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Types of Microwave Ovens: Built-in, Over the Range, Drawer & Countertop

A microwave can make your kitchen tasks easier and quicker. But the countless options of models and functions can confuse you when choosing the best one for your kitchen.

To help you in this mission, this easy guide will present all the characteristics you should consider when buying a microwave oven.

Microwave installation types

You should buy the right type of microwave for the way you intend to place it in your kitchen:

Built-in microwave oven
Built-in microwaves are installed within the cabinets and require careful planning. No gaps are left between the device and the cabinets, so it needs and an air escape for ventilation. Photo by thegreenspringhome.com.
Over-the-range microwave oven
Over-the-range is a specific type of built-in microwave that includes range hood functions.
Drawer microwave oven
Drawer is another type of built-in microwave, that opens forward instead of sideways. In large kitchens, it is commonly stacked with a wall oven in a comfortable height to use. Cabinets by kralkeukens.nl.
Kitchen backsplash height - up to the cabinets - countertop microwave oven
Countertop microwaves are not integrated to the cabinets. They just sit on countertops, shelves, niches or supports. This is the most common and easiest to install type. Project by Leandro Garcia.

No matter the type you choose, it is important to check the required offsets to whatever is around, to ensure adequate ventilation. You can find this information in the manual that comes with the product and is also available on the manufacturer’s website.

See the article on kitchen cabinets to learn how to position all the appliances.

How to choose the ideal microwave capacity?

After determining the installation type, you can choose the microwave capacity, ie the size that will meet your family’s needs.

You will find the capacity in liters or cubic feet, depending on the unit system used in your country:

  • Compact/small: up to 20 liters or 1 cu.ft.
  • Midsize: 21 to 29 liters or 1 to 1,5 cu.ft.
  • Large: 30 to 50 liters or 1,6 to 2,0 cu.ft.
  • Extralarge: larger than 50 liters or 2,0 cu.ft.

The ideal choice for your home depends on your budget, the size of your kitchen and your lifestyle:

  • The price increases considerably with the capacity.
  • Pick a size that won’t be too big for your kitchen, taking up space that could be used for storage or other items.
  • Of course, the larger the microwave, the bigger the platters you will be able to heat up. If your family is large or you are used to host dinner parties, you probably have food on big platters more often, so a larger microwave would be useful.

How to choose the ideal microwave wattage?

Among the models of the chosen type and capacity, you will still find variations in power. What is this and how to choose?

It is about the efficiency of the product: the higher the power, the more efficient the device is when heating the food, making the it faster.

The power ranges from 700w to 1500w (watts). Think first about the intended use of the microwave. Do you just want to heat up some food? Or defrost and prepare food?

If you intend to use the microwave just to heat up a small amount of food throughout the day, there is no need to invest in a high power model, the most basic ones, with 700w to 800w should be enough.

But if your intention is to use it more often and for longer tasks, it is recommended to invest in a more powerful model, from 900w upwards.

It is good to remember that the higher the power, the higher the microwave price and the greater the energy consumption. Therefore, the power of the chosen model has to match your budget.

Some microwaves have power levels. The usual is up to 5 levels ranging from low, medium and high. You decide which power will be used. The lowest potency’s are used to heat food, the medium to bake and the high to defrost or cook.

Always consider the size of the food to be prepared, which influences the power to be used. That is, if you want to defrost a small piece of food, you don’t need to use high power, for example.

Features

If you have started researching on microwaves, you may have noticed that is a number of different features available on the market. And you may have noticed that the more functions, the higher the price.

These different functions are one of the ways in which brands stand out from the competition. Most you will probably never use, and pay more for. Check out the main functions available, think about which ones will really facilitate your routine, and forget about the rest.

  • Grill: gratins the food.
  • Convection: type of cooking by hot air flow.
  • Auto-cooking / defrost: the microwave calculates how long it will take to cook / defrost, based on the weight of the food you inset.
  • Pizza: bakes or heats pizza.
  • Keep warm: keeps food warm, useful when you are going to serve the food in a few minutes.
  • Safety lock: prevents the microwave from being used by children;
  • Favorites: saves the ideal time and power for your most common dishes.

Finishes

As for the possible finishes, there are several colors available, the most common being white, black, gray, silver, stainless steel and mirrored.

These colors are neutral and can match with any covering you may have in your kitchen. Just try to get all your appliances in similar finishes.

Models in other colors and different looks, like those in a retro style, must be picked with an extra caution to match with other appliances and kitchen coverings, as they draw more attention.

retro microwave oven
Magic Chef retro microwave.

So, now you know how to choose the right microwave oven for you! I hope this article has answered all your questions.

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