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Double wall oven and microwave or wall oven and convection microwave

8 years ago

We are doing a major kitchen remodel. We currently have a gas/ electric range with a large convection oven and a smaller electric only below. Above the range is a standard microwave oven. We host all the family holidays and plan to entertain a lot. I cook most of our family meals. We are planning to install a new 36" cooktop on our new island and wall ovens on the opposite wall. My dilemma is do we move the microwave above new double 30" convection wall ovens or do we install a wall oven/ microwave convection oven set and get rid of the microwave we have?

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Comments (4)

jpmom
8 years ago
Ah, the microwave dilemma.

If you are doing a major kitchen remodel, I highly recommend figuring out a space for a single microwave.

I'm not sure how a microwave would fit above a double oven. It would be way too high. (even for me, at 5'11"). Don't get talked into the micro/convection double oven. If you cook a lot - you need your double oven.

I'm not a fan of microwave drawers, but if I was doing a new island in our current "kitchen update", that's what I would do.

I use my microwave a lot - for reheating, melting butter, warming milk… But I would never cook in it.
friedajune
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I agree with Jpmom that you don't want a MW on top of a double oven - it's just too high. However, although she does not like a MW drawer, many people on this forum adore theirs (note that all MW drawers are made by Sharp, so if you decide to get one, no need to pay up for a different brand name, as it is just a rebadge).

Is there no other location in your kitchen? Do you have a pantry where you could keep the MW? There was just a recent thread on this MW placement topic. http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3833699/placement-of-a-microwave?n=42

I am not a fan of the oven/microwave combos, as I think there are too many compromises in both in order to combine them. Just MHO.

If you are doing a major kitchen remodel, you might want to re-think the cooktop in the island, mostly because how are you going to exhaust it. This topic has been covered a zillion times on this forum, but the upshot is if you care about good exhaust, you should have your cooktop on a wall, so that the exhaust capabilities are not hampered by trying to exhaust over an island setup. On the other hand, many people are absolutely fine with poor or no exhaust, and perhaps that is you, so never mind.
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It's pulling hot food out of the microwave on top that will be unsafe, unless you & your family are really tall. You should be apprehensive; it's not a good idea. Microwave ovens should be positioned near the R/F, since that's the source of most food that goes into a MW. Positioning either a countertop or built-in MW on or under the countertop is far preferable for safety & ease of use, especially since you use a MW a lot. Another option is to get a range, which will provide you with one oven, and stack the MW over a single electric convection oven. Our 36" DCS range oven is huge & can handle full size baking sheets. If you have kids, they can learn at an early age to safely use the MW & start being independent, but only if they can reach it without climbing on something. Otherwise you will be doing what they could be doing far longer than any of you will like.
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It depends upon how you want to use that second oven. The microwave/convection oven requires you to choose between a glass base or a metal base, depending upon which process you're using. If you envision using the Advantium (I presume the other alternatives are similar in this regard) for an oven frequently and you also use a microwave frequently, I think you would find changing these out irritating. If, instead, you will only use it infrequently as an oven and frequently as a microwave, then it's easy enough to use. My Advantium preheats in roughly 5 minutes. It cools down very fast and I have not had any problem using it as a microwave right after using it as an oven. (I'm using it now on the countertop during the temporary kitchen phase. A real godsend!) If you go this route, you want to have a convenient location for storing whichever base isn't being used at the time along with the rack that isn't used during microwaving.
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We have an oven/microwave combo (KitchenAid). If I could redo my kitchen I might do that part differently. I did not know when I designed my kitchen last year that microwave drawers were a thing. If I had known I might have chosen that with a built in oven instead. I do not dislike our oven/microwave however I do have concerns about the microwave breaking. The fan was actually broken when we installed it, and we had to get it repaired. So if something happens to it, I know we will have to pull the entire unit out to get it fixed which is more of a pain than just fixing a microwave. The other issue I have with it is that microwave is a little higher than I would like. We installed the unit 1.5" higher than they recommend (so I could have a 15" drawer below) and since I'm only 5'3" the microwave is a little bit high for me. Even installing it at suggested height would still leave it higher than the ideal. A drawer would be a nicer height most likely. I definitely like having a separate gas rangetop and built in oven. There are many reasons I want them separate, so a range was never an option for me. But I probably won't combine the oven and microwave again if I did another kitchen.
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Search the archives. This question comes up regularly. In general, many people see the benefit of having more than one oven, but few people need three or more ovens. This is a little different, if you make some of these ovens have special features. In other words, your choice of a double walloven seems rather unusual. But having a steam oven and a microwave (or better a speedoven) is quite useful, if your budget allows you to do so. These usually all are 24" devices. That's fine, as it doesn't take up unnecessary large amount of real estate and as it pre-heats much faster. But depending on what you cook, you might still need a fullsize oven in your range. If you don't need it, then a range top is a better choice.
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romy718
8 years ago
I have a convection microwave, a speed oven. While it's a great 3rd oven, I would not give up a full oven for it. I don't have a microwave drawer but my brother does & I'm currently staying at his house. If the only space you have for a microwave is under counter, I'd do a microwave drawer in a heartbeat.
Buehl
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I have a MW drawer and love it! We're a tall family (ranging from 5'10" to 6'7") and we have no problems using it. The controls are angled up so you don't have to lean over to operate it. It's one of the few appliances that I think works for both tall and short people!

I echo others about not putting a MW over a double oven - yes, too high! I also suggest you get rid of the OTR MW and get a true hood and a true MW (either MW drawer or other MW). OTR MWs are hybrid appliances that don't work well for either application -
- Very poor hoods (even when vented to the outside) and
- Marginal MWs that are too high for most people - even average and above average height people. Plus, you have to reach over hot burners, flames (if gas), and cooking food (think splattering grease, billowing steam or smoke, etc.)

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