Island microwave options?

[Carrie12345]

I am not into expensive microwaves. My son nearly burned down the house with one just a couple weeks ago. I don’t even recall what killed the previous one. I’m content with paying $100 or so every 3-6 years for a new one. While I hate appliance waste, I’d hate replacing a $1500+ built in microwave even more.

Can a regular microwave be put in an island nook/shelf/open cabinet area?!?  Is it too dangerous with ventilation needs, or am I overthinking it?  I can stick to smallish microwaves, thereby leaving a decent amount of room around it. I don’t need a custom finished look.  Are there factors I’m overlooking?

[Katy]

It can be done, but for about the same money you can get a sharp microwave drawer that is built in. 

[kristin0713]

1 hour ago, Carrie12345 said:

Can a regular microwave be put in an island nook/shelf/open cabinet area?!?

In our old house, we gutted and redid the kitchen. I put a regular (smallest I could find) microwave in a cabinet space that we left open and dedicated for the microwave.  It just needed an outlet. I'm planning to do the same in our new house; I can't stand having them above the stove and, like you, I don't need or want anything huge and fancy. 

[Carrie12345]

1 hour ago, Katy said:

It can be done, but for about the same money you can get a sharp microwave drawer that is built in. 

I don’t understand.  I’m going to be having an island built, with outlets. I already own a $100 microwave.  Why would a hole cost more than a built in drawer microwave??? Now I’m scared, lol.

[Scarlett]

38 minutes ago, Carrie12345 said:

I don’t understand.  I’m going to be having an island built, with outlets. I already own a $100 microwave.  Why would a hole cost more than a built in drawer microwave??? Now I’m scared, lol.

I am thinking it would be too low.  

Our kitchen had to be reconfigured (by us, just the bare min for now) because we took out a non working wall/microwave combo and put in a gas stove with full vent hood.  I dislike microwaves above the stove very much.  But dh took part of the cabinet that had been above the former cooktop and added a shelf to it and now our microwave lives there to the left of the gas stove.  It is not as high as the ones above the stove but still higher than the bottom of the other cabinets so there is extra room on the counter below it for things that are tall.