What is the difference between countertop and over-the-range microwave?

Although over-the-range microwaves have a built-in exhaust fan, they don’t vent cooking gases as well as range hoods do. And if you’re short, you might find it challenging to remove a piping-hot bowl of soup from a microwave mounted at least 18 inches above your stovetop.

Countertop microwaves eat up valuable surface space that could be used for food prep, storage, or even decorations. Over-the-range microwaves are installed under your cabinetry, up off the countertop. In a small kitchen, you’ll want to save every inch of counter space you can and opt for an over-the-range microwave.

CFM, or cubic feet per minute, is the measurement of the velocity at which a range hood is able to move air. The highest rating you will normally find with an OTR microwave is 200 to 400 CFM. This is simply not powerful enough.

The National Kitchen and Bath Association recommends that the bottom of the microwave should be no higher than 54 inches above the floor, which would allow for 18 inches of clearance between the microwave and the typical cooktop height of 36 inches. Some manufacturers allow smaller clearances.

The outlet box should be located in the cabinet above the microwave oven. The outlet box and supply circuit should be installed by a qualified electrician and conform to the National Electrical Code or the prevailing local code.

Over the range (OTR) microwaves may save space, but they are often not the best option to maintain a home’s indoor air quality. While many OTRs can provide ventilation because they have a fan, they often do not provide the effective capture that a range hood is designed to achieve.

A convertible range hood is an appliance designed to remove smoke, steam, grease, cooking fumes, and odors from the air in your kitchen, with or without ductwork for ventilation.

Microwave sizes are fairly standardized with most over-the-range microwaves measuring around 30″ wide, 17″ high and 15″ to 18″ deep with the door closed. Built-in microwave sizes also tend to match standard cabinet dimensions.

There is no requirement that your Over The Range (OTR) Microwave be vented to the outdoors. All OTR microwave ovens can be set up to either allow the fan to recirculate the air back into the kitchen or be vented to the outdoors.

A vented microwave range hood is a microwave with a fan that is ducted to the outside. Air passes through some type of filter inside the fan (often charcoal filters). Then, it travels through ductwork outside your home.

When considering the best venting in an over-the-range microwave, options include ducted vents and recirculating vents. Ultimately, the goal of the vent is to pull the air from the microwave and deposit it outside of your home. This prevents smoke, cooking odors, moisture and hot air from remaining in the kitchen.

Verify the power cord is connected to a grounded, operational outlet. Check the outlet. If you are unaware if it’s working, plug in a household lamp or other small appliance to verify that the outlet is working. Check to see if a household circuit breaker has tripped or if the household fuse has been blown.

Built-in and countertop microwaves function only as a microwave, while over-the-range models double as a hood vent for kitchen stoves. Each configuration offers different advantages based on your kitchen and cooking style, and understanding these advantages can help you find the right option for your home.

A microwave oven designed to be mounted over a cooktop is usually equipped with a ventilation system to cope with the cooking odors, smoke and moisture that rise from the cooking surface. The ventilation system may lead to an exterior vent, or it may simply recirculate air back into the kitchen.

Built-in microwaves are similar to over-the-range microwaves, except that they don’t sit above the oven, and they do not replace a range hood. Instead, built-in microwaves can be placed on an island or mounted on a wall or cabinet. They allow you to save counter space and keep the range hood as your ventilation system.