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Ideal Home’s reviewers say newer air fryer microwave hybrids have addressed a key weakness of earlier models: poor air-frying results. They can save counter space and combine cooking functions, but cost more than standard microwaves and may have smaller air-frying capacity than standalone fryers.
Ideal Home’s recent testing has shifted one writer’s view of air fryer microwave hybrids: reviewers found that newer models can produce crisp food, unlike an earlier model that struggled with chips. The appliances combine a microwave with air-frying functions, potentially freeing up counter space, but the report says they remain pricier than standard microwaves and may offer less air-frying room than standalone machines.
The change in assessment follows reviews of models including the Ninja Crispi Microwave, Air Fryer & Oven and a Panasonic 4-in-1 Air Fry Microwave Oven. Ideal Home reviewer and home economist Helen McCue said the Ninja’s air-frying performance was comparable to standalone Ninja air fryers she had tested. The report says chips cooked in 24 minutes came out crisp; that time and result refer to the reviewer’s test, not a guarantee for every recipe or appliance.
Ideal Home Senior Digital Editor Jenny tried the Panasonic model as a way to save kitchen counter space. She said it was useful for reheating leftovers and crisping food, while noting that its air-frying space was smaller than that of some standalone models. The report also lists a John Lewis air fryer microwave, describing it as well-priced and citing positive customer reviews of its air-frying function; those reviews are customer feedback, not independent test results.
The report contrasts these newer experiences with Ideal Home’s 2024 review of a Drew & Cole hybrid. That review found that chips became soggy and took about twice as long to cook as in a conventional air fryer. The latest assessment is based on selected products and reviews, so it does not establish that every air fryer microwave now performs well.
The Trade-Off Is Counter Space
For households short on kitchen workspace, a hybrid could replace two appliances with one and reduce the number of items to store, clean and maintain. That benefit matters most to people who already use both a microwave and an air fryer but do not have room to keep them side by side. The report’s testing suggests buyers may no longer need to assume that combining the functions automatically means poor air-frying results.
There are trade-offs. Jenny’s experience points to a smaller cooking area than some standalone air fryers, and the report says hybrids generally cost more than standard microwaves. Buyers who regularly cook larger portions may value capacity over a saved patch of counter. The report does not provide a broad, like-for-like comparison of prices, energy use or cooking performance across brands, so the decision depends on the model and the household’s cooking habits.
Products Worth Considering
Ninja Flip Toaster Oven and Air Fryer, 8-in-1, Stainless Steel, SP151
Ninja French Door Premier Air Fry Oven, 10-in-1, 20.3 Qt, Stainless (FO101)
Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer
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From Soggy Chips to Crisp Results
Air fryers have become common kitchen appliances in the UK, while microwaves have been used in homes for decades. Combining the two functions is an appealing idea, but the report says its earlier doubts came from not finding a hybrid with a sufficiently good air-frying setting. The 2024 Drew & Cole review provided a specific reason for that caution: long cooking times and disappointing texture in its chip test.
The report suggests the appliance design can make crisping difficult. Microwaves are built to heat food while retaining moisture, whereas crisping generally requires food to lose moisture at its surface. A roomy microwave cavity also differs from the smaller cooking space found in many air fryers. In the newer Ninja model, a FusionCrisp setting combines microwaving and air frying, and McCue used it to cook a whole chicken, vegetable lasagne and jacket potatoes faster than air frying alone, according to the report.
“The air frying function that’s built in was as impressive as any of the standalone best Ninja air fryers.”
— Helen McCue, Ideal Home reviewer and home economist
Performance Varies by Model
The report does not show that all air fryer microwave hybrids match the performance of a standalone fryer. Its positive findings concern particular models and reviewers’ tests, while customer reviews cited for the John Lewis product are not presented as controlled comparisons. Cooking time and crispness can also vary with the food, portion size and settings used.
Price differences, energy consumption, long-term reliability and cleaning effort are not quantified in the supplied report. Stock is also subject to change: the report said the Ninja model was out of stock when it was written and that more units were expected, while the Panasonic was available at that time. Current availability should be checked with retailers.
Check Capacity and Current Stock
Anyone considering a hybrid should compare the specific model’s usable air-frying capacity, functions, dimensions and current price with the two appliances it might replace. The report offers no new testing schedule or announcement of upcoming products. Its immediate advice is based on the reviewers’ experiences: the newer examples it discusses performed better than the earlier model, but prospective buyers should check model-specific reviews and availability before purchasing.
Key Questions
Are air fryer microwave hybrids worth buying?
They may suit people who want both functions but have limited counter space. Ideal Home reviewers reported good air-frying results from selected newer models, but the report does not establish that every hybrid performs equally well.
Do they air-fry as well as standalone air fryers?
In Ideal Home’s test, reviewer Helen McCue said the Ninja hybrid’s air-frying function was comparable to standalone Ninja models she had tried. Jenny said the Panasonic was useful but had less air-frying space than some standalone units. These are model-specific assessments.
What is the main drawback?
The report identifies higher prices than standard microwaves and potentially smaller air-frying capacity than standalone fryers. The appliances may also be bulky, so buyers should check their dimensions and available kitchen space.
What happened with earlier hybrid models?
Ideal Home’s 2024 Drew & Cole review reported soggy chips that took about twice as long to cook as in a normal air fryer. The newer tests described in the report produced better results on the models reviewed.
Source: idealhome.co.uk
