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OK to NOT put above-the-cooktop microwave over the cooktop?

12 years ago

I like to use the GE avantium speedcooking oven as a microwave but I like the look of traditional hood for our kitchen (modern style kitchen). I dont have a good place for it except mounting it under a cabinet next to the frig (the same height as if it's above the cooktop).

I kind of like the idea to have an extra venting system that perhaps I can put my rice cooker / toaster oven under it.

Although the avantium without cooktop under it (just regular granite countertop) looks nice in the computer drawing, I can see the bottom of the oven, which is quite ugly, when I sit down in the island and kitchen table.

I am thinking about adding a stip of wood around 1.5" under the avantium to hide its ugly bottom.

Has anyone put above-the-cooktop microwave NOT above the cooktop? Do you have a good solution to hide microwave bottom from nearby tables?

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Comments (7)

davidro1
12 years ago
good thinking.
emagineer
12 years ago
I just asked an appliance guy about the same thing. He said they can actually go anywhere, even on a counter if you add bumper feet for raising to allow some air space under it. Also it needs a dedicated circuit available.

The OTR is driving me nuts. Always seems to be someone cooking when I want to get in there. And watching all the steam or oil rising up on it means constant wiping down.

Do you like your Advantium? I ended up buying a small counter MW because I lost the MW use when cooking.

With the above I am a bit leary of countertop, plus the sides are far uglier than what you are seeing. Am still considering under a top cupboard in another area, but having the OTR far lower than currently installed. The sides and bottom can be seen, either cupboards are needed on the sides or panels. You need circulating air for auto filter as the micro deems fit. Placing other appliances under may take away from your visual and still allow air circulation. Not sure about the trim taking this away and if wood is a good option.

There are trim kits for built-ins, cannot say if they would work for OTRs.

Am also thinking of the possiblity of under counter or a built-in, but the dedicated circuit is not available to do this just anywhere. Regardless of price, a built in is almost worth it. Although looking at them, they do not have the interior space available as do the OTRs.

Probably not much help here.
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That is a popular idea, Walt, but I don't think it completely survives close scrutiny. If a blower could be turned on so that it changes from zero to full blade RPM in zero time (infinite torque applied), there would be a period of lower air flow rising to the steady-state value while the inertia of the household air was overcome by the pressure change at the hood and the pressure losses along the make-up air path reached their static value. This doesn't take very long. Because real blowers speed up over a period of a several seconds for the larger sizes, the flow pretty much keeps up with the static flow that would result at each blower RPM as the blower accelerates to its final RPM. When a burner or hob is turned on, the energy input to the pan raises the pan temperature similarly due to pan base (and perhaps food contents) thermal inertia. The pan only wins if the thermal time constant of the pan is shorter than the time constant to get the air moving in the make-up air path. I think you will find for most cooking examples that the air flow is stabilized before you can smoke the pan, even if it only contains a little butter, if the pan base is at all substantial, and one attempts to set the flame/hob power at a level appropriate for the cooking to be done. Conversely, one may see that really thin pan bases and/or long MUA paths can allow the pan smoke to get ahead of the airflow. Also, my argument above assumes that the hood blower is auto turned on to a level that the pan conditions will require. If the hood is turned on as a function of plume temperature read at the hood, air flow might well lag keeping up with the pan conditions. I fully agree with keeping the fan on for a while after cooking; not all of the plume will be captured during cooking unless the hood is very large and the cross drafts are negligible. So, for the alert cook, this auto blower operation is a frill. Conversely, for those who forget about turning the hood on until it is too late, it is a great help. kas
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drainbead
12 years ago
I'll be doing that very soon, although not with the same model of microwave--my contractor designed a special shelf for it to sit on so the bottom would be hidden.
jscout
12 years ago
I did it. There's a thread where someone asked me about it.

Here is a link that might be useful: GE Advantium OTR not mounted OTR
bellajourney
12 years ago
We did it too. When I asked about it a few Gardenwebbers chimed in that they did it and were happy they did. :)
kay161
12 years ago
I think your idea totally makes sense. Frankly, I don't get putting the micro over any type of cooking surface. Just seems dangerous and inconvenient. A good woodworker should be able to trim it out to fit your style. Go for it!
davidro1
12 years ago
see if you can get a duct too. It would be awesome to have a toaster odor vent.

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