built in microwave - what am I missing

[Lottle]

Help please!

I am getting a new kitchen next year. I totally understand how eye level built in microwaves look neater than those on a worktop.

However....whenever I take something out of the microwave e.g. a ready meal in a container that's gone floppy in the heat, I have to immediately pop it down on the space on the worktop in front of my freestanding microwave. If I was taking it out of a microwave that had no worktop space directly in front, I'm not sure how I'd manage....what am I missing?!

(I'm also below average height and the inbuilt microwaves always seem quite high up.)

Thanks!

A plate?

Use a t towel or oven gloves if its that hot? Surely you dont just gra hot bowls with your hands?!

Having use an eye level built in microwave elsewhere I’d never have one at home.

It's not really the heat. It's more the floppyness!

@Comefromaway can I ask why?

@ExCwmbranDweller

So would you put anything you are going to microwave on a regular plate first? Maybe that's just what I'd need to do!

Awkward to clean, to stir things half way through, to get things out. It’s easier if you are tall I guess.

@Comefromaway Thanks. I had suspected this would be the case, particularly for people who are shorter. Never known anyone else who had one though to try for myself.

I’m actually getting a new kitchen designed at the moment myself having moved house.

i have a built in one, about eye level, hasn't caused any issues

I've a few friends with built - in microwaves, none like them. As well as the issues you've mentioned, they can be really expensive to replace.

What happens if you have to replace the microwave and the new one won't fit the space?

Mines above the cooker so I just put things on the hob. I don’t cook ready meals but the plate suggestion makes sense.

DH and I are both tall. Would be tricky if you’re short.

@Knittedfairies

What happens if you have to replace the microwave and the new one won't fit the space?

You have to buy a special built in one that fits the space.

I have one (it's actually a combi microwave oven).

I really like the slick look and fact that my worktop is uncluttered (just bought a bread machine though so have cluttered it back up)

Never had any issues with taking stuff out - i usually use oven gloves. I'm 5'7" which might help.

@Knittedfairies - most fit into a standard 45cm high gap - the microwave might be smaller but most manufacturers make an external frame to fill the gap.

I am really short and have had just had a new kitchen put in. I chose to keep my free standing microwave. It will be in a corner at an angle. In the old kitchen (we moved into this place 28 months ago) I could not safely get things out of the built-in microwave. It was far too high.

I just found something called a microwave drawer and got extremely excited. Then realised the price. I keep doing this! Just like venting hobs and the qanto pull up unit!

@Mosaic123 Thanks for that. Good to know. Goes to show I AM missing something - about a foot in height!

@opinionatedfreak

I have one (it's actually a combi microwave oven).

I really like the slick look and fact that my worktop is uncluttered (just bought a bread machine though so have cluttered it back up)

Never had any issues with taking stuff out - i usually use oven gloves. I'm 5'7" which might help.

@Knittedfairies - most fit into a standard 45cm high gap - the microwave might be smaller but most manufacturers make an external frame to fill the gap.

You see, I’m only 5 foot 4 & dh is 5 foot 6. My kids aged 16 & 19 are even shorter.

Surely you can put it at whatever level suits you. However I had ibe and it was such a hassle when it broke down- very expensive to fix. So now I'd only get a cheap one and have it in a 'breakfast cupboard'. Out of sight but easy to replace.

@lottle it's what I do if the container is going to be mushy or a bowl to hot and awkward to handle, or even if I'm making porridge that might spill over. Plate underneath then I have something I can hold safely. Also I have always just put a regular microwave in a cupboard and used it with the cupboard door open, saves a fortune on expensive fitted microwaves although you must ask your builder about safety with that one.

Urgh. too hot not to. Must proofread.

I just got one and am having no problems with it. I think you're supposed to put microwave meals on a plate anyway when you microwave them, Plus as I'm short and have arms which are getting shorter as I age (shoulder injury related), I got a fold up stool for our new kitchen which was a fiver at dunelm and allows me to reach the top shelves of wall units too (as well as the microwave).

You put it on the door. The door opens down wards so you can use that to say stir things or remove them and get a plate etc

Ours is built in and v comfortable. No issues whatsoever but we’re v tall.

We have ours at eye level, above the oven. However, it's actually a shelf with a plug we can put a freestanding microwave on. We looked at built in ones and realised (3 years ago) that it would be £250 for a built in one or £25 for a freestanding one. We find it works brilliantly having the freestanding one on the shelf, when it died 1.5 years ago replacing it was no stress at all. I've never had an issue with floppy tupperwares, but I guess it depends on which ones you buy - and I use oven gloves to get hot stuff out. I like it so much better than having them out on the worktop as they take up so much space.