Do They Make Microwaves With an Air Fryer?

On this page (8 sections)

1. Do they make microwaves with an air fryer built in?
2. How does a microwave air fryer combo actually work?
3. Does an air fryer microwave combo crisp as well as a basket air fryer?
4. Is a microwave air fryer combo worth the money?
5. What should you check before buying a combo?
6. Which microwave and air fryer pair works instead?
7. Who actually should buy a combo?
8. The bottom line on microwaves with an air fryer

Yes, combination microwaves with an air fryer mode exist. They pack microwave heating, a grill or convection element and an air fry setting into one countertop box.

The question that matters more is whether you should buy one.

For most kitchens, the answer is no. A plain microwave and a separate basket air fryer do each job better, and you can buy both for less than a good combo.

A combo wins only when counter space is the hard limit.

We compared the specs and the way each machine works. Here is the honest picture.

Do they make microwaves with an air fryer built in?

Yes, and the category is growing. Brands sell countertop microwaves that add a grill element, a convection fan or a dedicated air crisp mode on top of normal microwave cooking.

The catch is how "air fryer" gets used in marketing. On many combos it means a high-heat convection or grill setting plus a metal crisper tray, not a deep basket with strong airflow.

That still browns food far better than plain microwaves, which only heat water inside food. But the flat tray and tighter cavity are the reason combo results trail a real basket fryer on fries and wings.

Check the mode list before you buy. A model with a true convection fan and a high heat ceiling behaves very differently from one whose only extra is a grill rod.

A combo that lists a named air crisp setting is the one to shortlist, because the label usually means a fan and a high heat limit come with it.

How does a microwave air fryer combo actually work?

It runs two very different heating systems in one cabinet. Microwave mode uses magnetrons to heat water inside food.

Air fry and grill modes use a metal element and a fan to brown the outside.

That split matters because you can't run both at full strength in every machine, and you can't put metal in microwave mode. Combo cookbooks work around this with mixed steps: microwave first to cook the middle, then air fry to crisp.

A combi oven in a restaurant blends these modes at once. A home combo mostly runs them one after the other, which is why it feels slower than a dedicated fryer for raw frozen food.

The browning step also needs a hot surface under the food. Most combos ship with a metal tray or rack for exactly that, and that tray is the part that makes crisp results possible at all.

If the accessory list stops at a glass turntable, the air fry mode is mostly a warm fan.

Does an air fryer microwave combo crisp as well as a basket air fryer?

No, not usually. A basket air fryer pushes hot air through and around food stacked in a mesh basket.

A combo lays food flat on a tray in a smaller box, so the bottom and the gaps crisp less evenly.

Our air fryer vs microwave comparison goes through the heat differences in more depth. The short version: browning needs dry, moving, hot air, and a basket is built for that.

A combo still beats a microwave for leftovers. Reheated pizza, spring rolls and roast potatoes come out far better from a combo's crisp mode than from a microwave's steam.

Where combos fall short is volume. A full tray of fries cooks in one crowded layer, and crowded food steams instead of crisping.

A 6.5 qt basket holds far more in a single pass. For comparison, the Ninja AF181's basket takes up to 5 lb of fries or 9 lb of wings in one batch, and that is the kind of load a combo tray simply cannot spread out.

Is a microwave air fryer combo worth the money?

Only if space is your biggest problem. A good combo costs more than a basic microwave and a decent basket fryer bought separately, and it does the frying job less well.

Spend the money on a combo when you live in a small flat, a studio or a van, and your counter has room for one appliance only. It reheats, defrosts and gives you some crisp, all from one plug.

Skip it if you have a normal kitchen. A mid-range microwave plus a mid-range air fryer covers more ground, and if one breaks you replace one machine, not both.

The Ninja AF181 alone brings six functions, including Bake, Reheat and Dehydrate, so the pair does more than a combo's short mode list.

Think about repair too. A combo mixes two heating systems, so there is more to go wrong.

Two simple machines are easier to live with over several years.

What should you check before buying a combo?

Check the heat ceiling, the accessories and the interior size. These three decide whether the air fry mode is genuinely useful or just a label.

• Top temperature: a combo that reaches around 400°F or more in crisp mode will brown food. A lower ceiling mostly warms.
• Included tray or rack: a metal crisper tray and a rack are what make air frying work. Without them you are guessing.
• Capacity: measure the turntable or tray. A small cavity means small batches.
• Power draw: combos pull a lot of watts, so check your circuit if the kitchen is old.
• Mode list: look for a named air fry or crisp setting, not just "grill".

Get the wattage and dimensions from the model you are considering. A combo that fits your counter but can't hold a dinner portion is not a saving.

Also check the manual for what each mode needs, since the metal tray that makes crisp results possible is also the thing you must never use in plain microwave mode.

Which microwave and air fryer pair works instead?

A plain microwave plus a basket air fryer is the safer buy for most people. Each machine is simple, and each one is good at its own job.

The Toshiba 1.2 Cu Ft Microwave covers the reheating and defrosting side well. It has a 1000W output, 10 power levels, a humidity sensor that adjusts time and power, and 6 preset menus.

Its 1.2 cu ft interior and 12.4 in glass turntable take a dinner plate or a casserole dish. One touch start runs 1 to 6 minutes at full power, and defrost works by weight or time.

The humidity sensor matters most for the reheat job, because it measures steam and adjusts time and power so a plate of leftovers doesn't dry out or come out cold in the middle.

For the crisping side, the Ninja Air Fryer XL AF181 is the stronger partner. MaxCrisp pushes superheated air up to 450°F, and the 6.5 qt basket holds up to 5 lb of fries or 9 lb of wings.

It runs 6 functions: Max Crisp, Air Fry, Air Roast, Bake, Reheat and Dehydrate. The basket and crisper plate are nonstick and dishwasher safe, and the footprint is compact for its capacity.

The compact footprint matters when the pair shares a counter, since the fryer has a smaller overall footprint than the microwave beside it.

Do you need liners for the air fryer?

Not always, but they cut cleanup. Square silicone liners catch grease and crumbs so the basket needs less scrubbing, and they suit messy foods like marinated chicken.

The Boribim 2 PCS Square Silicone Air Fryer liners are 67 mil thick, 8 in square and 2.2 in tall, sized for 4 to 7 qt fryers. They take heat up to 464°F and are dishwasher safe.

Raised lines on the base help air move under the food. Use them for roasting and holding food, and skip them when you want maximum airflow for very crisp fries.

The raised base also lets grease drain away from the food, which is why glazed or oily dishes come out less soggy in a lined basket.

If you plan to cook more than one thing at once, our air fryer vs oven guide explains when the big oven is the better tool. And if you are deciding between roasting boxes, the halogen oven vs air fryer piece is worth a read.

Lunch is a good test of the pair. A grilled cheese in the air fryer comes out crisp, while the microwave handles the soup beside it.

Who actually should buy a combo?

Buy a combo if one outlet and one counter spot are all you have. Small apartments, dorm rooms, boats and campervans are the natural homes for these machines.

It also suits people who mostly reheat and only occasionally want something crisp. If 80% of your cooking is warming leftovers and 20% is frozen snacks, a combo handles both without a second machine.

Do not buy one if you cook fresh fries, wings or roasted vegetables most nights. The basket fryer's airflow and capacity win, and a microwave beside it costs little.

The Ninja's 450°F Max Crisp setting and its basket airflow are the reason wings come out crunchy rather than chewy, and no flat combo tray matches that on a full load.

Families should lean toward two machines as well. A combo's tray makes small batches, and a family of four needs volume more than it needs one box.

The Ninja's 9 lb wing capacity is the sort of number that matters when everyone wants a portion at the same time.

The bottom line on microwaves with an air fryer

So, do they make microwaves with air fryer modes? They do, and they work best as a space-saving compromise.

For crisp food and simple repairs, a separate microwave and basket air fryer remain the better setup.

Pick a combo if your counter allows one appliance. Pick the Toshiba microwave plus the Ninja AF181 if you have room for two, and add the Boribim liners to keep the basket clean.

Frequently asked questions

Can a microwave air fryer make crispy fries?

Some can, using a crisper plate and a higher heat mode. Results are usually less even than a basket air fryer, because the flat tray limits airflow around a full portion of fries.

Do microwave air fryer combos need special cookware?

Yes, when the grill or convection mode runs. You need metal or oven-safe accessories rated for that heat, and never metal in plain microwave mode.

Follow the machine's own accessory list.

Should I replace my microwave with a combo?

Only if counter space is tight and you mostly reheat. If you cook crispy food several times a week, keep the microwave and add a basket air fryer, which does that job better.

How much counter space does a combo take up?

About the same as a large countertop microwave, often 20 in wide or more. It replaces two machines but is bigger than most standalone air fryers, so measure your counter before you buy.