Double Wall Oven AND Built-in Convection Microwave

5 years ago

My wife and I are building a new house and are trying to decide which appliances to go with.

We're currently in a 1500 sq. ft. house with a somewhat small kitchen. It has a 30" free-standing electric range with non-convection oven, a vent hood, and a counter-top microwave we have sitting on an old baker's rack.

We really want to eliminate the constraints that prevent us from efficiently hosting holiday events, birthday parties, etc.

We're considering a 36" gas cook-top, a 36" vent hood, a 30" electric double oven, and are stumped on the microwave option.

Here are the options we're thinking about and would love to here your opinion!

a) We have enough counter space to go with a counter-top microwave like we currently have. We feel that would be an acceptable option. We could also go with a microwave/convection combo for additional flexibility. We think the convection capability would be great for reheating pizza, cooking chicken nuggets, etc.

b) We don't particularly care for the built-in microwaves that are really just counter-top models with a trim ring. This is mostly a matter of aesthetics.

c) We have enough wall cabinet space to go with a microwave shelf and counter-top microwave. While this would work okay, we'd prefer not to have the microwave so high. It would be difficult for our kids to use.

d) We have enough lower cabinet space to go with a built-in microwave or microwave/convection combo. We are particularly interested in this option. We are not, however, fans of the microwave drawers, so we've narrowed it down to the following:

KitchenAid KMBS104ESS, which is a 24" built-in microwave

https://www.kitchenaid.com/shop/-%5bKMBS104ESS%5d-5539096/KMBS104ESS/

GE Profile PWB7030SLSS, which is a 30" built-in microwave/convection combo

http://products.geappliances.com/appliance/gea-specs/PWB7030SLSS

We're open to other options, especially if there's a 24" microwave/convection combo out there that we haven't seen and isn't a drawer.

We like the idea of having the microwave/convection combo, but I'm a bit hung up on having 3 "ovens." It just feels like overkill to me.

We've considered the wall oven + microwave combo, but like the microwave shelf option, it would be difficult for our kids to use.

Thoughts? Thanks!

Featured Answer

M

5 years ago

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.

Comments (6)

Rita / Bring Back Sophie 4 Real
5 years ago
I cannot recommend a COmbi Steam Oven highly enough.
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Paul
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks for the tips!

So... we liked the *idea* of a convection microwave. I read through the user manuals for a few of the ones we liked and they're no longer as compelling to us.

We're also re-examining the idea of a microwave drawer.
milennka
5 years ago
how about a drawer microwave
https://www.homedepot.com/p/KitchenAid-24-in-W-1-2-cu-ft-Under-Counter-Microwave-Drawer-in-Stainless-Steel-KMBD104GSS/304320497
M
5 years ago
@Paul, just curious what you don't like about speed ovens? I agree that they are not the most amazing appliance ever. If you didn't already think you needed a microwave oven, then getting a speed oven probably wouldn't make you like it any better.

But if you do want a microwave (and if you ignore the non-trivial extra cost for a second), then a speed oven does have a lot of advantages over a regular microwave. And it does give you the option of having another oven, if you need that many for big events.

You make it sound as if it actually is a step down. I'd love to hear what makes you think that. (Other than the obvious one: cost)
DrB477
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
The Miele speed oven is excellent except for the cost. My impression with speed ovens is you really need a higher end 240v model for the oven to be a legit useful oven.

Unless you really need two full size ovens for some reason, the best setup imo is a full oven, combi steam and speed oven. I have all 3 and the full size oven gets used infrequently, only when something is two big for the small ovens. The small ovens heat much faster and otherwise work just as well as the large one. They also have some tricks that the big one doesn't, with the steam function being far more useful than the speed function. The speed oven could be replaced with a regular MW saving some money without losing anything totally indispensable.

Double Wall Oven AND Built-in Convection Microwave

M

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Rita / Bring Back Sophie 4 Real

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Double Wall Oven AND Built-in Convection Microwave

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Rita / Bring Back Sophie 4 Real

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