Recipe This

Can An Air Fryer Replace A Microwave? Today we are talking all about the air fryer vs microwave and whether you need both, which one is better than the other and what we have in the Milner kitchen.

This microwave and air fryer guide is also featured in the Magic With Gadgets Podcast. Simply search for Magic With Gadgets on your preferred podcast player, then scroll to episode 11 of season 2 to access this awesome episode.

magic with gadgets can an air fryer replace a microwave — Magic With Gadgets Can An Air Fryer Replace A Microwave

Table of Contents

Air Fryer Vs Microwave

Did you know that I have been air frying for 10 years now? But have only owned a microwave in my kitchen for the last six weeks.

Yes really!

I had a microwave at the beginning of the 00’s and grew up with them. Yet when we got our first air fryer 10 years ago, I didn’t feel the need for a microwave.

Well, until now that is.

You see back then in 2003 when we placed a microwave on our wedding gift list, we had a toddler with bottles to warm up and a bottle steriliser until to use. And a microwave was essential to make this happen.

But beyond that and baked beans we rarely used it.

So, when we moved house in September 2004, we never took our microwave with us and didn’t use it again until 2021.

But what we have found a better kitchen gadget is our air fryer. We can make air fryer bread rolls, air fryer baked potatoes with crispy skin, and the air fryer bacon is certainly a lot better than the microwave alternative.

But of course they both have their advantages and disadvantages and its certainly an interesting idea to compare the air fryer with the microwave.

Today on the podcast we will be discussing:

Air fryer vs microwave
Can you use an air fryer as a microwave?
Is an air fryer better than a microwave?

Then you can decide if a microwave or an air fryer is better for you or should you have both!

Plus, as well as our free newsletter, we also have a free air fryer mini course. It is ideal for air fryer beginners or those that want to get more confident with their air fryer. The free course runs for 5 days with a new lesson delivered each day to your inbox.

Can You Use An Air Fryer As A Microwave?

Yes, you can and that is exactly what I have been doing for the last 10 years.

Whilst many people would melt butter or chocolate in a microwave or defrost in a microwave, I have achieved all of these in an air fryer.

Check out our air fryer brownies with melted butter, air fryer mugcakes with melted chocolate and our cooking air fryer frozen chicken breasts.

BUT and it’s a big BUT these tasks can be achieved quicker with a microwave rather than with an air fryer.

But if you wanted to be free of an extra kitchen gadget you can use the air fryer as your microwave replacement.

However, if you would just use a gadget for melting things and defrosting then you would be better with sticking with a microwave.

Can An Air Fryer Replace A Toaster Oven?

Yes, it can. I have made air fryer toast and I have used a toast oven and found that the air fryer did the same job, and it made less mess. I just couldn’t believe how many crumbs a toaster oven generates or how much slower it is compared to this air fryer that I use every day.

Also, an air fryer is capable of a lot more things and I couldn’t fit a lot of my favourite air fryer recipes in a toaster oven.

I used a toaster oven instead of the air fryer this summer and it just never really thrilled me, in the way a classic air fryer does.

Can You Reheat Food In An Air Fryer?

Yes, you can. The air fryer does an amazing job of reheating food, just check out some of our examples of doing so:

Plus, we find it does a better job of reheating in the air fryer to the microwave because of the air circulation and the fact it makes it crispy again. For example, the fries are like just cooked ones again and never soggy.

Though, you do of course have a slightly longer reheat time compared to the microwave.

Is An Air Fryer Like A Microwave?

Yes, it is. You place food in the air fryer basket or the shelves of an air fryer oven, just like you would use the plate of the microwave to cook or reheat food.

Overall, the air fryer and the microwave are very similar.

You may be wondering why we have an air fryer and microwave, and it’s because I like the shortcuts of something quicker in the microwave and being able to use the air fryer and the microwave together at dinner table to achieve both at once.

What Is Better Air Fryer Or Microwave?

This of course, depends on you and your circumstances. An air fryer could be your perfect microwave substitute if you don’t use the microwave much and see air fryer recipes filling the gap.

Or if you reheat a LOT of food and eat a lot of TV dinners, then the microwave may well still need to be in your kitchen.

My advice is to get an air fryer (we recommend this one) and then see if you use your microwave less and less and if you could live without a microwave.

Did You Know We Have A Podcast?

We started the Magic With Gadgets podcast in the January of 2021 as a way to offer a different way to enjoy Recipe This. It focuses on cooking with kitchen gadgets. You can find out more about our podcast here.

With twice weekly episodes through September to December. This is episode 11 of the second season and you have the choice between reading this post, listening to the podcast or both.

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Can An Air Fryer Replace A Microwave?