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An air fryer microwave will transform your ready meals and these are the best
Adding that delicious crispy finish
Tested by Connie HackHomes Tester
- 1
- 2
Runner-up and best air fryer microwave for design
Salter EK5817 DuoWave 2 In 1 Air Fryer & Microwave
Read review - 3
Best value air fryer microwave
Russell Hobbs 25L 4-in-1 Combination Microwave with Air Fryer Function
Read review - 4
Best large capacity air fryer microwave
Panasonic NN-CD88QSBPQ 34L Air Fry Combination Microwave
Read review - 5
An air fryer microwaves combines the speed of the best microwaves with the crispy results of the best air fryers to create the ultimate dinnertime saviour.
Most models also feature additional convection oven, steam, toast, and grill settings, making them one of the most versatile and convenient appliances you can have in your kitchen.
From microwaving soup to air frying a whole chicken, they’re a game-changer for easy mid-week dinners. And perhaps best of all, you can do it all without switching on your oven or slaving away over your hob.
To find the best air fryer microwave combos, the Good Housekeeping Institute experts tested a range of market-leading models, using the same rigorous protocols we review air fryers and the best combination microwaves against.
How we test air fryer microwaves
For air fryer microwave testing, our experts don their chef’s hats to cook up a feast. They first use the simple heating function to warm soup and ready meals (both chilled and frozen) before baking jacket potatoes and defrosting mincemeat.
On the grill setting, they cook pasta bakes, sausages and macaroni cheese, awarding points for even browning and delicious bubbling cheese.
To check each model’s air frying skills, they cook an entire roast chicken as well as a batch of cupcakes. And, yes, they get to eat it all afterwards!
Throughout, they also assess how easy the air fryer microwaves are to use, judging the instructions and overall design.
Pros
- Controls are clearly labelled and responsive
- The turntable can be put in the dishwasher
Cons
- Air fryer tray isn’t dishwasher-safe
- Turntable can’t be deactivated
Score: 90/100
This 26-litre model tops our list, proving a real multitasker in the lab. Not only does it have a fantastic air fryer function, but it can also grill, bake, microwave, defrost and work as a convection oven. And it’s as simple as pressing the clearly labelled buttons.
On the air fryer mode, testers were treated to moist, flavoursome chicken and tasty sausages in just 10 minutes. It heated soup and ready meals effectively and defrosted minced beef without any overheating. The internal lighting gave us a clear view of the cooking progress too.
The mac and cheese didn’t impress us as much as with other models because our cheese didn’t turn golden – something we’d hope we could rectify with some trial and error!
Key specifications
| Combination options | Microwave, air fryer, combination |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 26 litres |
| Dimensions | 52.1 x 34 x 29.6 cm |
| Wattage | 2400W |
| Power levels | 10 |
| Programmes | 5 functions and 28 cooking presets |
| Accessories | Grill basket and baking tray |
Salter EK5817 DuoWave 2 In 1 Air Fryer & Microwave
Pros
- Door closes securely with a satisfying and secure latch
- 10 dedicated air fryer presets
Cons
- Air fryer tray isn’t dishwasher safe
- Recipes only available via a QR code
Score: 87/100
With its sleek, sturdy build and uncluttered fascia, our expert rated this air fryer microwave highly for its design. On the air fry setting, the dedicated crisper trays were easy to insert and remove, and they can be placed at two different levels depending on what you’re cooking.
Our air fried chicken Kyivs were succulent with crispy exteriors and our chips cooked nicely too with no excess oil needed.
As a regular combi microwave, it performed well, delivering thoroughly heated ready meals and fluffy jacket potatoes. But our mac and cheese lacked wow factor as the pasta was quite firm. You can’t easily see through the door to check on cooking progress either, but this microwave still offers plenty to making dinner time fuss-free.
Key specifications
| Combination options | Microwave, combi-oven, air fryer |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 26 litres |
| Dimensions | 39.5 x 51.3 x 49.8 cm |
| Wattage | 900W microwave and 1500W combi-oven |
| Power levels | 10 |
| Programmes | 10 |
| Accessories | Crisper tray and baking tray |
Russell Hobbs 25L 4-in-1 Combination Microwave with Air Fryer Function
Pros
- Step-by-step instructions on setting up each mode
- Affordably priced
Cons
- Hard to see through the viewing window due to the mirrored finish
- Took longer than ideal to air fry a whole chicken (one hour and 15 minutes)
Score: 81/100
This model’s convection mode aced our tests, producing a perfect roast chicken and light, fluffy cupcakes. Meanwhile, classics like jacket potatoes and soup cooked and reheated well. Ready meals didn’t quite hit the mark though, cooking more on the edges than in the centre.
However, the air fryer preset worked well, delivering crispy chips (with just the odd soggy one in the mix) and well-cooked but moist chicken Kyivs.
Overall, the fascia is clear and simple to operate, with easy-to-follow instructions are included should you need them. Some recipes would have been a helpful addition, but this wouldn’t hold us back from cooking up a storm in the kitchen.
| Combination options | Microwave, grill, convection and air fry |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 25 litres |
| Dimensions | 29 x 49.5 x 39.6 cm |
| Wattage | 900W microwave, 2500W convection, 1000W grill |
| Power levels | 5 |
| Programmes | 10 |
| Accessories | Air fryer tray and oven rack |
Panasonic NN-CD88QSBPQ 34L Air Fry Combination Microwave
Pros
- Controls are intuitive and well-labelled
- Exterior remains cool to the touch when air fryer setting is used and there’s a child lock for added safety
Cons
- Our chilled ready meal cooked more on the edges than the centre and needed 30 seconds more than advised
- Viewing window isn’t very clear
Score: 80/100
A 34-litre capacity offers plenty of flexibility when it comes to cooking for the family or larger groups. We managed to fit an entire roast chicken inside and it cooked within 40 minutes on the air fryer setting, with the meat coming out deliciously moist. However, it took an hour on the auto combi mode and the meat was a little dry.
Jacket potatoes came out perfectly though, and the convection setting produced better cupcakes than the air fryer function so a bit of trial and error might be needed to find the best option for the job. There are 30 auto programmes after all, but luckily it comes with thorough instructions and cooking charts to help you find your way.
| Combination options | Microwave, grill, convection and air fry |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 34 litres |
| Dimensions | 34.3 x 56 x 45 cm |
| Wattage | 1000W |
| Power levels | 7 |
| Programmes | 30 |
| Accessories | Air fryer basket, wire rack, enamel tray |
Pros
- Easy to clean with removable accessories
- Effective air fryer function
Cons
- Pre-sets can’t be altered
- Trial and error needed to find the right setting for the job
Score: 75/100
This is another air fryer microwave with a well-thought-out design. You can comfortably fit a dinner plate inside for fuss-free reheating and the uncluttered fascia makes the controls easy to understand. However, if you do get stuck, the instructions include plenty of detail and cooking charts.
Our chicken crisped up well on the air fryer preset, and cupcakes came out evenly browned and well-risen, although slightly lop-sided (but that just adds to the charm, right?). The microwave function had mixed results – our soup and ready meals weren’t evenly heated, but mac and cheese cooked nicely, and grilled sausages tasted juicy and delicious.
Key specifications
| Combination options | Microwave, air fry, convection |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 26 litres |
| Dimensions | 44.9 x 52.3 x 30 cm |
| Wattage | 900W |
| Power levels | 10 |
| Programmes | 10 air fryer and 10 microwave presets |
| Accessories | Air fryer basket, air fryer tray, glass turntable |
What to consider when buying an air fryer microwave
Size: The internal size of a microwave is noted as the capacity measured in litres. Based on our research, the most common capacity for microwaves is around 28 litres, but the best combination microwaves can be anywhere from 23 litres to 45 litres (especially if you opt for a built-in model). If you’re cooking for a family, aim for a microwave that has at least a 32-litre capacity to ensure you have plenty of room to feed the crowd. However, if live alone or with a partner, a smaller microwave with a capacity between 18 and 23 litres will suit perfectly.
Wattage: This tells you how powerful the microwave is. For more varied use, you want at least 1,000 watts of power. Most air fryer microwaves have a higher wattage than traditional solo microwaves, so you shouldn't have to worry too much about low power.
Settings: Most of the air fryer microwaves we’ve tested have convection or grill settings as well as air fryer functionality. If you think you’ll use the extra settings, then go for it, but note that the more programmes you have on an air fryer microwave, the more trial and error you’ll need to find the right ones for each job.
Accessories: The more settings an air fryer microwave boasts, the more accessories usually come with it. Usually, you can store them inside your microwave but bear in mind if you don’t want a lot of extra kit.
Cleaning: As you are air frying inside a microwave, your appliance may get messy (more so than a standard microwave). Select an appliance with a smooth interior, dishwasher-safe parts and fewer nooks and crannies for easier cleaning.
The verdict: Which is the best air fryer microwave?
After our thorough research and testing, we found the Daewoo Actuate Range 26 Litre 5-in-1 Air Fryer Microwave Oven to be the best in class. Its versatility and performance were difficult to beat, making it a worthwhile investment.
However, if you’re worried about having so many functions you won’t actually use, a clear fascia and smart design make Salter’s DuoWave 2 in 1 Air Fryer a fantastic pick.
Why trust the Good Housekeeping Institute?
For over 100 years, our experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute have been rigorously testing products to find the best buys for your home.
Led by homes testing manager, Blossom Boothroyd, our team of testers use each model exactly as you would at home, heating up frozen ready meals and air frying chicken to ensure they won’t disappoint when you need them most.
Our senior homes and lifestyle writer, Megan Geall, then analyses the results and transforms them into our easy-read reviews. She looks after all our small appliance roundups and knows everything about what makes the best air fryers and best microwaves.
Eva (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she tests kitchen gear, home appliances and culinary innovations. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor of science in food studies, nutrition and public health and is a trained chef through the Natural Gourmet Institute. Eva has more than 10 years of experience in the food industry, working as a food stylist, personal chef and marketing manager.
Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s senior homes and lifestyle writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market and has written hundreds of product reviews on everything from the best vacuum cleaners and coffee machines to the best ice cream makers and robot window cleaners.
When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her running every distance from 5km to 100km or relaxing at home with her cat – there really is no in between.
Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, Women's Health, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall.
Connie is responsible for reviewing a wide range of homes products in the GHI lab, something she’s really passionate about. She loves helping readers to find the right buy for their budget and needs. As someone who finds cleaning extremely satisfying and therapeutic, vacuums have become one of her favourite categories to test. Previously, she worked as a product tester for The Sleep Advisors, where she reviewed hundreds of mattresses, pillows, toppers and sleep gadgets. With a BA (Hons) in Photography, Connie loves getting creative with the camera in her spare time, and also enjoys colouring and digital design. Her attention to detail plays a big part in every test she does, ensuring nothing goes unnoticed and all results are accurate.
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