The Best Over Range Microwave Doubles as a 300 to 400 CFM Hood

1. BLACK+DECKER Over the Range Microwave Oven, 1.9 Cu Ft, 1000W, 400 CFM (EM044KB19) — Best Overall

The strongest fan figure on the page, in the title, with a cooktop light and a large cavity to go with it.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This is one of only two listings that puts 400 CFM on the label. The title ends with it, “1000W, 400 CFM”, and a bullet repeats it: “Two-speed, 400-CFM venting fan system.” Six of the other listings stop at 300, and two give no figure at all. If the hood half of an over-the-range microwave matters to you, and over a gas or busy electric cooktop it should, this is the higher of the two airflow figures on the page, a third more than the 300 CFM majority by our arithmetic.

Keep the figure in proportion. 400 CFM is strong for a microwave and modest for a hood. The 30-inch under-cabinet hoods in our 30-inch under-cabinet range hood roundup run up to 1,200 CFM from the same 30-inch width. This BLACK+DECKER sits near the bottom of that spread, alongside the smaller hoods. For everyday boiling, simmering and frying it is the better of the two numbers available here; for heavy searing or wok cooking over high gas, a dedicated hood is the stronger tool.

The listing is silent on where the air goes. There is no statement that the unit can be ducted outside, no statement that it recirculates, and no mention of a charcoal or grease filter. The listing says “English installation instructions can be viewed on the page”, and that is where the venting options will be. Read them before you buy, because whether your kitchen has an outside duct above the range decides whether this fan removes cooking air or only filters and returns it.

The microwave half is well specified. 1.9 cubic feet ties the Toshiba for the largest cavity here. The 13.6-inch turntable ties the BLACK+DECKER air fryer model for the largest stated turntable, and it can be switched off: “Turntable On/Off function allows you to cook large dishes.” Only the GE also states that function. Power is 1000 watts with ten settings, a clock and timer, 30-second express cooking and a child lock, plus nine named auto menus from popcorn to frozen breakfast.

The light is aimed where you cook. “Cooktop LED lighting that offers a clear and bright vision for your meals on cooktop.” Of the two 400 CFM models, this is the only one that mentions a cooktop light at all; the Toshiba does not. On an appliance that will sit over your hob for years, that is a small detail you will use every evening.

What to weigh. It ranks #2 in Over-the-Range Microwave Ovens and #1,894 overall, sold by Amazon.com with stock flagged as scarce at capture. The spec table labels its 29.9-inch width as “Length” and its 16.4 inches as “Width”; the bullet gives the usual order, 29.9 wide by 13.9 deep by 16.4 high. At 57.4 pounds listed, it is a two-person lift onto the wall plate, and a qualified installer should do it.

Best for: A buyer who wants the most fan this page offers, plus a cooktop light and a big cavity, in a conventional microwave.

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2. GE 30" Over-the-Range Microwave, 1.6 Cu Ft, 1000W, Stainless Steel (JVM3160RFSS) — Best Value

The category leader, the lowest-priced unit here, and one of two listings that names a filter for recirculating air.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This is the best-selling over-the-range microwave in Amazon’s category at capture. It ranks #1 in Over-the-Range Microwave Ovens and #4,186 overall. It is also the lowest-priced unit on the page and the lightest by listed weight, 40.0 pounds. Those three facts together explain a lot of its appeal: GE is a familiar name, the box is easy to justify, and it is the least weight to lift into place.

As a hood, it is a standard 300 CFM unit with something extra in writing. “Keep small spaces clear of cooking odors, steam and smoke with a 300-CFM ventilation system and 2-speed fan.” That is the majority figure on this page. Note the phrase “small spaces”: GE pitches the fan modestly, which is honest. Then comes the detail most listings skip: “The replaceable charcoal filter removes fumes and odors that are released from foods during cooking.”

The charcoal filter matters because of where the air goes. A microwave hood that is ducted outside pushes cooking air out of the house through its grease filter. One that recirculates draws air through a grease filter and then a charcoal filter, and blows it back into the room through the grille above the door. Without the charcoal stage, recirculation catches grease and does little about smells. Only two listings here name that stage, this GE and the Kenmore. GE does not say in the listing whether the unit can also be ducted outside, so check the installation instructions for the routes it supports.

The microwave half is middle of the page. 1.6 cubic feet is the second-smallest cavity here, ahead of only the 1.5 cu ft BLACK+DECKER air fryer model. Power is 1000 watts with 10 levels, “4 convenience cook settings” and one-touch express cooking. The turntable can be switched off for “larger or oddly shaped dishes”, a feature only this GE and the 400 CFM BLACK+DECKER state. The turntable’s diameter is not given.

Two gaps to note. The listing never mentions a cooktop light, which seven of the other nine clearly name. And its two dimension sets disagree slightly: the bullet gives 16.12 inches high by 15.56 deep, the spec table 16.5 by 15.25. The width is 29.87 or 29.88 inches either way, which is the standard 30-inch slot. Plan your cabinet height and the space over the cooktop around the taller figure, and confirm against GE’s installation instructions.

What to weigh. Sold by Amazon.com and in normal stock at capture, with a “Limited 1-year entire appliance” warranty and a child lock. If you want a known brand, a stated recirculation filter and the least strain on the budget, it is the obvious pick. If you want more fan, the two 400 CFM models give a third more air on paper, by our arithmetic.

Best for: A buyer replacing a standard over-the-range unit who wants a known brand, a stated charcoal filter and the lowest outlay.

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3. BLACK+DECKER Over-the-Range Microwave Oven with Air Fryer, 1.5 Cu Ft, 900W (EC942K6CE-SS) — Best Convection

The only listing on the page that turns the microwave into a convection oven and air fryer.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

If you came here for the best over range microwave convection oven, this is the only candidate. “6-in-1 Microwave Oven: Features six functions: microwave, air fryer, convection, combi (grill), bake, and roast.” None of the other nine listings mentions convection, air frying, a grill element, baking or roasting. They are microwaves with fans. This one is a small second oven over the hob, which is the point of buying an over-the-range convection model in a kitchen with one wall oven or none.

The hood half is the page’s standard. “300 CFM Vent Fan with Light: With a 2-speed strong suction, the powerful vent on this stainless steel microwave helps to remove fumes and odors while an integrated light offers focused lighting while cooking.” So 300 CFM, two speeds and a light over the cooktop. The listing does not say whether the unit vents outside, recirculates or does both, and names no filter. That matters more on this model than on most, because air frying and roasting under the microwave add their own heat and smells to whatever the hob below is producing.

The microwave is the smallest and lowest-powered on the page. 1.5 cubic feet is the smallest cavity here, and 900 watts is the only figure below 1000W among the listings that state a cooking output. The 13.6-inch turntable is one of the two largest stated, which suggests the cavity is wide and shallow rather than small all round; the outside measures 13.9 inches deep by 29.9 wide by 16.4 high. Convection cooking needs space for air to move around the food, so in practice a convection cavity holds less than its cubic feet suggests.

Its popularity is a puzzle worth noting. Its overall rank, #367, is by far the best on the page, about five times better than the next by our arithmetic, the 400 CFM BLACK+DECKER at #1,894. Yet in Over-the-Range Microwave Ovens it ranks #8, behind units with much weaker overall ranks. Amazon does not explain how the two lists are built, so read the overall figure as a sign of demand and the category figure as its place among over-the-range models.

Sensor reheat is the other extra. “This advanced function maintains the fresh flavor of your food–even on leftovers.” Only this model and the Toshiba mention any sensor function. The listing does not give a weight, a power-level count, a warranty in the bullets or a cooktop light described separately from the fan light. The spec table gives a one-year warranty.

What to weigh. It is the highest-priced unit on the page and the only one that does more than microwave and vent. Sold by Amazon.com with stock flagged as scarce. If you need a second oven and an air fryer and cannot spare worktop space for either, the trade is clear: you give up 100 watts and up to 0.4 cubic feet against the conventional models here and get five cooking modes they lack. For more countertop alternatives, our microwave and convection oven combo roundup compares combination ovens that sit on the worktop instead.

Best for: A kitchen short of oven space that wants a convection oven and air fryer above the hob, and accepts a smaller microwave.

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4. TOSHIBA Over-the-Range Microwave Oven, 1.9 Cu Ft, 1000W, Stainless Steel (OA-EM19PH(SS)) — Best for Installation

A 400 CFM fan, the largest cavity here and the only listing that talks about the mounting bracket.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This is the other 400 CFM fan on the page, and Toshiba says what it is for. “400 CFM 2-speed exhaust fan removes cooking odors and steam, ideal for open-concept kitchens and frequent cooking.” The word “exhaust” suggests air leaving the house, but the listing never says whether the unit is ducted outside, recirculates, or can do either, and it names no filter. As with the BLACK+DECKER, 400 CFM is the top of this page and the lower part of what a dedicated hood offers.

It is the only listing that speaks to installation. “Easy installation with redesigned flip and lock bracket can shorten your installation time.” An over-the-range microwave hangs on a plate fixed to the wall and is bolted up through the cabinet above, so a bracket that locks the unit while it is being fixed is a real help to whoever does the job. It does not make the job a one-person task. At 54.7 pounds listed, the Toshiba still needs two people, secure fixings into the wall structure, and a supply circuit that meets the installation manual. A qualified installer remains the safe choice.

It is also the only listing that gives both power figures in one place. “With output power 1000 watts, input power 1500 watts.” Output is the microwave energy that reaches the food; input is what the unit draws from the wall, the figure that matters for your circuit. The Farberware gives the same pair, 1000 and 1550. Most listings here give only one wattage, and the black Frigidaire’s “1500 Watt” title does not say which it is.

The microwave half is the most automated here. 1.9 cubic feet ties the 400 CFM BLACK+DECKER for the largest cavity, with a 13.5-inch turntable. Toshiba claims “ChefDefrost technology speeds up 40% defrosting time”, sensor cooking that “detects food moisture”, 24 pre-set menus and 11 power levels, one more than the 10 stated on five other listings. A soft-close door, “Equipped with hydraulic damper”, is another detail no other listing offers.

Where it falls short. There is no mention of a cooktop light. Of the eight listings with a stated airflow figure, the GE and the Toshiba are the two that never mention one, and on a unit that will hang over the hob for a decade that is a real gap. Check the manual or product photos before you assume it has one.

What to weigh. Sold by Amazon.com, scarce at capture, #7 in Over-the-Range Microwave Ovens and #5,206 overall. At 13.8 inches deep it is the shallowest unit on the page by a tenth of an inch, which leaves a little more of the front burners in clear view. If you want 400 CFM, sensor cooking and an easier hang on the wall, this is the one; if a cooktop light matters, the BLACK+DECKER 1.9 states one.

Best for: A buyer who wants 400 CFM, sensor cooking and the most installation-friendly mount described on the page.

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5. Kenmore Over-the-Range Microwave, 1.7 Cu Ft, White (2287062) — Best Venting Detail

The only listing that mentions venting choices at all, and the only one that names both carbon and grease filters.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This listing reads most like a hood specification. “A 300 CFM fan helps remove smoke, steam, and cooking odors from your kitchen while you cook. Two fan speeds and flexible 3-way venting provide air flow options that work with a variety of kitchen layouts.” It is the only one of the ten that acknowledges a choice of venting at all. The other nine say nothing about whether their fan pushes air outdoors or back into the room.

What “3-way” probably means, and what the listing does not say. In over-the-range microwaves the phrase usually refers to three possible routes: ducted up through the cabinet, ducted straight back through the wall, or recirculating into the room. Kenmore does not name the three, so treat that as the common meaning rather than this listing’s claim, and confirm it in the installation instructions. If your kitchen has an existing duct, the route has to match where that duct runs.

It names both stages of filtering. “Carbon air and grease filters help capture airborne particles and odors.” The grease filter is what every microwave hood relies on to keep its fan and duct clean, though this is the only listing that mentions one. The carbon filter is what lets recirculation deal with smells. The GE names a charcoal filter; no other listing names either part. Carbon filters lose effect as they load up and are usually replaced rather than washed, so a recirculating install comes with a small running cost in filters.

The microwave half is solid and plain. 1.7 cubic feet, 1000 watts, a 12.4-inch rotating glass turntable and six preset cooking options. It is the only listing here that describes two separate lights in one bullet: “Interior LED lighting makes it easy to monitor food while it cooks, while the built-in cooktop light illuminates your range below.” The silver Frigidaire is the only other listing to mention an interior light.

It is the only white unit on the page. Seven are stainless or silver and two are black. If your range and other appliances are white, that alone may decide it.

What to weigh. Sold by Amazon.com and in normal stock at capture, it ranks #6 in Over-the-Range Microwave Ovens and #52,185 overall. It is one of the higher-priced conventional units here, and what the extra buys on paper is documentation: the venting and filter statements that the rest leave to the manual. The fan figure itself, 300 CFM, is the page’s standard. The spec table gives 29.9 inches wide, 16.5 inches in length, which reads as depth, and 15.8 inches high, with a 49.1-pound listed weight.

Best for: A buyer who needs to know before purchase that the unit supports recirculation with a carbon filter, or who wants a white finish.

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6. Midea Over the Range Microwave Oven, 1.7 Cu Ft, 1000W, Stainless Steel (MOR17BSA-SS) — Best Auto Menus

A category top-three seller with 18 auto menus, a cooktop light and a fan that never says how many speeds it has.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

Midea gives its fan a number and then goes vague on the speeds. “CFM 300 strong suction power with adjustable fan speeds, effectively removes the unpleasant fumes and odor.” Eight listings here state two speeds. Midea says “adjustable” and stops. It may well be two, which is the norm in this class, but the listing does not say. Like seven others, it is silent on venting route and filters.

It sells strongly in its category. #3 in Over-the-Range Microwave Ovens puts it behind only the GE and the 400 CFM BLACK+DECKER, though its overall rank, #29,428, is weaker than four others on the page. It is the second-lowest-priced unit here, which together with Midea’s reach in appliances probably explains the category position. Sold by Amazon.com with stock flagged as scarce at capture.

The microwave half leans on presets. “One-touch-cook with 18 Auto Menus” covers popcorn, pizza, defrost, softening cream cheese, rice and potatoes, among others. Only the Toshiba claims more, 24. The cavity is 1.7 cubic feet with a 12.4-inch turntable, which Midea says “can easily hold your big rotisserie chicken and 12 inches pizza”. Power is 1000 watts with 10 levels, phrased as “With 1000W outcome power”, which reads as output.

It has a cooktop light. “Bright cooktop light to serve your cooking with a clear view.” No type or colour is given, but it is stated, which puts it with the seven listings that clearly name one.

The spec table needs reading with care. It gives 29.88 inches as “Length”, 16.41 as “Width” and 15.41 as “Height”, and the model field reads simply “1”; the part number is MOR17BSA-SS. The 29.88 figure is clearly the width, matching the 30-inch slot. Whether 16.41 inches is the height and 15.41 the depth, or the other way round, the listing does not make clear, so check both against your space with the installation template. The listed weight is 52.0 pounds.

What to weigh. If you value one-touch presets and a cooktop light and want a strong-selling unit at a low outlay, the Midea fits. If you want to know the fan’s speed count, the venting route or the filter type before you buy, the listing will not tell you.

Best for: A buyer who wants plenty of one-touch presets and a cooktop light from a popular unit at a low outlay.

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7. Empava 1.7 Cu Ft Over-the-Range Microwave, 1000W, Silver (EMPV-30OTR01) — Best Warranty Claim

The only listing that gives its interior dimensions, and one that disagrees with itself on the warranty.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

The fan is the page’s standard, stated plainly. “1.7 cu.ft. interior, two-speed, 300-CFM venting fan system.” That is the majority figure with the majority speed count. There is no statement about venting outside or recirculating, and no filter is named. The cooktop light is stated: “LED lighting offers a clear and bright vision for your meals on cooktops.”

It is the only listing that tells you the size of the inside. “Overall dimensions: 29.88″W x 15″D x 15.75″H, internal dimensions: 20.94″W x 13.78″D x 10.11″H.” Multiply out the internal figures and you get about 2,917 cubic inches, or about 1.69 cubic feet, by our arithmetic, which agrees with the stated 1.7. That cross-check is rare on any appliance listing, and it tells you something practical: the cavity is a little over 10 inches tall, so a tall mug or a covered casserole needs checking before it goes in.

The warranty depends on which field you read. The last bullet says “2 Years US Based Manufacturer Warranty DOUBLES the usual industry for an exceptional quality over the range microwave.” The spec table says “1 year warranty”. Both appear on the same listing. If the second year matters to your choice, ask Empava to confirm it in writing before you buy, and keep the confirmation with your receipt.

The microwave half is standard. 1000 watts with 10 power levels, a clock and kitchen timer, 30-second express cooking, a child lock and nine named auto menus from popcorn to soup. The turntable is given in metric, 315 mm, which is about 12.4 inches by our conversion. “Rated Voltage: 120V/60Hz” is stated, as it is on the 400 CFM BLACK+DECKER; the other eight listings give no voltage.

It is one of the lower units on the page. At 15.75 inches high, or 15.74 in the spec table, it ties the Farberware for the lowest clearly labelled height here, just under the 15.8-inch Kenmore. The Midea’s spec table may give 15.41 inches, but its labels are unclear. A lower unit leaves a little more room above the cooktop for the same cabinet line, though the clearance you need is set by the installation manual, not by the unit’s height alone.

What to weigh. Sold by Amazon.com and in normal stock, ranked #16 in Over-the-Range Microwave Ovens and #79,690 overall. No listed weight is given. If you want clear interior measurements and a possible second year of cover, it earns a look; get the warranty confirmed first.

Best for: A buyer who wants to check the cavity size against their cookware before buying, and who will confirm the warranty in writing.

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8. Frigidaire FMOS1846B 30-Inch 1.8 Cu Ft 1500 Watt Over the Range Microwave, Black — Best in Black

A black 1.8 cu ft unit whose listing is three short bullets long.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

The whole listing fits on one line. Its bullets read, in full: “10 Power Levels”, “300 CFM” and “2 Fan Speeds”. Everything else comes from the title and the spec table. That is enough to place it as a hood: 300 CFM, two speeds, the page’s standard. It is not enough to say whether it vents outside or recirculates, or which filters it uses.

The wattage needs a question. The title says “1500 Watt”. On over-the-range microwaves, 1500 watts is far more likely to be the input, the power drawn from the wall, than the cooking output; the Toshiba states exactly that pair, 1000W output and 1500W input. This listing does not say which it means, so do not compare it with the 1000W output figures elsewhere on the page as if it were a 50% stronger microwave. If cooking power matters, ask the seller for the output figure.

It is the heaviest unit here by listed weight. 61.0 pounds, against 40.0 for the GE at the other end. On the wall that is a matter for the mounting plate and the fixings into the wall structure, and on installation day it means two people at least. The spec table gives 29.88 inches wide, 15.75 inches in length, which reads as depth, and 16.38 inches high, and the title commits to “30 Inch Wide”.

Two smaller points. The title calls the model FMOS1846B and the spec table FMOS1846BB; the trailing letter usually marks a finish, and this one is black. The title promises “LED Lighting” without saying whether that is a cooktop light, an interior light or both, so we have not counted it among the listings that clearly name a cooktop light. No turntable is mentioned either, though a microwave of this type would normally have one.

What to weigh. Sold by Home Super Center rather than Amazon.com, with stock flagged as scarce, a 1-year manufacturer warranty, and ranks of #13 in Over-the-Range Microwave Ovens and #72,598 overall. If you need a black finish and 1.8 cubic feet from a familiar brand, it is one of two black units here, alongside the Farberware. Get the cooking output and the venting options from the seller or the manual before ordering.

Best for: A buyer who needs a black 1.8 cu ft unit and will get the remaining details from the manual before buying.

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9. Frigidaire 1.8 Cu Ft Stainless Steel Over-The-Range Microwave (FFMV1846VS) — Best for Big Dishes

The clearest statement of what fits inside, and no airflow figure at all.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

This listing calls itself a hood and gives no hood number. “Over-the-range microwave doubles as a hood offering ventilation with two fan speeds.” That is the whole ventilation statement. No CFM, no venting route, no filter. Of the eight listings that print two fan speeds, it is the only one that does not print an airflow figure beside them. For a unit ranked #4 in its category, that is a notable gap in the half of the appliance that serves the cooktop.

It also gives no cooking wattage. The title, bullets and spec table describe capacity, lights, turntable and door, but never a wattage. It is the only listing on the page with neither an airflow figure nor a power figure. Both will be in Frigidaire’s specification sheet for model FFMV1846VS; check them there before you compare it with the units that print them.

What it does state is useful. “Extra-Large microwave provides 1.8 cu. ft. of cooking space to accommodate larger cookware – even a 13″ x 9″ baking dish.” That is the only listing here that tells you a specific dish fits, which is more practical than a cubic-foot figure. The turntable is “Extra-Large 12-1/2″ Diameter Glass”, and the listing is right to say it rotates for even cooking.

The door is designed for tight corners. “Zero-Clearance Door The microwave door opens to a 90° angle without touching any adjacent walls.” Where a range sits against a side wall or a tall cabinet, a door that swings within the unit’s own width avoids a clash. It is the only listing to address that installation problem. It also states two lights: an LED cooktop light, and an LED interior light that “stays on while your dish cooks”.

What to weigh. Sold by Home Super Center with stock flagged as scarce, #4 in Over-the-Range Microwave Ovens and #43,787 overall. The spec table gives 29.88 inches wide, 15.75 inches in length and 16.74 inches high, the tallest unit on the page, with a listed weight of 56.0 pounds; the warranty field says only “See warranty notes for details”. If your range sits beside a wall and you bake in 13 by 9 dishes, it addresses both; get the fan and power figures from Frigidaire first.

Best for: A range beside a side wall, in a kitchen that bakes in 13 x 9 dishes, once the fan and power figures are confirmed.

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10. Farberware 1.7 Cu Ft Over-the-Range Microwave Oven, 1000 Watts, Black (FMR17BLK) — Best Volume Control

The thinnest hood description on the page: a vent fan, with no figure, no speed count and no filter.

Key Specifications

Why We Recommend It

As a hood, this listing tells you only that there is one. “Equipped with an LED timer, vent fan, and stovetop light for enhanced usability.” No CFM, no speed count, no venting route and no filter. It is the only listing here that gives none of the four hood facts this guide tracks. For an appliance whose second job is clearing the air above your cooktop, that is the biggest omission on the page.

The power statement is better than most. “1000W output and 1550W input for efficient, uniform cooking.” Only the Toshiba also gives both figures. The 1550-watt input is the highest power draw stated on the page, which is worth knowing when you check the supply circuit against the installation manual. The output, 1000 watts, matches the majority.

The extras are about the microwave, not the hood. “Intelligent time and weight defrost settings”, a quick +30 seconds key, melt and soften options, a potato programme and a child lock. One feature appears nowhere else: “VOLUME CONTROL: Adjustable settings for personalized alert levels.” In an open kitchen, a microwave that can beep quietly is a small mercy.

Several basics are missing. No turntable is mentioned, no listed weight is given, and the model field reads only “Farberware”; the part number, FMR17BLK, identifies it. The spec table gives 29.88 inches wide, 16.42 inches in length, which reads as depth, and 15.75 inches high, tying the Empava for the lowest clearly labelled height. A stovetop light is stated, so it joins the seven listings that clearly name one.

What to weigh. Sold by Amazon.com with stock flagged as scarce, it ranks #18 in Over-the-Range Microwave Ovens and #92,895 overall, the lowest on both counts here. It is one of two black units, with the Frigidaire FMOS1846B. If you want quiet alerts and a black finish and can confirm the fan figure from the manual, it is a workable choice; if the hood matters, eight other listings tell you more.

Best for: A buyer who values quiet alerts and a black finish, and will confirm the fan figure from the manual first.

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