If you’re looking to buy a new over-the-range microwave for your kitchen, one of the most important things you will need to decide is the ventilation power.
The exhaust fan of an over-the-range microwave ensures you have a smoke-free kitchen while cooking. And the ventilation power plays a vital part in that. Most over-the-range microwaves on the market come with a 300 CFM or 400 CFM vent fan.
In this buying guide, we’ll help you decide whether a 300 CFM or 400 CFM microwave is for you.
What Does CFM Mean for Microwaves?
Today’s over-the-range microwaves usually come with a built-in exhaust fan. Thus, you don’t have to install a range hood while having an over-the-range microwave oven. It will save you plenty of valuable kitchen space.
And the CFM is one of the key features to note when shopping for a microwave with an exhaust fan. As a microwave specification, CFM stands for cubic feet per minute. It’s a measurement of the exhaust fan’s power.
By checking the CFM, you will understand how powerful the exhaust fan will be. The higher the CFM, the more air the exhaust fan removes from your kitchen.
300 CFM Microwave or 400 CFM, Which Is Better?
If you go through the over-the-range microwaves on the market, you will notice that most options offer a 300 CFM or 400 CFM exhaust fan. And that means they are the most popular options for a microwave.
We will say that a 300 CFM microwave would work fine for most households. A 300 CFM is sufficient for everyday cooking.
However, if you constantly cook greasy food or other foods that produce strong smoke and smell, we would recommend you to go for a 400 CFM microwave. It can vent out the smoke and smell quickly, so your kitchen would remain clean and fresh.
On the whole, you should take your own habits and needs into consideration.
Personally, I would always choose a 400 CFM microwave over a 300 CFM microwave. And I would always recommend a higher CFM for your kitchen for the following reasons.
The reason lies in that the price for both are generally about the same. And we just explain how higher CFM could remove smoke and odour faster. Therefore, getting a 400 CFM microwave would be a better deal overall.
Plus, you can always run a high CFM hood on lower settings if you don’t need powerful venting at the moment.
And sometimes I would cook Asian food which requires high heat Thus, the higher CFM would help me keep smoke and smell away from my kitchen.
Best 400 CFM Microwave and 300 CFM Microwave Available Now
To save you time and effort finding the best 400 CFM microwave and 300 CFM microwave, we’ve done the research to find the best options available now.
Best 400 CFM Over-the-Range Microwave Oven:
Galanz GLOMJB19S2SWZ-10 Over The Range Microwave
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a quality 400 CFM microwave. If you want to find a 400 CFM microwave that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg, this unit offers the best bang for the buck. And it’s even cheaper than many 300 CFM microwaves out there.
The unit boasts a 4-speed 400 CFM exhaust fan. It is so powerful that it can keep your kitchen free of odor and smoke.
You get a relatively large capacity of 1.9 cu. Ft., which is sufficient to serve a family of 5 or more.
It also offers all the features you will need for daily cooking. The 11 power levels and convenient cooking options help you easily fulfill everyday cooking tasks.
For added convenience, the sensor cook and sensor reheat features allow you to prepare different kinds of food with one touch.
The true steam function with the steam kit allows for more cooking possibilities. The large LED display is another thing to love about this unit, so you can see the cooking settings easily.
Best 300 CFM Over-the-Range Microwave Oven:
GE JVM3160RFSS Over-the-Range Microwave
GE is a leader in kitchen appliances and offers some of the best over-the-range microwaves. That’s why it’s no surprise that this unit would make our pick for the best 300 CFM microwave available today.
The 300 CFM microwave looks incredible. That’s partly thanks to its stainless steel finish, which is not only good-looking, but also easy-to-clean. The interior is also easy-to-clean thanks to the nonstick interior.
Your kitchen air quality will be fresh with the built-in 2-speed, 300 CFM exhaust fan. And the charcoal filter of the venting system is easy to replace, too.
The 1.6 Cu. Ft. capacity and 1000 Watts of cooking power will suit most people looking to meet a family’s daily requirements of cooking.
What we love the most about this unit is that the turntable can be turned on and off. It is not only ideal for even cooking, but also for accommodating oversized dishes that may not fully rotate. And when you reheat soup or beverage, you can turn off the turntable to prevent spills as well.
Related Reading: How to Microwave Without Splatter?
Ah, but what if your microwave is recirculating (not venting to the outside?)
I had considered embellishing the filters to screen out more oil… (we like to cook veggies on higher heat and sear them with a little oil in the pan, but it is getting messy and the exhaust out the top is coating our cabinets above the microwave. Ours is a 300 CFM which needs to be replaced. We were offered a 300 CFM or a 400 CMF. Which would be better???? (the 400 CFM offers a few more features and extends about 1/2″ further out.) So confused. On sales person says to do 400 another 300. I was hoping more power would allow me to place some more filter materials to catch more oils.