Kitchen redesign - built in combination microwave or not?

[missminimum]

Just looking for advice re appliances for our new kitchen that will be installed next month

The original design included a single oven and a built in combination oven above. We discounted this option due to the extra expense and that I have previously had a freestanding combination microwave, but not made full use of it. We decided to go for a built in double oven instead and keep our existing microwave, which is in the adjacent utility room.

We are currently in the process of ordering the appliances and before purchasing a double oven, wanted to have views on if having a single oven with a built in combination oven above would be a better investment. Those of you who have this set up, do you think it is more useful than having a double oven? Having looked in stores now the second oven in a double oven does appear rather small, so may not get a lot of use. Having a double oven and keeping the freestanding microwave would be a cheaper option though
Would be grateful for your experiences

We have this set up. More because I like a gadget than anything else, and think freestanding microwaves look untidy and waste counter space. Things like the microwave oven and grill functions are definitely useful for quick things like reheating a plate or cooking a single sausage when waiting for the oven to heat up would be tedious.

I can’t comment on whether it’s more useful than a double oven because I never personally cook and even our largest dinner parties have never required more oven space than the single oven. I suppose it’s different if you regularly cook a full roast dinner for 14 and need to get all the elements roasted simultaneously.

Thanks Comtesse for your thoughts. These are big purchases and I am keen not to regret my choices. It may bexworth the extra investment, but costs mount up
Many thanks

I have a double oven and a standalone combi microwave and the microwave barely gets used, the ovens are sufficient and much more straightforward to use!

We have this set up, the combo is used as a microwave 99% of the time, we've used it as an oven at Christmas. Probably would have used it a bit more as an oven had we been able to socialise over the last year or so but I have not regrets: it would have been an absolute pain having our microwave in the utility, I use it to make porridge most mornings, heat milk, etc etc. And its a decent size, is also a grill.

I wouldn't want to be without the option of a double oven, but this has been a good option for us: having it on the counter would have used too much space and even though 'utility' is only a few steps away it is definitely less hassle this way

I must be rather unusual, but I haven't used a microwave for ages and hardly ever when I did. I don't like them.

We had a steam oven in one place we lived in and that was amazing. Maybe a Chinese family had lived there and bought it, I don't know, but Chinese people have told me they steam a lot in their cuisine. It was fantastic for vegetables and puddings like chocolate pudding (I mean cake type things). It had a little jug you fill with water each time and then set the timer. LOVED it

My current house has a Combi oven but when we moved here we already had a microwave. So that went in the utility and is the only microwave we use. The combi just gets used as an oven.

Do combi microwaves not seem a bit greasy?

Thanks for the replies, opinion seems divided. Will have to give some thought

I'm thinking double oven and having the microwave on a shelf in line with top cupboards instead of a tall top cupboard. Then having a smaller cupboard on top.

We have this set up. We felt the single oven was too small for entertaining/cooking roasts etc so instead of having a single oven plus microwave built in, we went for a single oven plus combi. I love the combi, use it frequently as a microwave but I also love all the special features it has - plate warming, keep warm, dough proving etc. It was more expensive than the single oven (about £500 I think) but we use it every day.
We were limited on workspace so having a separate microwave on the counter was a definite no.

We have this - a Neff hide and slide single oven with a Neff combination microwave and oven above.

I love it.

It means two important things:

a) I don't lose worktop space by having a microwave on it

and

b) I have a second oven if my main oven is full

I'd definitely recommend!

We have a built in single oven with combi on top and find it just right. Day to day for us the oven is plenty and the microwave isn't in the way but is on hand for defrosting puree or whatever. Probably use the microwaves oven setting once a month when DS wants to bake but I've got something in the oven. Had hoped to be using it more but haven't had anyone except DM in my new kitchen yet!

Double ovens are useless for me - not enough space. A full size single oven + full size combi is the best for me

we use the microwave a lot (great for steaming veg) and I'd never want a combi because it doesn't have the turntable and doesn't heat evenly. We have a small built-in microwave and a big regular oven.

I don't think I'd have an integrated one again. Ours is overly complicated, we generally only use the 1min boost and actually too high on the cupboard, the younger kids can't reach it.

I have two single ovens (Neff) and love them, and cost wise almost the same as a single and compact. Microwave is in a cupboard, mostly used for drinks and defrosting.

We're getting a Neff double oven and an integrated microwave. Most posters seem to be arguing either that combination microwaves are useless or that freestanding microwaves are ugly and take up valuable worktop space. Hopefully we'll have the best of all worlds!

Some posters seem to be assuming all integrated microwaves are complicated or that you can't have a freestanding microwave/oven/grill, neither of which is true!

@parietal

we use the microwave a lot (great for steaming veg) and I'd never want a combi because it doesn't have the turntable and doesn't heat evenly. We have a small built-in microwave and a big regular oven.

Mines a combi, and it has a turntable. I just don’t know how to use it as an actual oven though 🤣

i have a freestanding combi/grill/mee-crow-warveeeee and it really saved my bacon a couple of years back when the range broke down....that and a separate domino gas hob and Instant Pot kept us going until the kitchen was reorganised and a new oven arrived

I think having one in the utility would be almost more of a nuisance than not having one at all!

We have ours side by side to the neff oven with a warming drawer underneath. We use both ovens. I wouldn’t have the microwave above as it would likely be too high. My neighbours is above her oven and she has to use a chair to reach it!

Large combi here, very useful.

The cabinet was constructed so the top of the combi is at eye level. Carefully measured. Tower units can be built or altered so the shelves and doors do what you need.

I have a combi built in, it does have a turntable and we use it daily to heat the plates up also for steaming veg and making porridge.

We have used it occasionally as an oven when I had 2 things cooking with very different temperatures. We have a full sized single oven and then the combi which is a grill/oven/microwave.

If you are staying in the house for a long time do what suits you best.

We did this in our old house and, like a other poster above, found we used the combi as a microwave 99% of the time (and that was largely in defrost mode). The combi microwaves are fairly small inside, the ‘oven mode’ interior bits have to be stored away most of the time and you hen have to dig them out if you want to use the oven, and the controls were wildly complicated. If you have the space stick a small freestanding microwave in the utility or on some spare counter space.