The Microwave Air Fryer is a product that was developed to produce foods traditionally made in an oven or dry fryer, but using only the air from a microwave for cooking. The food does not have any added oil or grease, which means that it is healthier for the consumer.
The air fryer is also more compact than most ovens and requires less energy to cook food quickly. So do you really need one? Will it do all my cooking for me? What one should I buy? We found out…
What Is An Air Fryer Microwave?
A microwave air fryer is a small appliance that cooks food by circulating hot air around it. This heats the food and removes excess oil without requiring too much energy. Because it cooks with little or no oil, it is a healthy cooking option.
It takes about 15-20 minutes to cook a full meal in the microwave air fryer such as chicken wings, steak or vegetables. This is less time than it would take in a traditional oven or fryer. There is no preheating time required (except for the first minute of air frying), and the food cooks faster than most ovens.
There are many brands on the market that sell microwave air fryers with different features. Prices also vary depending on the brand and style you choose to buy, so do a little research and shop around.
What Does A Microwave Air Fryer Look Like?
An air fryer microwave, as its name suggests, has a microwave inside it. The outside is slightly different from a standard microwave though because the door opens from the side rather than upwards. It also looks slimmer because of this unusual shape but it is about the same height as a microwave and a little more compact.
Our Favorite Microwave Air Fryer In The Market
[links title=”Panasonic Genius 4-in-1 Microwave Oven With Air Fryer” code=”B085SV35MT”]The Panasonic Genius 4-in-1 microwave oven with air fryer technology precisely cooks food up to 40% faster with no oil, turning a chore into a healthier lifestyle.
With the capability of Air Frying, Roasting, Steaming and Defrosting – all in one convenient appliance – you can make practically anything your heart desires. Simply put any dish from the pan, tray or food steamer tray into the microwave.
It also comes with a 1 year warranty. It is perfect for cooking appetizers, main courses, side dishes and desserts.
Pros: – Large capacity – Black or white color options – Comes with accessories – 1 year warranty.
Pros & Cons Of The Microwave Air Fryer
For starters, there are a number of benefits that come along with using an air fryer. These include:
Pros:
- Food takes less time to cook
- There’s no need for any added oil, which makes food much healthier
- You don’t have to turn the food during cooking
- It’s much easier to clean than a traditional oven or stove as you don’t have to scrub the rings
- It’s much smaller than a traditional oven
Cons of using a microwave air fryer include:
- Space – many people complain that they don’t have enough room to store their air fryer on the countertop
- Cooking times – although cooking times tend to be much shorter than traditional cooking methods, they are slightly longer than using a microwave.
How To Use A Microwave Air Fryer
Microwave air fryers are straightforward to use, with three main settings: bake, roast and grill. Most of the models have a digital display on the front that lets you choose one of several pre-set cooking programs.
These programs typically include various types of food, such as breaded chicken or French fries, which means all you have to do is put your chosen food into the air fryer, select which program you want to use and press start.
Each model also has an on/off switch, so you can simply turn it on while you prepare your food without having to wait for the oven to heat up first.
What’s The Difference Between An Air Fryer And A Microwave?
Microwave ovens and air fryers use different technology to cook food. A microwave uses electromagnetic radiation and a magnetron to create waves that move around inside it. This causes the water molecules in your food to vibrate, producing heat as they rub together.
An air fryer also cooks using microwaves but this time it creates them using a magnetron and metal mesh. The mesh is what causes the air fryer to look so different from a standard microwave: the food sits on top of it while it cooks.
A major difference between the two is that microwaves cook food from the inside out, while an air fryer cooks it from the outside in. This is why you often need to turn your food halfway through cooking with a microwave: if you don’t, one side will be overcooked and dry and the other raw and soggy.
An air fryer also means you can cook food from all sides in a very short time, but the heat is more evenly distributed. This means that a typical air fryer meal will always be crispy and moist on the outside, yet tender and fluffy on the inside.
How Do Microwave Air Fryers’ Work?
To use a microwave air fryer, you simply add your food to the basket, set the time and temperature and then press start. The digital display will tell you when it’s done cooking so that you can take your food out of the microwave immediately rather than waiting around for ages for it to cook through. This is because the food is cooked using infrared heat, which cooks it instantly.
Unlike a microwave, you don’t need to worry about rotating the dish or stirring the food halfway through cooking; although some models do have this function if you want to use it. Because of this, a microwave air fryer is great for preparing quick, healthy and tasty meals without having to spend ages in the kitchen.
What Type Of Foods Can I Make In My Microwave Air Fryer?
You can cook a whole host of different types of food in an air fryer, and there’s no limit to what you can make. To use your microwave air fryer, just look at the instruction manual that comes with it for ideas and inspiration.
However, there are some foods that will always come out better than others.
For example, anything that is fried in oil or baked (rather than steamed) will taste great. So you can make all sorts of deep-fried foods like French fries, onion rings and chicken nuggets without needing to add any extra fat.
What’s more, many air fryers let you use the basket as a grill, so you can cook things like burgers and kebabs without getting your hands messy with oil, or worrying about meat sticking to the grill.
Tips: Here are some tips on cooking specific types of food in your microwave air fryer:
French Fries
For crispy fries that aren’t soggy, make sure you dry them thoroughly after rinsing, then cut them into sticks no thicker than an inch. You can also add a tablespoon of oil to the cooking compartment if you like fries with a crispy coating.
Chicken
Make your own healthy chicken nuggets at home in minutes by cutting small chunks of chicken and adding breadcrumbs, herbs, spices and grated parmesan. Then cook them in your air fryer for around 10 minutes until they’re crispy and golden on the outside, while being moist and tender inside.
Fish
To make sure that fish cooked in an air fryer stays nice and moist, add lemon slices to the cooking compartment, along with a few herbs like parsley and thyme. Alternatively, you can use a tablespoon of oil to add a little flavor.
Onion Rings
If you want onion rings that are crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, soak them in water for 10 minutes, then drain before dipping them in breadcrumbs or cornflour and cooking them in your air fryer.
Vegetables
If you’re short of time, but want to eat more veggies, then using an air fryer is a great way to prepare them quickly and easily. For example, you can cook broccoli or cauliflower florets in around 7 minutes with no need for turning them over halfway through. Just add oil to the cooking compartment and you’re good to go!
Potatoes
If you like your chips crispy, then using an air fryer is a great way to cook them. Simply cut potatoes into thin sticks and place them in the basket with a little oil and salt, and they should be cooked in around 12 minutes.
Cake
If you want to bake a cake in your microwave air fryer, then using an oblong dish should give the best results. You could also add fruit on top of the cake during cooking time for extra flavor and moisture.
Pizza
While you can’t cook food from scratch in a microwave air fryer, you can still enjoy homemade pizza without using a conventional oven. Just place the ingredients in your air fryer cooking compartment and they’ll be cooked to perfection in around 10 minutes.
What Features Should I Look For When Choosing A Microwave Air Fryer?
The main advantage of a microwave air fryer is that they’re quick and easy to use. However, you should still do some research before buying an air fryer for your kitchen.
Here are some of the essential features to look out for:
Basket
Make sure there’s a basket included with your air fryer, as this is what you’ll use to hold food during cooking time. You may also want to choose an air fryer with a non-stick coating, which will make cleaning easier.
Capacity
In terms of capacity, the amount you’ll need depends on how much food you’re planning to cook in one session. So if you regularly have large family gatherings or dinner parties, then a large capacity air fryer is ideal.
Timer
Most models of microwave air fryers will include a digital timer, which you can use to set cook times from between 30 seconds and 10 minutes. This is particularly useful for when you’re cooking delicate food items that need to be cooked at certain stages throughout the cooking process.
Power
The main advantage of a microwave air fryer is that they typically use less electricity than a full-sized oven, although larger models with higher wattage may use more power. As a general rule, models with at least 750 watts are likely to be efficient enough for most households.
5 Things To Know Before I Buy A Microwave Air Fryer?
- You’ll probably need more than one cooking rack if you plan to cook large quantities of food at once, as most air fryers only come with one. There are some models on the market that include up to four cooking racks though.
- Before buying a microwave air fryer, make sure you’re familiar with the diameter of the cooking compartment. This is normally around 12 inches or 30 centimeters.
- You may also need to buy dishwasher-safe baskets and racks separately as these don’t come included with most models.
- Some models of air fryer include accessories, such as tongs or skewers, so make sure to check whether these are included before buying.
- You should also be aware that microwave air fryer cooking times will vary based on the model you buy, the food item being cooked, and other factors.
Conclusion
Overall though, microwave air fryers are a great option for anyone who wants to cook healthier food items in less time. They are also much more efficient than full-size ovens, so they save on energy consumption. If you enjoy cooking, but don’t have a lot of time to spare, then you’ll love the results a microwave air fryer delivers.
Love crispy chicken wings but hate the mess and duration it takes to make them in a conventional oven? Then you can easily make crispy chicken wings using a Microwave Air fryer in half the time.
What I also like is that you can buy different accessories with your air fryer, including racks and tongs, making it suitable for all types of cooking methods – perfect for frying, baking, grilling, roasting and more.
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