Anyone have a drawer microwave?

[HawkinsHollow]

We are doing a kitchen reonvation as a part of our addition and were thinking about putting a drawer microwave in to save counter space. The results are mixed if you look at reviews and Reddits. Does anyone here have any real world experience with these things? I would be pi$$ed if I spent $1400 on a fancy microwave, altered my cabinets to accept it and then got a lemon or hated it. Our 2 other alternatives are putting a regular microwave in the large panty cabinet or making a place for it under the counter but using a regular door microwave with a trim kit. Thoughts?

 

[newbury]

Microwaves FAIL. Then a few or many years down the line you need to replace them and it's hard to find something that will fit the exact same hole. And what do you cook in a microwave?
Do you cook a 20lb turkey?

We went to small (~1.2cu ft) common microwaves about 20 years ago. Most of them lasted 3 or so years. Supply ~70% of our reheating/low quality cooking needs, minimal cost (~100 or less), fit in a dedicated counter space.

 

[ponytug]

+1 on microwaves fail. We had a built in one fail, and long story short, the size turned out to be no longer manufactured. Replacing the unit was a pain. A real pain.

@HawkinsHollow If counter space is really that tight, I would put the microwave in a generously oversized space in an above counter cabinet area, not over a stove. Being generous with the spacing allows both good cooling and ventilation, and will give you flexibility in the future when it fails. A relative has gone through four in her kitchen, but the replacements were painless because the exact size wasn't an issue.

FWIW: After the last microwave died, when I was tired of the cheap microwaves failing, so I upgraded (slightly in cost) to a Panasonic commercial microwave. There aren't preprogrammed popcorn/potato/pizza settings, and no "doneness" sensors to fail, but it is fast and powerful and built like the proverbial brick outhouse. (Model NE-1054F)

All the best,

Peter

 

[Chewwy]

No experience with drawer microwaves but based on previous experience with a microwave that was mounted underneath the counter, they are a pain to use unless you have eyeballs in your navel or lower down.

Our normal counter type microwave is mounted in our cabinets at eye level. The first one lasted over ten years. The replacement microwave has lasted over 14 years. As previously mentioned, size differences made replacement a little bit of trouble but our cabinet design made accomodating the differences relative easy.

 

[old and tired]

Had to replace 2 of them this year... what fun, not. Guess I should be happy, one was from 2015. The other from 2019, . Neighbor kept a small microwave inside one of her cabinets. Worked for her but we use ours a lot and having to open a cabinet door all the time would bug me.

 

[WinterDeere]

I'm still running the same microwave the prior owners of our house installed in the 1995 kitchen remodel. I've replaced the magnetron, replaced door switches, and even the mode stirrer. But each of those were $5 or $15 parts, have helped me avoid redoing the custom cabinetry that holds it, and are way cheaper than replacing a large 1800 watt microwave oven.

Point is, yeah... parts fail on a microwave, but they're pretty easy to repair.

Also, I thought that nowadays, most of them conformed to a few industry standard sizes, to make them more easily swappable. Not like the earlier days of surround kits and custom cabinets, what I'm dealing with on mine.

What I'd be more concerned about with a drawer microwave, is the useability factor. We use ours for heating more liquids than solids, and how does that full cup of tea or soup respond to opening and closing a drawer? How do you clean the thing, when something spatters or boils over?

 

[Tinhack]

I wouldn't build or modify any cabinet to fit a microwave. The styles and sizes change all the time, and they don't last forever. My microwave sits on top of a relatively inexpensive roll-around (but cost more than the microwave). It holds my bread box and the overflow pots and pans too. It's next to the stove. The only time I roll it around is to clean around it though. The cabinet just got treated to its third microwave. The cabinet has to be 40+ years old and in its second kitchen. I hate getting rid of good furniture.

 

[oosik]

I have a drawer microwave. It on the end of my kitchen island. The first one failed about five years ago - after 17 years. EASY to find a replacement. I now have a 1000W Breville with a rotating plate. From the floor to the bottom of the drawer - 17 inches.

 

[Doofy]

We re-heat leftovers or coffee in the microwave. Our Go-To now for the majority of our cooking is a small counter top Breville Convection Oven. We seldom use the large range oven now. Even at .27+ for KWH we save money over the $4+ Propane costs.

 

[oosik]

I can't remember the last time I used my big oven. Like Doofy - baked potatoes - reheat leftovers and coffee.

Being by myself - my menu is very simple and easy to prepare.

 

[BravoXray]

I've had really good luck with microwaves I guess. I'm on my second one since '81 when the wife left. I think I've had the present GE unit for at least 20 years, and it get used nearly every day.

 

[WinterDeere]

I'm on my second one since '81 when the wife left.

We could debate cause and effect, but I could keep things working a long longer without my wife abusing them, too!

 

[BravoXray]

We could debate cause and effect, but I could keep things working a long longer without my wife abusing them, too!

So does she ever stop the cycle before the timer runs out and let the display keep flashing "Press Start to Continue" forever rather than hit Cancel?

 

[WinterDeere]

So does she ever stop the cycle before the timer runs out and let the display keep flashing "Press Start to Continue" forever rather than hit Cancel?

More likely to heat a drink, then never retrieve it. Then find it an hour later, re-heat the same item again, and repeat three times over the next three hours. Opening and re-slamming the door each time, hence the new door switches.

 

[mikester]

The ones I have seen were mounted low to save space. Great idea if you are a GM design engineer and you have midget servants you dislike that have to clean it.

 

[oosik]

I guess at 17 inches you could consider mine to be low. However - I'm not a GM design engineer and I've not found any midget servants to do ANY cleaning for me.

So...... about once a week. On my knees and clean it with a wet shop towel. Takes all of two minuets.

 

[ponytug]

I guess at 17 inches you could consider mine to be low. However - I'm not a GM design engineer and I've not found any midget servants to do ANY cleaning for me.

So...... about once a week. On my knees and clean it with a wet shop towel. Takes all of two minuets.

I'm glad it works for you; I saw your photograph and my back hurt just looking at it!

I prefer microwaves up where I can see into them easily. Speaking of seeing, I wish more of them were better illuminated, but that's another saga.

All the best,

Peter

 

[ning]

Our microwave is the top third of an in-wall unit (oven bottom, micro convect top) dates from 2000.
Spring (torsion type) in the door - which folds out and down - broke at about 5 years, second spring broke 5 years later, not replacing that again.
The microwave emitter went out about 5 years ago, replaced that for a couple hundred bucks; replaced the light in the microwave at the same time.
Also welded the top of the main oven compartment that had little spot welds weakened by steam oven action (it's not a steam oven but we use a water pan for a variety of things).
The "start" "button" on the keypad was threatening to wear thin so I put patch of heavy clear vinyl tape over it.
Some effort here or there but a lot cheaper than replacing the unit a few times over the 24 years; I expect it to keep going for a while yet.

 

[oosik]

I have no trouble using the microwave - at that height.

Now - as to down on my knees, cleaning it. It's EASY getting down. It's the getting back up that can be a bit*h at times.

 

[WinterDeere]

The microwave emitter went out about 5 years ago, replaced that for a couple hundred bucks...
Some effort here or there but a lot cheaper than replacing the unit a few times over the 24 years; I expect it to keep going for a while yet.

Agreed. Although I'm surprised it was a couple hundred dollars for a new magnetron for your oven. Must be something unusual or special. Most are only $35 - $85.