An integrated microwave: is it worth paying more?

space saving devices

Having a built-in microwave is definitely great for saving space on your kitchen counter. In most kitchens, the microwave oven is the largest appliance that sits on the counter and they are not usually particularly small. While this may not be such a big problem in a large country house kitchen, it can cause far more problems in a small inner city flat where table space can be at a premium. By designing the kitchen for a built-in microwave, you eliminate the problem of having to find space around your microwave to cook.

Safety

Most countertops are at a level where it is comfortable to work to do things like chop vegetables. While it’s easy to get things done outdoors at this level, it can be much harder to get into a cavity and get things done without bending over. This means that when you are removing hot food from the microwave, it is not at a comfortable level to do so when the microwave is placed on the same counter. With a built-in microwave, it is possible to design the microwave to be at a height that is most comfortable for your own height. By eliminating the need to bend over to work with the microwave, it is much safer to handle hot microwave items.

The only way to combat this problem without a built-in microwave is to mount your freestanding microwave on wall brackets. This in itself can be dangerous, especially if not done by a professional, as microwaves are very heavy and need strong support if they are to be mounted this way. Also, it’s quite difficult to mount a microwave and it doesn’t get in the way, as the wall space in a kitchen is often already very busy with cabinets and the like.

microwave quality

Although built-in microwaves are generally more expensive, it’s also worth keeping in mind that the actual quality of the microwave is also often higher than that of lower-priced freestanding microwaves. Overall though, as with any decision, it’s up to you to weigh in and decide if the benefits of having a built-in microwave are worth the extra investment.