Steve, I agree with you. My spouse wants to free up counter space. I am
trying to get the mounting height show I can show her using a cardboard
cutout just how high it would have to be. Our daughter has pointed out the
dangers that you have.

At the moment we are at a standooff. The old micro is in dire need of
replacement. She doesn't want one on the counter. I said ok we will do
without one.

Charlie



"SteveB" wrote in message
...

"Charlie Bress" wrote in message
. ..
What is the accepted minimum distance between the bottom of a built in
micro to the top of the range cooking surface below?

ZERO. NADA. ZIP. POCHOSKI.

Never ever mount a microwave over a stove. Reasons: You are boiling a
big kettle of menudo on the burner. Now, you gonna stick your private
parts close to that boiling pot to put the marinara sauce in the microwave
and risk being a soprano the rest of your life?

You are gonna expose that microwave to a HUGE volume of air containing
steam, oil, smoke and crud in general? You'll never get it out unless you
totally immerse the microwave in cleaning solution about a dozen times,
and then you only get out about 50%.

I have lived in many places where I have had a microwave over a stove. I
have also built 5 residences now, and would NEVER ever place a microwave
over a stove just on safety reasons, and the hygiene issue is equal to the
safety issue.

That is just me. You can and will do whatever you want. I would dare to
say that many accidents have occurred BECAUSE of this configuration. Ever
drop anything when taking it out of the microwave. I have. You haven't?
I would just say - yet. You wanna drop that on a skillet of hot oil? Or
a lot of boiling water?

I also do not like the fact that in order to mount a microwave over a
stove, it is at a dangerous height for most people. My wife is 5'1" and
she keeps stools around to reach stuff, even though we mount the cabinets
at a standard height. We could have mounted them lower, but that would
affect the salability. I prefer a microwave at countertop height with
room in front and on the side for those times when you pick something up
and have it about half out of the microwave and say, "OH, ****" because
it's burning your fingers or spilling or whatever. Being at countertop
makes it safer. Even she, who's short, can safely handle things at
countertop height. I can't imagine her standing on a stool reaching over
a stovetop of hot pots to get something in or out of the microwave. If
anything happens, it's going to be messy and painful.

As I say, you can and will do what you want, but just think about it a
moment. And reflect on this if the worst ever happens.

Now I feel better.

Steve