Should You Include a Microwave Drawer in Your Kitchen?

Microwave drawers have become popular, but does that mean you should buy one?

In this video, you'll learn all about

the pros and cons of a microwave drawer and other microwave alternatives.

At the end of the video,

I'll show you how to buy a microwave drawer at a reduced price of about $500.

Let's get started.

Microwave drawers have become popular because many homeowners and designers

are moving away from over the range microwaves.

Most people now use range hoods because

an over the range microwave doesn't effectively vent the kitchen range.

An over the range microwave doesn't have enough exhaust, 350

CFM, and cannot adequately vent high output front burners.

The depth of an over the range microwave is only 16 inches, while the front

burners, you most likely use, is roughly 22 inches deep in the stove.

I should know how bad they are. I have one in my rented apartment.

So now the microwave needs to go somewhere else.

You can place a drawer under the counter

or even under your wall oven. It's easy access for your kids, and

you don't have to bend down because the drawer pops out.

They also look good with a flush installation next to your cabinets.

A microwave drawer also removes the need

for a microwave on the counter, saving your counter space.

Over the last few years, your countertop has become crowded

with blenders, air fryers, toaster ovens, and slow cookers.

First, the price is roughly $1,400-$2,200 for a drawer versus $300-$400 for an over

the range microwave or $200-$300 for a decent countertop microwave.

We'll show you how to save later in the video.

There have been some reports and comments

on our blog of drawers breaking and sparking, but we haven't seen it.

I also installed one in my last house and I had a then two year old.

I certainly wouldn't have done that.

They do require more installation than any other type of microwave,

which is probably the source of many of the bad reviews.

But microwaves have been around since the 1970s.

You don't see problems with their mechanics or touch pads.

Almost every brand sells a microwave

drawer, but Sharp is the only manufacturer.

In case you're surprised, that's normal for appliances where you

have one brand may make a niche product like a drawer or steam oven.

This arrangement will last in the future because Sharp owns

11 different patents on the drawer's design.

You'll learn how to use this to your advantage a little later in the video.

You can buy a microwave drawer in two

sizes, 24 and 30 inch to fit a 24 and 30 inch cabinet.

The capacity doesn't change between the two.

Both can fit a 4-inch casserole dish or 20-ounce bowl.

There are three types of drawers.

Sharp manufactures their

WaveTouch microwave drawer with or without a convection.

Just wave your hand in front of the microwave and the door opens itself.

Convection microwave drawers allow you to cook in a regular oven, microwave, or

combination to save you the time without the rubbery texture of the microwave.

Sharp also manufactures this in a smart WiFi enabled microwave

drawer, allow you to control the drawer from an app.

The third type is just regular microwave drawer

available in almost every major brand like

Wolf, Thermador, KitchenAid, JennAir and GE, among others.

So buy the Sharp microwave

drawer if you want the convection feature or buy the least expensive drawer.

Most micro drawers are similar and again, all made by Sharp.

Right now, the least expensive drawer is

the Beko at $1,549 with a five year warranty.

They're also smart enough not to include

any obvious branding so that it matches all your other appliances.

It can also be installed flush with your cabinets.

However, if you're planning a kitchen with a premium brand like

Thermador or JennAir, you can use their $1,399 rebate towards their microwave

drawer and pay around $500 after the rebate.

But let's say you don't want a microwave drawer.

You have three options that are not an over the range or countertop microwave.

GE is still the only microwave you can

place under the cabinet with a hang kit at 12.88 inches deep.

With a hanging kit, the cost will be less than $500.

However, the microwave is a little bit small and somewhat under powered.

This solution has been around for a while and may look a little dated.

I remember specifying microwaves with trim kits in the 1980s.

You can place almost any microwave through a cabinet using what's called a trim kit.

The kit will allow air on the top and bottom

so the heat from the back of the microwave can safely escape without overheating.

A trim kit is inexpensive and with a decent

microwave, it's about $550 to $700, far below the cost of a drawer.

But it doesn't look as good as the modern solutions.

You still see some of these installations,

especially over wall ovens. You can match the brands and it looks good,

the downside is that a fold down microwave

is about the same price as a microwave drawer.

You also have to reach

into the fold down microwave so they're best over wall oven.

It depends.

Microwave drawers are on the pricey side and will cost you $2,000

when you add in the cost of a hood versus a simple over the range microwave.

Thanks for watching.