The microwave is an indispensable item in the kitchen. So it’s always a good idea to have a proper place for it to keep it safe and in tip-top condition. That’s why the microwave cart comes in handy. Most of us do not have the extra space for everything so a functional, mobile and space-saving cart has easily become popular in today’s kitchen.
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It’s also known by many names such as the microwave stand, microwave table, microwave shelf or cabinet and kitchen cart. The microwave cart is a convenient storage solution that adds extra shelf or cabinet or both and can even serve as an accent piece in the kitchen or any other room where it can be used.
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Type
Portable
Being able to move your microwave from one location to another in the kitchen is the best reason to buy a microwave cart. If you have a particularly small kitchen then this will more likely be necessary for you, as it will give you a lot of control over the layout of your space.
Having a microwave cart that is portable will let you push it out of the way when you do not need it, which will save you a lot of space, allowing you pull to control its position when you do need the microwave. It’s also a good idea to consider storing your microwave cart in the pantry or other nearby closet if you are able to, as your microwave will still be easily accessible but will be moved completely out of the way when you do not need it so you don’t have to worry about it taking up a lot of room in your kitchen.
Stationary
Homeowners who have larger kitchens and won’t have to worry as much about how much space their microwave cart takes up can opt for a stationary unit. This allows them to use the piece of furniture like a more permanent fixture in the kitchen. When you have extra space and want to store more than just your microwave on your new microwave cart then a stationary one is a great choice.
You will feel comfortable storing fragile items and liquids on the cart, as well, since it won’t be moving all around the kitchen. Make sure, if you do opt for a stationary microwave cart, that you have enough space in your kitchen to accommodate it–you don’t want anything that looks too large and imposing in your home.
Source: Wayfair
Counter Material
Marble
To add a lot of class to your kitchen you can easily find a microwave cart that has marble for the countertop material. This material is a great option for your microwave cart, not only because it looks great and will instantly improve the appearance of your entire kitchen, but also because it has a number of other benefits that you’ll love. Marble is incredibly heat resistant and won’t catch on fire when you get it too hot.
This makes it perfect for use by your microwave, as you are going to be heating food until it is very hot and will be able to place your warmed dishes directly on the counter, if there is room. Additionally, because this natural stone will resist cracks and other damage, you don’t have to worry about the counter becoming damaged and making your microwave cart look shoddy.
Source: Wayfair
Wood
A microwave cart with a wood counter looks great, is easy to take care of, and is going to be relatively light to push around in your kitchen. Because wood can be stained and painted, you can update the appearance of your microwave cart quickly and inexpensively. One thing to consider when choosing a microwave cart with a wooden counter is if it will match the appearance and the décor of the rest of your kitchen. You don’t want your microwave cart to stand out too much in the scheme of the room, and so carefully choosing your new cart will ensure that it fits in with the rest of your cabinets and countertops.
Source: Walmart
Butcher Block
More and more people are looking for microwave carts with butcher block countertops, and for good reason. They are very durable and will be able to stand up to the hot items coming out of your microwave as well as any searing hot utensils that you set down on the counter by the microwave. Butcher block has long been praised in the kitchen because it is so durable and can double as a cutting board. While you may not have enough room on your microwave cart to use extra counter space as a cutting board, the option is there if you need it.
Source: Hayneedle
Metal
If you want an updated and modern looking microwave cart then you will want to choose one that has metal as the counter material. These carts are going to be just as functional as ones with different materials on the counter, but will instantly update your space and make it look more contemporary or even industrial, depending on the design of the microwave cart that you have chosen.
Look for one that you can easily wipe clean, as this is one of the main benefits of choosing metal. You do have to be careful that the counter doesn’t get too hot, as you don’t want the metal to conduct too much heat and burn you if you were to place food directly out of the microwave on the counter. You can avoid this problem by choosing a small microwave cart that doesn’t have room for you to put down hot foods.
Source: Houzz
Feature
Drawers
Being able to stash items out of the way and hide them when you have company coming over to your kitchen is a great reason to buy a microwave cart that has at least one drawer. Not only can you use this space to quickly clean up your kitchen, but this is the perfect location for the hot pads that you will need when you are getting warmed food out of the microwave. Don’t worry so much about the pull on the drawer, as you can easily change it out to match the rest of the pulls and hardware in your kitchen if you so desire.
Casters
If you want to be able to move your microwave cart around in your kitchen then it will have to be on casters. One mistake that some homeowners make when choosing a microwave cart is thinking that they can buy a stationary cart and then later add casters to it if they decide that they want their microwave cart to be portable. While it is easy to go to the store to buy casters and then attach them to your microwave cart, this is dangerous and a task that is best left up to the manufacturers of the microwave carts.
The problem with attempting to do this by yourself is that you may not choose casters that are large and strong enough to handle holding and moving the microwave cart, and if they are not attached correctly then they are likely to come loose and fall off, causing a huge and potentially hazardous mess.
Source: Wayfair
Towel Rack
Your microwave cart should offer more storage than simply holding your microwave, and opting for a car that also has a towel rack on the side will ensure that you’re never without a clean kitchen towel. You can use them to quickly and easily clean up any spills from the microwave so you don’t have hot food that will dry to the surface. Every cook knows that it’s a good idea to have a number of kitchen towels available at all times in a number of places in the kitchen, and having one hanging on your microwave cart will keep it well within reach.
Source: Hayneedle
Open Storage
One of the benefits of having a microwave cart in your kitchen is being able to store more than just your microwave on it. This extra storage makes it easy to keep dishes, utensils, or even food and spices where you can quickly and easily grab it while you are cooking. If you want the items in your microwave cart to be easy to grab when you need them then you will want to look for a microwave cart that has open storage.
The downside of open storage is that you have to make an effort to keep it looking neat so that it doesn’t become cluttered, but for many people the ability to grab what they need without having to open cupboards or drawers makes it worth keeping the area tidy.
Source: Houzz
Closed Storage
Closed storage is a great option for anyone who wants to be able to store additional items in their microwave cart but doesn’t want to have to worry about keeping everything neat. When you buy a microwave cart that has closed storage you will be able to not only use it as a microwave cart but also keep other kitchen items on hand yet hidden. If you tend to keep a messy kitchen and want to be able to clean it up quickly before you have company coming over then closed storage is a great idea, as you can keep items nearby when you are cooking but easily clear surfaces for a clean and neat appearance in your kitchen.
Source: Staples
Cutting Board
A microwave cart that lifts the microwave up and out of the way will have room for a cutting board, and many have one built into the piece of furniture. Everyone knows that counter space in a kitchen can be at a premium, and to ensure that you have enough space to prep your food, choosing a microwave cart with a cutting board is a really smart idea. You can easily keep you microwave nearby so you can reach up and use it at any time, but having a cutting board as well will ensure that you do not run out of countertop space in your kitchen when making a big meal.
Source: Wayfair
Solid Wood
For a great microwave cart that you isn’t going to warp, bend, or break, opt for one that is made of solid wood. These microwave carts are going to be incredibly sturdy and will be able to handle even the heaviest of microwaves and can be relied upon to be rolled across the kitchen floor without any problems. While you may be able to save some money by buying a microwave cart made with engineered wood, to ensure that you buy a quality microwave cart you will want to look to buy one made of solid wood, as these are going to be built to last.
Source: Wayfair
Assembled
If you do not have the time, inclination, or ability to assemble your microwave cart then you will be best off buying one that is already assembled. These microwave carts will generally cost more to ship as it will come all in one piece, but not having to deal with finding the right tools for the job or worrying about misplacing some of the screws makes it worth it. When you buy an assembled microwave cart you will be able to put it into your kitchen right away and start using it without delay, which is especially useful if you are in a pinch and need the storage space for your microwave right away.
Trash Bin
It can be tricky in a kitchen to find a central location for your trash bin where it will be easily accessible but not in the way. When you choose a microwave cart that has a spot for the trash you will be able to keep it in a central area in your kitchen so you’re never too far away from the garbage. One problem with these types of microwave carts is that you are going to be sacrificing other storage space for the trash bin. If you are not worried about storing other items or materials in your kitchen then this is a great option for you.
Source: Wayfair
Knife Block
Larger microwave carts are often going to have a knife block built into the side where you can keep all of your sharp kitchen knives. Working off of the principle that having clean counters is a good idea, will make you more productive, and will allow you to spread out when you are working on a meal, when you choose a microwave cart that has a knife block you will be able to free up even more counter space in your kitchen.
This is ideal if you have a particularly small kitchen or one that does not have ample counter space for you to work. It can be a little tricky to find a microwave cart with a knife block that isn’t so large that it will take up all of your free space, but there are options out there that will work with even the smallest kitchen.
Source: Hayneedle
Unfinished
Perfect for anyone who wants to put their own finishing touches on their new microwave cart, buying an unfinished cart allows you to have complete control over how the end product will look. You can choose from various stains and paints to make your new microwave cart truly yours. This is a great option if you are very creative and want to have control over what your new microwave cart looks like, and is also a wonderful choice if you have a custom kitchen.
People who have custom-made kitchens will often have stain or paint that has been made for them and will have trouble finding a microwave cart that will work with their color scheme. You don’t have to worry about your microwave cart sticking out in your space when you choose one that you can finish yourself.
Source: Walmart
Spice Storage
Spices take up a lot of space in a kitchen and can fill a whole drawer or spill out onto the counter, as well. Keep them contained and within easy reach when you opt for a microwave cart that has storage for your spices. This storage will usually jut out somewhat from the side of the cart, but you don’t have to worry about sacrificing too much useful space.
Since the spices will sit in container or shelf off of the main cart you can easily grab them from anywhere in the kitchen without having to open and dig through a drawer. Of course, you do have to be careful as most spices do better in dark storage, but as long as you use your spices fairly quickly they won’t have time to lose their potency.
Source: Hayneedle
Locking Casters
While being able to move your microwave cart around your kitchen gives you a lot of freedom regarding where it is, the layout of your kitchen, and how quickly you can navigate your space, it’s important that you consider buying a portable microwave cart that has locking casters so you don’t have to worry about the safety of your family.
Small children love to help in the kitchen, and the last thing that you want is for a child to jostle the microwave cart and get injured by falling items. When you choose a cart that has locking casters you will be able to wheel it to the location where you want it to be and then lock the casters so that it can’t be moved again. This is a safety precaution that is a great idea for any family with children to consider.
Source: Hayneedle
Outlet Hole
One problem that people run into when using a microwave cart is that they don’t have a place where they can run the cord of the microwave back through the cart to the outlet in the wall. They end up running the cord around the front and side of the cart which, while completely functional, doesn’t look very neat or orderly. Instead of drilling a hole in your new microwave cart, when you opt for one that comes with an outlet hole already drilled you can easily run the cord from your microwave through the hole and keep it hidden from view.
Source: Houzz
Shelf
It’s nice to have options of where you are going to store your microwave on your new microwave cart, and some carts come with a top shelf where you can place your microwave up and out of the way. While this does make it a little more difficult to reach hot food and get it down without an accident, many people love that this will free up counter space that they can work on.
Being able to choose where you want to store your microwave will ensure that your microwave cart really meets your needs. Additionally, some people do not use their microwaves very often, and being able to keep it up and out of the way is a great way to have the appliance in the kitchen for when you need it but not have to deal with it taking up precious storage or counter space.
Source: Wayfair
Drop Leaf
One of the benefits of microwave carts over larger kitchen carts is that they are smaller in size. This allows them to be used in even smaller kitchens and ensures that you don’t give up too much of your space. If you want to be able to expand the surface area of your microwave cart, either so you can prep a meal or serve snacks in your kitchen, then you will love having a microwave cart that has drop leaves.
Look for a microwave cart that has a drop leaf on each side so that you can easily increase the amount of counter space that you have. These leaves will drop down along the side of the microwave cart when not in use so that the piece doesn’t take up too much room in your kitchen.
Source: Hayneedle