In recent years, air fryers have surged in popularity as a convenient way to make tasty “fried” foods like french fries, chicken wings, and more in your own home with little to no oil. With an air fryer, foods come out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside using rapid air circulation technology rather than being submerged in oil like traditional deep frying. This allows you to enjoy the flavor and texture of fried foods without all the extra calories and fat.
Many people wonder if there are combination appliances available that integrate air frying technology into a traditional microwave oven. This would provide the versatility of being able to reheat leftovers, cook frozen foods, or prepare an entire air fried meal using just one kitchen appliance. In this article, we’ll take a look at whether combination microwave air fryer ovens are available and how they work.
Are There Microwave Air Fryer Combination Appliances?
The short answer is yes, there are now microwave oven models available that also have built-in air frying capabilities. Major home appliance brands like GE, LG, Samsung, and Whirlpool have all released microwave air fryer combo models over the past couple years.
These combination appliances aim to save counter space in the kitchen by consolidating multiple functions into one unit. They allow you to get the quick cooking and reheating abilities of a typical microwave, along with the fried texture and flavor results of an air fryer, all in the same machine.
Here are some examples of popular current microwave air fryer models:
GE Microwave Air Fryer Combo
– GE Profile Countertop Microwave with Air Fry
– 1.7 cubic ft capacity
– 1100 watts microwave power
– Integrated air fryer up to 400°F
– Works with preset cooking options or manual control
LG NeoChefTM Microwave Air Fryer Oven
– 0.9 cubic ft capacity
– 1000W microwave power
– Air fry up to 400°F
– Smart inverter microwave technology
– Heated air fries, bakes, broils, and crisps
Samsung AX4000 Microwave Air Fry Combo
– 1.6 cubic ft capacity
– 1000W microwave power
– 400°F air fryer
– Ceramic enamel interior
– Built-in sensor cook technology
How Does a Microwave Air Fryer Work?
A combination microwave air fryer consists of two main technologies built into one unit:
1. **Microwave cooking:** This uses microwave energy to quickly heat and cook foods from the interior out. The microwave function can be used to reheat foods, defrost, cook frozen foods, make oatmeal, melt butter, and more.
2. **Air frying:** This uses a heating element and high-powered fan to rapidly circulate hot air around food to produce the crispy, crunchy exterior associated with deep frying. The air fry function can make fries, wings, nuggets, and other “fried” favorites.
Here are some key points on how the technologies work together:
– The appliances have separate internal cavities and components for the microwave and air frying. This allows both to be used independently or simultaneously.
– The microwave portion uses a magnetron to generate and distribute microwave energy throughout the interior cavity. This quickly heats and cooks food from the inside out.
– The air fryer portion uses an electric heating element to heat air up to 400°F. A fan circulates this hot air at high speed to crisp the exterior of foods.
– The controls allow you to program times, temperatures, and cooking functions (microwave, air fry, both, etc.)
– Using both functions together can significantly reduce cooking times versus just microwave or air frying alone.
– The interiors are designed for optimal airflow and even cooking results.
So in summary, microwave air fryer combos contain completely separate microwave and air frying technologies in one appliance for quick, convenient cooking using the best features of both.
Benefits of Microwave Air Fryers
There are several benefits that combination microwave air fryers can provide for a household kitchen:
Save Counter Space
Getting both microwave and air fryer functionality from one appliance instead of two separate ones saves precious real estate on your kitchen counters.
Faster Cooking
The ability to microwave and air fry simultaneously reduces total cooking times, allowing you to get meals on the table sooner.
Versatile Functions
All the abilities of a microwave plus crispy air fried foods expands your cooking options.
Combination Cooking
You can use both cooking technologies together for results you can’t achieve with just one. For example, microwaving then air frying for juicy insides and crispy outsides.
Convenient Controls
Preset options allow for one-touch cooking of popular foods once you’ve set your desired quantity and preferences.
Compact Size
Smaller footprint than a range or full size oven with air fryer. Ideal for apartments, dorms, offices, etc.
Budget Friendly Price
Costs significantly less than buying a separate microwave and air fryer. Good value for combo functionality.
Potential Drawbacks
While there are definite benefits to the 2-in-1 microwave air fryer appliances, there are also a few potential drawbacks to consider:
Smaller Microwave Capacity
Combining two devices into one generally means smaller microwave interior space than stand-alone models. Need to work with more limited capacity.
Learning Curve
It may take some trial and error to learn how best to utilize both functions together when cooking.
Noisy Fan
The loud fan necessary for air frying can be distracting if microwave is located in a living area.
Fan Requires Filter Cleaning
The air frying fan filter needs to be cleaned periodically to prevent grease buildup.
No Induction Cooktop
You miss out on the rapid, controllable heat of induction cooking that stand-alone cooktops provide.
Oven Limitations
Doesn’t provide all the functions that a full oven would, like broiler heating element.
Smaller Fry Basket
The integrated air fryer basket is smaller than what stand-alone air fryer models offer.
Ideal Uses for Microwave Air Fryers
Here are some of the best uses to get the most out of a microwave air fryer combo appliance:
Use | Benefit |
---|---|
Reheating leftovers | Quickly reheat food with microwave |
Cooking frozen foods | Microwave cooks from inside, air fry crisps up exterior |
Making popcorn | Popping and microwaving combined for convenience |
Cooking pre-made snacks | Air fry for crispy, oven-baked taste without preheating |
Toasting bread/bagels | Browns exterior while heating interior quickly |
Making bacon | Crisp up bacon nicely without needing to clean stovetop or oven |
Roasting vegetables | Microwave cooks through, air fry provides roasted texture |
These types of foods that require quick interior heating and a crispy exterior texture are the perfect matches for a microwave air fryer oven.
What to Avoid Cooking
Here are some examples of foods that likely won’t turn out well if cooked in a microwave air fryer combo:
Large Roasts
Larger cuts of meat may not fit or cook evenly in the smaller interior spaces.
Cakes
Baking is difficult without a true baking oven heat source from the bottom.
Pizza
The open airflow design isn’t ideal for melting cheese or crisping crust properly.
Casseroles
Doesn’t provide the all-over ambient heat needed for casserole dishes.
Whole chickens
A whole bird or large poultry may not fit and cook fully. Pieces work better.
Yeast breads
Proofing and properly rising yeast doughs requires specific humid oven environments.
For foods like these that require specialized heating conditions, a full size oven is still better suited than a combo microwave air fryer. Stick to reheating, quick cooking, and crisping smaller foods in the 2-in-1 appliances.
Top Microwave Air Fryer Models
Based on ratings, reviews, and popularity, here are 5 top options to consider for a combination microwave air fryer:
Brand | Model | Capacity | Wattage |
---|---|---|---|
GE Profile | PEB9159SJSS | 1.7 cubic ft | 1100W |
Toshiba | EM131A5C-BS | 1.2 cubic ft | 1100W |
Galanz | GWMO10TS | 1.2 cubic ft | 1000W |
Breville | BOV900BSS | 1.5 cubic ft | 1200W |
Cuisinart | TOA60 | 1.5 cubic ft | 1100W |
These options provide a range of interior capacity, power, and additional cooking functions. The GE Profile model is very popular for its reputation and reliability.
Prices of Microwave Air Fryers
Microwave air fryer combo appliances range in price based on:
– Brand
– Size and capacity
– Number of cooking functions
– Smart features and presets
– Power level
Here is an overview of typical pricing tiers for these types of 2-in-1 ovens:
Price Range | Features |
---|---|
$150 – $300 | Basic models, 0.9 – 1.2 cf, 700 – 1000W microwave power |
$300 – $500 | Mid-size models, 1.2 – 1.5 cf, 1000 – 1100W microwave power |
$500 – $800 | Larger models, smart features, name brand, 1.5 – 2.0 cf, 1000W+ microwave power |
$800+ | Extra capacity, high-end options from major brands |
The $300 to $500 segment likely provides the best balance of price versus performance for most households. Under $300 may lack power and durability, while over $500 has more features than many users need.
Conclusion
In summary, combination microwave and air fryer ovens are an innovating new category of small kitchen appliances. Major brands now offer models that integrate air frying technology into a microwave, allowing you to save counter space and get the benefits of both in one.
These 2-in-1 appliances can be highly convenient options for households that frequently reheat leftovers, cook frozen foods, and want quick crispy “fried” snacks and meals. However, they do have some limitations in capacity and full oven cooking ability.
For the right lifestyle and usage, microwave air fryer combo ovens can be budget-friendly and useful additions to kitchens where countertop real estate is at a premium. Taking the time to learn how to best leverage both cooking technologies together can help you get the most from these handy appliances.