Need a new microwave, do you suggest...
 

An over the range one? What brand do you have? Do you like it? Did it save space? Are there pitfalls?

We have a 1978 house with the original (non-ergonomic, low counter space, cramped) kitchen. Counter space is always at a premium.

Our countertop microwave - a 7+ year old Panasonic bought on a boxing day sale is having more senior moments than I do lately, so it's time to replace it. It's not minor stuff either, the turntable sometimes turning I can live with but the thermostat or something is going nuts in it. Sometimes it takes almost 2 minutes to defrost 100g of cat food, sometimes it turns it into a crepe that's welded to the plate in about a minute. Previously about a minute 20 was juuuuust right. There are also huge hot spots and frozen chunks, partly I'm sure from the lack of a turning turntable.

We don't use the microwave a lot, other than for cat food and reheating left overs.

DH doesn't want the extra expense, I'd like to regain the space. The current budget is about $400, which is about $250 probably for USD LOL!

We have an over the range one at the cottage. I am short (5' 1") and I find it way too high for me. Dangerously high.

The good thing about it is that there is a fan and a light on the bottom of the microwave.

It was from IKEA. Some are between $200 and $300 Canadian dollars.

I bought the smallest one I could find. $49 at Walmart. Works fine. We only use it to reheat foods so I didn't want it to take a lot of counter space. I don't care for the over the range ones. I was constantly cleaning. The exhaust filter wasn't very good at all.

I've never had an over the stove type so I can't comment. I will say I bought an inexpensive Hamilton Beach at Walmart about a month ago because ours died. This thing is the LOUDEST microwave in the history of the world. It seriously screams at times when you are using it.

Just a heads up if you go with the counter top model. You might want to read some reviews or something so you don't get stuck with this haunted thing I have.

When I planned the kitchen for the new house we built last year, I specifically did NOT want over-the-stove microwave. They take up more space and have too little clearance over the stove. I do home canning and need room for the large kettle. I have a cabinet with an opening for the microwave to sit. It is the right size for the build-in kit, although we havn't bought the framing kit as it is more than the microwave cost. The over-the range cost more and when they die (as MVs do) much more costly to replace.

You won't find an microhood for much less than $200US. I just bought one from Sears for that price on sale from $260. It is very quiet and easy to use. I would have preferred no turntable, but I will admit it heats very evenly. I have plenty of clearance over the range. My previous one was an expensive microwave/convection oven combo, but it didn't get enough use to justify the price.

We just bought a Magic Chef microwave from Menards - a smallish model and it has a glass turntable in it and it does everything that we want it to do and doesn't take up too much space - we paid less than $100 for it. HTH

I live in a very old farmhouse with a small kitchen and no counter space. My over-the-range microwave is the best choice I made! I absolutely love it!

Hi everyone! Thanks for the responses! This gives me a lot to think about.
I picked a OTR microwave at random on one of the store sites and looked at the dimensions. Taking those to the kitchen and extrapolating it looks like the MW would be about 4.5" above the backsplash of the stove. This would also put the turn table at roughly chin height for me. Does this seem too high? I think the one I have in the quilting studio is about the same height. (I put my back out again though so I've been told I shouldn't be waddling downstairs to check it out for sure. :( )

I'm curious, why do the OTR units require more cleaning? Is it the bottom because of splashes from the stove?

Thanks for the warning Lisa_wanna_B_Quilter. :) We had a Danby for 2 hours that was the same. It also wasn't capable of cooking anything, just making horrible noises. I will definitely do some research on brands before we go ahead.

SkyAngel, thanks for the info on the height. I always wondered. I will try to figure out what sort of height requirements we have. We don't can, and I have a range in the studio that I use for proofing bread and such, but I've never really paid attention to height constraints on the stove. The microwave in the studio is in the cupboard like what you describe, but cupboard space is at as much of a premium upstairs as counter space is, and the cupboards are original, so no kit for it without changing the whole thing out.

We had considered if we were going to get an OTR MW that we would be getting an extended warranty. So far as far as appliances go, they've paid for themselves - Washer, Range and Dishwasher all have had service calls within the warranty period, with the DW being replaced.

Irishrose - I wonder if maybe the price divide isn't as bad as I thought. We were going to get the MW from Futureshop (owned by BestBuy - DH has a gift card from work to cover a lot of the cost) and their site has 20 OTR units for me to choose from in that price range. I was really surprised by that. 10 of them are in the sub $300 range, which is around what I expected a $200 unit in the US to be. Why would you prefer no turntable? I've always found them to be more even in the heating, what's the benefit of no turntable? Oh! Large square dishes?

Pam B, I think you're in the same boat we are. :)

We have an OTR MW as well and I love it. I'm only 5'2" and have no issues with the height. We a Whirlpool model and have had no issues with it for the probably 5 or more years we've had it. Bought at Best Buy at the time. Did not get the extended warranty. The bottom is probably about 2" lower than it really should be according to local building codes here but it doesn't interfere with any of the large pots I use. It has an auto fan that kicks on if what I'm cooking on the stove gets to steamy or smokey. We have little counter space so it was definitely the way to go for us. Wouldn't go back to a counter top model at all.