I’m not a fan of the drawer microwaves. Microwaves tend to have a short lifespan, and when they’re built into cabinetry, it can really limit your options. My favorite option is a combo speed/steam/microwave oven in a wall oven cabinet. 2nd is a basic microwave on a shelf/table slightly outside the kitchen, like in the pantry. 3rd favorite is an attractive microwave on a shelf that’s big enough to accommodate different size microwaves when a replacement is needed.

I did a shelf. Microwaves tend to have low life expectancies so I'd rather not have it built in.

I don’t have a pantry so it’s microwave in Island or on shelf next to refrigerator . The only reason considered drawer version is if in island it would be easier to use. Not sure what the life is on the drawer version

I vote for #1 - MW drawer, #2 - on a shelf next to the refrigerator as long as the refrigerator is on the left*. I would never put a regular MW below the counter b/c it would be too difficult to use.

My first MW drawer lasted 11 years (2008 - 2019), that's at least 3x as long as all of my various "regular" MWs (various manufacturers). It only died due to "user error", which would have "killed" any MW, not just a drawer.

We replaced it with another one b/c we loved it so much! (It's still going strong after 4 years & I fully expect it to last many more years to come.)

It's much easier to use than a regular MW below the counter and is much safer than a regular MW above the counter (i.e., on a shelf) or below the counter.

1. To put food in, press a button for it to open, put the food in, press a button to close it (soft-close). Using the control panel angled up so you can easily see & use it, select your options.
2. If food needs stirring, press the button to open it, reach down & stir it (no need to take it out to stir or reach blindly into a regular MW), press a button to close
3. When done, press the button to open, lift it up to the counter (not far b/c it's just below the counter), and press a button to close.

(BTW...a soft nudge with your hip/leg also softly closes it.)

* The hinge on all regular MWs is on the left, so the most "open" side should be the right. So, if the refrigerator is on the left, it should be fine.

Thread hijack (sort of): my family doesn't always cover food in the MW, so there is inevitably splatter on the ceiling of the MW. Not a big deal if the MW has a door - it's easy to see and reach splatter. How does one deal with this with a drawer? I'm not optimistic about being able to train my family to cover a plate of spaghetti.

Microwaves have short life expectancies? I've been moving my around with me since college, and I'm now in my mid-thirties. It's old enough to get a driver's license! I don't use it daily, but still.

I'd go for a shelf above some counter space next to the frig. And outside the main prep area as a separate work station. A micro may be soon replaced by an airfryer toaster oven like a Ninja Foodi 10 in 1 XL Pro. Amazon.com: Ninja DT201 Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry Digital Countertop Convection Toaster Oven with Dehydrate and Reheat, 1800 Watts, Stainless Steel Finish: Home & Kitchen It does too many things but no micro.

Personally, a drawer if you have children that can use it otherwise bring it up to a more comfortable adult level but not high over the range.

I didn't want a full size microwave hogging real-estate in my kitchen since we only use it for warming up leftovers. Do you need a full size one?

I have a small one the 15" deep uppers next to my double ovens. That cabinet is basically a book shelf with adjustable shelves if I ever need to adjust the height. I have 3 shelves of cookbooks above it.

My friends with expensive MW drawers have had problems with their reliability, and I don’t use a MW enough to devote that much space to it. We have it on a shelf under the counter and it has been totally fine. (I haven’t yet painted the surrounding white parts, but plan to.) This is a small .9cf microwave on a 15” deep shelf. I am thrilled to get it off the counter and not have to use an OTR!

I have a Sharp microwave drawer with a tilt out panel and so far it has given me no trouble - in use since 2018. It's very convenient to use.

Why specifically would the drawer be easier to use.

My friend has a relatively large kitchen and her microwave is in a large "cubby". She had the carpenter create a pull out shelf so there is a convenient landing spot for food being taken out or put in. I have a small kitchen and so having the microwave drawer under the wall oven was the most functional location. No place on the counter and no place to put t on a "shelf" or cubby as it would have eaten up more space than as a drawer.

My microwave has outlasted every other appliance in my kitchen.

We did the microwave on a shelf, with the fridge to the left, as @Buehl suggested. It gets used multiple times a day. The location is perfect for us.

The mw is over 7yo now.

My fridge is the opposite side of yours so when facing the appliances microwave would be to left under a cabinet like yours , refrigerator on right

FWIW, from an aesthetics point of view, I'm not a fan of appliances installed next to each other unless one or more is paneled.

Ours is on a shelf to the left of the fridge. It’s small and was cheap. We only use it to heat some things up. I just couldn’t see spending the money on a microwave drawer just to heat a few things up. If our microwave goes we can simply buy another cheap small one.

I would not want a regular microwave below counter. As far as placement of a microwave drawer it would depend on your layout. I would not want the microwave drawer in my island because then it would be in my prep zone which would not work well for us.