Benefits of a Built in Microwave Over Oven
A microwave oven that has a built-in microwave allows you to cook and heat your food quickly and easily. GE offers a wide variety of styles, cooking technologies and control options that can be adapted to your kitchen.
Built-in microwaves are installed behind cabinets or in recessing walls to give them a an elegant and seamless look. These styles require professional installation.
Space Saver
The microwave is a common appliance in the kitchen, but can also occupy valuable countertop space. microwave and oven integrated can free up counter space by moving the microwave to another space, such as an island in your kitchen.
Over-the-range microwaves (OTRs) are a popular choice. Tucked away neatly above your stove, this model is particularly useful in smaller kitchens where space is limited. Furthermore some OTR models double as a vent hood for your cooktop, which can be useful in reducing the amount of steam that builds up.
Another space-saving solution is to install a microwave with a built-in design that blends into the cabinetry. This type of appliance offers a sleek, integrated look that can match the style, color, or finish of your kitchen fixtures and cabinets. It can also create a cleaner appearance in your kitchen, which is ideal for those who prefer minimalist and clear design.
However installing a microwave built-in may require professional installation or a remodeling of your kitchen. Depending on the layout of your home, you might be able to cut a space into walls to accommodate the appliance but this requires proper framing and reinforcement and should be left to the professionals. Also, built-in microwaves require adequate ventilation to ensure that they don't overheat and causing damage to the appliance. According to Sam Cipiti of R. M. Tunis Kitchens and Baths, in Chevy Chase, Maryland the minimum cabinet depth for an oven with built-ins is 15 inches. However certain manufacturers offer trim kits that provide up to 1 1/2 inches of additional space for ventilation.
A third space-saving option is a microwave with a drawer that can be placed beneath your countertop or within an island. This design is simple to use, suitable for all users and requires less countertop space. It also helps prevent hot dishes or containers falling off the edge or being knocked down.
A final consideration for the space-saving microwave is the door design. Many brands offer the option of a swing-out, drop-down, or slide-out door that opens using the same motion as other kitchen appliances to allow you to seamlessly integrate your microwave into your cooking workflow. Certain models feature an elegant, smooth exterior that resists fingerprints to give better and cleaner appearance.
Convenience
A built in microwave over oven has a stylish design, easy to clean and convenient. Unlike countertop models, they're usually placed at the eye level for easy access and can be equipped with turntables that reduce the necessity of constantly shifting food from plate to plate. Built-in microwaves are often equipped with features that improve their capabilities, like EasyConvection technology for oven conversion and a broiler that can cook or brown food items.
In addition to reducing counter space, a built in microwave over the oven can improve the value of your home as well as appeal by providing a high-end look that other appliances may not be in a position to match. They can be set up on top of your stove or in a separate cupboard. They seamlessly blend into the kitchen to give the appearance of a custom-designed look that shows how much you have invested in your home and kitchen.
Built-in microwaves over ovens are available in a wide variety of sizes, power levels and features to fit any kitchen layout. You can even put them under your counter with a drawer design to give a more cohesive look that fits snugly into existing cabinetry and requires no extra space. These microwaves, with their luxurious features and finishes can enhance the appearance of your kitchen and enhance your dining and cooking experiences.
While microwaves built into ovens are useful, they are not as versatile as the microwaves that stand alone. Depending on where you install yours, it may require more space to operate than other microwaves. They are also not as portable, and you won't have the ability to easily swap the model for a different one if you prefer something different.
If you put your microwave above the range, you'll require a larger kitchen to accommodate the ventilation system required by this arrangement. You'll need either an option for ducting that directs smoke out to the outside or a ventilation system that recirculates air from the microwave into the house. For smaller kitchens, consider a separate built-in microwave that can be installed in the wall, cabinet or island.
Convenient Controls
Microwaves have a wide range of controls based on the model. Common features include turntables, preset functions such as defrosting and reheating and plus-30-second buttons. Some models have safety features for children to prevent accidental operation.
Many microwaves come with preset recipes and cooking times to make the process of making meals more efficient and less time-consuming. This feature is beneficial for those who are just beginning to cook and are not sure of the time needed to heat specific foods or who aren't familiar with the specific cooking techniques used in different cuisines.
KitchenAid brand provides a wide selection of built-in and over the-range microwaves that are designed to match the style and design of your other appliances for an aesthetically pleasing kitchen. Choose from stainless steel and black finishes that are perfect for any kitchen. These premium microwaves are boldly designed to bring professional-inspired styles into your home, and they're made with high-quality materials for a longer lifespan.
Built-in microwaves, unlike countertop models, are installed in a fixed space of your kitchen cabinets or walls to give an elegant and unique look. They typically use the same internal components as countertop models, with some exceptions. They are available in various sizes, with some designed to fit into a smaller space, and their exteriors may feature a door that opens either in a right-to-left swing-out or drop-down style.
Some over-the-range microwaves, such as those from Whirlpool(r), even double as vent hoods to your kitchen stove and use an exhaust system that is built-in to exhaust fumes outside and circulate air. Others have a built-in charcoal filter to eliminate odors and moisture from your kitchen.
Countertop models are installed on the kitchen counter. They don't require venting or special installation. This makes them a good choice for people who rent their homes or avoid expensive modifications to their kitchens. Certain models also come with trim kits to fill in the gap between your microwave and other freestanding countertop appliances such as coffee makers bread makers, toaster ovens or bread ovens.
Energy Efficiency
Microwaves consume less energy to cook water and food than other cooking methods. They also consume less power than stovetops that are conventional because microwaves focus their energy on the liquid within instead of heating the air around it. They can cook food much faster than conventional ovens. microwave and oven integrated can be placed on the upper or lower cabinets and are available in modern or retro styles to match any kitchen.
In this supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking ("SNOPR") the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy proposes new or revised energy conservation standards for microwave ovens that will save consumers money on operating costs. The Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) requires DOE to evaluate on a regular basis whether stricter standards are technologically feasible and economically justifiable, and if they will yield significant energy savings.
This SNOPR contains DOE's analyses and results to evaluate the impact of the new or modified energy standards for microwave ovens on the consumer. The analysis includes a market and technology assessment screening and engineering analysis and an analysis of the national impact.
The energy usage analysis calculates the annual average microwave ovens' operating hours in representative sampled households. This analysis is used to calculate energy savings and other consumer analyses within this SNOPR. The analysis is based on RECS field data collected from multiple regions. It also considers different microwave oven usage patterns in different households as well as regional variations in electricity prices.
To evaluate the effects of new or amended standards on household expenses, DOE conducted LCC analyses and PBP analyses in order to estimate the cost over time of purchasing and using a microwave oven at different efficiency level. The LCC and PBP calculations are based on the computer model that utilizes the Monte Carlo simulation to incorporate uncertainty and variation into the analysis.
In addition to the analysis of energy use and the LCC/PBP in this SNOPR includes an analysis of the impact on the nation of amended or new standards based on the NIA spreadsheet model. The NIA model estimates the industry's net present value ("INPV") in terms of energy savings resulting from possible new or amended standards in the form of energy savings at the site and FFC energy savings.