Are air fryer microwaves worth it? Here's why I was wrong about them

There are often false starts in the world of kitchen appliances. That includes halogen ovens (which we safely debunked as the next big thing back in 2022) and smart connected kettles and toasters, which, safe to say, haven't caught on just yet.

Of course, there are actual game changers too, including the best air fryers, which have become a staple in British kitchens since the start of the decade and the best microwaves, which have stuck around since the 1980s.

Given that trajectory, it makes sense that the next big thing on the horizon would be air fryer microwave hybrids, but until very recently, I wasn't convinced by them at all. Here's why I've changed my tune!

Ninja

Crispi Microwave, Air Fryer & Oven - Silver

Our expert reviewer and home economist Helen McCue was won over by Ninja's first ever microwave offering - she said the air frying function that's built in was as impressive as any of the standalone best Ninja air fryers. It's currently out of stock but more is expected very soon – you can sign up for alerts.

Panasonic

4-in-1 Air Fry Microwave Oven

Ideal Home's Senior Digital Editor Jenny has been trying this hybrid out for me in an effort to save worktop space in her kitchen. It's 4 functions includes a very handy grill setting and unlike Ninja's version, it's very much in stock and available to buy.

John Lewis

Air Fryer Microwave, 26l, Black / S Steel

This John Lewis version has the advantage of being very well priced and extremely well-reviewed by customers who have already taken the plunge. Reviewers have been commenting on how capable the air frying function is.

Until very recently, I would've warned you off of buying an air fryer microwave for one key reason: I hadn't tried or heard of one that had a good enough air frying function. And if you're spending hundreds of pounds and chucking out two appliances to install a hybrid, that's a pretty important factor.

It's easy to see why it's been a long road to get the right technology for this kind of appliance. Our Drew & Cole Air Fryer Microwave review from 2024 highlighted the big issue: soggy chips that took double the time to cook of a normal air fryer, with a texture that was less than pleasant. Helen, our reviewer's, big takeaway from the experience was long cooking times for meagre results.

This is probably due to a few reasons, including that the shape of a microwave doesn't lend itself to crispiness (they tend to be big and cavernous), as well as the fact that they are designed to retain moisture and keep food from drying out. That's the exact opposite of what you want when making homemade chips in an air fryer.

Testing the Ninja Crispi microwave air fryer combo — Chips (successfully!) cooked in the Ninja Crispi microwave air fryer.

Thankfully, that's an issue that more recent iterations have managed to smooth out. Ninja's hybrid has an air fryer setting that our reviewer said was just as good as the standalone Ninja air fryers she's tried – with chips taking 24 minutes and coming out perfectly crisp.

The same positives can be said for the Panasonic air fryer microwave that my colleague Jenny has been trying out for me. She's been won over by this clever multifunctional buy.

'What I've been enjoying most about our microwave air fryer is that it saves space on my worktop while still giving me the option to air fry,' says Jenny. 'It's really handy for reheating things like leftovers and crisping up food, although the air frying space is smaller than some standalone models.'

Testing the Drew &amp; Cole Microwave Air Fryer

An enticing USP of Ninja's version is the FusionCrisp program which allows you to combine air frying and microwaving to cut down on cooking times. Helen used it in her review to cook a whole chicken, a veggie lasagne and jacket potatoes in better time than just air frying alone.

There are some downsides to this kind of hybrid. Microwaves are not known for being low-profile and none of these hybrids are exactly appealing aesthetics-wise. They're also, as Jenny points out 'a little pricier than a standard microwave too.'

But if you have a way to successfully hide your air fryer or microwave already, or if you're not overly fussed then you will have the benefit of saving space on your worktop and having one less appliance to maintain and clean.

All in all then, it's hard not to see the dawn of well-functioning air fryer microwaves as the next big thing in kitchens. Are you tempted to swap one in to your kitchen?

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Molly is Ideal Home’s Kitchen Appliances Editor and the Ideal Home Certified Expert on Appliances. An all-around cooking and baking enthusiast, she loves finding the next must-have product for readers that will their kitchen a better place. She joined the team in September 2022 after working on the editorial teams of Real Homes, Homes & Gardens and Livingetc.

For the last 4 years, she's been reviewing hundreds of small appliances; conducting tests at home or in the Ideal Home test kitchen.

Molly also has the lucky job of testing coffee machines, from pricey bean-to-cup models to low-faff pod machines, to serve those looking to hone their barista skills at home. She oversees an expert panel of coffee machine reviewers too, to cover every coffee niche.