Air Fryer vs. Microwave: Which is better?

In the modern kitchen, a convenient appliance would be very convenient as both air fryers and microwaves are fantastic cooking tools that cook foods rapidly and efficiently, both appliances have become very popular choices. Although both of them can be used for cooking purposes, they work in a very different way and will have different advantages and limitations. This article would have assisted in breaking down the major differences and matching the benefits to drawbacks for an individual in determining if it's best to invest in an air fryer or a microwave.

Cooking Method
Air Fryer
What is an Air Fryer? An air fryer applies convection cooking, where hot air circulates quickly around food. Such a method provides foods with the same crispiness as deep-fried foods but without the excessive use of oil. In short, it is deep-frying minus a lot of the fat and calories. Foods like fries and chicken wings can be made rather healthier using an air fryer while still creating that crunchy texture desired.

Microwave
This microwave uses electromagnetic waves to heat the water molecules embedded in food items. Unlike air frying, this method is much faster but has contrasting textures as an outgrowth. It is best when it comes to leftovers, frozen foods, or steaming vegetables but not that great at crispy textures. The foodstuffs can be so soft or mushy; they are not so ideal in doing things like browning or roasting.

Winner: The air fryer if you're looking for crisp but if you want fast heat and steaming, you'll be a winner with the microwave.

Health Benefits
Air Fryer
There's even an air fryer, touted as a way of healthy frying instead of deep frying-though, technically, it uses close to zero oil. You can prepare some foods using no oil whatsoever in the recipe, saving on calories and calorie intake, not to mention fats, which is unhealthy. Air-fried food, however, is relatively less fatty than deep-frying, though tastes and feels the same.

Microwave
Another healthier microwave advantage is that it's great for steaming vegetables or cooking without adding fat. However, the major disadvantage of a microwave is that it does not permit browning or crisping; thus it cannot reduce the amount of oil in foods like fries or crispy chicken.

Winner: Both appliances can be healthy, but the air fryer gives better oil-free cooking and still gives you fried-like results.

ALSO READ: Should you buy an air fryer if you already have an oven or a microwave?

Speed
Air Fryer
Air fryers are much more time-consuming than a microwave since they will require the preheating of the air fryer to cook. The duration range between 15 to 30 minutes is flexible depending on what recipe is being prepared. Therefore, it would take so much longer than a microwave but the end result is a result of crunchy texture, which the microwave fails to achieve.

Microwave
Microwaves are quick. It's freakishly rapid-they can heat up food in minutes, making them ideal for fast food or heating leftovers. Nothing requires preheating, and many dishes are ready to eat in under 5 minutes.

Winner: Hands down, the microwave is the winner in the category of speed and efficiency.

ALSO READ: How does an air fryer work and is it a safer option than a microwave?

Versatility
Air Fryer
This means that air fryers are multi-use; they are excellent for frying, baking, roasting, and grilling. You can make fries, crispy chicken, cakes, and roasted vegetables in your air fryer, and the list goes on. That is to say, compared to a microwave, the cooking space in an air fryer is often much smaller; thereby, you have a limit on the amount that you can cook at any given time.

Microwave
The microwaves are fast and convenient. They do not have much flexibility in cooking, though. They are ideal for the reheating and thawing processes but not ideal for a variety of textures in cooking. Some microwaves feature grilling or even convection. However, their prices are costly and are not equivalent to the output of an air fryer.

Winner: The air fryer would be the winner in the field of technique versatility. Meanwhile, people today remain faithful to micro ovens for reheating and defrosting food.

ALSO READ: 5 things you should never cook in an airfryer

Energy Efficiency
Air Fryer
Energy usage is always less in air fryers compared to traditional ovens, but cooking is much slower compared to a microwave. Contrarily, cooking at a higher temperature in a small space is generally more energy efficient for that type of cooking, either stovetop or oven.

Microwave
Microwaves are relatively energy-efficient since they cook food very fast and use the least amount of energy. Among other family kitchen appliances, it is one of the most efficient appliances because it has less cooking time as well as because heat is directly transferred to the food.

Winner: The microwave is much more energy efficient due to its speed through the direct heating method.


Maintenance and Cleaning
Air Fryer
Air fryers are fairly easy to clean, especially if the basket or trays are non-stick and dishwasher-safe. They can get a bit greasy and oily at times, but otherwise, they are pretty low maintenance and only require periodic deep cleaning so that the appliance continues to run.

Microwave
Microwaves are also quite easy to clean, primarily due to the fact that there is no frying and oil present. Most spills and splatters can be easily wiped off with a damp cloth, and using microwave-safe dishes minimizes the mess.

Winner: The appliances are easy to clean, but microwaves are less effort because they have no grease and oil.

Each of these appliances has a better edge over the rest. The air fryer is perfect for a person who would like to enjoy crispy, fried food but does not want to indulge in deep frying. It is versatile because it allows baking and roasting. It, however, is slower than a microwave. On the other hand, a microwave is fast, saves energy, and is perfectly suited for reheating, steaming, or defrosting food. It is incapable of giving you crispy textures.

So, everything that will decide the final outcome is your cooking style and needs. If you enjoy getting rapid, healthy meals with crisp finishes, then an air fryer would be the way to go. But if speed is your thing and convenience, then a microwave might be a little better fit. In fact, most of modern houses tend to see value in having both appliances because they actually cut across and allow one to have the best out of two worlds.

(Image courtesy: Canva)