Description
The LG MVEL2137F is a 2.1 cubic foot over the range microwave with humidity sensing, six auto cook settings, ExtendaVent 2.0 ventilation, ThinQ Wi-Fi with scan to cook, SmoothTouch glass controls, a WideView window, an EasyClean interior and a PrintProof stainless finish. LG gives the appliance as 29.87 inches wide, 15.43 inches deep and 17.93 inches high, weighing 74 pounds.
It is closely related to LG’s other 2.1 cubic foot over the range models and shares their feature set almost exactly. The differences are cosmetic, and there is one item in the listing data that has to be dealt with before anything else.
The Voltage Figure in This Listing
The specification table for this model gives the voltage as 240 volts. That figure contradicts the rest of LG’s over the range range, where the closely related 2.1 and 1.8 cubic foot models are listed at 120 volts, and it contradicts the general convention for this category, where over the range microwaves plug into a standard 120 volt outlet located in the cabinet above.
This review will not resolve that contradiction by guessing, because guessing about a supply voltage is exactly the wrong thing to do. What can be said plainly is this: the listing states 240 volts, other LG models of the same type state 120 volts, and the correct figure for this specific appliance must be taken from LG’s own installation instructions or the rating plate on the unit before any electrical work is planned or any outlet is installed. Anyone commissioning an electrician should have that document in hand. A 240 volt supply is a different circuit, a different outlet and a different job from a 120 volt one, and this is not a detail to settle from a product listing.
ExtendaVent 2.0 and Ventilation
LG’s ventilation argument is that most over the range microwaves only draw air from the rear of the cooktop, while the front burners produce the most smoke. ExtendaVent 2.0 extends the intake further forward to cover more of the cooktop. LG states this doubles the capture rate and attributes the figure to its own internal testing against an LG microwave without the feature, which is a manufacturer comparison rather than an independent standard.
No CFM airflow rating is published. That makes direct comparison against a rated competitor such as the GE PVM9005SJSS at 400 CFM impossible on airflow, because capture area and airflow volume are different properties. A wider intake moving less air is not automatically better than a narrower one moving more.
Sensor Cooking, Auto Settings and ThinQ
Humidity sensing determines when food is cooked and turns the microwave off automatically, which is the feature that most reduces repeat attempts on reheated food. Six auto cook settings are listed: auto defrost, soften, melt, simmer, steam cook and kids meal. Simmer and steam cook are less common than the rest and extend the appliance beyond straightforward reheating.
ThinQ scan to cook reads the barcode on a ready made meal through the phone app and sets time and power remotely, with LG stating that participating products vary. SmoothTouch glass controls are a flat touch surface, easy to wipe and less forgiving with wet fingers than physical buttons. The PrintProof finish is LG’s answer to fingerprints on stainless steel.
Installation and Physical Requirements
At 74 pounds this is among the heaviest over the range microwaves in this catalog and a firm two person overhead lift onto a wall bracket in a standard 30 inch opening. Beyond the voltage question above, LG does not publish an amperage requirement, a dedicated circuit requirement, duct transition details, or whether the unit ships configured for ducted or recirculating operation. The energy use figure is given as 1800 watts, which is a total electrical draw and not the microwave cooking power. LG does not publish the IEC rated cooking wattage for this model at all.
Highlights
- 2.1 cubic foot capacity in a standard 30 inch over the range width.
- Humidity sensing that shuts the oven off when food is cooked.
- Six auto cook settings: auto defrost, soften, melt, simmer, steam cook and kids meal.
- ExtendaVent 2.0 extended ventilation coverage, per LG’s stated claim.
- Wi-Fi with LG ThinQ and scan to cook.
- SmoothTouch glass controls, WideView window and EasyClean interior.
- PrintProof stainless steel finish, listed at 74 pounds.
Things To Consider
Beyond the voltage discrepancy, the listing carries the same data problems as its siblings. The “Installation Type” field reads “Countertop” on an unambiguously over the range appliance. The “Oven Cooking Mode” field reads “Radiant, Convection” although no convection function is described anywhere. The “Special Feature” field contains a fragment of JavaScript rather than a specification.
The dimensions are published two ways and the difference is large: 33.1 by 20.1 by 21.1 inches in one field, which is clearly the shipping carton, and 15.43 deep by 29.87 wide by 17.93 high in another, which are appliance dimensions consistent with a 30 inch opening. Use the second set.
No CFM rating and no cooking wattage are published, which are the two figures most useful for comparison shopping.
The rating average is 3.7 out of 5 from four ratings. Four ratings is far too few to draw any conclusion from, in either direction, and should be treated as no evidence rather than as bad evidence. Buyers who want a longer track record should compare the LG MVEL2125F or step outside the brand to the Samsung ME17R7021ES.
Who It Suits and Who Should Look Elsewhere
This suits a kitchen already running LG appliances that wants the largest practical over the range cavity, a modern glass control panel and app connectivity that will be used. The six auto cook settings are the fullest preset list LG offers in this format, and the extended ventilation coverage addresses a genuine weakness in the category.
It is the wrong choice for anyone who cannot obtain LG’s installation documentation before committing, given the unresolved voltage figure in the listing, and for anyone buying on published ventilation numbers that LG does not provide. Households where ventilation is the main problem are better served by a dedicated range hood. The full set of alternatives sits in the over the range microwave category.
