Air Fryer Vs Microwave Ovens: What You Need To Know
Microwave ovens have been around since the mid-1900s and are a staple in many British homes. In 2018, it was recorded that 93% of UK households owned the magic mini oven. Air fryers, on the other hand, may have caught your attention in the last few years, but they’ve actually been around since 2006. If you’re quite the food enthusiast or enjoy a healthy lifestyle, you’ve probably come across an air fryer recipe (or a few hundred) on social media.
Both are highly convenient methods of preparing and reheating food, but which one comes out on top and which one is right for you?
What is a microwave oven?
A microwave oven or combination oven combines a microwave and oven in a single kitchen appliance for complete convenience. Think quick microwave reheating, defrosting and, with a quick switch to baking, grilling and cooking. Combining the functions of both appliances means faster cooking times and fewer kitchen appliances when you’ve not got as much kitchen space, it’s ideal.
A standard microwave will use microwave radiation to heat food, whereas a microwave oven adds the function of a convection oven plus grill. For those curious, a microwave makes the water molecules in your food vibrate, this creates friction that warms your food.
At ATI Miele, our microwaves aren’t just any old microwaves; they’re beautifully built in for a sleek look in your kitchen, can be used as an oven or microwave and have a selection of smart features, hence why we use the term: microwave oven. They still do the standard microwaving, but with automatic programmes, smart app connectivity and speedy cooking settings. Did we mention they look great too?
Shop ATI Miele Microwave Ovens Here
What is an air fryer?
An air fryer works like a convection oven. The air fryer heats while a fan circulates hot air at great speed. This kind of cooking replicates that of deep frying without the copious amounts of oil.
What’s the difference between a microwave oven and an air fryer?
As mentioned above, a microwave oven combines the functions of a microwave and oven for cooking and reheating.
An air fryer lightly “fries” food with fast heat. Both appliances cook and reheat food in different ways, and although the air fryer heats food fast, as standard, modern microwave ovens have fast cooking functions too.
Advantages of a microwave oven
A microwave oven heats and reheats food quickly with the added convenience of fast cook functions and specific programmes to help automate cooking times and processes depending on what you are cooking or heating. A combination microwave will work similarly to an air fryer – baking, roasting and grilling foods fast. You might not get the superior air fryer crisp, but they are highly versatile and efficient, plus space-saving too.
Microwaves tend to have a bad reputation when it comes to moisture-rich foods. Generally, a microwave doesn’t dry out food (like an air fryer might). However, that being said, Miele microwave ovens are fitted with the Fan Plus and crisp function which ensures an even distribution of heat, crisp results and no soggy dinners. In the wider Miele range, they offer their innovative Miele AirFry feature with some new oven models – for all things crunchy and crisp, anyone’s mouthwatering?
Microwaves are generally great for quick dinner reheats, fast meals, defrosting and the general cooking of moisture-rich foods. And popping popcorn, of course!
Shop Miele Microwave Ovens Here
Advantages & disadvantages of an air fryer
An air fryer is designed to heat and cook food to a fried texture. They don’t have as many cooking functions or programs as a combination microwave oven as they’re purely specialised in what they can achieve. But you will have that “fried” food crispiness without using a ton of oil. Great for chips, chicken, roast vegetables, salmon, tofu and more!
You’ll need to consider the volume of what you’re looking to cook with an air fryer, they’re not as efficient when you’re looking to feed a family – purely down to their size and food capacity.
Which one is right for me?
Microwave vs Air Fryer: When it comes to preparing meals, if speed, convenience and versatility are a priority, we’d recommend choosing a microwave oven. But if you want ultra-crisp, speedy dinners using little oil, you could opt for an air fryer, or if you’d prefer the benefits of all four features, choose a Miele combination oven. Fast, versatile cooking with smart crisp or moisture-plus function, depending on your cooking requirements.
Back