Microwave/Kitchen Hood Dilemma

[Anonymous]

I think this is all about space. In a small kitchen, I much prefer a microwave over the stove. If it vents outside, it works pretty well.

A hood might look prettier or more current for photos, but it means the microwave is somewhere else taking up space.

If your kitchen is big, sure! Do a hood and put it somewhere else.

I think when it became the fashion, developers and flippers started putting hoods in small houses and it is just not practical. But when they’re shopping, people don’t think about where the microwave is going to go or whether they will have enough cabinet space. Or where the trash and recycling cans will be. Etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this is all about space. In a small kitchen, I much prefer a microwave over the stove. If it vents outside, it works pretty well.

A hood might look prettier or more current for photos, but it means the microwave is somewhere else taking up space.

If your kitchen is big, sure! Do a hood and put it somewhere else.

I think when it became the fashion, developers and flippers started putting hoods in small houses and it is just not practical. But when they’re shopping, people don’t think about where the microwave is going to go or whether they will have enough cabinet space. Or where the trash and recycling cans will be. Etc.

Although functional, vent hoods are trendy and being pushed by the usual suspects like HGTV. If you aren't a big cook, a microwave vent/fan is good enough (still sucks though).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this is all about space. In a small kitchen, I much prefer a microwave over the stove. If it vents outside, it works pretty well.

A hood might look prettier or more current for photos, but it means the microwave is somewhere else taking up space.

If your kitchen is big, sure! Do a hood and put it somewhere else.

I think when it became the fashion, developers and flippers started putting hoods in small houses and it is just not practical. But when they’re shopping, people don’t think about where the microwave is going to go or whether they will have enough cabinet space. Or where the trash and recycling cans will be. Etc.

Totally disagree that hoods are only for large kitchens. I have a narrow galley kitchen and there's absolutely no way I'd live with a microwave over the range. The last thing I need when I'm trying to cook something on the range is to have my husband nuking his coffee or a kid heating up a burrito over my head.

[Anonymous]

Regular vent hood and put microwave on the counter like normal modern people.

Built in microwaves is soooo 1980s.

[Anonymous]

Hands down three. Microwaves get gross and break when they get a lot of use!

[Anonymous]

We just removed the mounted microwave over the stove and installed a proper vent hood. We actually did away with the microwave completely, as we do not use one. We long avoided heating any food or water in it, so don’t miss it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Avoid number one. For a below counter microwave, don’t do a drawer, just do a regular one. We’ve had them in a few houses and love them bc easy for kids and no risk of an adult spilling something boiling or whatever. We’ve had a few brands. Wolf has been the best but Samsung and KitchenAid are also fine.

+1. We have a regular microwave on a shelf in our kitchen island directly across from the sink and it's the most convenient arrangement I've ever had (the stove, sink and refrigerator make a "U" with and island in the middle). It looks built in but would be easy to replace if needed. I prefer that to one at eye level, anyway. I wouldn't put it in the pantry unless I had a large butler's pantry with plenty of counter space to set things down on that was very convenient to the refrigerator and cooking area. It would be annoying to have to walk across the kitchen to melt butter or thaw something while I was cooking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you had the choice, which kitchen setup would you prefer?

1) Stick with an over-the-range microwave that doubles as a hood—cost-free but not great for venting. Feels a bit outdated, like an early 2000s setup.

2) Install a proper kitchen hood and upgrade to a microwave drawer. Estimated cost: $4-5K

3) Install a kitchen hood and relocate a smaller microwave to a walk-in pantry or butler’s pantry. Estimated cost: ~$1-2K, avoiding the higher cost of a microwave drawer (which gets mixed reviews).

We did option 3. I hate microwave drawers. We put the microwave and a steam oven in the butler’s pantry and put a powerful hood over the induction stove.

[Anonymous]

Options 3 x1000. A proper vent hood is a must, and microwaves are great, but no serious cook cares exactly where they are if they are near the kitchen.

[Anonymous]

2 but get a non drawer microwave, you can get one that opens like an oven and is full height from KitchenAid. We have this because we find drawers not tall enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think this is all about space. In a small kitchen, I much prefer a microwave over the stove. If it vents outside, it works pretty well.

A hood might look prettier or more current for photos, but it means the microwave is somewhere else taking up space.

If your kitchen is big, sure! Do a hood and put it somewhere else.

I think when it became the fashion, developers and flippers started putting hoods in small houses and it is just not practical. But when they’re shopping, people don’t think about where the microwave is going to go or whether they will have enough cabinet space. Or where the trash and recycling cans will be. Etc.

Totally disagree that hoods are only for large kitchens. I have a narrow galley kitchen and there's absolutely no way I'd live with a microwave over the range. The last thing I need when I'm trying to cook something on the range is to have my husband nuking his coffee or a kid heating up a burrito over my head.

The problem is that some kitchens are so small that you don't have anywhere to put the microwave if you have a hood.

[Anonymous]

We did number #3, glad we did it. Microwave is smaller but we only ever use it to heat up a plate of food.

[Anonymous]

Bonus of #3 is you won't need to have a dedicated spot on a breaker for the microwave (assuming you just put a cheapo little microwave there).

[Anonymous]

We opted for a steam oven rather than a built-in convection/microwave combo an put a small microwave in the butler's pantry. We got used to it and it's working well.

[Anonymous]

We did number 2 and I was apprehensive about the drawer but it has worked well. It allows my 1st grader to make his own oatmeal in the morning. Our last house had #1 and I hated it - people were always reaching across the stove when I was cooking. I also hate our house to smell like food, so our new hood is exponentially better than the microwave at venting. My mom put a regular microwave under the counter - I hate it. It’s awkward. I would prefer a wall mounted or countertop microwave in that case. Depends on space and if yo trust your family to carry food to the pantry to heat (I do not!)