Oven question: Combo, Double, help me decide!

[redheadk]

Update: Probably going with Option 2 (replace with a single oven + separate built-in microwave). New question: thoughts on microwave drawers? We can either do a built-in with drop down door over the oven OR a drawer microwave below the oven. 

TL;DR version: Double wall ovens need to be replaced. I hate current placement of my microwave.

Option 1: 
Replace with double wall ovens ($3,200). 

Option 2: 
Replace with a single wall oven and a separate microwave ($4,250, this requires a built-in microwave but buying one may be a problem since it seems to be out of stock a lot).

Option 3:
Replace with a wall oven with attached microwave above (one panel with buttons for both at the top). My concern here is that if something happens to either appliance, we will have to replace the whole unit if it can't be fixed. ($4,150) 


Options 2 & 3 will require modifications to the cabinetry. Our cabinets are painted white so this is doable but obviously still more work plus an additional cost.


Long version:
Our double wall ovens have been dying a slow death the last 2 years. Now the top heating element on the primary oven won't turn on during bake, only during broil. We can limp a long for a bit with the bottom oven but it's not ideal.

I cook for my family but we rarely use the 2nd oven. Maybe once a year, if that. It is mostly storage for my roasting pan (which I only use for chex-mix once a year) and baking stone. I'm not really into baking, just keep-everyone-fed cooking.

Our other kitchen issue is our microwave. It's over our stove and too low; building codes changed after the house was built, it is grandfathered in but is functionally too low. I'd love to remove that microwave, install an exhaust hood, and integrate the microwave in the oven stack. It also seems that microwaves these days are a bit shorter than my current one so we could also explore replacing it with a shorter model to give me a bit more room over the stove. The ones that are possible for the oven stack are all shorter in cooking space anyway.

[mrsukyankee]

Could you put in a single oven, find a microwave that you like and then, in the space where the other oven was, find a builder who can build something so it'd fit there? (maybe even add a door so you could hide it away) If you rarely use two ovens, I wouldn't replace both.

[freshsqueezed]

We just installed a separate microwave and oven. Our cabinet had to be modified but the appliance store has a guy on staff just for that kind of thing. I think it was around $300 extra and done along with the install.

I would not do #3 because your microwave will go before the oven.

[lessel]

I would get a shorter microwave and swap it out for your current one in it's current spot. And I'd go double-oven without modifying cabinetry.

(My microwave is over the stove and it's actually too high...so I have a similar but different challenge!) This is my first house with double ovens though and I find I use them way more than I thought I would, so I wouldn't want to give that up. But if you don't use the doubles a lot, the microwave/oven combo seems increasingly popular.

ETA: I re-read and missed how you rarely use the double ovens! If you don't think there's a chance you'd use them more, then yeah, hard to justify cost... even though in this case it might be the cheaper of the options since it doesn't involve modifying cabinets.

[nicolewi]

If there is no other place for the microwave to go, I would go with option 2. I would just plain rule out option 3 for exactly the reason you listed. We have a set-up with the built-in microwave above the built-in oven. It was a huge problem to replace our microwave after it broke b/c they no longer make the same size to fit into our space, but if you don't have another practical location that you like for the microwave I would do it anyway in the name of daily convenience and re-gaining counter space.

[redheadk]

So my dad (a builder) suggested option 2: a single wall oven, a built-in convection microwave, and then since we are having to add framing to the cabinetry anyway, make the current drawer below the ovens taller which will give me somewhere to store what is currently stored in my 2nd oven. Replace the current microwave with a simple vent hood.

Now I get to appliance shop. Eek. Leaning towards KitchenAid since we are really happy with our other KitchenAid appliances.

[winecat]

Can you have an open cabinet put in above/below the oven and put a regular microwave in it? The space might be too big for the microwave but it’ll probably be cheaper and easier to replace one of the appliances if you need to.

[redheadk]

Oct 14, 2022 8:39:39 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

Could you put in a single oven, find a microwave that you like and then, in the space where the other oven was, find a builder who can build something so it'd fit there? (maybe even add a door so you could hide it away) If you rarely use two ovens, I wouldn't replace both.

Thankfully my dad is a builder so he will send his cabinet guy out to reframe the space and install the appliances. The current set up is a true double-oven so it will be one giant hole when removed.

[redheadk]

Oct 14, 2022 10:20:32 GMT -5 winecat said:

Can you have an open cabinet put in above/below the oven and put a regular microwave in it? The space might be too big for the microwave but it’ll probably be cheaper and easier to replace one of the appliances if you need to.

That's essentially my 2nd option minus the actual built-in microwave. That's an interesting idea. I wonder how much clearance is required around a regular microwave.


We have to have the cabinetry reframed no matter what unless we go with a GE double-oven.

[redheadk]

Update: Probably going with Option 2 (replace with a single oven + separate built-in microwave). New question: thoughts on microwave drawers? We can either do a built-in with drop down door over the oven OR a drawer microwave below the oven.

[winecat]

Oct 14, 2022 10:24:10 GMT -5 redheadk said:

Oct 14, 2022 10:20:32 GMT -5 winecat said:

Can you have an open cabinet put in above/below the oven and put a regular microwave in it? The space might be too big for the microwave but it’ll probably be cheaper and easier to replace one of the appliances if you need to.

That's essentially my 2nd option minus the actual built-in microwave. That's an interesting idea. I wonder how much clearance is required around a regular microwave.


We have to have the cabinetry reframed no matter what unless we go with a GE double-oven.

I saw someone do something similar in an island because they didn’t want to put it on the island.

One issue I’ve read about with the microwave drawers is getting a similar size microwave later if you need to replace it.

[aprilsails]

We have a microwave in the island in an open cabinet space. We left about an inch on the sides and top, and installed a strip of wood as a stopper in back to prevent it from moving around at all. We like that the kids can reach it and it is not terribly inconvenient as an adult.

[mrsukyankee]

Oct 14, 2022 10:24:10 GMT -5 redheadk said:

Oct 14, 2022 10:20:32 GMT -5 winecat said:

Can you have an open cabinet put in above/below the oven and put a regular microwave in it? The space might be too big for the microwave but it’ll probably be cheaper and easier to replace one of the appliances if you need to.

That's essentially my 2nd option minus the actual built-in microwave. That's an interesting idea. I wonder how much clearance is required around a regular microwave.


We have to have the cabinetry reframed no matter what unless we go with a GE double-oven.

This is what I kinda meant too.

[definitelyO]

I have a microwave drawer in the island - it's new as of a month ago. I like it - but it's annoying to DS/DH as you can't just slam the door shut - you have to push the close button and wait for it to close. and DH doesn't like bending down to punch in the time, etc...

depending on the height it may not work as you load it from the top - so it does have to be lower than what other microwaves are (if that makes sense)

[ssmjlm]

My parents aren't huge fans of the microwave drawer, but YMMV.

We all feel like because it has to open/close with a motor that it will break sooner than later. It works for their kitchen setup and I don't know how much they really microwave day to day.