If you’re looking to maximize the space you have around your kitchen, then one of the most essential items to have is a microwave cabinet. Not only these will provide you with a location to conveniently and safely place your almost any microwave model you wish to, but they are especially useful if the microwave you’ve purchased cannot be easily mounted anywhere in your kitchen. Normally, people just place their microwave oven anywhere there’s space on the kitchen countertop, but this will take away from the space you would normally have for food preparation and such.

There are different types of microwave cabinets available, and in this article we will review the different options that every consumer has.

Kitchen Kits Classic Microwave Wall Cabinet — The Kitchen Kits Microwave Wall Cabinet is a white microwave cabinet that you attach to the wall with a classic, simple design. You have a cabinet space to store any canned goods you may have, and a space underneath to place your microwave on. It’s relatively easy to assemble, and is fit for many kitchens looking to save a little bit of space. You can save $10 off the original price if you buy it online.

Tall Microwave Cabinet — If you’re looking for something that looks classier than a plain, white microwave cabinet, then look no further than this model of microwave cabinet with a shelf. The cabinet itself is made from wood composite material, and is laminated for that smooth and shiny surface. It comes with a medium cherry finish, and the cabinet itself comes with glass doors. What makes it even more amazing is the pullout drawer and shelf with metal glides (pre-mounted to make assembly much easier for you). It’s a little more expensive than the previous model (the cheapest you can get it is for $179), but in my opinion the extra $50 is worth it for such a classy storage device.

(If you prefer the tall microwave cabinet model but are hesitant to spend an extra $50, then you can buy a similar model for just $129 by clicking here.)

The best part about these microwave cabinets is not only will you have somewhere to put that brand new mini microwave on, but also gain much needed storage space around the kitchen. For instance, if you need to keep small items such as containers of sugar and salt or other small items close at hand, these microwave cabinets offer plenty of space to hold them in.

When it comes to under cabinet microwaves, there is only one model I can recommend, and that would be the Sharp R-1214 Over-The-Counter Microwave.

Why do I highly recommend this model over everything else? It’s simple: this device allows for a wide range of placement options. It is almost a guarantee that you’ll be able to fit this wherever you need it to fit, simply because it is one of the very few under cabinet microwaves that does not require its own built-in kit or shelf. Believe me when I say that installation is a breeze with this microwave! If you’re the type who fumbles through do it yourself installations, then I’m sure you will appreciate just how convenient that feature is.

The Sharp R-1214 also comes with an under cabinet task lighting. It’s a small appliance and is a great space saver, which leaves you with a lot more cooking space in your kitchen — but it still packs a powerful punch when it comes to microwaving power. There isn’t a lot of options available if you want an under cabinet microwave that will supply you with the heating power that you need, and the Sharp R-1214 is definitely the best of them. If you have a granite countertop, then the Sharp’s task lighting is excellent and can cast a beautiful ambience while you do your magic in the kitchen.

The downside? This isn’t the cheapest over-the-counter microwave there is. It retails for $400 (but you can save $60 and buy it for just $340 if you buy online) — however, I’ve found that the price is definitely worth it for the ease of installation and peace of mind. Unless you’re the very brash type who doesn’t take care of her appliances, it is actually very difficult to break down this under cabinet microwave.

Other features of this over the counter microwave is all the extra functions it comes along with that most under cabinet microwaves don’t. You can virtually eliminate guesswork as it comes with 11 presets for the most popular microwaveable treats, and if you’re the multitasking type you can take advantage of the Keep Warm Plus feature which lets you keep hot foods for up to 30 minutes after the heating process is complete. The Popcorn Sensor is the greatest if you have a lot of movie nights with the family; you can pop popcorn automatically without burning the popcorn regardless of the size or the brand!

The Sharp R-1214 under cabinet microwave is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Like we said before, you can get this at Walmart or Sears for $400 but you can save $60 and buy it for $340 if you order online. If you’re looking for an under cabinet microwave that is easy to install and is powerful enough to heat every dish in the least time possible, you absolutely CANNOT go wrong with this model.