Help me not cause a kitchen appliance disaster

November 12, 2007 2:53 PM

Safe to put a microwave on top of a fridge?

I just moved into a studio with the world's smallest kitchen. There is currently no good place to put a microwave; the only "counters" are actually more like dish racks on either side of the sink that slope down towards it ever so slightly, and putting something electric on a small, uneven surface sloping towards a sink is asking to get electrocuted. Is it safe/smart to put a microwave on top of a fridge? This seems like also a vaguely bad idea, but I'm not sure why, but it's the only flat surface I have left; the landlords will not let me mount a microwave above the stove or under cabinets. Is it time to make due without one?

posted by slow graffiti to home & garden (22 answers total)

I did it for years and have not yet experienced any adverse effects that I know of. And I don't recall ever seeing or reading any warnings about putting a microwave on top of a fridge.

If it's really high up, you might spill hot food on yourself when taking it out of the microwave that's up high.
posted by The World Famous at 2:55 PM on November 12, 2007

I've got mine on top of the fridge and there doesn't seem to be any problems with it. Go for it!
posted by Arbac at 2:56 PM on November 12, 2007

Well, my microwave is on top of the fridge. It's only been there for a couple of weeks, but nothing has exploded yet.
posted by Hypocrite_Lecteur at 2:56 PM on November 12, 2007

The concern is that you could spill very hot food on yourself. If the fridge is really tall, don't, but if it's an apartment-sized fridge, shouldn't be a problem. I had the micro on top of my old, shorter fridge, and never burned myself with hot soup.
posted by theora55 at 2:59 PM on November 12, 2007

Sure! That way, the hamburger patties walk themselves up to the micro.

Kidding, of course. I've seen it in many a house. The primary danger from microwaves is to living things, or possibly electrocution, so your counters would definitely be worse.
posted by dhartung at 3:01 PM on November 12, 2007

My microwave is on the fridge. It's a bit awkward and yeah as someone pointed out, you need to be careful with hot liquids but apart from that the only pain is having to take it down for cleaning.
posted by Tsar Pushka at 3:04 PM on November 12, 2007

I had a microwave on top a fridge once. It was a horrific disaster. Heat a bowl of soup? My 30th mug of tea for the day? Oh boy! More burning liquid on my face and chest!

I had burned myself with everything from tea to leftover balsamic glaze. It can work if you are a tall drink of water and you don't live with any pygmies. But I didn't enjoy it. Just one splash of molten butter to the eye is enough to change your mind.
posted by munchingzombie at 3:07 PM on November 12, 2007

I had mine there for seven years. Granted it wasn't a completely full sized fridge (it was probably just under 5' tall), and I'm about 5'1", it worked out very well.

Saved a bunch of counter space, too.

Just obviously don't have both appliances plugged into the same outlet unless you get a surge protector specifically for appliances. Otherwise you'll be standing there wondering why your popcorn isn't popping on a regular basis.
posted by dancinglamb at 3:11 PM on November 12, 2007

I've never burned myself, and my microwave is over my head (like 1 foot over my head)

I think the critical thing is having a little step stool- you could get a folding one for twenty bucks or one of the little kiddy ones for $5 at Target.

I don't think it is unsafe, just make sure it has a vent space and the cord isn't over the stove or anything else.
posted by arnicae at 3:11 PM on November 12, 2007

I thought of the spilling-crap-on-my-vertically-challenged-self problem, but am I risking damage to the fridge at all?
posted by slow graffiti at 3:12 PM on November 12, 2007

I've had mine on the fridge for years, and no damage to the fridge has occurred. You may wish to consider installing a GFI outlet if you are plugging them both into the same outlet or your apartment is in a old building with old wiring. That will trip the circuit if you have an excessive load or short before any serious problems happen. But that's protection for the building, not the fridge.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 3:23 PM on November 12, 2007

Mine's there with no problem. Actually, there is a small problem because the fridge and the microwave are plugged in to the same outlet - sometimes it causes the circuit breaker to trip, so watch out for that.

Now, toaster oven on the fridge? Disaster.
posted by backseatpilot at 3:29 PM on November 12, 2007

I have also done this many times in many small kitchens. No problems other than awkwardness.
posted by rokusan at 3:36 PM on November 12, 2007

"I thought of the spilling-crap-on-my-vertically-challenged-self problem, but am I risking damage to the fridge at all?"

I doubt it. I've had a hulking 1300-watt monstrosity of a microwave on top of my fridge for four years, and haven't noticed so much as a dent. I'm pretty sure fridge designers know folks will put stuff on top of them.
posted by CrayDrygu at 3:49 PM on November 12, 2007

Top of the fridge? That's where microwaves go.
posted by pompomtom at 4:10 PM on November 12, 2007

As long as the air can flow from the back of the fridge, around the 'wave, it shouldn't be a problem.
posted by nomisxid at 4:20 PM on November 12, 2007

I had my microwave on top of my fridge for a year and I didn't die or cause any damage. It was a little hard to reach, but other than that fine.
posted by thebrokenmuse at 4:28 PM on November 12, 2007

This is mostly for those mini-fridges, but if putting a microwave on top of a fridge was a bad thing, then a lot of dorm rooms should have exploded by now.
posted by nakedsushi at 4:36 PM on November 12, 2007

Our microwave on top of our fridge. No problems.
posted by robcorr at 7:20 PM on November 12, 2007

my dorm room comes with a microwave on top of a fridge. Never have had a problem in three years.
posted by melissam at 7:25 PM on November 12, 2007

One more voice in the crowd- I have a microwave on a fridge and a step-stool, and no problems.
posted by Secretariat at 9:34 PM on November 12, 2007

i've always done this, no problems had.
posted by Soulbee at 1:24 PM on November 13, 2007