Best microwave air fryer combos 2024

The best microwave air fryer combo can make cooking easier with an incredibly versatile two-in-one machine.

Naturally, the best option in this field is a little machine that takes the best parts of a microwave and an air fryer and then chucks them together into one great mix. That means they take up less space, but also offer far more options, making them able to rival some of the best countertop ovens in terms of functionality.

Now, let's take a closer look at our selection for the best microwave air fryer combos, which we've chosen based on specs and general reviews as well as some of the aforementioned features.

Best microwave air fryer combos

1. Panasonic HomeChef 4-in-1 Multi-Oven - a top choice for most people
2. Toshiba 4-in-1 ML-EC42P(BS) - best option capacity-wise
3. Cuisinart AMW-60 - a super small alternative
4. Toshiba 7-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven Air Fryer Combo - the most multifunctional pick
5. RCA RMW1205 - best budget combo

Credit: Panasonic

1. Panasonic HomeChef 4-in-1 Multi-Oven

Best microwave air fryer combo overall

This Panasonic HomeChef microwave air fryer combo seems like a great option to go for, especially as it offers you the choice of four different cooking methods.

It can be used as an air fryer to make crispy food, an inverter microwave to defrost, reheat, melt, or cook, an oven to bake or roast, or a broiler to produce grilled results. You can even combine the different functions so that they work in tandem to cook your food. For example, the Convection Oven and FlashXpress Broiler can be used together to toast, brown, or crisp up whatever you might be cooking.

When microwaving your food, the Patented Inverter technology combined with the Genius Sensor should ensure your food is evenly cooked, reheated, or defrosted. This means you shouldn't need to worry about half of your food being cooked while the other half is still practically raw!

For air frying, the device comes equipped with a frying basket, wire rack, and enamel tray, so your food will air fry properly as the gaps in the basket and wire rack should allow the heat to reach every part of your food to make it crispy.

This microwave air fryer also comes with a child safety lock to prevent your kids from tampering with it. For example, they shouldn't be able to accidentally change the settings whilst you're not looking. It also comes with a silent mode to avoid disturbing anyone once it's finished cooking.

All in all, we'd say this is a brilliant all-round choice to go for if you're on the search for an air fryer microwave appliance.

Reasons to buy:

• Can combine both microwaving and air frying to cook.

• Sensors ensure your food is cooked evenly.
• Safety locks to prevent unwanted access.

Credit: Toshiba

2. Toshiba 4-in-1 ML-EC42P(BS)

Best large-capacity microwave air fryer combo

This Toshiba 4-in-1 device should be a great choice for a fairly large family because it measures 1.5 cubic feet, which is bigger than the other products on our list.

In fact, the manufacturer claims the 13.6-inch turntable inside the microwave air fryer can accommodate a whole chicken as well as a 12-inch pizza.

The device can also be used as a convection oven as well as an air fryer and microwave. And you have the option to make use of combination cooking. For instance, you can use the microwave and convection functions together to cook food quickly whilst also crisping it up more than a normal microwave would.

Interestingly, it also comes with 13 smart pre-programmed sensor menus for foods like pizza, french fries, rice, and chicken tenders.

Essentially what this means is that the appliance should be able to detect what food you're cooking (as long as it's on its menu's list) by sensing its humidity level. It is then designed to automatically adjust the cooking time and temperature accordingly.

The appliance also comes with a mute option, so you can turn off the beeping noise that usually sounds when you're food is ready. This is handy if you're cooking at night and want to avoid disturbing anyone trying to sleep.

Overall, we'd say this microwave air fryer definitely seems like a great choice for a family kitchen.

Reasons to buy:

• It's massive, so you can cook larger meals with ease.
• Pre-programmed settings for specific types of food.
• Can mute it to stop unwanted noise.

Credit: Cuisinart

3. Cuisinart AMW-60

Best small microwave air fryer combo

If you have a fairly small kitchen and are on the hunt for a compact product to fit on your countertop, then this Cuisinart AMW-60 microwave air fryer should be suitable for you.

This appliance can act as an air fryer, microwave, or oven depending on what you want to cook and how you want to cook it. You can choose to either use an individual function on its own or you can try the Combi Cook mode, which will use the microwave and air fryer functions together. This should cook your food quickly whilst also producing crisp results.

You can even programme the device to switch from one function to another mid-way through your food being cooked by using the Stage Cooking setting. Again, this can help you cook your food fast if you're in a rush, and make it crispy at the same time.

It also comes with three different air frying presets - Fries, Wings, and Snacks, plus six microwave presets - Popcorn, Potato, Veggie, Beverage, Melt/Soften, and Reheat. These will help take the guesswork out of cooking certain items because the microwave air fryer will automatically adjust the cooking time and temperature for you depending on what preset you choose.

In our opinion, this appears to be a very good appliance for a small kitchen or to use if you live on your own.

Reasons to buy:

• Small size takes up less kitchen space.
• Combi Cook Mode marries both microwaving and air frying together.

Credit: Toshiba

4. Toshiba 7-in-1 Countertop Microwave Oven Air Fryer Combo

Best multifunctional microwave air fryer combo

This Toshiba 7-in-1 microwave air fryer looks like it can be used to cook almost anything thanks to its vast array of settings.

It can be used as a microwave, air fryer, convection oven, broiler, and defroster, plus it comes with combi cook options and a smart humidity sensor function.

It also has ten power levels that you can change depending on what you're making. For example, some foods might need to be cooked at a lower power or temperature than others.

Combining different functions, whether it be microwave and convection or microwave and air fryer, should allow you to get the best results depending on what you want to cook.

To help you out even further, the appliance comes with six Auto Menus and ten Air Fry Menus. Using these modes, the intelligent sensor should detect the humidity levels of whatever you're cooking and cleverly adjust the time and temperature accordingly. Essentially, it should be able to figure out exactly what you're cooking, whether it be french fries or pizza (as long as it's an option on its preset menu).

And last but not least, the appliance comes with its very own original cookbook so you can pick out recipes to make when you need some inspiration.

All in all, we'd say this is a great all-rounder given what appears to be amazing versatility and the sheer number of settings it has to offer.

Reasons to buy:

• 10 power settings mean you can cook a variety of foods.
• Auto adjusts the humidity to cook whatever you place in it correctly.

Credit: RCA

5. RCA RMW1205

Best budget microwave air fryer combo

If you're looking for a budget microwave air fryer, then this RCA appliance seems like a pretty good option to go for.

At 1.2 cubic feet, this device should be ideal for a family to use. It has five one-touch preset cooking menus for certain food items. So, depending on which one is selected, the appliance will automatically adjust the heat and cooking time accordingly. These preset menus include Popcorn, Potato, Beverage, Reheat, and Frozen Dinner.

As with the other products on the list, it can also be used in place of a convection oven, as well as acting as an air fryer and microwave. This means you'll be able to use it to bake and roast food, for example, if you want to cook for your entire family.

Also, the manufacturer claims that the air fryer function uses up to 70% less fat than deep-frying does, making it a much healthier option to cook with compared to regular frying. And, as you'd expect from any microwave, it also comes with a Defrost setting that should be able to defrost your food quickly but effectively.

All in all, we'd say this is a pretty good choice if you're on the search for a budget-friendly option.

Reasons to buy:

• Cheaper than most of its rivals.
• Can reheat and defrost with ease thanks to preset options.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Below we've answered some of the most frequently asked questions, so you can learn more about microwave air fryer combos.

Are microwave air fryer combos worth it?

Yes, we’d say it’s worth investing in a microwave air fryer combo because you can get the best of both worlds in a single appliance.

On the microwave setting, you can heat food quickly, while on the air fryer setting you can crisp up your food using a method that is both quicker than an oven and healthier than deep-frying.

Thanks to this multipurpose usage, a microwave air fryer combo can also help you save space in your kitchen, as it means you only need to fit one appliance on your countertop rather than two. This is particularly useful if you have a small kitchen.

As a bonus, some devices even double up as a grill or an oven as well as functioning as a microwave and air fryer.

Ultimately, there's a lot to like about a microwave air fryer appliance, hence why we feel you should consider picking up one.

Can you put metal in a microwave air fryer?

You can put metal, such as bowls or aluminum foil, in a microwave air fryer combo, as long as it's not on the microwave setting.

You can only use metal materials in the cooking modes that don't use microwaving features, such as air frying or convection cooking.

This is because metal isn't very good at absorbing microwaves. Instead, certain metals tend to reflect them, which can be dangerous because the microwaves then bounce off the metal into the walls of the appliance and back again until the transmitter eventually overheats and gets damaged.

And, when you put thin metal materials, like aluminum foil, in a microwave, their molecules heat up and don't have anywhere to go, which means they will become very hot very quickly and can potentially catch on fire.