Specs are compiled from manufacturer listings and verified buyer reviews and can change over time — please confirm the key details on the product page before buying.
An over-the-range microwave has to do two jobs at once: cook your food and pull smoke, steam, and grease off your stovetop. Get the size or the venting wrong and you are stuck with a unit that hangs over your burners and does neither job well. Every model below has been checked for the two things that decide whether you will be happy in year three rather than week one — a real over-the-range install type with built-in exhaust venting, and a usable interior.
A quick note on sizing before you scroll: this list uses flexible, human-like matching for about 1.6 cubic feet, accepting roughly 1.5 to 1.7 cu ft instead of the exact figure. So not every pick here is the precise number you typed into the search bar. A 1.7 cu ft unit with the same 1000W output and 300 CFM vent does the same job in the same 30-inch opening, so do not skip a better fit just because the label says 1.7.
I’m Mohammad Maruf — the founder and writer behind KitchPrep. This guide is built by comparing the manufacturers’ published specifications and the patterns across verified customer reviews, so you get each pick’s real strengths and trade-offs instead of marketing spin.
Below you will find eleven models ranked by what they are actually good at, with the venting power, wattage, and turntable size spelled out for each. The 1.6 cu ft over-the-range microwave you end up with should match your cabinet width, your venting route, and how you actually cook.
Our Picks at a Glance
How To Choose The Best 1.6 Cu Ft Over-the-Range Microwave
An over-the-range microwave is a piece of cabinetry as much as it is an appliance. It bolts under your upper cabinets and vents your cooktop, so the measurements and the exhaust route matter before a single cooking feature does.
Start With The Cabinet Opening, Not The Controls
Nearly every pick here is 30 inches wide, which is the standard gap under upper cabinets above a range. What varies is depth and height. Depth decides whether the front of the unit sits flush or juts past your cabinet line and over your front burners. Height decides how much clearance you keep between the microwave base and your tallest pot. Measure both before you buy, because a unit that is deeper than your old one will stick out into your cooking space.
Vent CFM And Your Venting Route
CFM stands for cubic feet per minute — the volume of air the fan pushes out of your kitchen. A 300 CFM fan is the common figure across this group, and it is enough to pull everyday stovetop steam and grease. The route matters just as much. Recirculating setups push air back through a charcoal filter and into the room, which suits kitchens with no ductwork. Top-venting or rear-venting sends air outside and needs an existing duct path. Some units here are convertible between those modes, and that flexibility is worth real money if you are replacing a range hood rather than another microwave.
Wattage, Turntable, And Why 900W Versus 1000W Is Not Trivia
Wattage is the raw heating power. A 1000W unit heats faster and more evenly than a 900W one, and the difference shows up most on dense food like a whole baked potato or a frozen dinner. A 12.4-inch turntable is the common size in this group and swallows a standard dinner plate. A 13.6-inch turntable takes a wider casserole dish, while a smaller cavity can leave your hands scraping the door frame when you set a plate down. Match the turntable to the widest dish you actually reheat: 12.4 inches for a standard dinner plate, 13.6 inches for a casserole.
Quick Comparison
| Model | Best For | Capacity | Wattage | Vent Fan | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLACK+DECKER 1.7 Cu.Ft★ Best Overall | Everyday cooking on a budget | 1.7 cu ft | 1000W | 300 CFM | Amazon |
| Midea 1.7 Cu.FtMost Menus | One-touch menu shortcuts | 1.7 cu ft | 1000W | 300 CFM | Amazon |
| Sharp SMO1754JSSensor Cook | Sensor cooking and precise reheat | 1.7 cu ft | 1000W | — | Amazon |
| KoolMore KM-MOT-1SS | Low-profile fit over the stove | 1.6 cu ft | 1000W | 300 CFM | Amazon |
| Farberware 1.7 Cu. Ft. | Replacing a range hood directly | 1.7 cu ft | 1000W | 2-speed | Amazon |
| Impecca OM-1600W | White kitchens and simple controls | 1.6 cu ft | 1000W | 300 CFM | Amazon |
| ThermoMate 1.7 Cu. Ft. | Pre-drilled hole matching | 1.7 cu ft | 1000W | 300 CFM | Amazon |
| GE JVM3162RJSS | Convertible venting flexibility | 1.6 cu ft | 1000W | 300 CFM | Amazon |
| GASLAND OTR1702SN | Multi-stage recipe cooking | 1.7 cu ft | 1000W | 300 CFM | Amazon |
| BLACK+DECKER Air Fryer 1.5 | Air frying without a counter appliance | 1.5 cu ft | 900W | 300 CFM | Amazon |
| Kenmore 1.7 cu. ft. | Three-way venting and six presets | 1.7 cu ft | 1000W | 300 CFM | Amazon |
In‑Depth Reviews
1. BLACK+DECKER Over the Range Microwave Oven, 1.7 Cu.Ft, 1000W
Our pick — over 4★ from 12,000+ verified ratings; the strongest balance of quality and price.
The crowd favorite that cooks fast, vents hard, and keeps its hands off your wallet.
What wins people over here is plain cooking quality. This is a 1.7 cubic foot interior with a 12.4-inch turntable, a 1000-watt output, and a 300 CFM two-speed vent fan with an integrated light underneath — the full over-the-range toolset at a mid-range position. Owners describe it as easy to use, quick to heat food, and quiet in daily running, which is why it has become the default recommendation for a kitchen that just needs a dependable cook-and-vent unit. The 4.4-star score is backed by more than 12,000 ratings, and that volume is the strongest signal in this whole list.
On busy nights, the control layout saves you time. Six quick menus cover Popcorn, Beverage, Melt/Soften, Reheat, and Defrost, and you get ten power levels to dial in. Pressing 1, 2, or 3 starts a full-power cook at one, two, or three minutes without any menu diving. Multi-stage cooking lets you run 90% power for 10 minutes and then drop to 50% power for 20 minutes inside a single setting, which is the trick for a dish that needs a hard start and a gentle finish. A child safety lock keeps small hands from starting it, and the stainless steel inner and outer finish makes the front easy to wipe down.
The honest catch is the door latch over the long haul. It is the recurring gripe in the review pages, with units reported failing around the 14-month mark, so treat the door gently and press the release button cleanly rather than yanking. Two smaller quirks show up too: the display turns off after three seconds, which surprises people at first, and the child safety lock has to be released before the door opens — a habit worth building early so you are not pressing the release over and over. None of that changes the math on a unit this well-liked, but it is the reason the reliability picture reads mixed rather than clean.
trusted black decker
- Six quick menus plus numbers 1, 2, and 3 for instant one-to-three-minute cooks at full power
- 12.4-inch turntable and a 1.7 cu ft cavity that fits a standard dinner plate without scraping
- 300 CFM two-speed vent with an integrated light, so steam and grease leave your kitchen
- Multi-stage cooking runs two different power levels in one timed setting
dimmer cooktop light
- The door latch is the part that gives up first — handle it gently, no yanking
- Display shuts off after three seconds, which takes a day to get used to
- Child lock must be released before the door opens
everyday pick: if you want the safest all-round over-the-range microwave with the deepest well of owner experience behind it.
bright light need: you need sensor cooking that reads the food for you, which this unit does not offer.
2. Midea Over the Range Microwave Oven, 1.7 Cu.Ft, 1000W, Stainless Steel
Eighteen auto menus on a one-touch panel turn guessing into pressing a single button.
The number that shapes everything else on this unit is 18 — the auto-cook menu count. Popcorn, pizza, defrost, softened cream cheese, rice, and potato all get their own press-and-walk-away setting, which is exactly what you want when you are cooking with one hand and stirring a pan with the other. A 1000-watt output and ten power levels sit underneath, and the 1.7 cubic foot cavity with its 12.4-inch turntable swallows a big rotisserie chicken or a 12-inch pizza — a real advantage over a tighter cavity when you are reheating for a family.
Installation is the other place this earns its keep. The template and instructions walk you through it, all mounting parts come in the box, and the fit lands cleanly over the stove. Owners describe it as powerful, fast, and good-looking, and a few note the door’s glass shielding is thicker than what the brand-name unit it replaced had, so the window reads darker but still see-through. The 300 CFM two-speed fan with a cooktop light does its job, and the 1.7 cu ft interior is genuinely spacious for the footprint.
Now the fair warning. This one hums louder than a premium unit while it is running, and the vent fan itself is loud enough that people rarely bother with it beyond a passing minute. The under-light is also dimmer than some kitchens want, and a couple of the number buttons do not auto-start a cook the way you would expect — you have to press Start, at roughly 30 seconds per press. None of that is a defect; it is what you accept at this position in the market, and the sturdy door handle suggests the build holds up well past the honeymoon phase.
strong 1000w power: what you give up here is the sensor sophistication of pricier units — no sensors reading your food and cutting the cook short for you. What you gain is a wider auto-menu list than anything else in this group and a cavity that takes the biggest round dish you own.
power first: one-touch cooking for a busy household matters more to you than a whisper-quiet fan.
style first: you already own a loud older OTR unit and you cannot live with more of the same — go sensor-first instead.
3. Sharp SMO1754JS 30 in. 1.7 cu. ft. Over the Range Microwave Oven
Sensor cooking that reads the food and stops on its own, in a ventless-friendly shell.
Where the Midea above leans on a long menu list, this Sharp bets on a single smarter idea: a sensor cook menu that adjusts the cook as the food heats rather than running a fixed timer. It works at 2.45 GHz and pairs that with a melt/soften setting for cheese and chocolate, express cook up to 9 minutes for instant starts, and a bright white LED display that is genuinely readable from across the kitchen. The 1.7 cubic foot cavity and edge-to-edge stainless with a gray interior give it a modern look that the finish of a plainer unit does not match.
Owners who get it mounted properly tend to be happy. It cleans out easily, the color scheme lands well, and the ventless setup suits kitchens with no ductwork at all — the exact scenario where a range hood and a microwave have to be the same appliance. The stainless interior and gray cavity make cleanup less of a chore than a white cavity would.
Here is the honest part. Installation is where this unit asks the most of you. The mounting is described as tricky, and buyers report having to modify the hangers inside to get the unit to sit properly — a surprise that should not be necessary on a fresh install. Quality is the most-discussed topic in the review pages and it lands mixed rather than glowing. Fit a small kitchen? Owners praise it for exactly that. Just budget for a patient install and go in knowing that the mounting hardware is the weak link rather than the cooking.
simple upgrade: you have no duct path and want sensor cooking plus a melt/soften setting in a ventless over-the-range unit.
smart features need: you are doing a solo self-install and want the mounting to be a no-drama bolt-on.
4. KoolMore 1.6 Cu. Ft. Over the Range Microwave Oven with Oven Lamp and 300CFM Recirculation Vent Hood Function (KM-MOT-1SS)
A low-slung 1.6 cu ft unit that keeps your clearance over the burners.
If you have ever bumped your head on a deep over-the-range microwave, this is the design that fixes it. This is a 1.6 cubic foot cavity with a 1000-watt output, ten power levels, and a 300 CFM recirculation vent hood built in, plus an oven lamp for low-light cooking and a hood function that keeps air moving while you sear. Six pre-programmed cooking selections and a 30-second express cook handle the everyday meals, and a child safety lockout keeps small hands away from the controls. The stainless-steel finish reads more high-end than the position suggests.
The controls are one of the quiet strengths here. Owners specifically call out the wide, easy-to-read buttons and labels — a small thing that turns frustrating on units with tiny unlit keys, and one reason this scores well on ease of use. Heats quickly and evenly is the other common note, and a flat bottom lets you set a large dish down without hunting for the turntable edge.
The mixed signal on this one is the drawer-style door operation. Some owners mention it not staying closed properly, so check your mounting alignment carefully and make sure the door seats flush. There is also the weight — this is a heavy unit that wants a second set of hands for the lift, not a solo job. Neither of those is a deal-breaker at this rating, but they are the two places a careful buyer should plan around before ordering.
outdoor kitchen: a kitchen that needs the microwave to sit low over the stove and still pull 300 CFM of exhaust.
large family: you cannot wrangle a helper for the install — this one is a two-person lift.
5. Farberware 1.7 Cu. Ft. Over-the-Range Microwave Oven – 1000 Watts Power, Auto Cook Settings, Defrost, Easy Clean and Child Safety Lock
The low-profile hood replacement that drops into the same slot without new holes.
Performance is the first thing owners mention on this one, and it comes from a 1000-watt output fed by 1550 watts of input — a power spec that usually means even, consistent heating rather than hot spots. It carries a 1.7 cubic foot interior and a 12.4-inch turntable, handles a big bowl or plate, and runs through auto reheat, defrost, multi-stage cooking, potato, and snack programs. Melt/soften and a quick +30 second button handle the small stuff.
The reason this pick lands where it does is the low-profile build. It measures roughly 10.375 inches high by 30 inches wide by 19 inches deep, and owners replacing a bare range hood report it dropping in with no cabinet modification and the same venting path — top, rear, or recirculating. The rear mounting bracket simplifies the install, sensor cook removes the guesswork from reheating, and two LED cook lights with two-speed vents give you real stovetop coverage. The adjustable display brightness and LED readout are small conveniences that hold up over years of daily use.
The catch here is the details. The buttons are unlit, which is a nuisance in a dim kitchen, and the interior is a little tight at 6.5 inches of height — a tall casserole dish may not clear the ceiling. Some units arrive with a door gap that bumps against the frame; a felt stopper is the common fix. The grease filter fit is also reported as loose on some units, and the top mounting template is described as difficult to read. And because this replaced a hardwired hood, you will need a nearby outlet for it — check that before you commit.
farberware low profile: replacing a range hood with a full microwave is the exact scenario this was built for, and the 10.375-inch height is what makes it possible without cabinet work.
tight spaces: a kitchen swapping an old range hood for a real microwave in the same opening.
feature seekers: your tallest baking dish needs more than 6.5 inches of interior clearance.
6. Impecca 1.6 cu. ft. Over-the-Range 30” Microwave Oven 1000 Watts, with Surface Light, 2 Speed Vent System (White)
White stainless-look shell for a 1.6 cu ft cavity, with a fan that never quits on you.
Impecca built this at 1.6 cubic feet with a 12.4-inch turntable, a 1000-watt output, and a 300 CFM two-speed vent that lets the unit double as a range hood. It comes in white as shown here, and the touchpad controls, digital clock, kitchen timer, LED display, and child lock round out the panel. The unit is a 29.88 by 17.69 by 16.88 inch footprint that installs over the range the same way the rest of this list does.
Buyers who got it running describe it as worth the money, with plenty of functions and a stove fan plus nightlight on the underside. It runs relatively quiet for a unit this size, and the install is the part most customers note going smoothly. One-touch menus, add-30-seconds, and time-or-weight defrost are all present, so the control panel is not where this one falls short.
The honest reading of the review pages is that delivery condition and long-term durability are the variables. Some units do not heat on arrival — a defective-unit problem rather than a design one — and door latch failures show up over time. There is also a quirk where the blower runs whenever the microwave runs, which is unusual but not harmful. Buy with a clear return policy and inspect the unit on arrival, and you avoid the one scenario that turns a good value into a frustrating one.
standard cabinet: a white over-the-range unit at an entry-level point, with the vent fan and light doing double duty as a range hood.
brand loyal: you cannot easily handle a return — the main reported failures here happen from the start or on the door latch.
7. 30″ Over the Range Microwave Oven, ThermoMate 1.7 Cu. Ft. Capacity (Black)
A 1.7 cu ft workhorse that fits pre-drilled cabinet holes without a fuss.
The standout spec on this ThermoMate is the footprint: 29.92 inches wide by 15 inches deep by 16.42 inches high, with a 1.7 cubic foot cavity and a 1000-watt output across ten power levels. The 12.4-inch removable glass turntable rotates a full 360 degrees for even heat, and the panel carries four auto-cook programs — reheat, popcorn, baked potato, and beverage — plus a 30-second quick cook and a child safety lock. Owners searching for an exact replacement size report this lands perfectly, and the simple placement of the function icons earns specific praise for being easy to read at a glance.
The performance picture is where this pick earns its place. On a 4.5-star score, the most-mentioned topic is how well it cooks, followed closely by appearance and install ease. One owner even calls out that it makes perfect baked potatoes, which is the kind of everyday outcome test you care about. The two-speed 300 CFM vent fan does the exhaust work while the built-in LED light throws extra illumination over the stove.
Two notes to weigh. The door can feel a little loose after a month or so of use, and installation is easier with two people even though it can be done solo. Also remove the adhesive tape from inside the door before your first run — a small oversight that shows up as smoke if missed. Neither of those should move the needle much at this rating, but they are the things careful buyers plan around.
budget spacious: you need a 1.7 cu ft unit that drops into pre-drilled holes and reads clearly at a glance.
proven brand: you want a sturdier-feeling door after months of daily use — check the door fit at delivery.
8. GE JVM3162RJSS 30″ 120 Volts 1.6 cu. ft. Over the Range Microwave with Convertible Venting (Stainless Steel)
Convertible venting that works with whatever duct path your kitchen already has.
This GE carries the one feature that usually decides an over-the-range purchase for anyone replacing an old unit: convertible venting. The microwave can be set up to recirculate air back into the room or vent it outside, so it fits kitchens with a duct path and kitchens without one. Add a 1000-watt output, a 1.6 cubic foot cavity, a two-speed 300 CFM vent system, ten power levels, an add-30-seconds button, and a microwave rack in the box, and the spec sheet covers the everyday checklist. The dimensions land at 16 7/16 inches high, 29 7/8 inches wide, and 15 7/8 inches deep, with a cabinet width of 30 inches and a net weight at 56 pounds.
The look is a genuine strength. The feedback pattern lands strongest on appearance — the stainless finish reads sharp and modern — and several owners mention the stainless door feels more durable than the black plastic they had before. It is easy to operate and fits a standard 30-inch opening without drama.
The variable here is durability over years. This model is discontinued, so replacement parts — the door handle in particular — can be difficult to source if something breaks. Reviewers point out performance holding up well before that, and there are longer-term reports of handle failure after a year of use. That is not unusual for a unit at this position, but it is worth knowing before you commit, and worth replacing the handle assembly sooner if demand for parts continues to climb.
reliable basic: anyone needing convertible venting in a stainless 1.6 cu ft unit that fits a 30-inch opening.
sensor cooking: replacement parts are scarce on this discontinued model, so treat the door handle gently.
9. GASLAND 30″ Over-the-Range Microwave, 1.7 Cu.Ft., 1000W, 11 Power Levels
Eleven power levels and two-stage cooking for recipes that need a soft start and a hard finish.
What separates this GASLAND from most of the list is the 11-level power control combined with a 2-stage cooking function that switches power automatically mid-cycle. That combination is what you want for a dish that needs gentle thawing followed by a fast blast, without standing there and reprogramming the panel halfway through. The 1000-watt output, 1.7 cubic foot cavity, 12.4-inch glass turntable, and 300 CFM two-speed vent with a 20W LED cooktop light round out the package. Six one-touch programs handle the common meals, and both defrost-by-time and defrost-by-weight give you control on the thaw side.
Owners describe this one as reliable, straightforward to install with easy-to-read directions, and excellent value for the money. The appearance gets specific compliments — one buyer notes it pairs well with a Gasland oven, and another says it replaced an old RV microwave that kept tripping the breaker. Customer support gets called out as responsive when someone needs help, which is a meaningful data point for a longer-term appliance.
Two honest notes. The noise level is where feedback splits — some describe it as quiet, others say it is a touch loud, and one long-term owner still runs it three years later with a mild gripe about the sound. And durability has a small negative tail: a rare unit dies young, around the one-year mark. Neither outweighs the strong showing on reliability and support, but if fan noise is genuinely grating for you, this is the aspect to weigh against the sensor-driven units above.
gasland two stage vent: running a gentle power level first and a fast one second, in a single press, is the feature that saves the most standing-around time in a busy kitchen.
ventilation focus: you cook in stages and want 11 power levels plus real customer support behind a 1.7 cu ft unit.
lightweight need: a low fan hum is non-negotiable for you — the vent fan runs at a volume that splits opinions.
10. BLACK+DECKER Over-the-Range Microwave Oven with Air Fryer, 1.5 Cu.Ft, 900W
The one unit here that air fries, bakes, and roasts without stealing counter space.
Six functions in one chassis is the whole pitch: microwave, air fryer, convection, combi grill, bake, and roast all live in this over-the-range unit. That means you can crisp a batch of food without owning a separate countertop air fryer, which is exactly the reason owners buy it — one buyer describes clearing an old air fryer off the counter entirely. A 900-watt output and a 1.5 cubic foot cavity with a 13.6-inch turntable sit underneath, plus a 300 CFM two-speed vent, sensor reheat that keeps leftovers tasting fresh, and a child safety lock.
The quiet is genuinely surprising for a combo unit. Owners describe it as low-noise across every mode, and one buyer puts it bluntly — you cannot even hear it running as a plain microwave. The digital interface reads clearly enough that a first-time user can pick it up fast, and the box even arrives with handles cut into it to keep it upright in transit.
Two trade-offs deserve your attention before you commit. First, 900 watts is lower than the 1000W units on this list, and the smaller 1.5 cu ft cavity with a 13.6-inch turntable is tighter than you may expect — a full-size dinner plate can crowd the space and leave no room for your hands. Second, the controls have a wrinkle: the child safety lock is not easy to disable, and the panel logic confuses some users on first use. The bigger durability question is that these combo units do occasionally die early — a rare failure mode worth knowing about, especially if you are replacing a countertop appliance with it.
air fry combo: a household that wants to ditch a countertop air fryer and gain convection baking in the same slot over the stove.
simple microwave: you reheat full-size plates daily — the 1.5 cu ft cavity is tight, and clarity around the child-lock panel matters for multi-person kitchens.
11. Kenmore Over-the-Range Microwave – 1.7 cu. ft. Capacity, Stainless Steel
The premium over-the-range unit with three-way venting and a genuinely quiet stainless shell.
Kenmore’s 1.7 cubic foot microwave is the top of this list, and the spec that separates it is the flexible 3-way venting — it works with top, rear, or recirculating setups, so you are not locked into one duct path. A 300 CFM fan with two speeds moves smoke and steam off the stove, and a 12.4-inch rotating glass turntable sits inside the interior. Power runs at 1000 watts, and the panel carries six preset cooking options covering cook, defrost, melt, reheat, and soften. It runs at 2.45 GHz.
The controls and lighting are where the premium feel lives. Interior LED lighting monitors the food as it cooks, and a separate cooktop light brightens the range below so you can watch two things at once. Carbon air and grease filters catch airborne particles and odors, and the child safety lock keeps small hands from starting it. The 16.5 by 29.9 by 15.8 inch dimensions fit a standard 30-inch gap, and the LED touch controls give you a clean panel that is easy to read.
Owners who have owned this model before often re-buy, and the smooth swap from a prior unit — same brackets, same footprint — earns praise. Durability hopes are high, though several note they are hoping it lasts longer than previous units. Where the honest question sits here is value: this is the priciest pick in the group, and at this tier you are paying for the venting flexibility and premium finish rather than raw cooking power, which is the same 1000 watts the more affordable picks deliver.
kenmore premium build: the 3-way venting and LED lighting are real advantages, but if your kitchen already has a working duct path, the same 1000W output is available for less.
quality seeker: you want three-way venting flexibility and premium lighting in a stainless unit that fits a standard 30-inch opening.
budget buyer: your duct path is already fixed and you would rather put the difference toward a second small appliance.
Understanding the Specs
Why 300 CFM Is The Real Number
CFM — cubic feet per minute — measures how much air the fan pushes off your cooktop, and 300 CFM is the standard on nearly every unit in this list. That is enough to pull steam and grease from a busy stovetop in a normal kitchen. The two-speed build matters for real life: low for simmering, high for searing. If your kitchen has no ductwork, look for recirculating or convertible venting, which pushes the air back into the room through a charcoal filter rather than sending it outside.
1000W Versus 900W, In Plain English
Wattage is raw heating power. A 1000-watt unit heats faster and more evenly than a 900-watt one, and the gap shows up most on dense foods like a whole potato or a frozen entrée. Most picks here run at 1000 watts; only one runs at 900 watts. That 100W gap is not a deal-breaker, but a 900W unit takes longer on the same leftovers, so weigh it against the cooking features you actually want.
FAQ
Will a 1.6 cu ft over-the-range microwave fit under my existing cabinets?
Can I use one of these to replace a range hood that vents outside?
Is800 CFM better than 300 CFM on an over-the-range microwave?
How long do over-the-range microwaves usually last?
Why is the fan running when I am only using the microwave?
What is multi-stage cooking and do I actually need it?
Is 900 watts enough, or should I only buy 1000 watts?
Will a 30-inch over-the-range microwave block my stovetop light and burners?
Do I need a duct or can I use a recirculating setup?
How hard is installation, and can I do it myself?
What size turntable do I need for family meals?
Final Thoughts: The Verdict
For most kitchens, the winner is the BLACK+DECKER 1.7 Cu.Ft, 1000W because it combines a 1.7 cu ft cavity, a 12.4-inch turntable, ten power levels, six quick menus, and a 300 CFM vent — and it is the most-reviewed pick in this entire list, which matters when you are buying a multi-year appliance and want reassurance. Its one weakness is the door latch over the long haul, so handle the door gently and it will reward you.
If one-touch menus are what you want on a busy weeknight, the Midea 1.7 Cu.Ft brings 18 auto menus and a sturdy door handle to the same size cavity. And if you want a mid-range 1.7 cu ft unit that drops into pre-drilled holes and reads clearly at a glance, the ThermoMate 1.7 Cu.Ft is the sleeper pick worth a look.
Whatever you choose, match the width to your 30-inch opening, confirm the venting route before you order, and check the wattage against how you actually cook. The right 1.6 cu ft over-the-range microwave is the one that fits your 30-inch cabinet opening, clears your tallest pot, and holds up past the first year.
How We Picked
We do not accept paid placement. Every pick is matched to a real buyer and a real use-case; we do not hands-on test units.
Sources & Methodology
Specifications: manufacturer listings and product documentation. Review insights: verified customer reviews, as of September 2026. Pricing: not shown on this page (it changes often); check the current price via the retailer link.
As an Amazon Associate, KitchPrep earns from qualifying purchases. This does not affect which products we feature.
Related Guides
