Your kitchen is the place that tells everyone about your personality, your passion for cooking and the way you keep everything assembled especially when having too little space. It evolves around your cooking appliances as well, including your oven, gas range, microwaves, espresso machine, etc. Thus when talking about how to save space in the kitchen, keep in a list; the best over the range microwave. This over the range not only free up your space but also the latest and upgraded way of cooking, which helps you to cook more and quickly as compared to your standard gas range.
Common FAQs people asked about the best over the range microwave
1. What is the difference between microwave and oven?
Both the microwave and the oven are the names of the same appliance, also known as microwave oven together. Initially, the microwave was used to heat, preheat and to defrost the food, though the oven mainly was to cook or bake the food items. Since both the appliances use heated air to cook the course or heat it, these terminologies are merged together and can do all cooking, heating, baking or defrosting, though on different levels that is required for specific meals.
2. What is the difference between the microwave oven and the convection oven?
Both the microwaves are for the same purpose that is to cook or heat the food. But both the microwaves have a different way to do this job. In the microwave oven, it uses radiation or heat waves that circulated around the food placed on the turntable. Whereas, in the convection oven, fans blow heated air that revolves around the food.
3. Which oven is better, convection oven or microwave oven?
Convection ovens are way better than microwave ovens in terms of efficiency and performance. The convection oven cooks the food more thoroughly and quickly as compared to standard microwave ovens. Further, convection ovens allow grilling, baking, roasting and browning of the food.
4. What is a recirculating microwave?
Recirculating microwaves are those who doesn’t require venting routes but it will vent out the smoke either internally or back into the kitchen. This type of venting is most suitable for the people who have very little space or have no facility of the exhaust system in their kitchen.
5. What is a combo microwave?
This microwave is a type in which the user is allowed to heat, preheat, defrost, grill, bake, broil the food though from a single platform.
Best Over the Range Microwave List of 2022
- Frigidaire UMV1422US – Best rated over the range microwave
- Avanti MOTR13D3S – Best 24 inch over the range microwave
- COSMO COS-30160RM1SS – Best venting over the range microwave
- Frigidaire FGMV176NTF – Best stainless steel microwave over the range
- LG LMV1762ST – Best LG over the range microwave
- Whirlpool WMH31017HS – Best whirlpool over the range microwave
- Sharp SMO1854DS – Best 1100watt over the range microwave
- Cosmo COS-2413ORM1SS – Best over the stove microwave
- GE JVM3162RJSS – Best recirculating over the range microwave
- Sharp R1881LSY – Best over the range convection microwave
- Haier HMV1472BHS – Best low profile over the range microwave
Best Over The Range Microwave Reviews 2022
1. Frigidaire UMV1422US – Best over the range microwave brand
Key Features
- 24 inch wide
- 1.4cu.ft cooking capacity
- Sensor cooking and one touch cooking options
- Cook top LED lighting
- Interior LED lighting
- Convertible venting with two speeds via 300cfm fans
- 1000watt and 120 volts
Frigidaire is the most popular brand when it comes to the best over the range microwave, this 24 inch wide over the stove microwave provides a great scope of cooking. Serves as a microwave stove hood along with the cooktop lighting. With a variety of dishes to prepare, this overhead microwave offers sensor cooking with one touch cooking options, through automatic power adjustment and cooking time brings peace of mind for the user. Optioned with popcorn, veggies, potatoes, beverages, auto defrost, reheat, melt or soften and cooking timer makes effortless preparation of the meal. Moreover, Frigidaire stainless steel microwave has a convertible venting system, eliminating the cooking odor from your kitchen with 300cfm venting fans with two levels of adjustable speeds. Along with interior LED lighting and edge to edge glass, it has an extra large turntable, very suitable for big bowls and dishes, and perfectly takes a large amount of food in a single session.
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- Child lock
- Extra large turntable
- Stainless steel
- 9 power levels
- Auto reheat option
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- Not for commercial use
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2. Avanti MOTR13D3S – Best mounted microwave
Key Features
- 24 inch wide
- 1.34 cu.ft cooking capacity
- Sensor cooking with automatic cooking time and level
- Surface lighting
- Integrated lighting
- Convertible vent with an adjustable speed of 300cfm exhaust fans
- 1000watt and 115 volts
Avanti has built the safest route to quick your food quickly yet evenly, one of the best over the range microwave of this year. Offers a variety of options to cook numbers of dishes, features sensor cooking which brings hassle free preparation of multiple dishes with preheat options, auto cook, popcorn, defrost. Its kitchen timing option gives the user authority to cook the food at preferred timing, if not required automatic cooking. This 1000 watt over the range microwave has an effective venting system with 2 speed exhaust fans and a charcoal filter. Its look is great too along with its cooking capability, its black stainless steel body gives a perfect sense of modern interior, the door is left side openable with an edge to edge glass, and gives a stylish exposure. Its electronic control panel provides prominently viewable options for the user which is very easy to use without thinking much.
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- Cooks the food more evenly
- Safety lock
- Black stainless steel
- 10 power levels
- Kitchen timer
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- Though it is a small in size, the interior looks even less comparatively
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3. COSMO COS-30160RM1SS – Best venting microwave
Key Features
- 30 inch wide
- 1.6 cu.ft cooking capacity
- Smart sensor preset options
- Large digital display
- Spacious with an optional rack to cook multiple dishes
- Recirculatory venting
- 1000 watt and 120 volts
This is the most favorite and very best over the range microwave, a great freedom of cooking established by Cosmo. If your guest is on their way and you have too less time to fill the table, this over the stove microwave is way better than your gas range. Its powerful venting system is extremely well and efficient to remove the cooking odor instantly, no one can say anything is being cooked in your kitchen. This microwave range hood is 30 inches wide and covers up your gas range and the smoke rising from it while cooking quite effectively. It comes with an installation kit, makes everything hassle free for the user. The large electronic touch panel is wide enough to read the options which include 6 smart sensor cooking which includes pizza, potato, reheat, frozen dinner, dinner plate and rice. Whereas the preset options are popcorn, defrost, vegetable, beverages, fish, poultry and meat other than the kitchen timer. The cook top and interior LED lighting is brighter than many of the over the ranges we have tested so far.
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- Both for commercial and residential use
- Extremely powerful venting system
- Speed cooking
- Stunning exposure with black stainless steel
- 10 power levels
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- Not any
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4. Frigidaire FGMV176NTF – Best over the range microwave stainless steel
Key Features
- 30 inch wide
- 1.7 cu.ft cooking capacity
- Cook top and interior LED lighting
- Sensor cooking and auto cooking options
- Metal removable rack
- Convertible venting/ duct or ductless vent installation
- 1000 watt and 120 volts
Frigidaire is one of the best over the range microwave from the Frigidaire Gallery microwave over the range series. If you are looking for a microwave who wouldnt to squeeze out the moistness or juices of your food after coming out, then Frigidaire is a nice stainless steel OTR microwave. This will not destroy the moisture but preserved it when cooked, a very warm and evenly cooked food is served. This Frigidaire FGMV176NTF is 30 inches wide over the stove and doubles the microwave hood with a 1.7 cubic feet large cooking capacity, comes with a removable metal rack so that the user can cook more than one dish at a time. It has an effective recirculatory venting with two speeds of 300cfn exhaust fans. If incase of spill, the interior is too finished which could be cleaned off with a single wipe of a cloth, making it easy to reset the cleanliness of the microwave like new. Its cooking option includes popcorn, baked potato, sensor reheat, 5 snack options, beverages, 4 melt and soften option, 10 auto cook option,3 auto defrost and 30 seconds option.
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- One touch cooking option conveniency
- Extra large glass turntable
- Finished interior surface
- Child look
- Smudge proof stainless steel
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- It requires extra 10-15 minute break to cool down after a single course of meal prepared
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5. LG LMV1762ST – Best over the range microwave under $250
Key Features
- 30 inches wide
- 1.7 cu.ft cooking capacity
- 8 Auto cook options
- Custom settings
- Energy saving button
- 1000watt 120 volts
- Cooktop lighting
Easy to clean, easy to use best over the range microwave by LG, makes every cooking course hassle free. No need to use chemicals or harsh scrubbing to clean the spills, the interior is polish which allows the single wipe cleaning each time. It is an outstanding performer when it comes to vent out the smoke and cooking odor due to its two speed 300cfm exhaust fans. The cooktop lighting is bright enough as well as the interior LED lighting to provide an ongoing cooking process. This 1000 watt over the range microwave oven enables the user to cook unlimited recipes and dishes with no effort. Its auto cook options feature popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen entree, frozen vegetable, fresh vegetable, rice, casserole and quick defrost. There are 10 power levels and a glass turntable to cook the food as per the preference of the user, quickly yet evenly.
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- Clean interior
- Child lock
- 2 speed 300cfm convertible venting
- Removable metal rack
- Stainless steel
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- No sensor cooking
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6. Whirlpool WMH31017HS – Best 1000watt over the range microwave
Key Features
- 30 inch wide
- 1.7 cu.ft cooking capacity
- Cooktop lighting
- Dishwasher safe turntable
- Convertible venting with 300cfm venting fans
- 1000 watt 120 volts
- Kitchen timer
When you have loads of cooking tasks on your kitchen counter and have too less time to initiate, this 1000 watt power over the range is perfect help to manage the menu. Once you fill the turntable and feed the option, the food will come out with exactly the right texture. Whirlpool WMH31017HS is the best over the range microwave with a convertible venting system and charcoal filter. Its options include, popcorn, potato, pizza, cook, reheat, soften/melt, cook time, cook power and defrost. The most capturing quality of whirlpool over the range microwave is it cooks the food so evenly, resulting from the thoroughly heat spreader, you always get the right amount of cooked dish. The kitchen timer and 30 second add option is really effective to cook the food without thinking much of the required amount of cooking. The turntable is washable and dishwasher safe, makes the cooking and cleaning both effortless for the user.
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- Child lock
- Easy to use
- Powerful mechanism
- Best preset options
- 10 power levels
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- No sensor cooking
- Expensive for the given features
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7. Sharp SMO1854DS – Best over the range microwave exhaust fan
Key Features
- 30 inch wide
- 1.8 cu.ft cooking capacity
- Interior LED and cooktop LED lighting
- Strain resistant interior
- Duct or ductless 3 speed venting, 450 cfm exhaust fan
- 1100 watt
- One touch sensor cooking
Sharp SMO1854DS is built for extreme cooking courses where non stop meals are produced, its powerful venting with 3 speed up to 450cfm is very effective to remove the smoke and cooking odor instantly. A removable metal rack to divide the portion so that multiple dishes could be cooked at a time. This cooktop microwave has bright LED lighting both for interior inspection of cooking food and for the cooktop. Its stainless steel exterior blends with the other appliances too well and gives a kitchen modern look. This above the stove microwave features with express cooking options, sensor cooking options, defrost, melt/soften, beverages, potato, pizza, frozen vegetables, frozen entrees, reheat option and 30 seconds option other than kitchen timer. Sharp range microwave is best for both home and commercial use, its fitting is very easy as well along with its usage. You can get delicious food though evenly cooked.
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- Extremely easy to use and clean the spills due to enamel coating
- Removable turntable
- 10 cooking power level
- Stainless steel
- Exclusively designed for modern kitchen
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- It goes off after preparing one meal, you have to turn it on again (technical issue persist in many units in the market)
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8. Cosmo COS-2413ORM1SS – Best over the stove microwave with vent
Key Features
- 24 inch wide
- 1.34 cu.ft cooking capacity
- Interior LED and cooktop LED lighting
- Sensor cooking and reheat options
- Convertible venting, two speeds up to 300cfm
- 1000 watt, 120 volts
- Large size turntable
Look at this another best over the range microwave by Cosmo, a great way to quickly ready your food and save your kitchen space too. This small over the range microwave has 1.34 cubic feet cooking capacity, a very decent amount of food can be cooked for a small family or for your guest whom you want to impress with your cooking style. It comes with preset options of popcorn, pizza, beverages, casserole, dinner plate, soup or sauce, whereas sensors cook frozen pizza, bacon, vegies, defrost and many more. This is certainly the most convenient way to cook the food evenly, while restores the freshness of the food in it. Though the venting is convertible with two speeds up to 300 cfm, capable of removing the odor instantly before anyone could arrive. Indeed, Cosmo is a great privilege for food enthusiasts who love to cook healthy food with precise measurement.
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- Effective venting
- Safety lock
- Black stainless steel
- Easy and effortless cleaning
- 10 cooking power levels
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- Exhaust fan is bit noisy as compared to other
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9. GE JVM3162RJSS – Best over the range microwave recirculating vent
Key Features
- 30 inch wide
- 1.6 cu. ft cooking capacity
- Two speed recirculatory vent up to 300 cfm
- 950 watt, 120 volt
- Interior LED and cooktop lighting
- Strain resistible interior
- Easy to command and easy to install
GE JVM3162RJSS is one of the best over the range microwave, the smartest and quickest way of cooking. This over the range with vent offers you 1.6 cu.ft. of space for cooking, it is a decent amount of space to cook an average amount of meal for a family. Its wattage power is 1000 watt, with which it enables you to cook, reheat and defrost your meal evenly in an effective way. This stainless microwave with vent has 300 cfm exhaust fans with two adjustable speeds, ensures your kitchen remains odor-free and no one could guess what’s cooking. Its command options are easy to read and easy to use, includes popcorn, pizza, beverages, defrost, potato, reheat and add 30 seconds to give the last moment to get fully cooked before pulling out.
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- Provide an exact amount of heat
- 10 power levels
- Maintain the precise heat
- Thoroughly cooks the food
- Stainless steel
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- No child lock
- No sensor cooking
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10. Sharp R1881LSY – Best over the range microwave convection oven
Key Features
- 30 inch wide
- 1.1 cu.ft cooking capacity
- Interior and cooktop lighting
- Quite mode to eliminate excessive noise production while cooking
- Sensor cooking and Auto cooking options
- 300 cfm convertible venting
- 850 watt, 120 volts
An extremely powerful, authentic and two-way oven; microwave and convection to defrost, cook or reheat your meal instantly yet evenly. This microwave convection over the range is a versatile oven with its 1.1 cu.ft. cooking capacity, indeed the best small over the range microwave, an easy and quick way to cook the food evenly. This small over the range microwave has 8 sensor cooking options, with which this convection oven provides you the exact amount of heat and the time in which a particular thing requires to cook while keeping track of the cooking progress and lets you know when it is ready to take out. Further, the best part is it does not make your meal dry at the end but keeps it moist and juicy. This stainless steel over the range microwave has 13 inches wide ceramic detachable turntable, if you get a spill, you can easily bring out this and wash it.
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- Child lock
- Extremely powerful convection cooking
- Edge to Edge glass
- 11 cooking power level
- Gorgeously designe
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- The cooking power is quite lower, making it less preferable by many of you
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11. Haier HMV1472BHS – Best low profile over the stove microwave
Key Features
- 24 inch wide
- 1.3 cu.ft cooking capacity
- sensor cook and auto cook options
- Interior and surface LED lighting
- 13.6 inch diameter turntable
- convertible/recirculating venting with two speeds up to 300cfm
- 1000 watt, 120 volts
Haier HMV1472BHS is an entry-level stainless steel OTR microwave, although we have experienced few flaws in the unit which make this less suitable to pick but still save its position for the best over the range microwave 2022. It is due to being able to provide the cooked food just the way you like to eat. Keeping the juiciness of the meal and evenly cooking, including the recirculatory venting which causes a mess-free and easy installation in any kind of kitchen. whereas the cleaning process after the party is too easy, it will not take too much of your time, just a clean piece of cloth and a single wipe will take away all the spills and splatters. Whereas the sensor cooking includes the options of popcorn, pizza, potato, fresh vegetable, frozen entrees, frozen breakfast, bacon other than defrosting and reheating.
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- Safety lock
- maintain the moisture level of the food
- 10 power level
- Finished interior makes easy to clean
- Black stainless steel
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- Not so durable and reliable appliance
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How to Choose Best Over-the-range Microwave | Buyers guide
Types of microwave ovens there are more than just two microwave oven in both professional and home cooking but since the technology is stepping to the above level with every day passing and new innovations are continuously joining us in our everyday life, the most basic and understandable in simple terms are three types, you will find in the market, without complicating the case.
1. Solo microwave
This microwave is the predecessor, the usual place to put this is the kitchen counter near a socket, due to there compact size. The very basic and common type with which we almost all have bought and placed in our kitchen once. With the single magnetron, continuous heat waves sizzle into the meal and heat the food from one level to other. This microwave is cheaper as compared to its successors and it best suited for a small family to perform simple tasks of cooking and reheating, although they are unable to grill and bake. However, if your purpose of buying a microwave is this limited then you surely need to buy solo, since it is too easily available everywhere at very low prices.
2. Grill microwave
Grill microwave is another type of microwave which is able to perform the task of a solo as well as the grill. These microwaves enable you to grill chicken, hamburger, roast etc and cook the food fast as compared to solo microwave. These microwaves have a special kind of heated coil installed; which a solo microwave lacks. Further, making coffee, reheating leftovers, rice, pasta, etc is easy to make, but can not bake cookies, cake or brownies, etc.
3. Convection microwave
This type of microwave is the most upgraded version of the oven in which you not only able to cook, reheat but you can grill your food as well as do baking. In this type of microwave, hot air is being circulated around the food, this air is extremely hot that cooks your food in much lesser time as compared to grill and solo. Further, it gives nice crispiness to your food, able to cook the meal evenly and perform deep cooking leaving no side uncooked of the meal.
Type of microwave in terms of installing
Over the counter microwave
This is the oldest form of placing a microwave oven, which is still practiced in our home. This takes a specific space on the kitchen counter near an outlet to power up the oven when needed. Usually, people prefer to buy a mini microwave, lesser the size, lesser it will take place. The most likely place is near a window that keeps the heat out for good, or you can place it anywhere in the kitchen depending on your preference and handiness.
Built-in microwave
It is a type of microwave that frees up your counter space and gives a wide place for performing cooking tasks without blocking your way. It is the one that is installed in your cabinetry with the trim kit, in this a proper ventilation takes place through the exhaust fan via venting duct, it requires a neat installation by a professional for the integrated look, if not then you can also perform installation only if you are a pro in this matter.
Over the range microwave
In the presence of over the range microwave, the role of over the range hood is being eliminated. It is the most advanced way to cook your food in the most effective and economical way. Over the range microwave with vent have an exhaust fan installed, it serves you the purpose of ventilating as well as the extra and quick way of cooking.
What things need to consider for over the range microwave?
There are plenty of features that you just need to take into consideration, but the most important are given below.
- Cooking capacity- how big family you have? And how much a particular microwave allows you to cook in it matters a lot. The average size of the family of 4-5 members can buy a microwave with 1.7 cu.ft. cooking capacity. Whereas, if you plan to cook more for more people then you can buy a big microwave with more cooking capacity, depending on the gas range size as well, since you have to match the size of your microwave accordingly that is needed to be installed over the stove.
- Size- make sure that the size of the range is not bigger nor it should be smaller than the microwave that is to be installed above. Most of the people don’t give a thought over it and make changes or even trim there range hood place more in order to fix the over the range of much bigger size. However, the size of the oven is told by the dimension of the overall microwave you buy, it ranges from 24 inches to more than 30 inches.
- Wattage – The higher the wattage, the quicker it will cook your food. It ranges from 700 watts to more than 1200 watts, depending on how fast you want your microwave to cook your food. In the contrast, a convection oven has low wattage with fast cooking speed.
- Display- a readable menu or an easy to read display with the backlit menu is the most preferable for all time by everyone. To be precise, the functions should not be complex for the user and should be able to lit in the dark when powered on.
- Child lock protection – naughty kids tend to reach the oven or to pull the door open and drop there toys in, therefore if you have children then go with the one that has a child lock.
- Extra cheese- some useful and handy features include the sensor cooking, auto cooking, auto defrost and removable rack to provide more room for more dish within the same space.
Conclusion
There are not just one or two options you will find once you decide to buy the best over the range microwave for your best kitchen, similarly there are a lot of things you must take under consideration before spending. This guide hope has given you all the necessary information you required before making your purchase.
