A microwave drawer is likely one of the hottest fashionable home equipment, however householders normally love or detest them. They tuck discreetly into cabinetry for accessibility. Study the professionals, cons and every part you’ll want to learn about this equipment that meets type and performance.
After we had been designing our new kitchen, I knew immediately that I needed an below counter microwave in our island. It was essentially the most visually unobtrusive choice, and also you all know that I really like a clear, minimalist kitchen.
A microwave drawer is the fashionable alternative, bringing type and performance to your kitchen. There are a selection of makes, fashions, kinds, and finishes to select from.
Along with a contemporary below counter microwave, we up to date our kitchen with panel prepared home equipment that mix seamlessly with our creamy inset cupboards. We additionally added a stunning French Lacanche Vary that could be a showstopper and panel prepared home equipment.
Sorts of Microwaves
There are three essential forms of microwaves: countertop, over-oven (aka built-in), and under-counter (aka microwave drawer). Right here’s a bit extra about each.
- Countertop Microwaves – The primary fashions to hit the market, countertop microwaves get the job accomplished they usually’re normally essentially the most cheap. Nonetheless, they take up beneficial actual property within the kitchen. Countertop house is at a premium, whether or not it’s a workspace or simply to maintain it visually open. Discover my favourite suggestions for the right way to eradicate kitchen counter litter right here.
- Over the Oven Microwaves – Over the vary microwaves are usually mounted to the wall and put in between two cupboards. Usually talking, you buy a dimension that’s as shut as potential to the house you need to fill, and it comes with filler items to make up the distinction. This sort of microwave requires some sort of air flow system.
- Microwave Drawers – If you need the microwave in island look, you’ll must buy a microwave drawer. A drawer microwave suits below the counter in a decrease cupboard. They permit counter tops to remain uncluttered, whereas additionally making a extra seamless aesthetic total.
The place to Set up Below Counter Microwave
Microwave drawers are particularly fashionable in kitchen islands, as a result of it’s such a central, handy location to be used. Nonetheless, they are often put in below any countertop or in any wall cupboard. They will go towards a nook or subsequent to a wall – mainly anyplace a wall oven might be put in.
Some householders prefer to stack their microwave drawer slightly below a wall oven, so all of their cooking home equipment are collectively in a single place. There isn’t a proper or mistaken strategy to do it.
One different factor to contemplate is that microwave drawers might be put in flush with the cupboard face for a extra seamless look or put in proud, which suggests protruding barely in entrance of the cupboards. The way you select to do it depends upon your private desire.
How Does an Below Counter Microwave Work?
Microwave drawers are extraordinarily person pleasant. If you’re prepared to make use of it, merely open it with the contact of a button. The drawer will slide out, fairly than swing on a hinge like conventional microwaves.
Decrease your meals contained in the tray, then choose your required settings on the management panel. Shut the drawer with one other contact of a button. That’s it! Maintain studying for a number of the execs and cons.
Microwave in Island Sizes
Whatever the model, there are at the moment two sizes accessible for the outside of the drawer, however the inside dimension is identical.
Outdoors width: 24″ or 30″ (24″ is the preferred dimension)
Inside measurements (identical for twenty-four″ and 30″ fashions): 17 5/16” W x 7 1/8” H x 16 9/16” D (1.2 cu. ft)
Microwave in Island Execs and Cons
Personally, I don’t suppose there’s a lot to not love about having a drawer-style microwave. However I’ll allow you to determine for yourselves. Right here’s an inventory of a number of the execs and cons of below counter microwaves:
Execs of Microwave Drawers
- Extra countertop house – Like an over the oven microwave, a microwave drawer leaves your counter tops clear for workspace, decor objects, or simply to be visually open.
- Area for an oven hood – Customized oven hoods are trending proper now, and you may’t precisely have one with a microwave over your oven. A microwave drawer lets you set up an oven hood that may be a press release piece in your kitchen.
- Improved accessibility – These open out as an alternative of swinging on a hinge. That is excellent news for anybody who’s left-handed or who could have bother lifting heavy dishes above chest peak. With a decrease microwave, they’ll simply decrease dishes in and raise them out.
- Simple to wash – Not solely are these microwaves simpler to succeed in, however with no turntable they don’t have any nooks and crannies. They’ve solely easy-to-clean flat surfaces.
- Design is fashionable – Most fashions have a smooth design that matches effectively into a contemporary aesthetic. Nonetheless, it appears to be like proper at residence in a extra traditional fashion like mine, as a result of it makes the house look up to date and recent. For one more instance, take a look at this Trendy Kitchen in an Outdated Home that I toured – it’s superb!
- Security options – Some mother and father are involved about having a microwave that’s low sufficient for his or her kids to succeed in. There’s no want to fret! Below counter microwaves have a characteristic that enables adults to lock the management panel. It may be set because the default, so you’ll be able to relaxation assured your kids can’t use it with out you current.
- Giant capability – You don’t need to compromise on house. The inside can match a 4-qt casserole dish, which I discover is loads of house.
- Cook dinner as you go – You possibly can simply add seasoning or stir with out eradicating your meals from the microwave. Simply open the drawer, stir your meals, and shut once more. It’s that easy!
Cons of Microwave Drawers
- No convection – Convection cooking happens by circulating sizzling air all through the equipment. At present, this will’t be accomplished in any microwave drawer resulting from lack of air flow. This implies no broiling or baking like you’ll be able to in an everyday oven.
- No turntable – Microwave drawers have newer know-how that doesn’t use turntables to warmth meals. That’s solely a con in the event you’re actually set on the previous approach of doing issues.
- Identical heating capabilities as different microwaves – They do a superb job, however they aren’t going to work miracles on frozen meals.
- Restricted sizes – Solely 24″ and 30″ widths are at the moment accessible, and the inside sizes are all the identical throughout manufacturers.
- Set up – Putting in a microwave in your island is a little more difficult than plugging one into your wall. In the event you’re probably not conversant in what you’re doing, I like to recommend hiring an expert electrician to do the job.
- Price – Conventional microwaves price between $100 – $500. You’ll pay extra to get the premium design and options of a microwave drawer in your island. An below counter microwave drawer usually prices about $1,000 however can price as much as $1,800, not together with set up.
Our Microwave Drawer
30-inch Stainless Metal
High Promoting
24-inch with deal with
Why Are Microwave Drawers Costly?
There’s no approach round it. If you need the microwave drawer look and performance, you’re going to pay extra for it.
The primary purpose is as a result of the know-how belongs to SHARP, which suggests they make the entire microwave drawers and might cost as a lot as they need for them. Additionally, these are the one microwaves that don’t depend on turntables to warmth meals, so the elements are distinctive. Distinctive equals costlier. And eventually, the elements are high-quality and up-to-date, which suggests they may price extra.
Different corporations, like Bosch, GE, and KitchenAid, purchase the bottom microwave from SHARP at a excessive value, then add additional elements to it to make it their very own. Technically, they might add low cost elements to attempt to save a couple of {dollars}, however what’s the purpose? In the event that they’re already spending $900 on a base microwave, it is smart so as to add high-quality elements.
This is the reason microwave drawers are at their present pricepoint, and it’s why they aren’t prone to drop any time quickly.
Is a Below Counter Microwave Value It?
The reply to this query is totally as much as you. I clearly determined that for me, the reply was sure!
You possibly can learn all about how we designed our kitchen, particularly how we determined the place to compromise and the place to splurge on this submit – Basic Kitchen: Give and Take. I hope it provides you with some inspiration to your personal areas.
If price is your solely consideration, there are undoubtedly extra inexpensive choices in microwaves. Nonetheless, in the event you’re contemplating the shape, operate, and premium options of a microwave drawer, the upper price could also be price it to you. Solely you’ll be able to determine that.
For some individuals, different elements are extra vital than the associated fee. Perhaps they love the smooth, uncluttered look of getting a microwave of their island. Or maybe they’ve a situation, resembling arthritis, that makes it troublesome to raise dishes into an over-oven microwave. Improved accessibility is an enormous purpose many individuals select to go along with below counter microwaves.
One factor to contemplate is that generally manufacturers will run offers that supply free microwave drawers if you buy their equipment bundle. That might be an enormous financial savings in the event you’re out there for brand new home equipment.
Suppose of what’s vital to you, then determine if the additional price is price it to you. In case your reply is sure, possibly it could imply a couple of additional months of saving. That’s price it for years of having fun with what you need, proper?
Incessantly Requested Questions
The reply is, it relies upon. You possibly can’t put an everyday counter microwave in an island, as a result of it doesn’t have the appropriate air flow. The easiest way to have a microwave in island is to buy a microwave drawer and have it professionally put in.
It’s designed to be inbuilt to a cupboard. Technically, you’ll be able to put an over-oven microwave in an island IF the air flow comes out the highest entrance. You’d must construct a base for it to take a seat on, add brackets for it to relaxation on, and ensure it’s ventilating correctly. Do NOT put it behind a closed door.
Many individuals love the fashionable, smooth design of getting a microwave of their island. It leaves the view of their kitchen extra unobstructed. For others, they love the improved accessibility it gives.
Merely put, a microwave within the island is so much simpler to succeed in and clear. It’s simpler and saver for individuals who could wrestle to raise heavy dishes up an over-oven microwave. For many individuals, the upper price ticket is price it.
It’s known as a microwave drawer or an below counter microwave. Nearly all main manufacturers make their very own mannequin, however many of the controls and options are related throughout manufacturers.
The foremost variations from common microwaves are that it slides open like a drawer, fairly than swinging on a hinge, and that it doesn’t use a turntable to warmth meals.
Microwave drawers are self-contained united, that means that they’ve air flow methods inbuilt and no further air flow methods are essential.
Kitchen Design
