Microwaves

Cabinet width, clearance above the cooktop, depth, and the vent configuration. What to measure before you buy an over-the-range microwave.

One saves counter space and vents your cooktop. The other costs a fifth as much. Which one your kitchen actually needs.

Exterior vs. interior size, the clearance gaps that matter, and what changes when it’s an over-the-range or built-in unit.

Some explode, some catch fire, some quietly become a food-safety problem. Ten things to keep out of your microwave, and what to do instead.