At a Glance:
Understanding Different Microwave Models
Microwaves took over the American home in the late 20th century. Instead of preheating an oven and waiting several minutes for the food to heat, homemakers could heat food in a matter of minutes. In 1970, only 40,000 microwaves were sold nationwide. That number jumped to more than a million sold each year. Microwaves became so common in American households that they changed how we eat—creating frozen food industries and classic microwavable TV dinners.
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Shop MicrowavesHowever, it’s not 1970 anymore—and that’s a good thing. Microwaves have had 50 years to evolve and improve. Instead of a standard countertop microwave, homeowners are investing in built-in units, including microwave drawer installations.
If you are starting a kitchen remodel, you may want to rethink where you place your microwave. Learn more about microwave drawers and check out some of the top models on the market.
Understanding Different Microwave Models
One of the first things you need to know when investing in a new microwave is that you aren’t limited to countertop designs. There are several different microwave styles and models to meet different budgets. Here are a few words you might come across and what they mean:
- Countertop Microwaves: This is your most basic microwave. It plugs into the wall and takes up counter space in your home.
- Over-the-Range Microwaves: These microwaves are installed above cooktops and typically have range hoods built underneath them. The range hood filters air and prevents the kitchen from getting smokey. This microwave placement is ideal for small kitchens and urban apartments.
- Built-in Microwaves: These microwaves are installed into the wall, not unlike wall ovens. These microwaves may require custom fitting but will sit flush against your cabinets. They are also typically installed at eye level.
- Microwave Drawers: this model is designed to pull out like a standard kitchen drawer. Instead of opening a door to the side, you will pull open the microwave and place the food in the bottom. These drawers are typically installed in kitchen islands or in lower cabinets.
Once you know which type of microwave you want, you can filter your search by these select styles. From there, you can look at different brands and designs to find the best-performing appliance for your needs.
Top Microwave Models
Below are a handful of microwave options that meet different customer price points. Get to know the features of built-in microwaves and microwave drawer units to determine which style is right best built in microwave for you.
Café™ 1.7 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Built-In Microwave/Convection
This model by Café is one of the best built-in microwave options on the market. It can hold up to 1.7 cubic feet, which gives it the capacity to reheat entire dinners, and can fit bulky bowls and pans with ease. Along with heating your food, this microwave can crisp it with a built-in convection cooking setting that circulates air evenly over the food. Café believes this microwave provides oven-quality results in a matter of minutes. This could easily become your new favorite appliance.
This Café built-in microwave comes with several different settings so you can configure the appliance to accommodate your needs. However, the buttons are easy to use and you can easily figure out how everything works. You don’t need to get overwhelmed by a whole computer system on your microwave.
See why customers rave about the key features and how easily it fits into their homes.
Bosch 800 Series 1.2 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Drawer Microwave
One of the first places to look if you want to add a crawler microwave to your house is Bosch. This Bosch microwave drawer, in particular, is a popular model that balances power with cooking finesse. It can hold 1.2 cubic feet, making it spacious enough to heat most meals and fit different types of cookware. Â
This microwave uses sensor cooking that identifies how hot food needs to be. It taps into the latest microwave technology to ensure food is cooked evenly and quickly. If your current microwave leaves half your meal frozen while other bites are scalding hot, it’s time to replace your unit with a Bosch model.
This is a 950 watt microwave with 10 different power speeds. The flush-to-cabinet design means it lies flat against the wall, so you won’t bump into it. A few customer reviews say this is the best microwave they have ever had.Â
KitchenAid® 1.2 Cu. Ft. Stainless Steel Under Counter Microwave Drawer
Another microwave drawer that you can add to your home is this model by KitchenAid. It also has 1.2 cubic feet of storage and similar measurements to the Bosch system.
One feature that makes this the best drawer microwave for some households is the Keep Warm function. Sometimes, home cooks have to juggle different recipes and preparation steps at the same time. You might heat up one ingredient and completely forget it while working on another. The Keep Warm system provides brief pulses of heat at a 50 percent power level. This keeps your food warm even if you can’t get to it right away.
This model is ideal for open kitchens and island installation. It can fit into the wall or under the counters where you currently have cabinets. Read customer reviews to learn why so many people love the KitchenAid brand.
Frigidaire Gallery® 2.2 Cu. Ft. Smudge-Proof® Stainless Steel Built-In Microwave
Your microwave doesn’t have to be a luxury appliance if you don’t want to spend a lot of money on something you won’t frequently use. Not all households use their microwaves daily, but they want this appliance for their home’s resale value.
If you are looking for a standard option in your home, consider this Frigidaire built-in microwave. You can use the sensor reheat option to warm up leftovers without burning them or wasting cooking time. The interior LED lighting allows you to look inside your microwave to make sure the food is cooked perfectly.Â
This is considered an extra-large built-in microwave because of its 2.2 cubic feet of cooking capacity. Frigidaire boasts Fits-Moreâ„¢ technology that can accommodate large plates and cookware. This impressive size of this microwave is mentioned in many customer reviews. Buyers say it is both wide and deep so you can heat up leftovers for a whole family.
Microwaves are kitchen essentials that come in handy when you need to defrost food or heat up a quick meal. The styles and features modern microwaves offer make the convenient additions to kitchens with a full setup of cooking appliances, and the best part is the models of today are designed to look good, too. Upgrading to a new built in microwave or microwave drawer is a simple and affordable way to complete the function of your kitchen.
FAQs
Here are a few last things to consider if you’re in the market for a new microwave.
What does a microwave drawer do?
A microwave drawer works just like any other microwave except that it is pulled out from the wall instead of opened from the side. These appliances are typically placed on kitchen islands or in lower parts of the kitchen. Users close the drawer and start the microwave by pressing the buttons on the top.
Do microwave drawers have turntables?
No. In a standard microwave, the heating elements are on the sides. With a microwave drawer, the heating elements are on the top. There is no need to turn the food to ensure each side gets warmed up. The food is evenly heated regardless of how it is placed.
What is the difference between a built-in microwave and a drawer microwave?
In many cases, a drawer microwave is a type of built-in microwave. However, standard built-in microwaves are installed at the eye or chest level, so you don’t have to bend down to use them. A microwave drawer is usually placed in the lower cabinets of the kitchen, so you place food into it.Â
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Shop Microwaves at Spencer’s
At Spencer’s TV & Appliance, we provide high-quality, name-brand products at great prices — check out our catalog to shop microwaves online today. Your friends in the business are always happy to help you choose between a microwave drawer or a built-in model for your home. Call us, or better yet, stop by at one of our locations in the Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Glendale regions. Visit us today!
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