We have one countertop microwave in the kitchen and a second one in the dining room, which basically functions as an extension of the kitchen. That’s where my bread machines are and H’s coffemaker, as well as a cabinet with some of my kitchen appliances–crock pot, hand-held mixer, coffee grinder, electric carving knife, immersion blender and attachments. It helps me cope with the kitchen being so small.
I googled “stove microwave combo unit” and turned up nothing. Well, a picture of one from 1991 on a blog about what a nightmare it was to replace it.
Lots of oven/microwave combos, but that’s not what sylvan has.
During the months H was researching the perfect microwave to replace our broken one, I came VERY close to buying an inexpensive one just for the convenience of having one. I’m very unhappy with broken major appliances. For us, cost wasn’t the issue–size and the proper venting attachment were the issues.
That’s the silliest argument I’ve heard in a while. You want an icebox instead of an electric fridge because that’s what was originally there? Some people might still prefer a combo unit, but many people really only use microwaves for melting butter and heating up a plate, not for serious cooking. A single unit plus free standing microwave would almost certainly cost less.
My microwave is on open shelving and a non-built in wine fridge is under it. It’s on the left side of my avatar, I store trays, pot lids, cookie sheets and roasting pans on the open shelves that run over the fridge. I know not everyone would want to look at that stuff, but it’s one of the things I like best about my kitchen.
Our micro is attached to the bottom of the cabinet. Very easy to swap out.
How much do you actually use the microwave? Could you do without one? I don’t have one in my kitchen – there is a small one in our basement that the kids used to make mircrowave popcorn. In all the years we have been in this house we have never used it for anything else.
I’ve lived on a fairly tight budget but never put up with broken appliance is the kitchen. If the microwave broke,I went out to Sears and picked up a new one the same day. I had one that lasted 15 years, but for a counter-top appliance that generally costs about $100 to replace, I’d figure I was getting my money’s worth if it lasted 2 years. I’ll bet I use it more often because it is conveniently located on a countertop than I would if it was an above-the-stove unit --it just is so easy to pop things in.
When my son was in college and money was tight, the frig broke and stove wasn’t doing so well, so I replaced both appliances at once (so they match), signing up for 1 year, no interest financing. I think the cost was around $1100 for both units, and I just paid maybe $90 a month to pay them off. That was years ago and those appliances are doing fine.
So bottom line: there is a difference between being frugal and being a tightwad. Kitchen appliances are used on a daily basis and they save money over time, because food prepared at home is cheaper than food purchased at restaurants, or buying prepared food rather than making food from scratch at home. So definitely a false economy to defer those purchases.
Remodeling can wait unless current kitchen layout is unworkable-- but having functioning appliances is a “now” thing.
@HarvestMoon1, I admire you! I’m forever zapping cups of tea or coffee that have gone cold. Actually, I heated my tea water in the microwave, made this morning’s oatmeal in the microwave, zapped some bacon that was crumbled for tonight’s quiche and heated up the noon sandwich in the machine. Do you find that you use a lot of pots and pans to prepare meals without the microwave? I didn’t think I was a heavy user, but I can’t imagine going without.
I’m constantly reheating my cup of coffee in the micro and I also use it to defrost all the time. I also use it to reheat leftovers and whenever we bring home take out - it’s never hot enough for me so I zap it.
My mother in law is over and uses the microwave all day long. She is heating or reheating something. I can’t function without a microwave. I find it quicker and cleaner to do simple thing in the microwave, such as make scramble eggs for a breakfast sandwich on the way out the door.
I hated a big counter top micro MIL gave us. It refused to die and she visited often so I couldn’t just get rid of it. It was ruined in the fire.
Fire? Do tell.
If cash flow/cash is a problem for getting both the microwave and stove replaced or other appliance, there are sometimes 0% interest credit cards for 18 months that you can use to buy with–that was how we paid for our van–a portion on a new CCard with that offer. We paid the minimum every month and saved up and paid the entire balance before the 0% offer ended.
I use my microwave every single day, even if it’s only to warm up milk for my coffee. I usually eat leftovers for lunch, and dinners are often at least partly leftovers.
We rarely use our microwave. I much prefer my Instapot for making quick HB eggs or oatmeal and electric tea kettle to boil water for tea. Leftovers… we reheat them at work. 
So it is very personal.
@VeryHappy - Bored teens + YouTube homemade donut instructional videos = Smoky kitchen grease fire. Everyone was fine and there was minimal structural damage.
Goodness!!! Yikes.
Yowser. Bored teens can do some real damage. Glad everyone was fine.
@Momofadult – I use my pots and pans most week nights to prepare dinner. Usually use one of each unless I am roasting or grilling something. I use my ovens often and the grill almost every night in the summertime.
I have never cooked in batches and we don’t usually have leftovers, so re-heating food is just not something we do often. We don’t really buy frozen entrees either and my coffee maker keeps the pot of coffee hot for about 3 hours before it goes to auto shutdown. If I have tepid coffee left in my cup I just top it off with hot coffee from the carafe.
The microwave is just one appliance I never took to. I really don’t like the way it cooks food – for instance I like my pizza crust really crispy. I remember microwaving a piece of left over pizza from a delivery the night before – yes it came out piping hot but it was also soggy and limp. I think microwaves handle moisture in food differently than conventional means of cooking. I love my ovens and stovetop.
^yep. Never reheat pizza (or pot pie) in micro. I use the toaster oven for that.
I just made breakfast and used the microwave lets see how many times…
- nuke a few raspberries to top my yogurt
- warm up a leftover turkey sausage patty
- re warm my cup of coffee
- re warm my H’s breakfast plate.
Mircrowave is critical for me!
My kitchen has a nook for the microwave that is just around eye level - I like not having it on the counter, but like that the nook works great for just easily replacing the microwave with a new one when needed.