Are Under Counter Microwaves Inconvenient?

Cupboard Space

• Although a microwave built into the lower cupboards saves counter space, it obviously takes away from cupboard space. If your kitchen already lacks cupboards, this would be an inconvenience. In a kitchen with limited counters and cupboards, an over-the-range microwave, a microwave stand or a pantry installation may be the way to go.

Electricity

• When you simply sit a microwave on the countertop, you likely have at least a couple of electrical outlets at the ready. But when you’re retrofitting your microwave under the counter, you’ll need an electrical technician and a permit from your city’s planning department to begin the job. If you want to incorporate the microwave into an island that doesn’t already have an outlet, the job will require running wires from somewhere, likely along floor joists.

Location

• To help you decide if a lower-cabinet microwave is right for you, consider its location in relation to the rest of the appliances, the table, surrounding work surfaces and the rest of the cabinetry. For example, a microwave that’s used often for cooking and baking may be best situated under the food-preparation area, while one whose main function is to reheat a cup of coffee might be handier near the table or island seating. When aesthetics is the motivator, you may want to choose an area that’s more hidden from view or tucked around a corner, rather than front and center as you enter the kitchen.

Accessing the Appliance

• Lifting a heavy, steaming-hot plate or bowl of food or liquid down from a microwave situated over a range may be risky, especially for an infirm, small or elderly person, or someone with a physical disability. Although removing a hot item from an under-counter microwave has its risks as well, it may be a safer option, depending on the limitations of the person using it, such as if bending down is a challenge for him. An ergonomic, drawer-style microwave may be the best option for someone with mobility issues, the National Kitchen & Bath Association says. In a home with young children, however, easy access to piping-hot food or scalding-hot liquids is a danger worth serious consideration, suggests This Old House.