A built-in microwave: is it worth paying more?

Space saving devices

Without a doubt, having a built-in microwave is great for saving space on your kitchen countertops. In most kitchens, the microwave oven is the largest counter-top appliance and they are not usually particularly small. While this may not be a problem in the kitchen of a large country house, it can cause a lot more problems in a small downtown apartment where table space can be at a premium. By designing your kitchen for a built-in microwave, you eliminate the hassle of having to find space around your microwave for cooking.

Safety

Most countertops are at a level where it is comfortable to work for things like chopping vegetables. Although it is easy to do things outdoors at this level, it can be much more difficult to get into a cavity and do things without bending over. This means that when you remove hot food from the microwave, it is not at a comfortable level to do so when the microwave is placed on the same counter. With a built-in microwave it is possible to design the microwave to be at a height that is most comfortable for your own height. By eliminating the need to bend over to microwave, it is much safer to handle hot items from the microwave.

The only way to combat this problem without a built-in microwave is to mount your freestanding microwave on wall brackets. This in itself can be dangerous, especially if it is not done by a professional, as microwaves are very heavy and need strong support if they are to be mounted this way. Also, it is quite difficult to mount a microwave and it does not get in the way, as wall space in a kitchen is often already used a lot with cabinets and the like.

Microwave quality

Although built-in microwaves are generally more expensive, it is also worth noting that the actual quality of the microwave is also often higher than that of lower-priced freestanding microwaves. In general, however, as with any decision, it is up to you to weigh and decide whether the benefits of having a built-in microwave are worth the additional investment.