I'm interested in the the GE Cafe 30" gas range, but can't vent to the outside (so can't have a true pro range) and am therefore thinking about the OTR microwave. But I've read scary things about the handle becoming like a branding iron and the control pad blanking out or stopping working altogether because of stove-top heat. Most of what I've read on this forum and on other sites is dated. Does anyone have this microwave? Should/Could I get the GE Cafe Range but go with another microwave? Any experience/suggestions? Thanks.

prospect711: Thanks for your reply! I had my eye on the Sharp R-820JS, which is the stainless steel sister of your Sharp! (It sounds like an amazing appliance that pretty much does it all!) I just couldn't figure out how to get the size to work. Having a deeper cabinet is a Very interesting idea! I'm going to show this to DH to see if we can somehow swing it with our Ikea cabinetry. Thanks again! (Love your cabinets and beautiful backsplash!) Luv2Laf: Your photo is Exactly what I wanted it to look like! And right next to the fridge seems like such a perfect spot! If only it had convection too - I was really hoping for a little back up oven to cook and reheat small meals. Hmmm... Thanks so much for your reply, gorgeous photo, and the food for thought! colorfast: Okay, so it seems that the microwave/convection combos, unless they are the very wide OTR type, are pretty deep. I'll stop hunting for one that isn't. (No more wild goose chase!) We were planning on having 15" wide cabinets flanking the fridge on either side as a pantry (floor to almost ceiling height), but, maybe we should make one wider set of cabinets instead, where we can put the microwave/convection oven. I love how you have yours next to a counter. That seems to be an ideal setup to me. As for recessing it into the wall, I think we're out of luck, since the wall backs a stairwell leading to the basement as well as the stairs leading upstairs. I'm not sure that we can mess with that. I will share these ideas with DH. Thank you for your reply!

I was not able to find one while helping a friend search a couple of months ago. Since this question gets asked pretty regularly here and at Chowhound, etc. over the last decade, one might think that some manufacturer somewhere would have discovered this market niche by now. Apparently not.

Thanks all - still mulling it over, as I said I’ve lived with an OTR microwave in the past and disliked reaching up, trying to clean it etc but we are trying to decide if the trade off of counter space would be worth it. I wanted to add a toaster oven, and there’s really no space. I’m not asking you to decide for me, just wanted to know if I could actually install one here without renovating the kitchen. I’m leaning toward no - and just replacing the microwave that’s dying with a Breville compact soft close, but still thinking about it. Prior to considering the OTR solution, I was looking at multifunction microwave toaster ovens (some are also air fryer etc something I have no use for) but they seem to get very poor reviews for their high price and a separate microwave and toaster oven seems best.