9 Best Air Fryer Microwave Combos Of 2026
I bought my first air fryer microwave combo about two years ago because I was tired of having both a microwave and a countertop air fryer eating up space in my kitchen. The idea of one appliance that could do both jobs sounded almost too good to be true — and honestly, the first model I tried was not great. But after trying several more, I found that the right air fryer microwave combo really can replace both appliances without much compromise.
The best models heat food quickly using microwave power and also produce genuinely crispy results using air fryer or convection technology. The ones that fall short tend to be weak on the air frying side, so choosing the right model matters a lot.
Below I cover what to look for when shopping, the differences between the technologies involved, and then my picks for the 9 best air fryer microwave combos currently available.
How Air Fryers and Microwaves Work Differently
Understanding the difference between these two technologies helps explain why combining them makes sense — and where the limitations are.
Microwaves heat food by generating electromagnetic waves that excite water molecules in your food. This is why microwaves are fast but tend to make things soft or soggy rather than crispy. They are excellent for reheating leftovers, defrosting, and cooking certain things quickly, but they cannot brown or crisp food on their own.
Air fryers work by circulating very hot air rapidly around food using a powerful fan and a heating element. This is essentially convection cooking, and it is what gives food that crispy, golden exterior. Air fryers take longer than microwaves but produce results that are much closer to deep frying, without all the oil.
An air fryer microwave combo puts both systems into one unit. Some models let you use them independently, while others can combine the two modes — microwaving first to heat the food through, then air frying to crisp the outside. That combination is where these appliances really shine.
Benefits and Drawbacks
The biggest advantage is counter space — one appliance instead of two. Beyond that, the combination cooking modes can produce results you cannot get from either appliance alone. Imagine reheating leftover pizza that comes out hot all the way through with a crispy crust, or cooking frozen chicken tenders that are actually crunchy on the outside and cooked evenly inside.
The downsides are real though. These combo units tend to cost more than buying a basic microwave and a budget air fryer separately. They are also generally larger than a standard microwave, so measure your space carefully. And some models are better at one function than the other — a few of the ones I tested were decent microwaves but mediocre air fryers.
What to Look for When Buying
Air frying performance. This is where the biggest quality differences show up. Look for models with at least 1000 watts of convection power and a strong internal fan. If the specs focus mostly on microwave wattage and barely mention the air frying side, that is usually a sign that air frying is an afterthought.
Interior size. Combo units need enough room for hot air to circulate around your food. If the interior is too cramped, the air fryer function will not work well. Look for at least 1.0 cubic feet of interior space — more is better if you cook for a family.
Power settings. A good combo should have adjustable power levels for both the microwave and convection modes. Some cheaper models only have a couple of preset options, which limits what you can cook.
Build quality and design. Since you will use this appliance daily, the door mechanism, control panel, and turntable (or rack system) all matter. Stainless steel interiors are easier to clean and more durable than painted options. Also check the exterior dimensions carefully — these can be significantly larger than a standard microwave.
The 9 Best Air Fryer Microwave Combos
Below we have compiled a list of our favorite microwave air fryer combos that can all be conveniently found online. These vary in size, functionality, and affordability, guaranteeing that you will find a model you love!
| Rank | Product | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Panasonic HomeChef 4-in-1 Microwave Oven with Air Fryer | Can function as a microwave, an air fryer, a convection oven, and a broiler |
| 2. | Cuisineart 3-in-1 Air Fryer Microwave Oven | Comes with pre-set heating options |
| 3. | Galanz 3-in-1 Speedwave | Built-in humidity sensor |
| 4. | RCA Air Fryer Microwave | Simple design and function |
| 5. | Breville Combi Wave 3-in-1 | Power Smoothing Inverter |
| 6. | Amazon Smart Oven | Comes with 30 built-in voice recognition pre-sets |
| 7. | Samsung Countertop Convection Microwave | 8 automatic convection oven settings |
| 8. | Galanz 4-in-1 Toastwave | Comes with toaster oven setting. |
| 9. | Toshiba Multifunction Microwave Oven With Air Fryer | Best overall air fryer microwave combo |
1. Panasonic HomeChef 4-in-1 Microwave Oven with Air Fryer
This model is basically 4 appliances in one! It can function as a microwave, an air fryer, a convection oven, and a broiler!
And, what makes this appliance even better is that you can use each of these functions alone, or in combination with each other!
You can make deliciously crisp and juicy food with the air fryer mode and even set the exact temperature and time you need. And, like regular air fryers, you don’t have to use any oil with the food, making it a very healthy cooking method.
The convection oven has two settings including baking and roasting.
Convection baking is great for recipes that need a ton of rise, whereas the roasting convection setting will create beautifully browned or caramelized dishes.
And finally, the microwave function can reheat, defrost, cook, and warm food in minutes and comes with some pre-set functions.
Although the Panasonic HomeChef is a bit more expensive than some of the other options on this list, it really is the best in class right now.
The air fryer function on this device is second to none and it also has a broiler! This thing really can do everything.
On top of all that, it also has a feature that Panasonic calls there “genius sensor” which allows for things like smart reheat, smart cook, smart defrost, etc.
2. Cuisineart 3-in-1 Air Fryer Microwave Oven
This 3-in-1 microwave oven is the perfect compact option that won’t take up your whole kitchen.
You can use it as an air fryer, a convection oven for larger pieces of food, and a microwave for quick heating!
The microwave already has pre-set heating options, comes with 11 different power levels, has an auto-cook feature, and has a defrost setting that calculates the defrosting time according to the weight of the item.
The one downside we have with this specific product is its size, although, that’s just us. It only has a 0.6 cubic feet capacity and works perfectly for someone that lives alone or even a couple.
3. Galanz 3-in-1 Speedwave
This is the perfect air fryer microwave for families!
It has a 1.2 cubic feet capacity and of course, can function as an air fryer, a microwave, and also, a convection oven.
It also has combi-speed cooking which uses a combination of microwaves’ intense heat and speed, and a convection oven’s air circulation for even cooking and browning.
This combi-speed setting truly gives you a great idea of what an air fryer microwave should do!
Another fantastic feature this appliance has is its 360 spinning plate that works while it is set to the convection setting. It also comes with a baking and broiling oven setting.
And finally, it has a built-in humidity sensor that will ensure your food is never over or undercooked.
4. RCA Air Fryer Microwave
This is another fantastic family-friendly appliance.
It can easily reheat frozen foods, air-fry some delicious chicken, and bakes and roasts using the convection oven setting!
What we love about this product is its simplicity both in design and function. The overall look will make you think it is simply a big microwave.
It has a very sleek design with touch screen features, and a built-in light to monitor the progress of your food.
It has 5 built-in one-touch cooking options to make your life all the more convenient. And you can also adjust the power level according to your needs.
5. Breville Combi Wave 3-in-1 Microwave, Air Fryer, and Toaster Oven
The Breville Combi Wave is another fairly expensive, but really popular option, and is certainly one of the highest-quality microwave/air fryer combo devices on the market.
I personally love the beautiful and unique stainless steel design, but there is a lot going on under the hood of this beautiful machine.
One of the best features of the Breville Combi wave is its “precision cooking technology” that helps the device to cook your food more evenly and can even cook it right to a desired temperature.
The Combi Wave is also a large-capacity microwave so you can cook quite a bit of food at once, which if you’re like me and have a few kids, you will also appreciate. I also really love that this device has a simple and effective child lock built right in.
Finally, the Breville Combi wave also has power smoothing inverter technology that does away with the old “On/Off” options for your microwave and instead can smoothly and precisely adjust it’s power throughout the reheating so you get hot fresh food that isn’t dried our or overcooked.
This is absolutely one of the best air fryer microwave combos on the market in 2024.
6. Amazon Smart Oven
Okay, so if you are very into technologically advanced appliances, then this one from Amazon is for you!
What makes it most impressive is that it has more than 30 built-in voice recognition pre-sets that can be used to control your air fryer microwave from a distance!
This oven can function as an air fryer, a microwave, a food warmer, and of course, a convection oven—what more would you need?
One negative aspect of this appliance though is that its air fryer feature does take considerably longer compared to stand-alone air fryers. Other than that, it is still a very impressive appliance.
7. Samsung Countertop Convection Microwave
Is there anything Samsung can’t perfect?
If you thought convection cooking is already quick, then your mind will be blown with this appliances’ Power Convection Technology.
It cooks food at a much quicker pace and more evenly than you could have ever dreamt of!
This air fryer microwave also has a duo power grill setting which allows you to also brown and crisp up your food as it cooks evenly.
It has 9 pre-set cooking modes for the microwave setting and 8 automatic convection oven settings that will perfectly cook your food!
And as with most other models, it has 10 adjustable power settings so you can easily control the temperature.
8. Galanz 4-in-1 Toastwave
Last, we have another air fryer microwave from Galanz, but this model has an added feature: a toaster oven!
Like the 3-in-1 model, it also works using the rotating plate to ensure the food cooks and browns evenly.
This model, thanks to the toast oven setting, has additional cooking options as you guessed it, toasting. But this feature also allows you to lightly toast seeds and nuts, crisp up ingredients, and even make crispy pizza on a pizza stone.
And, it also has impressive technological features such as sensor cooking and sensor reheating.
9. Toshiba Multifunction Microwave Oven With Air Fryer
This air fryer microwave from Toshiba can truly do everything!
It has 25 pre-set menus. This includes 10 air fryer settings that will produce crispy and evenly cooked dishes.
They also include a broiling setting (which will create extra crispy and even charred products) and a baking setting (which will aid with even rising of baked goods like cakes).
It also has 4 low-temperature settings for dehydrating fruits and vegetables, helping ferment ingredients like yogurt, and even aiding dough in rising. Then, naturally, it has up to 11 microwave settings including defrosting pre-sets.
This is a 1000-watt microwave, however, because of the many functions, there are about 10 different power settings you can use. It even has an eco-setting that will help you save energy when the appliance isn’t being used.
This large capacity air fryer microwave can roast whole chickens and even 12-inch pizzas! It has a beautifully sleek and stylish design and will fit into any kitchen seamlessly!
Related Questions
Now that we’ve thoroughly covered what the best microwave air fryer combos are, let’s cover some important related questions.
Is It Worth Buying A Combination Microwave?
The answer to this question is going to depend on a few things, including your cooking habits and regular needs. If you regularly bake or roast your food and really want that crispness to your food, then a combination might be a great option.
An air fryer microwave combo will likely save you both time and counter space compared to having many separate appliances.
The primary reason that it might not be worth buying a combination microwave (sometimes called a convection microwave oven) would be that it is often the case that dedicated appliances, like a microwave or air fryer, might be better at these individual tasks, and might also offer additional functionality that you would not find on a combination microwave.
So, if you’re looking for the absolute best air fryer or the absolute best microwave, you probably won’t fund them bundled in a combination device, however, that doesn’t mean that an air fryer microwave combo might not be a great fit for you and your family.
What Can You Cook In An Air Fryer Microwave?
There are so many things that you can cook in an air fryer microwave combo. Everything from chicken wings and roasted vegetables to popcorn or bacon or salmon or literally just about anything.
These devices can work as fast as a microwave but offer the heating and crisping capabilities of an air fryer or convection oven, some even have broilers!
So, as far as “what you can heat in an air fryer microwave combo,” the answer really is just about anything.
I made the following chart to just give you a few examples of things that you can reheat.
| Food | Setting |
|---|---|
| French fries | Air Fryer |
| Chicken wings | Air Fryer |
| Roasted vegetables | Air Fryer |
| Grilled cheese sandwich | Air Fryer |
| Baked potato | Microwave |
| Popcorn | Microwave |
| Reheated leftovers | Microwave |
| Steamed vegetables | Microwave |
| Scrambled eggs | Microwave |
| Stir-fry | Air Fryer |
| Roasted chicken | Air Fryer |
| Grilled salmon | Air Fryer |
| Crispy bacon | Air Fryer |
Can You Put Metal In An Air Fryer Microwave Combo?
The answer to this question is mostly a yes, let me explain.
Although some microwave combo devices with air fryer functions can handle metal, others cannot.
Some devices also might only be able to handle certain types of metal, or they might only be able to handle metal if it’s on a certain setting.
So, the first thing you need to do is check the instructions that came with your device, or contact the manufacturer, in order to find this out.
If you do end up using metal in a combi microwave that is not intended to handle metal, you could easily damage your device or even start a fire.
It’s common to use things like baking sheets or wire racks or even aluminum foil in your combination microwave, however again, you need to check the instructions or manufacturer guidelines in order to know if this is safe.
