

I’m waiting for my countertop to quit so I can do without. I think I can (do without).

I'm old school and love mine right over the stove. It does vent to the outside.

Under counter drawer wonderful!

Mine goes on the counter. But my OTR vented my small kitchen just fine. I would get blasted by the output in the face if I went on the roof. It was moving Something

I’m short so in our current kitchen I have it on the side. My husband doesn’t love it, but it’s safer than up high.
Luckily, I found a cute red one. So far, 8 years in, it’s working fine.

Inside my pantry cabinet. I had the electrician add an outlet at that height during reno. My husband added the shelf to the Ikea box.

I would stay away from the above the stove microwave, they’re not usually vented to the outside, so it really doesn’t do anything but filter the smoke back into your home. I’d get a hood vent and then place the microwave in a butler pantry if you have one or maybe a microwave cart so that it’s not taking up space on the counter.

As ugly as some find it over the range, it's certainly nicer there than a big ole' box sitting on a counter in a small kitchen. If you have the space then by all means locate it somewhere else - like a panty.

used to have over the range one in last house. Didn’t love it, but had very limited counter space. Current house we have a small counter/ cabinet run next to fridge so we had an open shelf built to house microwave. Easy to replace with another when this one dies. DH refused a microwave drawer. He’s 6’6” and didn’t want to bend down to use it :)

I use my microwave often for cooking frozen veggies and for reheating. When I had my kitchen renovated, I had a microwave shelf built into my cabinetry. I have a modified galley style kitchen. The microwave shelf is 54” from the floor, shelf width: 25.5”, shelf length: 22”. My current microwave is a Panasonic, width: 22”, length: 21”.
I like the shelf, it can accommodate various microwave dimensions. I had a dedicated outlet put in behind the shelf. I really like it, the shelf placement has worked out nicely. It is also on the side of my kitchen that has upper cabinets and the area below my counter has 3 bays of drawers with 3 drawers in each bay. The other side of my kitchen has the fridge, range and dishwasher. Best of luck on your journey!

@kandrewspa: "My OTR microwave oven/fan does not vent to the outside."

Earlier you wrote, "The microwaves that double as kitchen exhaust fans don't make for good fans. When I remodel I am definitely getting rid of mine."

It's not the fault of the OTR oven that it doesn't "make for good fans". You didn't vent it so it just recirculates the air inside the kitchen. You're going to "break through the exterior wall so [you] can have a real exhaust fan" but "don't know yet exactly where [you] will put the microwave". You could just "break through the exterior wall" and convert the OTR microwave from recirculate to vented.*

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@Steven Wright: "I would stay away from the above the stove microwave, they’re not usually vented to the outside..."

That makes no sense. The ovens are designed to be vented to the outside but [most] can be configured to recirculate. The fact that some people don't vent them isn't a reason to reject OTR ovens.

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*most can be converted as described in the instruction manual

I guess the microwave placement depends on how frequently it is used. For me, the ideal placement would be on a shelf in the island hidden away. Most microwaves are oversized.

I like mine at eye level… easier to see, clean, and in our case it has nothing above it….so …much easier to replace…( in our case about three times over 22 years)…and since I don’t like paying tons of money ..or to mess with repairs…on a microwave..

Also it is in our pantry area.. which has an open doorway.. no door… with a counter beneath it..

@wdccruise

Kaseki is the ventilation expert and has posted often with details. A good vent hood is far superior to a vented OTR microwave because if its baffles, fan and especially greater capture area. It covers the entire range area, not just the back.

It also depends on the needs of the homeowner as to what is apporpriate. If a homeowner doesn't cook much or make large meals, an OTR microwave may be sufficient for their needs. If one is limited on space or money, no need to put in a big expensive hood if it doesn't make the most sense for the homeowner.

OTR microwaves combine two appliances in one spave which can be a blessing in a small kitchen, unfortunately the hood aspect doesn't usually work very well even when properly ducted and they are too high to be great microwaves. I have a sams club microwave on a shelf in my pantry but we only use the microwave every couple of days. In other kitchens I've put it in a pantry cabinet which isn't ideal since the door has to be open when using.

We have one on an undercounter shelf. not very ergonomic but it does mean 6 year old can reach it. i’d prefer higher up or in pantry but we have a small kitchen so limited options. i don’t care for otr and don’t have countertop space to spare.

I currently have an OTR microwave but when I renovate I was thinking of getting a smaller microwave and placing it on a shelf in line with the cabinets like the one below.

In my last kitchen I kept the microwave on a shelving unit in the kitchen. It worked well separated from the main cooking area. MW used for reheating only, so kids, husband could microwave a snack without being in my cooking space.

@ S M - Great note - my sister's space is deeper, but that was accomplished by pushing the wall back behind the refrigerator and the microwave shelf. Her pantry is on the other side of that wall, so it wasn't an issue. I had forgotten that tidbit.