Okay, kitchen fanatics, gather ’round! I recently got my hands on the ThermoMate 24-inch Built-in Microwave Drawer and Electric Wall Oven combo, and I’m ready to give you the lowdown – is this appliance duo a kitchen game-changer, or just another shiny gadget?
First Impressions & Uh Oh, Installation!
Right out of the box, the stainless steel on these units is gorgeous. Seriously, they instantly made my (dream) kitchen look like it belonged in a magazine. Now, full disclosure, I didn’t install these myself. I’m a food blogger, remember? Power tools aren’t exactly my forte. But my buddy, who is handy, did the honors, and he had one major piece of advice: MEASURE! He said the oven’s a bit bigger than some standard 24-inch models, so double-check your space before you click “buy.” Trust me, you don’t want any surprises.
The Electric Wall Oven: More Than Just a Pretty Face
Let’s talk about the oven first. Twelve cooking modes? At first, I thought it was overkill, but honestly, it’s been a blast experimenting. I’m officially obsessed with the convection settings. My chocolate chip cookies? Forget about it! They’ve never been so evenly baked. Seriously, golden-brown perfection every single time. And get this – I even roasted a small chicken using the “Rotisserie Broil Hi” setting, and it was incredible. Crispy skin, juicy meat… chef’s kiss!
The 3-layer glass door is a nice touch, too. I could actually see what was cooking without constantly opening the door and letting all the heat escape. Plus, cleanup was surprisingly easy. That detachable door? Genius!
Microwave Drawer: Not Your Grandma’s Microwave
Okay, I’ll admit it, I was a little skeptical about the microwave drawer at first. Was it just a fancy way to reheat leftovers? Nope! It’s way more versatile than I thought. That “One-Touch Auto Door” is ridiculously convenient when your hands are full of, say, a bowl of popcorn and a drink. And the “Silent Mode”? A total lifesaver for late-night cravings.
I’ve even started using the auto-cook menus, which is something I never do. But the “Popcorn” setting actually works without setting off the smoke alarm! A major win in my book. Plus, with 1000 watts of power, everything cooks super fast.
A Few Tiny Hiccups:
Okay, no product is perfect, right? The oven’s mechanical knobs are easy to use, but a digital display would be awesome for even more precise temperature control. Just sayin’.
The Bottom Line:
All in all, I’m seriously digging the ThermoMate 24-inch Microwave Drawer and Electric Wall Oven combo. It’s a stylish and super-functional upgrade that would look amazing in any modern kitchen. Yeah, it’s an investment, but the versatility, performance, and ease of use make it worth considering if you’re looking to upgrade your cooking game. Just remember to measure your space first!
View Customer Reviews on Amazon
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars. Definitely worth the splurge!