We have a work "G" (I think that's the layout it most closely represents.) The main prep/cook/clean up zone is on the 3 sides that form the "u" part of the G (the south peninsula for prep, range on the west wall, large sink on north wall) and the toaster and mw are on the 4th side (east wall--entry into the G.) The toaster oven sits on the counter and the mw on a shelf above it. The range and mw/toaster face each other.

I'm very pleased with this set up. It gives me easy access to t.o. & mw as the main cook but they are also available to others without coming into the heart of the prep/cook space. We keep mwable pyrex bowls in a drawer under the mw and plates are next to it. The refrigerator is close by.

The prep peninsula is in foreground. The range is not visible but is on the wall next to the peninsula right across from t.o./mw.

{{!gwi}}

Good questions for a thread that I'm sure many on GW will be interested in following; you pose a practical question about toaster ovens and mircrowaves, but also a broader question of how to balance function and aesthetics in kitchen design.

What I'm doing:

I got rid of the toaster oven long ago (at the loss of considerable convenience!) and replaced it with an adorable, but much less functional, toaster. The toaster is cute enough (like your gleaming KA mixer) that I don't mind it on the otherwise clutter-free counters. I currently have my microwave in a far-away walk-in pantry; aesthetically this is pleasing, but far from functional especially since I use the microwave 2-3 times a day, mostly for melting butter.

In my new kitchen design the toaster will go on the counter next to the fridge, just outside of my main cooking zone on a 36" stetch of counter. I'll have a microwave drawer below that counter. This will be the snack/coffee zone. The espresso machine will also live here. In my dream design I'd also have a drawer bread box in this zone to store all the carbs my family likes to toast.

Long story short, I'll put the microwave and toaster out of my cooking zone in a designated spot for the three members of my family who do a lot of snacking, microwaving, and beverage drinking but no real cooking. My idea is to get those three adorable guys (DH and two dear sons) out of my cooking space so that I can more efficiently cook amazing food for them. At least that is the dream.

We are a toaster oven and microwave family as I don't do a lot of cooking now that the kids have moved out! I asked my husband if it was possible to place the toaster oven inside the pantry to hide it but be accessible. He said, "Uh, no. We will get rid of it." What?! I don't really want it setting out on the counter but not sure where to place it. I would love hearing other folks solutions to this as well!

I ended up putting my toaster oven & coffee pot in the walkin pantry. I have my mugs & coffee supplies readily handy above the coffee pot. We use the toaster oven mainly for breakfast items. Immediately outside of the pantry is a step can SS trash. So, I can dump the coffee grounds. Or I can move the can to wear I need it.

I got an undercounter microwave and it is to the left of me when I am prepping. The prep sink is to the right and the rangetop is behind him. I use the microwave mainly for melting too and I am loving this set up. The only down side is that the fridge is across from the microwave, so it can be annoying when the fridge and micro drawer are open at the same time. That being said, I love the convenience. I only wish my pantry were a couple of feet larger and a rectangular space. We could have put the microwave at the end of the island, but then that would have been what was seen upon entry to the kitchen, so form over function there.

In our new kitchen, the micro will be on a shelf floating over the counter between the fridge and sink. It will be across from my prep area but within easy reach. We don't have a toaster oven, but have a nice looking toaster which will be in the back of our prep area in a cubby behind our counters.

{{!gwi}}

We don't have a toaster oven but we do have a stainless steel sleek looking 4-toast toaster (an old cuisinart one) that we like and when we did our kitchen I put in enough counter so that it had its own space. It's by the plates and near the pantry which has the bread, peanut butter, etc in it, and by the dishwasher so kids can then put their dishes in it when done. (I'm still waiting for that part of the plan to happen). Microwave is under the counter in our peninsula at the other end of the kitchen. You can't see it from the family room or eating area which was the plan. It is used for heating mugs of hot water for tea, for cooking frozen veggies and heating leftovers. It's right by the prep sink and the microwave cover is in a drawer right underneath.

dianalo, I may be mis-interpreting your picture, but I like the idea of the toaster oven living under a raised ''bar height'' counter on an island. Out of sight, convenient, makes one feel like a sushi chef - you know those little counter-top mini toaster ovens they use to roast eel?

I am not sure about undercounter microwaves. I tend to work fast - toss in the bowl of cold butter, slap the door shut, wait impatiently, yank the door open and snatch out the melted butter as the door bounces shut on its abused hinges. I wonder if the opening motion of the undercounter microwaves is such that I'll get frustrated, or spill a lot. They're somewhat expensive, too.

What they need to make is a mini-microwave, the size of a coffee mug. It could even be recessed into the wall, a magic dispenser of melted butter.

My original (current) design plan has a wall pantry with a row of cubbies or garages, 25'' deep, at belt height, fitted with overhead tuck-away doors. They would be sized to fit most small appliances that aren't too tall: microwave, toaster oven (with adequate clearance), my ice cream maker, crockpot / slow cooker, rice cooker, a waffle or panini maker, whatever. Since the garages are full- depth, two or three appliances could fit in each, Each garage would be fitted with an electrical outlet, a full-extension roll-out shelf for the appliance(s), and a pull-out ''landing zone'' shelf immediately below. The idea is that most of my counter-top appliances could live tucked away there. Some could be used in place (microwave, toaster oven) while others would simply be stored there, and lifted out and set on a counter for use (rice cooker, deep fryer, crockpot). Yes, I could fit a lot of small appliances into a small space this way. The problem is that the wall pantry will be at the kitchen periphery, in a high traffic area, not near the cook zone or anything else.

So I'm re-thinking the whole concept. Seeing your solutions is really helpful.

This is the way that I have my kitchen arranged: it is a u-shaped kitchen with an island in the middle.

North side: Sink centered on wall with the garbage pullout to the left and the dishwasher to the right.

East side: Counter, range, counter, fridge, then pullout broom closet.

South side: Walk in pantry, Microwave on a shelf in upper cabinet with toaster oven sitting on counter below it. Paper plates are in drawer below the toaster oven. Then rest of ocunter.

Here was my reasoning. I wanted the microwave to be accessable to snackers using the fridge to heat something up-hence the paper plates below it. The same is true for the toaster oven. And they were both stainless steel so seemed to match being over one another. It is not too far from the cooking zone for me to use either. When I am cooking, usually I tell snackers to WAIT until the meal is finished to eat! So usually snackers don't interfere with food prep.

I've been in the kitchen for a week and it seems to work well for us so far. The only items that are not terribly efficient are the cups. I have them stored over the dishwasher on the east side, but it would be nice to have them near the fridge for snackers. I think I will just have to deal with is as it is.

Microwave is in "out" position and toaster oven is floating about, trying to decide where to live in new kitchen. Like Zelmar, I have G with range at deepest end and MW on the top of the G nearer to refrig and table and adjacent rooms, etc. I use microwave frequently, esp. for reheating.

Am new to toaster ovens; this used one came secondhand recently from elderly woman who was leaving home. Because I don't have a second oven, this unit is serving as mini-oven for two retired people when a small item is being baked. I use it primarily for "egg bake" breakfasts and goofy quick bread concoctions. Currently it's next to range because I have to decide "regular oven or little oven?" when I prepare something small that might not deserve the cost and heat for a large oven. I hope to get a range with a second small oven some day so I can get rid of this silly thing. Have also positioned it next to toaster at refrig at end of top of G but that is prime real estate that is seen from other spaces and I'm not sure it deserves it. I'd rather have a potted plant or display piece there--something for the soul.

dianalo, I may be mis-interpreting your picture, but I like the idea of the toaster oven living under a raised ''bar height'' counter on an island. Out of sight, convenient, makes one feel like a sushi chef - you know those little counter-top mini toaster ovens they use to roast eel?

I am not sure about undercounter microwaves. I tend to work fast - toss in the bowl of cold butter, slap the door shut, wait impatiently, yank the door open and snatch out the melted butter as the door bounces shut on its abused hinges. I wonder if the opening motion of the undercounter microwaves is such that I'll get frustrated, or spill a lot. They're somewhat expensive, too.

What they need to make is a mini-microwave, the size of a coffee mug. It could even be recessed into the wall, a magic dispenser of melted butter.

My original (current) design plan has a wall pantry with a row of cubbies or garages, 25'' deep, at belt height, fitted with overhead tuck-away doors. They would be sized to fit most small appliances that aren't too tall: microwave, toaster oven (with adequate clearance), my ice cream maker, crockpot / slow cooker, rice cooker, a waffle or panini maker, whatever. Since the garages are full- depth, two or three appliances could fit in each, Each garage would be fitted with an electrical outlet, a full-extension roll-out shelf for the appliance(s), and a pull-out ''landing zone'' shelf immediately below. The idea is that most of my counter-top appliances could live tucked away there. Some could be used in place (microwave, toaster oven) while others would simply be stored there, and lifted out and set on a counter for use (rice cooker, deep fryer, crockpot). Yes, I could fit a lot of small appliances into a small space this way. The problem is that the wall pantry will be at the kitchen periphery, in a high traffic area, not near the cook zone or anything else.

So I'm re-thinking the whole concept. Seeing your solutions is really helpful.

I have no idea why I'm double posting, sometimes hours apart. Something about GW and iPhone. I'll figure it out and stop it.

I really wish they would make a mini mw-maybe a little bigger than a coffee mug, but at least half the size of the smallest current ones. The smallest I've seen is the *Half Pint*.

Our toaster oven lives on the counter and that's okay with me right now. I do use it pretty frequently as it's big enough to bake some things in and there are only 2 of us (it came in really handy when we had no oven during the remodel). It's as big as most countertop mws however, and I don't want the 2 competing for space if I decide to rip out our OTR mw. I surely do wish I had thought of all this before.

I did not plan for a toaster oven, as we did not have a good one until we demo'd the old kitchen and bought one for our temp kitchen. Then I liked it so much we kept it. We put it in the prep area, next to the other ovens. It isn't optimal visually but it works well there. The good news it that the prep shelf takes the place of any counter space we lost.

The microwave was planned, and it's totally out of the way, across the island and built into a hutch. I like it there, very much. The hutch has a freezer drawer, so I keep anything microwavable in there (mostly steamfresh rice and tamales, come to think of it. And sometimes the kids eat frozen waffles).

Here's a couple of real minis, of course with my cooking spray area a USB connection is probably not the best idea, but maybe for keeping my coffee hot as I spend yet more wee hours on this site? Not sure how to use two links so Part A and B

Here is a link that might be useful: minis

Here's a couple of real minis, of course with my cooking spray area a USB connection is probably not the best idea, but maybe for keeping my coffee hot as I spend yet more wee hours on this site? Not sure how to use two links so Part A and B

Here is a link that might be useful: mini mini!

johnliu - your cubby description is a larger version of what will be at the back of my island. Each is a 36" wide cab, 15" deep and 18" tall. They will help hide the high back of my Chambers stove (the brown part of this picture). I will put my kitchen electrics in there other than the mw and bottleless water cooler (which will be on a shelf on the other side of my sink).
This rendering is the best that the IKEA program will do, but I will have some filler pieces and the backs of the cubbies will obviously be covered on the other side. The rest of the back of my island will be storage facing away from the kitchen.
{{!gwi}}

I have 2 microwaves - one on a shelf below the counter next to the range and the other in the far outskirts which we call the sandwich area on the counter (where we make school lunches, snacks, warm up bagels, etc.) The 2nd one is for the kids and when I need more than one. Once the kids leave home the 2nd microwave will probably go too. The toaster will live here also. Since I have 2 ovens in the 48" range I did not think I needed a toaster oven.

I love having 2 microwaves and use 2 at once probably once or twice a day. I also love having the microwave next to the range. Remember most microwaves seem to open their doors from the right to the left (left handed?). Instead of the drawer microwave I just used my old one on the shelf - much cheaper.

I put my microwave on the far side of the kitchen, far away from the prep and cooking zone. It's closer to the dining table than it is to the cooking area, which makes sense because it can then be used to warm things up if need be. I never use it for cooking anything, not even for melting butter, only for warming up leftovers, and then not always. The kids, however, do use it so I want it out of my way and easy for them to get to.

Cj

we'll have two toaster ovens---one in the pantry with the mw. the other toaster oven will stay in dh's 'chef's corner' with his rice maker, since he uses those quite a bit; and the mw rarely.
the extra fridge and freezer are in the pantry too, with the main fridge in the kitchen proper. this way leftovers will automatically be stored in the pantry fridge, bevvies too.
the kitchen fridge will be mainly cooking ingredients, so the rest of us are out of hubby's way for snacks and drinks.

We have no toaster oven at the moment, though as I approach the holidays oven-less one may find its way here. We use an old Dualit toaster that will keep its chubby cheeks unabashedly visible on a counter near the range.

Our MW will be stowed on the end of an island, literally just around the corner from the range run aisle. It will be tucked on ashelf just under the counter, though it is a conventional counter-top model with a front opening door. We've have been testing this placement for a few months and find it quite convenient, though unconventional. The only snag is that the door opens from the right (as they all do apparently), which is less than perfect for this placement. It's just a step away from the fridge and pantry, and largely out of the main cook/prep aisle.

It's old as mws go, but nothing I've laid my mitts on in stores feels as solid and well-built as this 1990 GE. I go up and down the appliance store aisles, opening and closing the mws, which all feel tinny to me.

I do use it a lot for cooking vegetables, and scrambling eggs (coddling them, really). We drink no coffee or tea, so I have no idea how mw work for beverage service (do you actually brew coffee in them?)I use it to make oatmeal and home-made popcorn, too.

I think if mws are used by the non actively-cooking family members during meal prep, they are best out of action area. If the cook uses one regularly then they should be incorporated into working cook/prep zone. If both cook and concurrent non-cooks are using mws at the same time, then perhaps two should be considered, with the non-cook one really out of the main work zone, perhaps in the pantry.

I should point out that I am not as offended as many people are by visible appliances, as long as they are parked in the most useful, and necessary sites. My kitchen is intended to be a cooking workroom and I have don't have it connected to social spaces where decor is the driving force on purpose.
L

I don't know if you need another more general response, but to answer your original question, I have the microwave (Advantium) outside of the prep/cook zones, but only by a few steps. It's no trouble to melt something (actually easy since the programs on it are pretty accurate), and it's in the right place for when I'm using it as a spare oven. It's next to the fridge which is next to the freezer, so it's in the perfect location for most of our microwaving tasks. I don't cook in a microwave, and now that I have a steam oven I don't steam in it anymore either. That would be the one reason I could think you might want it in the cook zone, though I think you're more likely to steam in a wok, right?

My toaster oven lives in a drawer since it's only for (infrequent) toast. It could live on the counter next to the Advantium if the Advantium hadn't taken over its non-toasting jobs. (The Advantium will toast, but the outcome isn't great.)

I like having the wall ovens all a few steps from the prep/cook zone. They all face narrow ends of the island (U-shape), which is convenient. They're not so far as to not be accessible (like on the far pantry wall as is often seen in magazines), but they're not taking up space where I don't need them to be.

I don't know if I'm communicating this well. What I mean is all ovens, MW and toaster included) are great to have just outside command central. Accessible to the cook, accessible to others, but out of the way.

My microwave is on a shelf next to my fridge and the toaster oven is on the counter underneath it. I wish I could get rid of the toaster over, but with small children, we do use it a lot to heat up fries, pizza, chicken nuggets, etc. But at least now it is out of the way of my prep space.

So is it possible to USE a toaster oven that is on a shelf in an island or is it a fire hazard? Does anyone know the answer to this?