Different Shaped Microwaves

Standard Microwave Sizes

• All microwaves are rectangular, wider than they are tall and deep. There are three standardized widths in the microwave industry. Small microwaves are 19 inches wide, medium microwaves are 24 inches wide and large microwaves are 30 inches wide. The small microwaves have roughly 1/2 cubic foot of interior volume; large ones have 1½ cubic feet. All of these sizes are tiny compared to the first commercially available microwave, which measured almost 6 feet tall and weighed 750 lbs.

Countertop Microwaves

• A countertop microwave is a flexible choice, since you can place one anywhere in the kitchen as long as there is an electrical outlet nearby. This design, despite the name, doesn't even need to be limited to counters; you can keep a countertop microwave on a wheeled cart. Make sure the cart has a lip to prevent the microwave from sliding or being knocked off the cart, and always unplug it before moving the cart.

Cabinet-Mounted Microwaves

• Cabinet-mounted microwaves can be installed either above or below the counter. It's important that the cabinet be at least a few inches deeper than the depth of the microwave to allow for exhaust venting. Mounting a microwave under the counter is a good solution for disabled people and households with children old enough to use the microwave themselves but too short to reach one mounted on the countertop or in a high cabinet.

Over-the-Range Microwaves

• Over-the-range microwaves became very fashionable for a time, but installing a microwave above a stove has several logistical problems. First, over-the-range microwaves should always be installed by a professional to ensure safe operation. Second, having an over-the-range microwave precludes having a range hood, though many models include a fan and exhaust system for the oven below. Third, this location is not ergonomic, since it requires reaching up and back to retrieve hot food that would be potentially dangerous if spilled.