Air fryer vs microwave: which is better for your kitchen?

Updated June 2026 7 min read

Quick verdict

Choose an air fryer for crispy, roasted or fried textures with little oil. Choose a microwave for speed, reheating, defrosting and steaming. They solve different kitchen jobs, so many homes benefit from having both.

Option A

Air fryer

A compact convection cooker that circulates hot air for crisp, browned results.

Option B

Microwave

A fast appliance that heats water molecules inside food, ideal for reheating and defrosting.

Side-by-side comparison

Air fryers are better for texture and small cooked meals. Microwaves are better for speed, leftovers, liquids and defrosting.

Cooking speed

Air fryer

12 to 25 minutes

Microwave

2 to 6 minutesBetter

Texture

Air fryer

Crispy and goldenBetter

Microwave

Soft, often not crisp

Energy per meal

Air fryer

Moderate

Microwave

Low for short tasksBetter

Defrosting

Air fryer

Not ideal

Microwave

ExcellentBetter

Reheating

Air fryer

Good but slower

Microwave

Fast and convenientBetter

Best for

Air fryer

Chips, chicken, roasted vegetables

Microwave

Leftovers, soup, rice, steaming

Compare	Air fryer	Microwave
Cooking speed	12 to 25 minutes	2 to 6 minutesBetter
Texture	Crispy and goldenBetter	Soft, often not crisp
Energy per meal	Moderate	Low for short tasksBetter
Defrosting	Not ideal	ExcellentBetter
Reheating	Good but slower	Fast and convenientBetter
Best for	Chips, chicken, roasted vegetables	Leftovers, soup, rice, steaming

Pros and cons

Air fryer pros and cons

Pros

✓Crispy results
✓Uses less oil than frying
✓Faster than a full oven
✓Good for frozen food

Cons

-Slower than a microwave
-Small capacity
-Not useful for liquids
-Can dry food out

Microwave pros and cons

Pros

✓Very fast
✓Excellent for reheating and defrosting
✓Efficient for short tasks
✓Good for liquids and steaming

Cons

-Does not crisp or brown
-Texture can be soft
-Poor for chips or raw meat texture
-Can heat unevenly

Cost examples

Frozen chips

An air fryer is the better option because it crisps and browns. A microwave is not suitable for this job.

Winner: Air fryer

Dinner leftovers

A microwave reheats a plate in minutes and uses very little energy.

Winner: Microwave

Jacket potato

Microwave is cheaper and faster; air fryer gives the better skin.

Trade-off: Speed vs texture

When to choose Air fryer

›You want crispy texture
›You cook frozen food often
›You cook small meals from raw
›You want an oven alternative
›You have worktop space

When to choose Microwave

›You reheat leftovers often
›You defrost food
›You cook porridge, rice or vegetables
›Speed matters most
›You want lowest effort

FAQs

Can an air fryer replace a microwave?

Not fully. It cannot defrost, reheat liquids or warm leftovers as quickly as a microwave.

Which uses less electricity?

For short reheating jobs, the microwave usually uses less. For oven-style cooking, an air fryer can be efficient.

Is air fried food healthier?

Compared with deep frying, usually yes because it uses far less oil.

Can I cook raw meat in a microwave?

You can, but texture is usually poor. An air fryer is better for browned meat.

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