to think an Air Fryer is more useful than a microwave?

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

We will shortly be moving to a house where there is much less worktop space than we have currently. We don't think we will be able to have a microwave and an air Fryer, but we are disagreeing about which one to lose.

Currently we have a built in microwave above an eye level oven. Our new house has a large range cooker. I use the microwave a few times a week. We used to have an air Fryer but gave it to our son when he moved out a few weeks ago and I really miss it. Especially now that energy costs are rising. I really resent heating up a big oven to cook 4 sausages, or a chicken breast.

I think we should opt for the Air Fryer but DH thinks the microwave is more useful.

AIBU for opting for an air fryer? Is there a solution I haven't thought of?

I've looked at that one but it is £££ plus reviews say it's a nightmare to clean. But I really like the concept!

I had this dilemma too

Got a ninja air fryer (the one that looks like a small oven) and use it a lot

I never really used the microwave we used to have. I heat up left overs in a pan. Works for most things. Used the microwave for milk ;heating up a hot choc) or popcorn only

And microwave ready meals in plastic trays are never nice anyway

Love my air fryer but it IS bulky

I'm so enthusiastic about remoskas that I've just ordered the larger version to add to the standard one. It makes wonderful scones, cakes, curries etc and I use the rack to heat or reheat food.Stews are excellent as the vegetables stay intact and don't boil away as they would on a hob. Just think of it as an oven and you can't go far wrong. The only thing I don't use it for is soup as I like my warings soup maker and it didn't work any better than it does.
Lakeland regularly have them on their outlet ebay store so I wouldn't pay full price.

I would lose the air fryer assuming there is a fan oven which does the same thing. I couldn't be without my microwave, even though I only use it for rehearing my coffee when I misplace it, heating leftovers for lunch or the children's hot water animals!

This

I don't have an air fryer, but I wish I did and am looking into getting one. I have an instant pot pressure cooker which also slow cooks etc. I also have a microwave, which we use on at least a daily basis, mainly for reheating and defrosting stuff.

I think that if I had an air fryer, I would seldom use my fan oven and so, I think that even though a microwave, instant pot and Air fryer would take up more worktop space, they would probably be a lot more economical than a fan oven. I am aware that I could sell my instant pot and get one device that does everything, but with a family of five, which regularly flexes to six or more with eldest's boyfriend/friends or relatives coming for food, both would probably be useful. currently i'm willing to sacrifice worktop space for more economical cooking

I've never heard of a Remoska. Now I want something else 😃

Air fryer hands down, no contest. Microwaves are shite compared.

Can you put a dinner plate into an air fryer the same way you can put it into the microwave? We often heat up leftovers that way. Not sure if an air fryer would be big enough.

I would keep the microwave. 100%. One wouldn't tend to heat up a meal/soup - or make hot chocolate - using an air fryer.
I use my microwave most days, while the air fryer gathers dust in the cupboard.

Op, if it's true you can do almost anything in an air fryer you can do in a microwave (heating up food) then why not try it for a while and see if it works for you?

Apologies, I should have said its just DH and me at home. We use an air fryer as a superfast mini oven, not as a fryer. We don't currently have an air Fryer, and our microwave is integrated so when we move, whichever we decide on, we'll have to buy a new one.

how about a combi microwave?

our microwave broke and we've not missed it so not replacing it, on other hand our air fryer broke and we've replaced it with a ninja multi cooker and now never use the oven.

I have both but my airfryer is used for all sorts including roast chicken and heating up croissants. My microwave is used mainly for heating Ready Brek, occasionally cooking a whole swede, peas or carrots.

if it comes down to having one of the other I'd have my airfryer.

Have air fryers changed recently? The whole world seems to be raving about them. I bought one seven years ago and only used it a handful of times because it was shite. I ended up giving it away

I am very meh about it too but DH loves ours.

I have the Sage combi and love it - I bought a return for about £250 I think. I haven't found it difficult to clean, it is stainless steel, you can go at it with a scourer! I'm a bit leery of the non-stick "combi-crisp" thingy, I mostly use a cast-iron dish instead. Usually I am cooking for two, and have hardly used the big oven since getting it.

What does an air fryer do that a combi microwave oven doesn't?

I have a Ninja 14 in 1 and it's a REVELATION. I wish I'd got one years ago. It acts as a hob, grill, slow cooker, pressure cooker, oven plus several other things.

On the other hand, I haven't had a microwave for 15 years and I very, very rarely wish I had one. The only time it's been an issue was in 2020 when Guides was still online and they made mug cakes - I had to borrow my parents' one so the kids could join in!