We're redoing our kitchen and want to put the microwave somewhere other than the counter. But if we put it above the stove, the kids will never be able to reach it without a stool, and I don't really want them handling hot things while balanced on a stool, right? We were going to build it into one of the cabinets, but that will take away storage space, and I don't have a ton of that either. So where's your microwave- do you like it there?
Sorry, not enclosed in the cabinets, but on a special ledge in the middle that would be open and designed for it.
We built an alcove into the cabinets like you are thinking of. Absolutely worth the storage space to get it off the counter.
Mine is an old monster from the early 90s and is on an old chest of drawers we use for table linens and art supplies. Not typical. I like it there because my kitchen is very old and has limited counter space.
Over the stove. If you use the microwave then it needs to be convenient for you. The kids will grow. At their ages you wouldn't be letting them cook without supervision anyway so the on a stool thing will be a non issue.
I have a an antique butcher block. We dont use it for it's necessary purpose, but it now houses my microwave and looks really cute.
Right now ours is over the stove, but I have had it on the counter and didnt mind it there, but I had a very large kitchen at the time.
As far as the kids go, you probably don't want them messing with the micro until they are older and able to get to it without a stool, just my opinion. So I would put it above the stove if space is an issue for you.
Good luck!
Mine used to be on the counter (which I hated). Had it put over the stove
when we redid kitchen. I am not sure I would enclose it in a cabinet. Might
be a fire hazard. I love it over the stove. Before you know it, you kids will
grow and be able to reach it. Microwave will be there forever.
Over the stove.
My kids are 13 and 10, and the only thing they routinely use the microwave for is popcorn. Occasionally they will make a frozen dinner (like a Lean Cuisine or something)...but mostly---just popcorn.
Yes, my daughter (the 10 yr old) uses a step stool. But it is stable--it's one of the bathroom kind that has a rubberized surface on top and on the legs, so it doesn't slip on the floor. And she is only taking out Popcorn!
My mother, has a wall oven, and has a ledge above her oven for her microwave. Her microwave is higher up than mine is being over the stove.
She seems happy with it, but it is too high for my taste. And I am taller than she is (I'm 5'7", she is 5' 5").
Ours is above the stove. Until the kids got taller they would use a chair. Yes, it was scary, but we taught them to take whatever they're nuking out of the microwave, put it on the stove, step down off the chair, then go about whatever they're doing.
HTH
Mine is on the counter and I hate it there but everywhere else I can think of I hate even more.
Ours is above the stove.
Used to be on the counter
Was thinking of putting it on a butcher cart out of the way so I'd have more counter space. Don't have to worry about that now.
I wouldn't let the kids use it though (depending upon their ages) so they don't spill hot food/liquid on themselves.
Hope that helps. :)
Ours is above the stove. I don't really let them use the microwave much, and when they do, they use a chair to reach it.
We bought a cart and its under the window in our kitchen, that leaves the counter clear.
Well, if you can picture my kitchen.....I have a double oven (stacked on top of each other) with a cabinet above those that reach to the ceiling. Then level with the top oven to the right is where our microwave is mounted. It too has cabinets installed above it that go to the ceiling as well as a small, skinny but tall cabinet to it's right. I don't lack storage at all and it gets it up off the counter so I have more place for the Kitchenaid, toaster etc... I like where it's at. Keeps all the cooking ovens on one wall, looks organized to me that way.
We don;t have much counter space so we installed one above the stove. My 4 yr old can get stuff from it with a problem when she uses a chair and my older kids are tall enough. My 4 yr old does not cook herself but does get warmed milk or popcorn, or even a corn dog herself if we make it for her. I wouldn't really want her getting anything really hot from it though since she could spill regardless of the height.
our microwave is above the stove between cabinets and there are 2 small cabinets above it making it level with the bottom of the larger cabinets.. its not on a shelf so im not too sure how it stays up there lol thats what happens when your father has done construction his whole life i guess
love, love, love our location: we have a microwave on top/convection oven on bottom unit. Both units are full-sized. Both units have drop-down doors.
My DH built a custom cabinet for this unit. We have a slot below the unit for all of my cookie & serving trays. Above the unit is storage for my baking pans, cutting boards, etc.
Again, after almost 30 years of working around my microwave...whether it was on the counter or on a separate cart....I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my new unit. (installed it almost 2 years ago. A JennAir.) Sooo, my vote would be for the ledge & open up the counters!
EDIT: by custom building the cabinet, we were able to set the height of the microwave to my measurements....which worked out great for us. I'm 5'4". The microwave is a little above counter height....much lower than above the stove. So much easier!
My microwave is in the wall over my oven.
I like it that way a lot.. The only thing I would do differently would be have a double oven instead but in reality, the only time I would use a double oven would be the holidays or special occasions.
The microwave is used daily and often.
ours is built into the cabinets with storage underneath, it is perfect and not too high up.
Ours is over the stove. We installed it there ourselves, and I love it! Our kids are far apart in age, so if our youngest ever needs to microwave anything and I'm not around to help, our oldest helps him. The boys don't use the microwave too often anyway, but it's worked out very well. I think anywhere other than on the counter would be great!
above the stove. just where i want it.
khairete
S.
Ours is tucked under our island with ventilation built in.
Nowhere, I don't have one. :)
Ours is perfectly entrenched above the stove. I was happy to have it already there when we moved into this house. It was too high for the kids to get into trouble. Now that they're old enough, they're tall enough to use it minimally. Yes, my youngest sometimes uses a stool but it's very sturdy and stable and she asks for help when needed. We don't really use the microwave very often, though. It's more for warming my coffee and reheating my husband's leftovers.
I have mine hidden in a cabinet because it zaps the nutrition out of food.
I really don't let my kids cook in it. On occasion, they warm food up in it. My husband insisted that we have one.
We just finished our kitchen. We did an ikea kitchen and they have a microwave cabinet, upper cabinet with micro taking up the bottom half with shelving above. I think it is perfect. We have a large stainless hood above our 42" range, so it couldn't go up there. We opted for the taller upper cabinets to maximize storage, not sure if that's an option for you. You can check out the cabinets at ikea.com to see what I'm referring to. Its not enclosed but just an open shelf.
We did our kitchen 8 years ago and chose to put it on the counter. I can't tell you how many times I have wished that I had put it above the stove. Yes your kids won't be able to get stuff out of the microwave - but mine are 6 and 8 and I probably have them get stuff out of the microwave once every few weeks. I would say put it above the stove. My house is not very big - the kitchen is an OK size but how I wish I had that counter space available!! If the range hood above the stove breaks down, I'm buying an above range microwave - for sure!!
Good luck and enjoy your new kitchen. I'm envious :)
My kitchen hasn't been redone since 1947 when it was built. So our microwave sits on top of our dishwasher... which is in the laundry room. It's kind of weird, but surprisingly not as inconvenient as you might think (the microwave I mean- dishwasher through a doorway and 5 feet from the kitchen sink is pretty annoying and takes much longer to load than when it is right next to you at the sink.) Microwave is not a problem, it's out of the way but still reachable. And I can heat up hot pockets while sorting laundry at the same time.
Above the stove. Had it on the counter for years and I would never want it there again!
Ours in on the counter but in a corner out of the way - I think it's perfect! There is a corner cabinet below it and above it, so it the microwave wasn't tucked in there, it would seem like a big waster of corner counter space u know? Coffe Pot and Toaster also live there! Applicance Community!
On a portable shelf in the utility room off the kitchen. The height is perfect, too.
Ours is on a utilitarian shelving unit we have in the kitchen. I cannot place it above the stove, because I am to short to pull things out safely.
At my inlaws home.. it is high enough I have to reach with my arms straight up to get it out of the microwave.. Not safe.
I can't wait to re-do my kitchen and get the drawer model and put it under the counter. I'm tired of looking at it front and center over my stove
