I’m getting some kitchen cabinet work done, and my husband is not interested in putting the wave above the stove, so I’m looking at hoods under the cabinets.

This is an older country style kitchen, so cutting edge modern would look out of place, but I want something that sucks up the smoke! I have a Maytag stainless stove, and I’m trying to find good reviews on under cabinet hoods, but not having much luck. The existing hood is outdoor vented, and a dial type exhaust vs the buttons I’m seeing on new ones. I’d be fine with it but it’s of the “harvest gold” era, and doesn’t match the stove, frig, or washer, and since I’m having the cabinets reworked, it seems like the right time to update.
Any issues with the buttons working? Do the newer ones suck up smoke as well as the old?
Thanks for your opinions and advice.

Not sure about old vs new. Look for CFPM for.

I will never, ever have a built in microwave again. Reason; We had a built in microwave and after a few years it crapped out. Okay, no worries, I will just buy a new one. Well, it wasn't that easy, they no longer made that model and new models required a new trim kit, however the trim kits didn't fit and I was told I would have to get my "Cabinet Guy" to modify my cabinet to accommodate the new microwave. I called my cabinet guy, but had doors made to convert the space into a cabinet. My microwaves since have sat on the kitchen counter so when it drops dead, it goes in the garbage and a new one takes its place.

I had that M/W & hood combo for about 30 + years
and it crapped out 2 years back.
Was able to replace the g e with a g e same size.
The pain in the ass was original was mounted on plate on the back new one 's plate was on the top.
Had to unload the cabinet to mount the screws from inside the cabinet.
New one has lots more features and quick buttons
Hell of a lot cheaper in price also.

Drawer Microwaves are the latest 'cool' thing now.

^^^^^
My brother and S-I-L have that in their new house. Honestly, not a fan...

There is some functionality to a MW above the stove as long as you can get decent ventilation and desperately covet your counter space.
However, that configuration is as you say, "passe" and almost never featured in any current kitchen design no matter the motif. About 15 years ago we updated our kitchen a bit and lost the MW above the stove and replaced it with a pretty good and relatively inexpensive dedicated vent hood with lighting and a small counter top MW. So glad we did that. There are a lot of options for vent hoods.

If I was a serious cook and wanted a way to control heat and smoke from cooktop I would go with a dedicated hood and figure out something else for the microwave.

If you have room in an island or cabinets the trend in a lot of places is to have them mounted there, below counter level. Unless you're using it 20 times a day that's less of a nuisance than it may sound like at first based on our experience.

Yeah, the current thing to do is “hide” the microwave.

Just had our kitchen redone.

As one of the used appliances in the kitchen all I have to say is who cares if it’s passe?

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
As one of the used appliances in the kitchen all I have to say is who cares if it’s passe?

I'm with you. This notion of making a showplace kitchen that's too fancy to use is a bit silly. Not saying OP is doing that, but it seems all the rage on TV shows.

I kinda like our microwave hidden though. It’s in the island and really frees up a ton of space.

Not only does getting it away from over range help with appearance, no overhead microwave I've ever seen does a decent job of venting odor, smoke and especially heat. Well, they move the heat from beneath it but most of it flows out the front into kitchen and your face even if the struggling little fan is vented.

Side dish of most of us aren't staying in our current house forever, even if we think we are. Little things that make it more salable down the road and still work well while living there are usually a good idea.

I don't even have a Microwave anymore. I don't need to boil water that fast, or thaw something that quickly, and regular Cooktops, Ovens, and the rest are better for warming things, IMO.

I say it's Microwaves themselves that are passe.

Hah! I’m not super trendy, but it’s been about 50 years since the kitchen cabinets had a redo.. we’ve been replacing appliances little by little. Ok, so regular vented hood. If anyone has one they really love, please lmk. I’m stuck between 2 models... 1 very simple and 1 more in the theme of a fancy stand alone hood, but it takes up more vertical height than I’m used to.
Also, do duct shapes matter, or can I get an adapter (yes, I’m going to try and do this myself)?

I just got one and the main reason is I'm selling this house in the next couple of years and wanted to dress up the kitchen with new stainless appliances. I may not even actually use it while I'm still here. But it looks great and vents well enough as far as I can tell.

Ditched the microwave 4 years ago for a combo steam/convection oven. Previous home the microwave was built in to island.

quote:

Originally posted by TXJIM:
Ditched the microwave 4 years ago for a combo steam/convection oven. Previous home the microwave was built in to island.

If you want to have some real fun get one of the microwave/Advantium combos. We had this in a house in TX - I have no idea how the Advantium tech worked but it was as bright as the sun and seemingly twice as hot. We called it our little reactor the few times we were brave enough to use the Advantium rather than just microwave settings.

They make an over-range version too.

Kitchen thermonuclear reactor

You guys must not have kids. I could never live without a microwave. I also eat a ton of leftovers. How do you heat up leftovers, or chicken nuggets? The oven?

^^^^^^^^
I don’t have kids, but would hate to be without a microwave. Heating up a bowl of Dinty Moore Beef Stew for instance.

But for reheating cold pizza my Breville Smart Grill, which heats from above as well as below, is soooo much better than a microwave! Almost as good as just-baked pizza.

www.amazon.com/dp/B003SIN0BC/r..._api_i_Ip-xEb7A5F6V3