Microwave/ Convection Hoods

[Melissa G]

I am thinking of putting in a microwave convection hood oven. Anyone have one? Any comments about brands or performance or is it even a good idea?

[pengillian101]

1. Just a thought.

We have one, but I am disappointed with it. It sticks out way farther than the cabinets surrounding it. So cooking on the stove top under the microwave is awkward. It juts out too far.

And I really wish it opened from the left instead of the right. Not a big deal, just a bit annoying.

Have fun shopping!

[Melissa G]

3. I have one at my office.

Had not noticed the sticking out part; but there is a medium size fridge right next to it. I'm moving the fridge to be closer to the stove in the new home kitchen arrangement, so that will be a similar feel. Since my home fridge juts even further out than the office one, perhaps it will actually be an unexpected balancing perk!
I am a small person, that may be why I don't notice the microwave in my way. Perhaps another perk!

[MADem]

2. I always thought I wanted one, but then I realized I don't!

I live in a very old house with a giant fan from the early 1920s embedded in the wall. All I have to do is hook it and pull it open, and I get huge movement of air (errrr, smoke, if something kinda burns).

I also like to use massive pots on the stove, and have a good vantage point over them--a microwave would impede that.

I lived in a place in CA where I had one, it helps to have a bit of height to clean the thing. The kids will have to use a stepstool to get up and zap something too, if you have any short people in the house. That can be a pain...if you're all adults, it's less of an issue.

[Melissa G]

4. YAY! No Kids!

Last one just moved out! Hence the house remodeling! They come back to visit most days and then there are college vacations... but I am in denial about all that.


Your house sounds lovely!

Ah, Large pots! I used to cook professionally, I remember those days!

I am imagining from your post that you are not a small person. I have to jump up on the counter to get almost anything- even off bottom shelves of cabinets. It happens so often I don't even bother with a step stool.

[MADem]

5. Hahahaha! Your post made me laugh!

No one around here has to worry about getting stuff out of high kitchen cabinets--we don't have any! This house is so old it predates those things--we have a "pantry"--a closet where everything goes (the top shelves could be a stretch for the height challenged), and built in "dish cabinets." There are lower cabinets and drawers to either side of the sink that tend to gather a lotta junk, as well. Plenty of storage, just not in the usual places! It's a great house, it can be a money pit at times, but it's big enough to handle large crowds of family, which makes it nice at holidays and big events.

[Warpy]

6. I hate combination anythings. One part of the combo always conks out first

and then you're left with the other part being bigger and clunkier than it needs to be and in the way and of course kitchen designers have moved on and there is no way to get one that fits exactly where the old one did.

I think I'd prefer having a microwave cubby just under the counter, sized to fit any really small unit. I have no counter space now, so I have a steel shelf over my stove with the microwave on it and a toaster oven on top of the microwave. It's crowded but it works.

Years from now, when microwaves are built into ovens, the cubby could be used for cookbooks or display pottery or whatever needs to get stashed out of the way.

[Melissa G]

7. Well this is kind of that 'years from now' moment

where they are building the microwave into the oven. I like double ovens, so if the convection part really works (big if), then I have a double oven with a built in microwave. I was just hoping someone in the group had experience of these before I forked over the big bucks.

I feel you on the broken combos. Kinda like why I prefer crank windows on my car, those electric buttons blow so quickly! I like to keep it simple where possible, but I also don't like too much stuff cluttering up my counters. Husband came home with enormous convection oven and enormous microwave. ARGHH!!!! Trying to consolidate in the remodel.

[Warpy]

8. Well, think about the below counter cubby for the microwave. The convection monster

probably has instructions on where it can be placed. You can always get a door made for the microwave cubby and use it as more cabinet space if the country falls apart and we're all cooking with solar ovens in 10 years.

I'm a gimp so I have appliances to help me compensate, lots of junk in a kitchen with no counters.

[Melissa G]

9. Thanks, I will. n/t