Having an over the range (OTR) microwave in your kitchen is becoming more of a basic need and not just a luxurious need as it used to be sometime back. We need these gadgets for very many reasons lately and surviving without one just seems next to impossible.
The role played by these devices in the kitchen is very huge. You can use your OTR microwave as a cooker, a ventilation system, a personal assistant among other purposes while saving a lot of your kitchen space as well.
Most people normally think that installing an over the range microwave is a very complex task. The models that are available lately seem to defy this notion. The problem is that there are so many brands of over the range microwaves available on the market and settling on one could be a daunting task.
We have decided to make it easy for you to choose the best over the range microwave so that you can save both your time and money. We shall highlight some of the five best products you can ever lay your hands on in this comprehensive article.
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Best Overall
LG LMV1683ST Over-The-Range Microwave Oven with 300 CFM Venting System, 1.6 Cubic Feet
Features
- Easy defrosting
- One-touch settings
- Even cooking
- Keypad lock safety feature
This is one of the best over the range microwaves that are available on the market right now. The LG LMV1683ST is a 1.6 cubic feet microwave that is made to offer all the features you would love your microwave to have. If you want the best microwave for the uniform cooking of your food, this is your perfect match.
It’s even cooking capability rotates the food as it cooks to ensure the food is always evenly cooked.This microwave will always have the keypad locked as a safety feature to prevent accidental starts. If for any reason you would want to defrost your food, this microwave will sort you out and you shouldn’t worry at all about it.
Other features include 300 CFM exhaust, one-touch settings, easy installation and a size of 15.7 by 29.9 by 16.4 inches.
Pros
- Very effective in defrosting food
- Cooks food evenly by rotating the food as it cooks
- Prevents accidental starts using the keypad lock feature
- One touch cooking of food or warming of various foods
- Very powerful with a power rating of 1000 watts
Cons
- Less durable
Best Budget
GE JVM3160RFSS Over-the-Range Microwave Oven, 1.6 cu. ft, Stainless Steel Finish
Features
- 1000 Watts
- 300-CFM venting system
- On/Off turntable controls
- Automatic defrost and power levels
This is yet another excellent over the counter microwave. For those who have been looking for powerful microwaves, trying this one out will be among the best decisions you can ever make. With a power rating of 1000 Watts and a 1.6 cubic feet cooking capacity, expect this microwave to get the job done within the shortest time possible.
This microwave will ensure that steam, smoke, and odors are removed from your kitchen as efficiently as possible thanks to its 300 CFM venting system. This will make sure that you never worry about any unpleasant conditions in your kitchen. It has a size of 15.2 by 29.9 by 16.5 inches which make is big enough for your kitchen.
What’s more, this microwave is very durable as well because it is made using high-quality products. It is also very straight forward to use, and therefore you won’t have to waste a lot of your precious time trying to figure out how it operates. The presence of the turntable On and Off controls will make sure that you can comfortably control how the turntable operates.
Pros
- This microwave is very powerful and will get the job done faster
- Very durable and will give you value for your money
- Has an effective venting system to clear smoke, odors, and steam
- It is quieter and has an attractive appearance to make your kitchen attractive
Cons
- It has an automatic fan which you cannot turn off manually; this fan is also very loud.
Best Over The Range Microwave For Venting
Sharp R-1214 1-1/2-Cubic Feet 1100-Watt Over-the-Counter Microwave, Stainless
Features
- Smart and easy sensor settings
- Instant action keys
- Hot water option
- Interactive cooking system
- Auto-control panel
The Sharp R-1214 microwave is a product worth finding its way into your kitchen. This microwave is made to meet all the kitchen needs that you would require from a high-quality microwave. It is an 1100 Watt microwave that will make sure that your food is evenly cooked while doing so in the shortest time possible. With a 1.5 cubic feet capacity, this microwave will serve you well.
Another amazing feature about this product is that it comes with an under cabinet task lighting that will make sure that you see everything in the cabinet even at night. It also has a two-colour LCD display for easier operation. With the 24 automatic settings and the auto-touch control panel, using this microwave is very easy.
If you are looking for the best space saver microwave, then this should be your perfect match. It will also avail more cooking space for you to enjoy your cooking sessions due to its bigger size of 23-7/8 by 14-1/16 by 15-9/16 inches.
What’s more, this product can work with the normal standard cabinet sizes, avails a broad range of placement options and requires no shelf or in-built kit. This makes the process of installing it very simple.
Pros
- It has a new design that suits new locations making it easy to install
- Cooks food very fast and evenly
- Saves a lot of space taken by the microwave while availing more cooking space.
- It is very easy to use
Cons
- It is somehow heavy and cannot be mounted below the cabinet but on the wall.
LG LMV2031ST 2.0 Cubic Feet Over-The-Range Microwave Oven, Stainless Steel
Features
- 1000 watts
- Smooth Touch glass controls
- Wide View Traditional exterior design
- Exterior measures 29 15/16 x 16 7/16 x 15 7/8 inches
- Interior (WxHxD) 21 3/4 x 10 5/8 x 14 5/8 inches
The LG LMV2031ST microwave is a 2.0 cubic feet microwave that has a huge interior that will allow you to cook more food. This will suit your needs if you will be cooking for many people. It also comes with an installation guide that you can use in installing it in your kitchen. This is one of the microwaves with sleek looking exteriors to add some aesthetics to your kitchen.
Most microwaves are usually louder, but this one will be quieter than your expectations. What’s more, operating this device is very easy thanks to the touch glass controls. It is also powerful enough because of its 1000 Watts power rating which makes it cook within a very short time. It has an exterior size of 29 15/16 x 16 7/16 x 15 7/8 inches and an interior size of 21 3/4 x 10 5/8 x 14 5/8 inches.
The only issue to be worried about when buying this device is that it lacks an inbuilt timer while it’s under the counter light seems to be too dim to allow a perfect top stove cooking.
Pros
- Powerful enough to get the job done faster
- Durable because it is made of stainless steel
- Easy to install and operate
- Has a huge interior for cooking more food
Cons
- Has no inbuilt timer and a dimmer under counter light
Amana 1.5 cu. ft. Over-the-Range Microwave, AMV1150VAS, Stainless Steel
Features
- 900 Wattage
- Auto-cook options
- Touch-matic control system
- Contemporary styling
- Timer delay
- Cooktop surface light
Amana microwave is a quality product that is worth being considered. This over the range microwave is a multipurpose microwave that performs its duties in style. With the auto cook options available, you can just have your food cooked without much of a bother. This will help in saving your time while you attend to other things.
This microwave has the cooktop surface light that will let you see whatever you are cooking while the timer display is also good in timing your cooking sessions. What’s more, this product has a contemporary styling that comes with a hidden vent. This makes sure that it operates very quietly.
This microwave has a relatively high capacity and is also strongly powered to carry out your cooking requirements without any difficulties include a 900 Watts power rating, a size of 15.5 by 29.9 by 17.2 inches It is also durable and operates perfectly well. The only issue to be worried about when using this device is the fact that it doesn’t come with an LED light and so if the light burns out, finding a replacement is a headache.
Pros
- It is durable because of its strong construction
- Has auto cook options to cook your food automatically
- Easy to install and works very well
- Has a timer delay
Cons
- Has no option for turning off the turntable when not needed
What Are Some of The Benefits of Using An Over The Range Microwave?
You may be wondering why you should spend your time looking for an over the range microwave while the normal microwaves are readily available and perhaps even cheaper. Well, we would at this moment like to inform you that there are several reasons why you should buy an over the range microwave and forget about the regular microwaves.
Added Exhausts
Over the range microwaves are known to produce added exhausts which will help in eliminating any odors in your kitchen. The added exhausts can also be effective in eliminating any harmful fumes from the top of your stoves.
More Space
If you are looking for a space saver microwave then the OTR microwaves should be your ideal target. This is because over the range microwaves will always be installed way above your stovetop.
This will help you get more counter space which you can use for other things. If you are worried that your children may play with the microwave, this should be a thing of the past when using over the range microwaves because your children will be unable to access them.
More Aesthetics
We would all love our kitchens to look attractive. Sincerely speaking, most over the range microwaves look attractive and beautiful. They come in great and contemporary designs that will play a huge role in adding to the general aesthetics of the kitchen.
Ease of Use
Most people have this mindset that it is very difficult to operate over the range microwaves. Contrary to this popular belief, over the range microwaves are some of the kitchen appliances that are very easy to operate. You will find very many features that the regular countertop microwave models do not have.
Bigger Models
Over the range microwaves can get so big depending on your preference and taste. There is a possibility of getting the biggest microwaves in over the range models compared to the countertop models. It is worth noting that larger microwaves have bigger interior space that can allow you to cook more food.
This will tend to come in handy when you are planning to cook more food for later use or if you want to feed many people. For instance, if you have a 24 inch over the range microwave or a 30-inch microwave, you can be sure that you can cook enough food a large group of people.
Factors to Consider When Buying An Over The Range Microwave
- The Power Rating
- Size of The Microwave
- The Microwave Technology Applied
- Additional Features
- Number And Type of The Microwave Fan
- Microwave Price
Wrapping Up
OTR microwaves have so many advantages over the countertop microwaves. This is why we so desperately need them in our kitchens. If you were planning on acquiring one soon, you can now go ahead and do so believing that this article has equipped with all you need to know.
The best over the range microwave must include some features as has already been discussed in this article. All the five microwaves that we discussed above will work perfectly well for you so you can buy any. However, the LG LMV1683ST Over-The-Range Microwave Oven with 300 CFM Venting System, 1.6 Cubic Feet is the overall best because of its several outstanding features.
It is best in defrosting food, cooks food evenly, prevents accidental starts by having a keypad lock feature and is also powerful. We would, therefore, like to recommend it based on the above features.
Are you currently using an over the counter microwave? Which model are you using? Have you ever used any of the models that we have discussed above?