Except you've got a ton of counter space? I know it's all relative but you're really not hurting for counter space or space for a small table or whatever on which to put the microwave. Maybe I'm biased because in my old apartment literally the only space big enough for it was on top of the fridge, and I'm still bitter about it. But I feel like foregoing a microwave is just being stubborn and pretending it isn't convenient to heat many things up quickly on a plate instead of a pan without sacrificing taste or texture.

I don't have (and don't want) a microwave because I think I can live without it, so I prefer more countertop space :)

Definitely the counter space! I have very little space in my kitchen. Our microwave is banished to our also small dining room, and sits on top of our dining table up against the wall. Perhaps if it were in the kitchen we'd use it more. It may need to find a new home in the next few months!

how about the best of both worlds, and add a butcher block top island or cart? seems like you have plenty of floor space to maneuver around it, then you get even more countertop space and the microwave can sit underneath.

A countertop is WAY better! Reheated food just tastes better on a stove or in the oven. A new study just came out about microwaves, too--plants that were given water that had been microwaved and cooled, didn't make it, implying that there is some kind of detrimental permanent change that happens to the food, not just the people standing around the micro while it's in operation.

But like I said, I just don't think the microwave is effective at heating food appetizingly. (WHAT ON EARTH is up with what it does to bread, hmmmMMM?)

But more counter space--dude, that thought alone is downright sexy.

Bad Mama Genny

Yeah, I tend to agree with ohwoah- from it picture, it doesn't look like you're hurting for space-space, so maybe you should put the microwave on top of something else. We keep ours on a stand-alone wine rack, but I think there are small carts made just for that purpose.

If it really came down to the microwave or the counter space, though, I'd probably go with the counter space, but that's just my style.

Microwaves are unnecessary and ugly appliances. Go for the extra counter space and have room to cook a four course meal comfortably.

SWEET KITCHEN!!! Countertop space always trumps a microwave in my book, I havent purchased microwave since 2000. My rentals would come with this and if they didn't that was not a deal breaker for me.

Counter space! I love to cook and bake with that space and only really use the microwave to make some quick oatmeal in the morning. I've discovered this as my house is on the market right now and to make the house look spacious, I moved the microwave to a shelf in the basement. I don't mind bringing it up every once in a while to heat something up, even though it's just as easy to reheat soup or such on the stove.

@genevievecharet, FYI: http://www.snopes.com/science/microwave/plants.asp

Can you fit the microwave in the cabinet above so it's hidden? I vote for counterspace too if it's that or the microwave- microwaves aren't good for you anyway. Despite my love of counterspace, I finally broke down and bought a large toaster oven on my countertop and can't live w/out it - it's a second oven (can fit a whole roasting chicken!) and doesn't warm up kitchen on hot summer days like the full oven and heats up most things the microwave does too, plus no harmful microwaves.

mine is totally on top of the fridge, hooray for rentals...

I'm gonna be the dissenting voice here and say microwave. I much prefer the ease of putting my leftovers in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, in the bowl or on the plate I'm using to eat it, and have it be ready with limited fuss. No extra pots, pans, or baking dishes, and far faster.

I live in an apartment with limited counterspace, but if I ever need more (which happens whenever I'm baking, for example)... well, that's what the kitchen table's for.

So funny, I was just battling my microwave last night. It also sits in a corner. I moved it all around and then ended up putting it right back where it was.

I think I'm going to exchange my oversized microwave for a more compact one that's designed to fit in a corner. That way I'll still have it around (I do love leftovers and the convenience of frozen veggies) but it will give me a bit more space.

Here's the corner one I found from Whirlpool.

Counter space. We only have about 18" of counter space and I'm so glad we didn't go purchase a microwave. Except when drying dishes or actually cooking, nothing is on our counter and I love it.

We just put a new microwave with a light and fan above the stove and now have more counter space, though it looks like with your cool exhaust fan you wouldn't want to go that route. Where I used to live, I put it on top of the refrigerator and that didn't bother me at all (small refrigerator, so it wasn't a stretch). I don't really think it's an either/or decision.

In MY kitchen, I opt for countertop, since my entire kitchen is about the size of the corner in your photo. But if I had YOUR kitchen, I'd have a microwave.

I've had friends who moved into an apartment only to realize some weeks later that there.. actually isn't a microwave?!?!! They get along with the oven, but I think losing the sheer convenience of an insta-heater takes some getting used to.

Also, this is an aside, but I've been getting double-posts of thekitchn in my RSS feed. I know you've changed the website a bunch lately -- is this a side-effect?

I was surprised at how easy it is to get by without a microwave in my tiny apartment kitchen. It's kind of a pain once in a while if I'm in a hurry to reheat leftovers, but not that big of a deal.

I love countertop space but I also know how much I use my microwave. It's just so much more convenient for leftovers, heating frozen veggies, warming water etc. I could not go without it. I'm not the type to just eat frozen meals and burritos either; it's just a big part of my kitchen.

oh wow. i would love a kitchen with that much space - why not get a small trolley that will go along a wall? we have our microwave on top of our fridge, which sits OUTSIDE our kitchen it is so small. by small i mean, 5'x6' and total working countertop space of 4 square feet.

Counter space > microwave. My kitchen has a shelf/cabinet for a microwave complete with electrical outlet to clear up counterspace. The problem is, it's technically overhead (I'm 4' 9") and even the average height BF finds it too high and awkward to use. I'm thinking the previous owners were basketball players.

At the moment, I have a microwave on my counter but will be getting a cart to free up more real estate.

Counter space! Our microwave broke about 2 years ago. I didn't replace it and I don't miss it at all.

I'm in the keep-the-mircrowave-put-it-on-a-separate-cart camp.
I'm all in favor of the use and look of an empty counter but I do have occasional use for it and won't let mine go.
I'd prefer a small utility table over a cart but you get the idea.
In this situation there's plenty of space for said table.
Just my own two cents.

I find that no matter how much counter space I have, all I end up needing is space enough for a cutting board and some elbow room. If you use more than that, you're doing it wrong.

Steaming veggies in the microwave works for me so without it I wouldn't getting my recommended servings per day.

I've lived without a microwave for about 10 years, and it's entirely doable. They creep me out, and I think food doesn't taste as good heated that way. But I do have a toaster oven that takes up too much counter space in almost exactly the position yours is in, and I'm not willing to give that up, so am having the same dilemma anyway. Where do you put your toaster?

I've been living without a microwave for over a year now since my old one died (inherited from the previous tenant of my apartment). I hate wasting energy by heating up my oven just for a single serving of food so I eat it cold. I will eventually have to replace the microwave but since I have plenty of counter space in my kitchen, size won't be much of a factor in my decision, cost will.

More space! We have a small apartment kitchen with a nice amount of counter space, but not enough to work comfortably and for me to feel uncluttered while keeping big things on it all the time. I put our microwave in the closet almost three years ago, and never looked back.

Food tastes better when it's been reheated in the toaster/oven, or on the stove top, and I enjoy that it takes a little bit longer. Having a good toaster oven is a keystone to this, however. Especially in warmer months.

It looks like the kitchen picture has ample room for an island, which would also improve the work triangle.

My microwave lives in the dining area, because my kitchen is too small to accomodate it. I hate having it there, but I am unwilling to sacrifice more counterspace. (I have a toaster oven as well, and although I love the convenience, I hate how much space it takes up. That and a microwave crowding my counters would be too much.)

We're renovating soon (yay!), and we're thinking of getting an over-the-stove microwave. I would prefer a cart, but there's no room (and we can't add more).

Just relegated our microwave to the butler's pantry. So much nicer to have the counter space and not that clunky thing.

That kitchen is screaming for an island. What's with all the wasted space in the middle? Add an island and the counter/microwave question is moot.

I could totally do without a microwave, but agree with some of the other commenters that I wonder why you haven't already gotten an island?

My first thought about your beautiful kitchen was, "there's room for an island there", and that would solve it all - more counter space, you could put the microwave below the counter-top, and it would probably cut down on the amount of walking you do with your appliances spread out the way they are. Kind of a costly solution, but if it makes everyone happy...

I'm in the buy an island buthcer block or something similar...either for space or the microwave.

I have only space on top of the stove and in the corner, but my cabinets are only about a microwave height away from the counters, so I slam my head into them while trying to use the counter....tell him to stop whining. Lol.

This is a serious question as someone who debates this constantly: What dish is improved by the presence or inclusion of a microwave? I am not throwing a gauntlet down as much as openly asking if people can think of dishes or recipes.

For me, the bummer of not having one is that I would love to be able to make soy wax candles quickly instead of a double boiler, but that's because I have to master the art of the double boiler.

What??? You have an enormous kitchen. I don't understand how this is even a question. You could do an island, cart, mount it underneath the cabinets, or as I have done in my tiny kitchen, choose one that works as a range hood.

Maybe certain foods (meat, maybe?) taste better heated in the oven or stove -- but as a vegetarian who eats a lot of soups and stews that I reheat throughout the week, I could not live without my microwave!

We just switched to a smaller microwave and installed it *under* the counter, in one of the lower cabinets. We used a cabinet with two drawers and a shelf, but it could also go on a shelf behind a door, if you don't want to see it when it's not in use. Just make sure you've got enough ventilation space!

Microwave. Sure, you can live without it, but why would you? reheating things in the oven/stove take so damn long and you end up with a stack of dirty dishes. When I use the microwave its usually because I just want to quickly snack on some leftovers without any effort. Without it I would just end up neglecting to eat. Its not about flavor its about midnight snacks when you're too hungry to fall asleep but too tired to do much about it.

Just get the best of both worlds by getting an overhead microwave so your counters cleared up. Problem solved. ...or I guess stop being lazy, but I have no intention of making those kind of dramatic lifestyle changes.

I too have very limited room in my tiny apartment kitchen, however, I would still say keep the microwave. I have mine on the second shelf of a bamboo cart, the top of which I use as as an additional counter. If I had to reheat food (or just do simple tasks like melt butter) every time on the stove or in the oven, that would just result in a dirty pot or pan I'd have find a spot for, in my often full (and also tiny) sink until washing. Yeah, in addition to using a micro I'm also one of those people who doesn't usually wash dishes the second after I use them.

I cook and bake a lot, and I have no microwave (no room at all) nor much countertop space. Mine is about 1/2 of the space you have on the right of your sink. I don't particularly miss either (grew up in a tiny kitchen with no counter space at all, and microwave were unheard of).

If I were you, I'd keep the microwave and instead of putting one of those monstrous island in the middle of your big kitchen, I'd put a small table with 4 chairs. There, you can sit down and prep as much as you want and have company while you bake/cook. And keep your microwave.

Do you have kids? Then you'll want the microwave.

I don't have a huge kitchen, it's nearly half of the kitchen in the photos but I have a microwave attached to a wall on a shelf. It really helps and let my counter space be free.

What are your needs? Live without it for a while and see how much you miss it.

We went without a microwave for a year (it broke) and didn't miss it. But, now the baby has just started solids and I'm making all homemade baby food and so a new microwave is here. (Thanks for the Christmas present, Mom!) It just makes it SO MUCH easier to reheat baby purees straight out of the freezer. We traded counter space (actually butcher block top because we have that little counter space) for convenience. For now, that's what we need. Plus, we got that neat Caso Microwave from Williams-Sonoma that works pretty well thus far.

I, like you it seems, have a large kitchen with plenty of elbow room and NO counter space. When I moved into my apartment, I let my previous roommates keep my microwave. I figured I would get a new one but over the last 6 months I have learned to live without it. It really doesn't take much time to warm up leftovers on the stove. I have learned that a slice of pizza re-heated for a few minutes in the broiler tastes infinitely better than a nuked one. Curries and sauces and even rice seem to warm up fairly quickly in a skillet. My favorite thing about living microwave-less is that I feel tied to my food. I can see and smell every step. And I eat much better knowing I can't take the easy way out on lazy nights. So I say do without it. Simplicity always feels better.

My microwave is built-in, so it has taken shelf space, not counter space. Well worth it.

@ayschucks: Microwaving is my preferred method of steaming fish. Chunky salmon fillets, for example, take a minute each side (covered) on full power. A whole fish will take slightly longer, maybe 1.5 minutes per side. The results are very pleasing - the fish remains moist and succulent. Maybe not as moist as cooking 'en papillote' in the oven (which is essentially another way of steaming), but much faster and more convenient.

My kids are the main reason we keep a microwave. They can cook, but I just feel better about them warming up leftovers in the microwave rather than the stove when there isn't an adult in the house.

If I didn't have kids, I'd definitely go for the more counter space!

Counter space!!!!! Counter space is worth its weight in gold, especially in a tiny apartment kitchen. I have a microwave mounted above my stove, but even if I didn't, I would still choose the counter space. I know how to heat things up the old fashioned way and could easily live without a microwave.

Counter space, allways needed. I really don't like microwaves.