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Depth of upper cabinets? Microwave shopping...

9 years ago

Hi everyone,

The new kitchen will have a microwave shelf in the upper cabs next to the fridge. The location is excellent. However, I bought a really nice microwave at Costco for a great price that is 19" deep! That will be too deep, won't it? Looking online, it seems that that is the case.

Recs for stainless steel-looking microwaves that will fit in an upper cabinet that's 30" wide? I don't want it to look ridiculously small in that space.

Thanks!

Melissa

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Comments (8)

LE
9 years ago
We have a similar setup. Our fridge is counterdepth and we made the upper that holds the MW deeper. I'm not there now, but it's maybe 16 or 17 inches. It's still set back from the fridge, but easiser to reach than it would be in a shallower cab. We were looking for a pretty small MW though, since we don't use it for many things. We just dropped the adjustable shelf on top down to an inch above it and put some cookbooks on the far side. It still has clearances, but doesn't look "lonely" in the opening.
debrak2008
9 years ago
Ge makes a few shallow depth mws. I have one that is 12 1/2" deep.
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We did not have custom cabinets, but ordered Kraftmaid from Lowe's. We didn't want our often used microwave and toaster oven in view when not in use, so we had one of the uppers increased in depth to 18", and had an "appliance gargage" type cabinet made to slide in between upper and countertop increased to 18", also. We have lived in our kitchen for about 8 months now and I love this set-up! I worried about the cabinet doors being open when using these appliances, but our house is a quiet one, with just DH and me, so it has not been a problem at all. Also, for us, having the doors open like this reminds us to shut them when we are done using the appliances, so they aren't perpetually open like they were when we had the old style tambour door. It looks like you have a great spot to do this where you have planned. Or, maybe you just want the upper done, but I don't have a picture of how that would look.
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I know this is an old thread, but if you're like me and looking for a microwave less than 11.5" deep, I found a cheap one! Only 10.16" deep. Ktaxton 17.76 cu inch microwave 700watts. Available at Wayfair and Walmart. https://www.wayfair.com/appliances/pdp/ktaxon-1776-07-cu-ft-700-watt-microwave-ktax4627.html?piid=56127824 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ktaxon-Retro-Countertop-Microwave-Oven-with-Compact-Size-Position-Memory-Turntable-Sound-On-Off-Button-0-7Cu-ft-700W/289150896
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I have the same problem. Steam being exhausted when food is cooked in the microwave. If i turn the vent fan on while cooking food in the microwave, the steam does not condense on the cabinets. Presumably because the volume of air being vented is many times greater than when only the microwave is venting. The velocity and volume of the microwave vent air stream rivals a fart. There is no way that that provides enough airflow to move any substantial column of air in exterior vented ductwork. The problem is that new microwaves have done away with the front vent grille, and instead they direct the steamy, wafting air vertically, where it can destroy your cabinets. Posted below are photos of my installation, where the top vent is spaced forward of my cabinets with a very healthy dimension. Yet, my cabinets are being destroyed (notice the white residue on the frame and door after only three months of occasional usage.) Although, I do appreciate the sleek look of the microwave face (no nasty grille) as it destroys my kitchen.
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lee676
9 years ago
Best is to use a trim kit and build it in, which will also add width.

The GE hangable microwaves are convenient to install and look good, but the shallow depth means common items like pizza boxes won't fit - same problem as with over-the-cooktop microwaves. There are truly built-in microwave ovens, but most a specify 24" deep cabinet to install in, even though the oven itself would fit in a cabinet considerably shallower.
purrus
Original Author
9 years ago
We really don't use ours much either, and I just bought a really nice toaster oven, which means we will use it even less. I was just sucked in by the awesome price ($90 less than amazon) at Costco.

Here is that wall of our kitchen. The shelf for the MW is 18" deep, and the cabinet above is 12" each. They can cut the MW cabinet down. To me, it seems like it'd be awkward to reach up to that higher cabinet with the MW cabinet sticking out so far. Am I thinking right? I'd much rather get a tiny MW than have a permanent stupid layout issue in my kitchen.
purrus
Original Author
9 years ago
debrak2008
9 years ago
Could you do open shelves there instead of cabinets?
vdinli
9 years ago
Can you recess it into the wall? It might depend on where the vents are and of course, on what is behind that wall.
anldsmom
9 years ago
I was going to do the same thing before we decided to put the microwave in the pantry. I'd increase the depth of the cabinets above the microwave to match the depth of the microwave shelf. I got rid of all my pinterest pins for that configuration or I'd share one, but I thought they looked better that way because the microwave didn't feel like it was sticking out. I wouldn't like the idea of limiting the choices in microwaves you could have too much by being limited to an unusually shallow shelf space.

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