At a Glance:
What is an Over the Range Microwave?
Over the Range Microwave Benefits
Over the Range Microwave Recommendations
How often do you cook? Do you enjoy cooking? Regardless of whether your answer is yes or no, one thing that will always point out how much cooking means to you is the kind of cooking setup you have in your kitchen. People who don’t really cook often or enjoy cooking often have pretty “basic” kitchen setups that consist of a refrigerator, a cooktop or cooking range, and sometimes a dishwasher.
While these appliances will certainly help you have good cooking experiences whenever you step into your kitchen, it has to be said that you can get even better results when your kitchen setup includes appliances like an over the range microwave. Read on to learn all you need to know about over the range microwaves and also discover some of the best over the range microwave options on the market.
What is An Over the Range Microwave?
As the name implies, an over the range microwave is a type of kitchen microwave installed some distance away from but directly above your cooking range. Typically, what your kitchen setup will look like with a standard microwave option is that you’ll have to create space on your kitchen countertop to install it. It also means that you may have to rapidly shuffle around your kitchen, from the microwave to your cooking range or cooktop, when you’re preparing a dish that requires you to use both.
Thanks to its ingenious design, however, an over the range microwave sits directly above your cooking range (without causing any obstructions). This basically ensures that you’ll be able to enjoy much better cooking dexterity and ease since all you’ll have to do is simply reach out to the microwave above and remove or put in whatever you want. If you really want to build a modern kitchen, you should definitely make space out in your kitchen plans for an over the range microwave.
Shop Over-the-Range Microwaves
Over-the-Range MicrowavesOver the Range Microwave Advantages
As mentioned earlier, over the range microwaves are essential kitchen appliances to have, and it's really no surprise that a lot of people now consider them to be essential kitchen inclusions. This is primarily because over the range microwave options do contribute a lot to improved kitchen appearance and cooking efficiency. Here are some of the things you’ll get to enjoy when you have an over the range microwave in your kitchen:
#1 Better Air Circulation
If you cook often or spend a lot of time in your kitchen, you’ll be aware that your kitchen can get very stuffy quickly. This is especially true when you’ve been cooking for an extended period, and your kitchen is already uncomfortably warm. Did you know that an over the range microwave can actually help you improve your kitchen atmosphere in situations like this?
This is possible because an over the range microwave actually perfectly doubles ad a hood vent. That’s right, when you install your over the range microwave, you enjoy the full benefits of having a microwave and a hood vent installed in your kitchen. So, in addition to using it directly for cooking purposes, you’ll be able to program your over the range microwave to transfer hot air out of your kitchen and cycle back cool air from outside. Pretty neat, right?
#2 Excellent Space Conservation
Another advantage over the range microwave options have over other conventional (countertop) microwaves is that they offer better space conservation. When you want to install regular microwave options, you’ll first have to ensure you have enough room on your kitchen countertop to install them. While this may not really be a problem for you if your kitchen space is pretty big, it is usually a challenge for people with limited available kitchen space.
With an over the range microwave, however, space is definitely no problem. This is because over the range microwaves are installed directly above your cooking range and not on your countertop. This pretty much guarantees you won’t have to bother with creating space on your countertop. It also means you’ll be able to use the available countertop space for other things.
#3 Efficient Cooking
As mentioned earlier, if you use countertop microwaves, you’ll find that you often have to move around your kitchen a lot, from the cooking range to the microwave to the refrigerator, and so on. Although you may not feel the effect to start with, as you continue cooking, you’ll eventually notice that you’re feeling tired and your legs ache from all the moving around.
With an over the range microwave, however, you’ll be able to limit moving around in your kitchen and enjoy a localized cooking setup with all your cooking appliances restricted to a particular location. Not only does this mean you’ll be more comfortable, but it also significantly improves your cooking efficiency and reduces the risks of food spillage.
Now that you’re all caught up on the advantages of having an over the range microwave as part of your kitchen setup, let's take a look at some of the best over the range microwaves on the market today and what makes them so special.
Top Over The Range Microwave Recommendations
Best Budget-Friendly OTR Microwave: The Samsung 1.6 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Over The Range Microwave
Cost is always something to consider when you’re looking to get appliances for your home, and it’s arguably even more important when dealing with kitchen appliances. Overall, kitchen appliances tend to be pretty expensive, and it may be challenging to find one that perfectly meets your quality requirements without being too expensive. However, this is precisely what you get with the Samsung 1.6 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Over The Range Microwave.
Simply put, this Samsung over the range microwave offers an excellent blend of impressive functionality and price conservation. So if you’re looking to get a premium-quality over the range microwave for your kitchen without breaking the bank, this Samsung over the range microwave is your best bet!
Key Features:
★ 1.6 Cu. Ft Capacity
This Samsung Over The Range Microwave offers a 1.6 Cu. Ft oven capacity, ensuring you’ll always have adequate room to cook or warm whatever food you want without any problems whatsoever.
★ Intelligent Design
This Samsung over the range microwave has a pre-programmed setting that ensures you’ll have to put in little to no effort to get the perfect cooking results you want. Thanks to these pre-programmed settings, all you’ll have to do is enter the food type and weight. That’s all; the pre-programmed setting will take it from there. Talk about stress-free cooking!
★ LED Display
The Samsung 1.6 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Over The Range Microwave also has an LED display that ensures you’ll be able to enjoy easy microwave programming and monitoring.
★ ECO Mode
This over the range microwave has an ECO mode that ensures you’ll be able to effectively keep your power consumption to a minimum. Once engaged, this ECO mode will turn off microwave parts, such as the digital display, when it's not in use.
Other features include
- A Powerful 300 CFM Ventilation Fan
- Stainless Steel Finish
- 1580 Wattage
- Child Lock Feature
- Charcoal Grease Filter
- 1000-Watt Cooking Power
“For the cost, this microwave has plenty of power. We also like how it looks sleek and has one-touch buttons, which make cooking things like popcorn a breeze. For the price, this Samsung microwave definitely exceeded our expectations.”
” Wonderful appliance! I bought this a couple of weeks ago and could not be happier with it.”
Best Microwave Capacity: The Café™ 2.1 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Over The Range Microwave
Price aside, another important thing you must always consider when you’re looking to buy an over the range microwave is capacity. This is particularly important if you’re someone who does a lot of cooking or has a bug family. So if you’re in the market for an over the range microwave option that can offer you significant cooking capacity, then this Café™ Stainless Steel Over The Range Microwave is exactly what you need. This over the range microwave offers an impressive 2.1 Cu. Ft. microwave capacity, ensuring you’ll have more than enough cooking space.
Key Features:
★ 2.1 Cu. Ft. Capacity
This Cafe over the range microwave offers an impressive 2.1 Cu.Ft. capacity, easily making it one of the largest-capacity microwave ovens you’ll find on the market. This large capacity also ensures you’ll have more than enough oven room to cook whatever you want.
★ LED Lighting
This over the range microwave has super bright LED lighting that lights up the interior and exterior parts of the oven. So you’ll always be able to see what you’re doing while using it!
★ Automatic Cooking
This Café microwave also has an automatic cooking feature that ensures you’ll be able to enjoy stress-free cooking. With this feature, all you’ll have to do is simply enter the type of food you want to cook and its weight. The oven will then calculate how long it’ll take to cook your food and proceed to do just that.
★ Customizable Look
The Café™ 2.1 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Over The Range Microwave is available in several different premia finish combinations, so you’ll always be able to select an option that perfectly fits your aesthetic requirements.
Other features include the following:
- MY Cycle Custom Cooking Feature
- Filter Replacement Reminder
- Three-speed, 400-CFM venting System
- Chef Connect Feature
- Stainless Steel Finish
- One Touch Setting
- 1000-Watt Cooking Power
“We are very happy with our new GE Cafe over the range microwave. The controls are easy to use, and since we did not need convection, we find this suits us perfectly. It also goes beautifully with our GE Cafe Range!”
” Easy to use with many options. Works great and looks great in my kitchen with my other GE Cafe appliances!”
Best Low Profile: The Whirlpool® 1.1 Cu. Ft. Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel Over The Range Microwave
If you have limited installation space or a pretty small kitchen and you still want to include an over the range microwave as part of your cooking setup, then the Whirlpool® 1.1 Cu. Ft. Fingerprint Resistant Stainless Steel Over The Range Microwave is perfect for you. This low profile over the range microwave has a very slim design that ensures it’ll perfectly fit into your kitchen even when your available space is pretty limited.
Key Features:
★ Sleek, Low-profile Design
This Whirlpool microwave has a sleek, streamlined design that makes it a perfect fit for all kitchen types, even those with limited installation space.
★ 400 CFM Motor
The 400 CFM motor rapidly removes smoke and unpleasant odor from your kitchen, ensuring you’ll always be able to cook without being inconvenienced by these smells. It’ll also eliminate moisture from the kitchen atmosphere.
★ LED Light
This Whirlpool over the range microwave has an inbuilt LED lighting that allows it to perfectly double as a cooktop lighting option. So you’ll not have to worry about visibility while using your cooking range.
★ Fingerprint-resistant Finish
This over the range microwave has a fingerprint-resistant finish that pretty much guarantees you won’t have to spend long hours trying to clean it. You’ll find that it’s easy to clean and doesn’t stain easily.
★ 1.1 Cu. Ft. Capacity
Although this oven’s 1.1 Cu. Ft capacity isn’t the largest on the market; it’s still decent enough to ensure you’re going to be able to enjoy sufficient cooking capacity.
Other features include:
- LCD Display
- CleanRelease® Non-stick Interior
- Concealed Touch Controls
- Dishwasher-safe Turntable
- Steam Cooking Support (accessory sold separately)
- Several Microwave Presets
- Child Lock Feature
“I love it! I can see all the controls on the stove without bending down to view.”
” I purchased this product about 3 months and I absolutely love it. The design and the quality are great. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to add an upgrade to their kitchen.”
Best for Cooking: The KitchenAid® 2.0 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Over The Range Microwave
Do you love cooking? If you do and you're looking for an over the range microwave that offers you excellent cooking results, then the KitchenAid® Stainless Steel Over The Range Microwave is the perfect choice for you. This over the range microwave has several preset cooking features that pretty much guarantee you'll be able to enjoy cooking flexibility. In addition to this, it also offers a more than satisfactory 2.0 Cu. Ft. oven capacity.
Key Features:
★ Multiple Cooking Preset Options
This KitchenAid over the range microwave comes with many cooking presets such as Beverage, Cook Power, Keep Warm, Fresh Vegetable, and a whole lot more. So you'll certainly be able to enjoy perfect cooking results.
★ 2.0 Cu. Ft. Capacity
This oven's 2.0 Cu. Ft. capacity ranks as one of the largest in the market, so in addition to enjoying excellent cooking results, you'll also have all the space you need to cook whatever you want.
★ 1000-watt Oven Power
This KitchenAid microwave has a 1000-watt oven power that pretty much ensures you'll have all the cooking power you need to cook whatever you want.
★ Scrolling Electronic Display
The scrolling electronic display makes it pretty easy to program your microwave and keep an eye on microwave settings.
Some other features include:
- Inbuilt Sensors
- Cookshield Finish
- Sensor Steam/Simmer Cook Cycle
- Keep Warm Feature
- Stainless Steel Finish
"More spacious inside!"
"Most user-friendly and efficient microwave ever!"
Easiest to Use: The GE® Series 1.9 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Over The Range Microwave
The GE® Series 1.9 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Over The Range Microwave doesn't offer much in terms of exceptionality and uniqueness. However, it still ranks as one of the best over the range microwave options on the market. This is because instead of offering "striking" features, it has a more balanced build. So with this GE microwave over the range, you'll get to enjoy a bit of everything!
Key Features:
★ 1.9 Cu. Ft. Capacity
This GE microwave offers a pretty sizable 1.9 Cu. Ft. oven capacity, ensuring you have enough room to cook whatever you want.
★ Easy Clean Enamel Interior
This over the range microwave has a high-quality enamel interior that makes it easy to clean. So in the event of a food splash or splatter, you won't have anything to worry about. You'll be able to wipe the stains off easily.
★ Melt Feature
Want to melt a stick of butter or chocolate without having to deal with spills? This GE over the range microwave is perfect for you. It has a Melt Feature that you'll be able to use to achieve perfect melting results.
★ Automatic Defrost
This microwave also has an automatic defrost feature that you'll be able to use to get perfect food defrost results. All you'll have to do is enter the weight of your food, and the oven will help you pick the perfect defrost time. Cool right?
Other features include:
- Charcoal filter with indicator light
- Four-speed 400-CFM Venting Machine
- Recessed Turntable
- Stainless Steel Finish
"Great microwave for the price. Most features needed are included in this model."
"Just what we were looking for!"
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Why Trust Aztec Appliance?
Since 1972, Aztec Appliance has been offering quality sales and service for name-brand appliances. Our mission is to not only help you achieve all your appliance dreams, but we also want to bring value to your home beyond materialistic amenities. Our team is an authentic group of people dedicated to our work, and we share the same undeniable passion for people and serving them the best we can. Suffice it to say, we know appliances.
Whether it’s a first birthday, a backyard wedding, or a retirement celebration, our hope is to give you the opportunity to enjoy life’s little moments. After all, memories are not consigned to the big moments — they exist within the little ones. And you can rest assured our inventory of top-performing kitchen, laundry, and outdoor appliances will help you spend less time keeping the home and more time with the people who make it home.
Shop Over the Range Microwaves at Aztec
Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today, and shop over the range microwaves online for the guaranteed lowest price at Aztec. Check out Aztec Appliance reviews, and if you have questions, our friendly product experts are always happy to help you find the perfect over the range microwave for you — whether you call us at 858-987-5777 or use our online chat feature. Better yet, stop by our Aztec Appliance San Diego showroom located at the heart of downtown. Visit us today!
Learn More: Things to Look for in a Convection Microwave Oven