Microwave vs air fryer: which countertop cooker is best?

It can be hard choose between a microwave vs an air fryer when you're kitting out your kitchen. Both appliances are compact, quick, and efficient alternatives to a regular oven, often with a smaller price tag. Although air fryers are a much newer appliance, microwaves are seeing a resurgence in the market. 

However, it doesn’t have to be an either-or decision. If you have the space, they’re both useful appliances. Air fryers specialize in crisping up fries, vegetables and the like. Microwaves agitate water molecules, so are better suited to high-water content foods, excelling at steaming vegetables or reheating leftovers.

If you need to make a decision between the two, you’re in the right place. We have a team of experts who have tried the best air fryers on the market. I’ve researched how these compare to market-leading microwaves to help you come to a conclusion. 

Microwave vs Air Fryer

Buy an air fryer if

If you want crispy foods using almost no oil, an air fryer is the appliance for you. They’re more energy efficient than the average oven, they’re effective at cooking a range of foods, and many look smart enough to display on your countertops. If you’re short on space and want to be able to clear your countertops in the evening, these are a great option. 

Buy a microwave if

 If you’re a regular re-heater, mug cake maker, or don’t like a lot of hassle, microwaves are a great alternative to the standard oven. They tend to be bulkier than air fryers, so you’ll want to make more room on your countertops, but they can be a little friendlier to your cash reserves. If you need to heat up plates or sanitize jars and bottles, microwaves are a really quick and easy way to do just that. 

Head To Head

For a quick comparison, here are the market leading appliances for both appliances. 

Microwave vs Air Fryer - The Process

Microwaves work by agitating the water molecules in your food. This friction quickly heats your food. However, this works better with foods that have a higher water content. It makes drier foods, such as bread and meat tougher, so isn’t well suited to them. Newer microwaves can do more than warm up food; the Toshiba 7-in-One, for example, has the capacity to air fry, broil, defrost, and combi-cook.

Air fryers are newer to the market and often sold as alternatives to deep fat fryers. They rapidly circulate hot air using a heating element and a fan. This is a fast process, but not as fast as a standard microwave. 

Air fryers are really useful for crisping up vegetables, fries, and frozen foods. They don’t work as well with moist batters though. The best air fryers, including the  Instant Vortex, can air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, and dehydrate. Like the Toshiba microwave, it’s a multi-functional appliance. 

Microwave vs Air Fryer - The Results

WINNER: it’s a tie
There isn’t much that the two share when it comes to results, aside from heat. If you want crispy fries or roasted asparagus, the air fryer will give you the desired texture. If you want to steam broccoli or reheat leftovers, the microwave will deliver better results. If you buy a microwave with an air fry function, like the Toshiba, then you can cook a range of food types.

Reheating is the fairest task to compare the two appliances on, because both air fryers and microwaves are useful for reheating food. The air fryer appliance will need to preheat and will take longer to warm up the food. It’s a slower process, but if you’re after a crunchy texture, the air fryer is the winner. Microwaves work much quicker and don’t need to preheat. However, they won’t deliver on crispy crumbed foods. They’re best for high-water content items, such as curries and soups.

If I had to pick one for generic reheating, I would go for the microwave. If your microwave doesn’t have the capacity to air fry, it’s still useful. You can use tricks to avoid foods getting tough, so if you want to microwave bread, sprinkling it with water will prevent it from getting tough. However, because you can’t directly compare them, it’s a tie.

Microwave vs Air Fryer - The Clean Up

WINNER: microwave
Neither appliance takes much effort to clean. Microwaves have a neat, rectangular shape, so are easy to reach into. With warm soapy water and a clean cloth, giving the insides a wipe is a simple process. The microwave plates are often dishwasher safe too. It’s best to clean them after every use, even though lots of people don’t.

Many air fryer baskets can be placed in the dishwasher, but, if not, use some warm soapy water to gently clean the inside. Watch for any non-stick surfaces, because they are prone to being scratched, and in some cases this can be harmful. Use a very soft cloth on these. Air fryers will have crisping plates and different attachments that might make cleaning a little more fiddly, so if I had to award one the prize for easier clean, it would be the microwave.

Microwave vs Air Fryer - The Cost

WINNER: microwave
Neither appliance takes much effort to clean. Microwaves have a neat, rectangular shape, so are easy to reach into. With warm soapy water and a clean cloth, giving the insides a wipe is a simple process. The microwave plates are often dishwasher safe too. It’s best to clean them after every use, even though lots of people don’t.

Many air fryer baskets can be placed in the dishwasher, but, if not, use some warm soapy water to gently clean the inside. Watch for any non-stick surfaces, because they are prone to being scratched, and in some cases this can be harmful. Use a very soft cloth on these. Air fryers will have crisping plates and different attachments that might make cleaning a little more fiddly, so if I had to award one the prize for easier clean, it would be the microwave.

Microwave vs Air Fryer - The Appearance

WINNER: air fryer
Air fryers look better, and they’re easier to hide. A small air fryer like the Instant Essentials can be stored away so compactly that you almost forget it’s there. Being able to clear appliances into cabinets is really useful. If you can get over the mental hurdle of perceived hassle setting up your air fryer, it’s an opportunity to create some more space in your kitchen.

Comparing The Basic Appliances

FAQs

Our Verdict

If you can get both, do. If you can get a microwave with an air fryer function, do that instead. If you need to make a choice between the two, I’d go for a microwave. They’re better established in our homes, so I think they feel more intuitive to use. They suit the types of foods that I prefer to eat too. However, air fryers are still an important appliance to have when cooking frozen food quickly and crisping roast vegetables.