How do you use a microwave?

No one can answer that for you.

It all depends if you use it often enough. You can always use one on the counter. Most people today just use them to reheat.

I used to use one frequently, then went cold turkey (not voluntarily). I only miss being able to easily reheat coffee... which I know you aren't supposed to do anyway. But I cannot live without my toaster oven. Stop using the microwave now and see how you manage.

We barely use our MW and did not want to give up base cabinet space for it. We have a side counter that I designated as our breakfast zone, so we placed an outlet in a 15" deep upper cabinet that has a lift up door. Our MW is hidden there and is easily replaceable if it breaks. If you have uppers, I would recommend at least placing an outlet in one so you have a spot for it, even if you use that cabinet for storage.

Yes.

It depends on how you use it. We have one by the fridge for reheating. That's about the only thing we use it for.

I dumped my microwave years ago and never missed it. Dump it. You will LOVE having a CSO. (I dumped the MW well before getting the CSO.)

No matter what kind of cook you are, a microwave has its uses. And, if you ever plan to sell the house, not having a spot for a microwave could be a negative to a future buyer.

We use our microwave for defrosting and for reheating leftovers, so while it's not a major item, it does get used reasonably regularly. It sits on a shelf in the walk-in pantry (right beside the toaster and the kettle).

Pre-micro times notwithstanding, I always have trouble understanding how anyone nowadays can not find a use for them. I use mine for oatmeal, scrambled eggs, bacon, pasta and rice box meals, fresh asparagus, baked potatoes, frozen meals and vegetables, reheating leftovers, heating or boiling water, melting/softening butter, softening cream cheese, occasionally cooking fish, and occasionally for defrosting (although I use the custom-cool/defrosting drawer in my refrigerator more often).

I don't think you have to have one, but I would plan a space either in uppers or for a microwave drawer in lowers) where one can easily be added. Perhaps talk with your cabinet maker about how to design a cabinet that can easily be converted. When house shopping we ran into a kitchen with no microwave and no planned space for one, and it was definitely a strike against the house, as we would have wanted one and were not okay with giving up counter space for it.

I gave mine up when I remodeled five years ago in exchange for a bit more space in my tiny kitchen. Don't miss it.

We don’t use ours a lot but would definitely miss it. We use it to defrost frozen dog food, cook quick snacks, reheat coffee (why shouldn’t we? I have never heard that?). And it would make a difference to me in buying if there was no space for it other than on the counter, unless it was a big kitchen with LOTS of counter space. When I look at houses for sale a microwave on the counter is something I notice immediately. I would at least leave room for one somewhere...

If you don’t use it, as long as you have a place to put a small one on a counter at resale, that’s fine.

I’m with Dadoes on using it though. It is SO useful that I can’t see giving it up at all. I cook in my MW frequently. It’s faster than any steamer for steamed veggies and 88 seconds for oatmeal can’t be beat for breakfast on the go. Hibiscus and ginger tea has been my addiction this winter, nuked for that 88 and steeped another minute. Cake in a mug? Yes, please, on portion control and yumminess! Baked apples with caramel sauce! 3 minute Asian green beans! Warming up lemons to yield more juice. Pre starting baked potatoes. Softening ice cream. Heat packs for sore muscles. Italian spinach and egg. Defrosting everything.

It’s so much more than leftovers and yucking up your coffee. :-)

Before I had kids, I lived in a studio apartment without microwave. The plan was always "I will run to Costco and buy one the very minute I need it". In 8 years of living in that place, that moment never came.

Now that we have kids, we use a microwave regularly to heat up their beverages (e.g. milk). And that's something that is hard to do just as fast and conveniently any other way.

So, when we remodeled, I begrudgingly admitted to myself that we'll need another microwave. But I was reluctant to give up all this space for something that mostly heats up milk. So, we got a SpeedOven instead. Having the extra oven is actually something that I do use a lot -- even if it is just as a glorified warming drawer. So, for us, this made sense. YMMV

In a household without kids and if you don't cook big meals on a regular basis, I feel it is absolutely possible to skip the microwave. It is even easier, if you have something like a CSO which can do many but not all of the same tasks.

Of course, none of the above talks about money. A basic counter-top microwave can be had for $100. A SpeedOven and/or a CSO costs orders of magnitude more (literally!). That only makes sense if you think you'll actually get that much use out of these appliances.

Microwaves. Never. Get a toaster oven.

We have a microwave drawer and really like it. We got ours at a discount as an open box, with full warranty.

I just finished my remodel and got a Sharp microwave drawer. I have a small kitchen and didn't want an OTR microwave combination nor did I want to sacrifice counter space. The microwave drawer with the tilt out controls was the only ergonomic solution.

I cook quite a bit and I don't understand how people don't use a microwave. It's absolutely the best way to steam veggies. It reheats foods well and I can't imagine melting chocolate over a double boiler again. I use it to heat water for my cup of tea - heat soup - canned or homemade and so on.

So far I really love the microwave drawer - it took me a few times of concentration to remember to use the touch pad to close the drawer instead of mechanically closing it but now it's second nature.

We use a microwave to defrost sometimes heat water for whatever and pop corn and a few other things. We would not be without one but:

I find it hard to believe in this day and age a microwave is a make or break deal in a house sale. You just go and buy one for $100 and put it on the counter. Anyone that is looking and finds the microwave the most important thing I would offer to buy a $100 micro and gift them with it after they buy the house.:))

Inga

I assumed OP is thinking about configuring the kitchen layout so there is a good space for the microwave.

If one is planning a kitchen remodel, then it makes sense to consider where a microwave could best be positioned so it is accessible and doesn't eat up counter space - unless one has lots of counter space in which case, it's really not an issue one way or another. But generally if you have a large kitchen, you can easily fit a cubby in a cabinet to hold the microwave at a good level with a shelf below.

Prior to my remodel, my microwave sat on the counter and it took up approximately one third of my limited counter space.

I didn't assume the person was asking whether a free standing microwave can be omitted anymore than someone would ask whether a toaster or a Cuisinart could be omitted.

Of course the question really is where is the best place to place a microwave given whatever constraints OP is designing kitchen under. Or what is the tradeoff in terms of having a microwave versus having to sacrifice something else.

We just moved into our new home and I have a CSO, which I love. It reheats and defrosts way better than a microwave. However, we did put a small under-counter microwave in our pantry and I do use it for microwave popcorn, melting butter, instant oatmeal and warming coffee. My kids find it easier to use than the CSO (at least for now) and they use it for things like frozen rice.

This reflects our experience, too. A microwave isn't a necessity if you have a CSO. But it certainly is a convenience for a select number of items that cook faster (and good enough) in the microwave. In the big picture of things, you'd do just fine without the microwave. But it would be absolutely understandable that you want the have one, if it fits space- and budget-wise

“I find it hard to believe in this day and age a microwave is a make or break deal in a house sale. You just go and buy one for $100 and put it on the counter. Anyone that is looking and finds the microwave the most important thing I would offer to buy a $100 micro and gift them with it after they buy the house.:))”

The issue isn't the $100, it is having to have a microwave eat up counter space. No, if someone really likes a house not having a microwave likely won’t kill the deal, but if there are two similar, or equally good, houses and one has a apace off the counter for a microwave and one it has to sit on the counter, it could absolutely be a turning factor for someone who doesn’t want a large appliance eating up counter space. I personally notice in listing pictures if there is a counter microwave and it isn’t a positive for the house.

That said, if the CSO does the same things as a microwave I would think it fine. We looked at one prior to our remodel and there was something we couldn’t do in it that led us to get the microwave drawer instead, but I can’t remember what that was now. I also wouldn’t really care where the microwave was (top cabinet, drawer, in the pantry), as long as it is within the kitchen area.

i would agree that putting an outlet for one somewhere would probably be easiest. That way you don’t feel compelled to buy something you don’t think you will use but the next person can have one if they chose.

Not to beat a dead horse, but as @kazmom points out, the lack of a microwave - or more accurately the lack of a space to place the microwave other than on a counter - would make me question - even if subliminally how well designed the kitchen was in terms of function.

Perhaps I've got kitchen layouts permanently seared into my consciousness because of all the energy I've devoted to researching and designing and worrying over the past 18 months :-), but I look at kitchens and place myself into them now when I see pictures and certain features are little red flags in terms of a well designed kitchen - aesthetics less so since obviously people have different aesthetics.

We don’t have a microwave. It’s just not something I use... but... other people think it’s very strange and I don’t think I’ve ever worked for someone who didn’t want a microwave in the design.

No matter how many layouts and how much research you do, even in the best, most efficient design, there is going to be some kind of compromise. I have yet to see the project where there’s not ;)

I am planning a kitchen remodel and have the same question as the OP. Stephanie, what did you end up doing? Did you get a microwave drawer and if so, do you use it? I haven't owned a microwave in 18 years and was thinking of getting a microwave base cabinet to fit a microwave drawer and just use it as an open shelf for recipe books or such. Would love your input on this.