Combination microwave and hood system

A microwave oven, comprising:

• an external enclosure including:
• a first side portion;
• a second side portion;
• a top portion extending from the first side portion to the second side portion;
• a bottom portion extending from the first side portion to the second side portion;
• and
• a door;
• a cooking cavity located within the external enclosure, wherein the door is operable to enclose the cooking cavity;
• a cooking component located inside the external enclosure and outside the cooking cavity;
• at least one recirculation vent outlet located proximate an edge of the top portion;
• at least one vent inlet located on the bottom portion of the external enclosure;
• at least one hood fan located inside the external enclosure, wherein the at least one hood fan is configured to:
• draw air through the at least one vent inlet;
• and
• expel the air vertically through the at least one recirculation vent outlet;
• a cooling air inlet;
• a cooling air outlet in fluid communication with the cooling air inlet;
• and
• a cooling fan configured to:
• draw air through the cooling air inlet;
• direct the air through the cooking cavity;
• and
• expel the air vertically through the cooling air outlet, wherein each of the cooling fan, the at least one hood fan, and the cooking component are located in a component space defined between exterior vertical surfaces of the cooking cavity and vertical surfaces of the external enclosure resulting in a vertical dimension of less than about 300 mm.