Working appliances inside cupboard? Safe? Good?

[puntloos]

I'm thinking I could, theoretically, create a full height cabinet with a few power sockets, that would allow me to store "less frequently used" devices while not having to pull them out and juggle them around. Basically just use them inside the cupboard. Thinking of:

 

- Breadmaker

- Rice cooker

- Toaster

 

Common theme of course is 'heat'. I can imagine that the breadmaker and rice cooker keep in most of the heat, and once you open them you presumably have the cabinet open. But a toaster would unload a ton of heat into the cabinet making it probably a fire hazard.. or?

 

In short, is this a good idea for at least breadmaker/rice cooker or should I never do it under any circumstance?

[joe90]

Well vented cupboard? (Virtually no top!).

[RichardL]

Our microwave lives in a cupboard - but only runs with the doors open.

Toasters give off a h*ll of a lot of heat, and any sort of slow cooker feels like its asking for trouble running inside a box?

[Jenni]

This is something I've looked at quite a bit. Mine isn't built yet, but have sorted it out for my mum's house - heavy duty long extension runners, similar to pic below. I'll get actual pic later. Mine will be same function but I'll put more solid cover/door on as I'm not a fan of open shelves in general. 

 

[Ferdinand]

Ideally you want front-vented things.

 

Also those 600x600 porcelain tiles, trimmed slightly. are very useful (and cheap).

 

You need to consider whether you want gloss, matt etc.

 

The last lot I had I used one for a wall-protector behind the hob, one as a floor protector and easi-slide for the fridge, one to turn a previous-built-in-oven-hole into a hot plate standing area, and one for windowsills. They cost £11 each.

 

This sort of slightly lighter grey might work. Glazed porcelain, 600x600, £20 per sqm.

https://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Toronto™-Steel-Glazed-Porcelain---600-x-600mm/p/225446

 

 

[Carrerahill]

15 hours ago, puntloos said:

I'm thinking I could, theoretically, create a full height cabinet with a few power sockets, that would allow me to store "less frequently used" devices while not having to pull them out and juggle them around. Basically just use them inside the cupboard. Thinking of:

 

- Breadmaker

- Rice cooker

- Toaster

 

Common theme of course is 'heat'. I can imagine that the breadmaker and rice cooker keep in most of the heat, and once you open them you presumably have the cabinet open. But a toaster would unload a ton of heat into the cabinet making it probably a fire hazard.. or?

 

In short, is this a good idea for at least breadmaker/rice cooker or should I never do it under any circumstance?

Those three appliances certainly get hot, however, not as hot as an oven which we regularly jam into a kitchen cabinet, yes they have over top cooling fans to keep them cooled but they still get pretty hot.

 

If you opened a cupboard and made toast, being such a short period of time involved I would imagine you would make the toast with the door open, I cannot see it being shut when in use. Once made, shut the door on it. I just do not see a significant heat build up or particular risk from any of these as long as sufficient room is left around them all.

 

I would cut about 80% of the top panel out and replace with a 500 x 500mm metal grille or louvre type affair if I was getting heat issues. 

[saveasteading]

Agreed with the above. Plus line the base and sides with tiles or cement board to avoid combustion of the cupboard.

[Ferdinand]

14 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

Agreed with the above. Plus line the base and sides with tiles or cement board to avoid combustion of the cupboard.

 

For things liek microwaves, it will also be condensation in the cupboard.

[PeterW]

Microwaves can be built in - you just need to vent from behind to the cabinet cavity and ensure it’s open to top and bottom.