Advice wanted on purchase of microwave/single/double oven combo

[Baileyscheesecake]

Hi, I live alone and am downsizing to a 2 bedroom bungalow with a very small kitchen. I currently have a single and a double oven and a separate microwave on the worktop. But when I move I won't have the space for a microwave on the worktop. I'm having a new kitchen fitted at the bungalow and am not sure whether to go for a unit which fits a microwave/single/double oven in the same tower or whether to buy a single oven which also doubles up as a microwave with a double oven below. The unit for microwave/single/double oven tower I'm looking at buying is 1310mm from floor to height of the shelf the microwave will sit on. This seems a reasonable height to me as I was worried about the microwave being too high up and not practical for getting hot things out of. Does anyone who already has a microwave/single/double oven combo find this a good combination? Is the microwave at a workable height? Do you find the double oven too low? I mainly use my single oven most of the time but find a double oven useful when having visitors so am not too worried about the double oven being lower down. Also do people with single/microwave ovens find them good? I'm worried that if the microwave breaks down it means the expense of replacing the oven and microwave but my friend who has had one for 7 years reassures me that it is very reliable and less likely to break down than a worktop type microwave. The other issue is storage. With the microwave/single/double oven I will have a cupboard on top and a pan drawer below. This seems OK for what I need as I will also have a double pan drawer under the hob. My friend who is trying to persuade me to get the microwave/single oven set up says I will lose out on too much storage space by having three separate ovens but she has a family and uses a lot more pans than me. Also in the microwave/single oven there isn't a turntable. I thought the turntable in microwaves was to ensure even distribution of heat throughout. Has anyone with a microwave/oven combi had a problem with not having a turntable? All feedback from users of either set up would be appreciated. Many Thanks

I’ve just switched from having a counter-top microwave to having a built in microwave combi oven over a double oven. And I’ve had all your concerns.

It takes getting used to but so far it’s been okay. You have to remember to only use the microwaveable shelf, and not the other oven shelves or oven trays. I’m absent minded so could really do without having to do this extra step.

The manual says to put a teaspoon into liquids when microwaving which is to make up for the lack of a turntable I think. I give everything a good stir afterwards (just not with the spoon that’s been in it as that’s nuclear).

The other issue I have is that I tend to use the single oven most, and then realise I need to microwave something and I can’t because it’s in use.

I’d prefer a normal microwave really, but I had to compromise for other reasons and it was the right choice for my circumstances.

I have a double oven with microwave over set into a ceiling height unit. There is a drawer under, then the bottom of double oven is at 450mm above floor, the bottom of the microwave (which does have turntable) is at 1330mm. There's a cupboard above the micro. The unit came from DIY Kitchens.
The heights are fine for me (5ft 4), dd who is shorter tiptoes to get things out of the microwave but doesn't find it too much of a struggle.

I have a single oven and a built in combi microwave/oven above that. I thought I’d struggle with just a single oven as previously I’d had a double oven and counter top microwave, but actually it’s fine. I’ve actually never used the oven part of the microwave!

The other issue I have is that I tend to use the single oven most, and then realise I need to microwave something and I can’t because it’s in use

I was coming on to say this. Depends on how you cook. If I’m cooking a meal I might use the microwave to steam broccoli, say, whilst the chicken is in the oven and the mashed potato is in the hob. Or melt butter or chocolate for baking whilst preheating the main oven etc. If you mostly use it separately from your oven so there would be no conflict then (beans on toast, microwave meals etc) it’s not an issue.

For me, I’d personally prefer to lose the single oven and have just double and microwave.

We recently had a new kitchen and have got an oven plus a combi microwave oven in a stack and it's really good, we much prefer it to having a microwave on the worktop. Both easily accessible (we are quite tall though) and it's much more flexible than a single oven plus microwave, which is what we had before. Microwave works fine.

Put a teaspoon in the microwave?