Microwave Oven vs Air Fryer

 There’s an interesting debate bubbling up in the kitchen today. Are air fryers better than microwave ovens? Are air fryers good enough to replace microwave ovens? 

 Let us take you through a breakdown of both appliances in detail below.

 A microwave oven is an electric oven that heats food using high-frequency electromagnetic waves. These microwave ovens are generated by a component called a magnetron.

 When these waves are generated, they’re trapped inside the oven by the metal walls. So, they keep moving around until they’re absorbed by the food. This causes the molecules of the food to generate and transfer heat energy.

 An air fryer is a portable kitchen appliance with which you can make fried foods without dipping them in oil. Air fryers make use of convection heating. With the aid of a heating coil and a fan, heat is generated and circulated around the device.

 To help us decide which is the better appliance for cooking, we must consider a few things.

Speed

It is an important feature of any appliance is how fast it gets work done. Microwave ovens offer the fastest cooking times you can find. Air fryers don’t stand a chance in this department as they are even slower than the normal method of frying. Microwave ovens will heat your food six times faster than an air fryer.

Capacity

The capacity of any cooking appliance tells how much cooking can be done at the same time. Just by looking at both appliances from the outside, microwave’s capacity win the round. A distinguishing feature of air fryers is their compact designs, which means they offer less space than microwaves.

 Air fryers are less suitable for big families or occasions where a lot of cooking needs to be done. Food will have to go in in batches.

Taste

there are people who believe air fryers cook better tasting meals, but we know taste is a more subtle factor to consider. The inferior taste some may find in microwaves may be due to overcooking or undercooking, and this can be solved by using the preset cooking times function.

Also, considering that air fryers need much less amount of oil than microwaves to fry food, we will have to give this round to air fryers.

Energy efficiency

you get to use just about the same energy you put in a microwave oven. This is because heating begins as soon as you flip the switch. They do not need to preheat, unlike air fryers. Air fryers are more energy-consuming.

Ease of use

microwave ovens are easier to use. When you put a food microwave, all you have to do is set the right time, start the cooking and come back when it’s ready.

 Meanwhile, air fryers require a hands-on approach. After choosing the required temperature, you’ll have to wait for it to preheat. Also, during heating, there might be a need to bring out the food basket for stirring and flipping.

Precision

microwave ovens will give you precise cooking. Thanks to the preset functions, your microwave will heat at an exact temperature. As we’ve stated earlier, cooking time can also be set to an exact second.

Versatility

there are certain foods that can be put in a microwave oven but not in an air fryer and vice versa. 

 For example, you can boil water, defrost meals, and melt butter with a microwave, but this can’t be done with an air fryer. On the other hand, foods like fish, steak, and bacon are better suited for heating in an air fryer.

Added features

microwave ovens offer extra features that can’t be matched by an air fryer. A good example is that the disinfectant trays in microwave ovens can be used to sterilize objects like baby bottles.

Safety

both appliances are relatively safe to use, but the scales tilt in favor of the air fryer. This is due to the fact that air fryers use very little oil in frying food, eliminating the risk of you getting burnt from spills.

 An air fryer will be a good addition to your kitchen, but it won’t replace your microwave oven. Air fryers have some interesting advantages, but they just aren’t enough.