Can An Air Fryer Replace A Microwave ? | Are Air Fryers Like Microwaves?

People always find themselves in dilemma when it comes to choose between air fryer and microwave. With the latest air fryers available in India, air fryer can accomplish practically everything a microwave can except for heating or boiling liquids, and cooking in volume. If you enjoy cooking fresh and frozen vegetables, fresh and frozen meat, and adore crispness, an Airfryer is a way to go.

Anyway, getting back to the point, I was thinking of giving away our microwave oven to someone who might need it more than we do and instead starting to use the air fryer, but before I made a choice, I wanted to conduct some research.

Choose a microwave over an Airfryer for rapid reheating, bulk heating, and liquid heating. Let me explain all you need to know about air fryers and microwaves, including their differences and benefits, so you can determine which one is best for you and whether one can be replaced with another.

How Does An Air Fryer Work?

To cook food, an Airfryer includes two major components: a heating coil and a fan. Depending on the model, the heating coil may be situated on top or at the bottom. A fan circulates hot air while the coil heats up. Because of the ‘Maillard Reaction,’ hot air circulates within an air fryer, cooking your food.

Your food becomes delicate and crisp because of a chemical interaction between decreasing sugars and amino acids. When the cooking space is decreased, and superheated air is circulated with only a teaspoon of oil on the dish, it produces excellent outcomes for all types of food while lowering calories.

How Does An Microwave Work?

A microwave cooks food by using electromagnetic radiation. These have shorter wavelengths than red light. A magnetron, a type of electron tube used in microwaves, generates electromagnetic radiation. The waves are reflected within the oven and strike food particles at the cellular level.

These waves interact with the water molecules within food, causing them to vibrate at a high pace. As the temperature rises, the molecules heat up, which heats the meal. The microwave will only affect your food and will not damage metal or plastic.

Differences Between Air Fryer And Microwave

1. Heating Method

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines microwaves as having an electrical component known as a magnetron. This is an electron tube that generates the electromagnetic radiation that is reflected inside the oven. Microwaves are interesting in that they heat food at the cellular level, heating the water contained within the meal. Air fryers are equipped with a fan and a heating element that distributes heat around the food while airflow surrounds the oven for uniform and thorough cooking.

2. Cooking Time

Microwave ovens cook far more quickly than air fryers. Heating food in a microwave takes seconds to a few minutes, whereas air fryers might take 15 minutes or longer.

3. Versatility

Many foods can be cooked in a microwave. Still, practically anything can be cooked in an air fryer. Air fryer have the necessary accessories the help of these accessories you can cook easy to go party recipes such as samosas, french fries, fried chicken, etc. Yes, you read that correctly. If you didn’t know previously, some extremely cool extras would allow you to cook things in your air fryer that you never thought possible. In any case, microwaves are amazing and offer an edge when it comes to warming beverages and soups. Using an air fryer would just not be energy efficient.

4. Food Capacity

With microwaves, you can put in a large batch of leftovers and have them ready in minutes. It doesn’t matter how much food there is; if prepared for the right time, it will be ready to eat in 30 minutes.

On the other hand, air fryers cannot cook a large amount of food at once. This is because there must be an adequate distance between the heat and the airflow. As a result, you will frequently have to boil bigger portions in stages.

5. Power Consumption

Microwaves use 1200 watts of power for about 30 minutes per day. Furthermore, when in standby mode, it consumes up to seven more watts. Air fryers are more efficient, emitting between 1200 and 1500 watts over a long period. It also does not have a standby mode.

6. Temperature Settings

Microwave ovens cook food at a higher temperature than air fryers. However, the even circulation of hot air allows for the thorough cooking of more delicate foods. Microwaves can easily cook food at temperatures that are hotter than most people prefer. Depending on the model, an air fryer can reach a maximum temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit (roughly 200 degrees Celsius). However, with the help of rapid hot air circulation, it cooks thoroughly and evenly.

7. Maintenance

Air fryers are the most simple to clean and maintain. Their small, portable size, portability, and nonstick pans make cleaning a breeze. High-quality models have tried-and-true coils and fans that will last for decades. Microwaves are often difficult to keep clean. You can’t use a heavy-duty cleaner because there will be oil, sauce, and butter splatters and stains.

Because of the combustibility, you can’t be sure the cleaner doesn’t contain aluminum or other metal-based chemicals. Apart from the turning table, there are almost no detachable parts, so you have to reach deep into the microwave chamber to grab all the crumbs and scrub away the stains.

Can An Air Fryer Replace A Microwave?

I had an epiphany yesterday when I realized I had been using my air fryer more than my microwave oven. Calling it an epiphany might be a bit much. Anyway, back to the point: I was thinking about giving away our microwave oven to someone who might need it more than we do and instead starting to use the air fryer, but before I did, I wanted to do some research.

Can You Use An Air Fryer As A Microwave?

Technology will continue to advance as time passes. You’ll see some kitchen appliances come and go. The air fryer is one of them. And, with limited kitchen space, you may be wondering if you can replace the microwave with an air fryer. We’ve provided the solution for your convenience.

The answer is dependent on several questions you must ask yourself. How often do you find yourself reheating food? On the other hand, how often do you prepare foods from scratch? These are important questions because the appliances serve different purposes. In general, an air fryer cannot replace a microwave.

However, there is more to the story. You might be wondering why an air fryer cannot replace a microwave. You might also be wondering how each appliance works. If you want to learn more about this and other topics, keep reading for an in-depth look.

Final Thoughts

An air fryer is a budget friendly appliance since there are air fryers that come under 5000 and also they are much healthier way to cook your food. It reduces acrylamide content in food, controls cholesterol, and lowers calorie count without affecting nutritional content. On the other hand, the latest microwaves available in market produce quick results, heats food, and can prepare tea, coffee, rice, and pasta. And if you are into baking then you should opt for baking ovens over air fryer. We have picked some of the best baking ovens in India do check our blog.

It can be difficult to decide which appliance to buy. However, with a little research, you can narrow down your options for what you want from the appliance. As a result, you will not make a mistake! We hope the information above was helpful to you!