Are you tired of your countertop microwave taking up precious counter space and wondering if a countertop microwave can be built in? I can say many of us share that thought.
It would mean a lot if we can free up our counter space and have our countertop microwave installed in the cabinet. If you are an absolute cooking enthusiast, you would totally understand how important it is to have enough counter space.
More counter space means more room for you to do meal prep, and you have more room to place the ingredients you need for cooking.
In today’s article, we will show you if a countertop microwave oven can be built in. Also, we will dig in further and explain why a countertop microwave can be or can not be used as built-in microwaves.
Can a Countertop Microwave Be Built in?
Can you have a countertop microwave oven built in? Is it safe to install a countertop microwave in a cabinet?
The answer would be YES and NO. I’m afraid there won’t be a simple and absolute answer to that question. Whether or not it is okay to have a countertop microwave built in the cabinet really depends.
It highly depends on the countertop microwave model we are talking about. Only certain kinds of countertop microwaves can be installed and used as built-in microwaves.
Though many bloggers said in their content that it is okay to use any countertop microwave as built-in microwaves, it certainly is not safe to install any random countertop microwave in a cabinet.
However, there are all kinds of countertop microwaves provided by hundreds of manufacturers. Therefore, it could be really tricky for households to find the safe one to use as built in.
Why It’s Not Always Safe to Have a Countertop Microwave Built in?
As their name implies, countertop microwaves are kind of designed solely for kitchen countertops. And this kind of microwave oven naturally has built-in vents at the rear.
When you install countertop microwave ovens in the cabinet, good chances are their vents could be blocked, which is really dangerous.
The reason lies in that the heat and steam from the microwave won’t be able to release when the vents are blocked. And that could lead to serious fire hazards and pose dangers for your kitchen and your home.
Another issue with having a countertop microwave built in has to do with wires. Countertop microwaves always come with wires that should be plugged into a grounded power outlet.
When you have the countertop microwave ovens built into the cabinet, they could be more vulnerable to overheating and fires as the wires would be too close to the heat sources.
Countertop Microwaves that Can Be Built into Your Cabinets
If you are on the market for a countertop microwave that can be built into your cabinet, here are some great picks for you.
Also, we have a tip to help you find a nice countertop microwave oven that can be used as built in. And that is you can’t really go wrong with the ones that come with an exclusively designed trim kit.
The trim kit is not only there to create a modern look, but also to make sure the countertop microwave could be used safely when it’s built in.
When the countertop microwave is built in with a trim kit, it makes sure that the microwave is getting the flow that is necessary.
The trim kit includes the trim frame and, in addition, upper, lower, and rear duct components that attach to the microwave, encasing it within the cabinet’s cut-out. As the heat produced during the cooking process can be released properly, it ensures safety.
Panasonic Microwave Oven NN-SN966S
Panasonic NN-SD78LS Countertop Microwave Oven
Sharp SMC1585BB Microwave Oven
