While over-the-range microwaves have been stylish for years, the trend is on the way out in 2018.
Microwave sales have fallen or remained flat every year for nearly a decade in the US. Unit sales have tumbled by 25% since 2000, and 40% since their peak, in 2004. The waning popularity of the American microwave deserves a closer look.
Over-the-stove microwave ovens are mounted onto the wall above your stovetop. They are favored because they get the microwave off the countertop or island, giving you more counter space to work with and reducing the appearance of clutter in the kitchen.
Can you put a microwave above a gas range? Yes. In fact, you can put a microwave over a gas range or electric range. Microwaves are also commonly placed on countertops, stored inside cabinets, or on shelves.
Perhaps one of the most practical design solutions is placing a microwave above a wall oven in a tall cabinet. It works visually because cooking appliances are kept together. Aesthetically, that maintains consistent look. Positioning the microwave above a wall oven will also have your microwave at the perfect height.
For most of us, a microwave is still a necessary piece of kitchen gear. We may not be cooking as much in it or zapping frozen meals anymore, but it's just hard to match the speed and convenience a microwave offers for reheating a plate of food or boiling a quick cup of water.
In 1980, according to Litton, the mean retail price of a microwave oven was $425.
OTR microwaves also pose a safety hazard due to the nature of their location and height. Small children climbing over hot soups and boiling water trying to reach the microwave is just unacceptable. Not to mention, microwaves, in general, are a bad idea and tend to overcook our foods.
Do not install within a closed cabinet or a cut-out space where the bottom is covered. These can be installed under a cabinet, even if there is not a cooking surface underneath the appliance. However, the height clearances outlined in the Installation Instructions must still be met.
You can install an over-the-range microwave above a wall oven. However, it depends on the manufacturer. Before you jump into the installation, consult the manufacturer's instructions. Over-the-range microwaves are not the same as built-in microwaves, so it's important to double check the owner's manual.
Built-in microwaves can be installed into a wall or cabinet for convenient operation. With a similar capacity to other microwave styles, the built-in design has the advantages of saving counter space and being able to be installed away from the range, allowing multiple people more space to cook together.
Metal Bowls and Utensils
Metals are a big no-no inside the microwave. This is because they shield and spark, which may cause a fire. That is something you definitely don't want to happen. Instead of metal utensils and bowls, use microwave-safe plastic, glass, or ceramic containers.
The National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends that the bottom of the microwave should be no higher than 54 inches above the floor, which would allow for 18 inches of clearance between the microwave and the typical cooktop height of 36 inches. Some manufacturers allow smaller clearances.
Over the range microwaves and Advantium ovens require a minimum 66" mounting height from the floor to top of the unit. The 66" from the floor dimension will allow approximately 13" between the cooktop surface below and the bottom, front of the microwave.
There is no requirement that your Over The Range (OTR) Microwave be vented to the outdoors. All OTR microwave ovens can be set up to either allow the fan to recirculate the air back into the kitchen or be vented to the outdoors.
What kind of microwave goes in an island? It's called a microwave drawer or an under counter microwave.
Countertop microwaves eat up valuable surface space that could be used for food prep, storage, or even decorations. Over-the-range microwaves are installed under your cabinetry, up off the countertop. In a small kitchen, you'll want to save every inch of counter space you can and opt for an over-the-range microwave.
Main Differences Between Countertop Microwave and Built-in Microwave. A countertop microwave is placed on a kitchen counter while a built-in microwave is installed into a kitchen wall or kitchen cabinet. So, a countertop microwave takes up space on the kitchen countertop closer to a power supply outlet.
Built-in microwaves are similar to over-the-range microwaves, except that they don't sit above the oven, and they do not replace a range hood. Instead, built-in microwaves can be placed on an island or mounted on a wall or cabinet. They allow you to save counter space and keep the range hood as your ventilation system.
Adequate ventilation, especially if the microwave is built into a wall of cabinetry, is a must.
In 1947, Raytheon built the "Radarange", the first commercially available microwave oven.
It cost about $3,200 today. Consumer interest in microwave ovens grew. In the United States, about 40,000 units were sold in 1970.