Combi microwave vs air fryer vs steam oven

[FusionChefGeoff]

We inherited a built in steam oven and have a counter top microwave. Have always thought I wanted an air fryer but don't have counter space.

Microwave is knackered so looking at options.

I've got quite used to the steam oven for steaming veggies, cooking rice and pasta, steaming fish, it's amazing for the turkey at Xmas.

I've never had a combi microwave so don't know their capabilities. Ditto air fryer.

1. Ditch steam oven, install combi microwave, gain countertop space

1. As above but add air fryer

1. Keep steam oven, get countertop combi microwave

1. Keep steam oven, get air fryer

We reheat a lot of leftovers which is why I think I need a microwave - but can I do that in an air fryer?? Would it dry out anything that used to be a bit saucy??

Is a combi microwave going to do most of what I want an air fryer for (cooking small portions eg crossiants, single pies, roasting veggies)??

I am going around in circles meanwhile our microwave is potentially quietly giving us all listeria every time we use it as it's rusty and minging.

I see an air fryer and a microwave as being very different. I wouldn’t heat up beans in an air fryer, and I wouldn’t heat up a croissant in a microwave, so IMO you need both.

I am (mistakenly??) under the impression that a combi microwave functioned as a mini oven on the right setting?? So would do a croissant??

I'm trying to work out the list of food I can / cant do with various scenarios but don't know enough about combi microwaves and air fryers to work it out!

I'd love to ditch an appliance if I can and just have 1 thing.

Heating a cup of tea
Reheating eg curry and rice / meat and veg
Beans
Frozen / fresh veg
Cooking rice

If it means that 1 thing I don't do that often I have to use the hob / full oven for then that's ok. But if it's something I do a lot or there's lots of things, then I'll need to rethink.

I feel the need for an excel chart of cooking activity and then ticks for each appliance!!

I agree with pp.

Air fryer is more for "non wet stuff". it's really a mini oven. The time when it really shines is if you don't have enough food to fill a normal oven. Then it costs a lot less. So if you have people coming in at different times all cooking then it is great because it saves you money on heating the oven up at multiple times for 2 fish fingers. It does do roast stuff and beige stuff a bit better than an oven, but not hugely so.

Microwave (generally) doesn't brown/fry stuff. It does wet stuff well. So if you are mainly reheating stews and doing veg then you can probably get away with a microwave easier and just use a hob to brown/fry the meat if you are adding meat.

If you don't cook beige stuff, do sausages, meats, roast potatoes, chips very often you can get away without the air fryer and just use the conventional oven.

I would say for your 1 thing, a microwave would probably do best, but a small air fryer might come in handy as well.

If you are looking for real versatility in cooking something like a Ninja Foodie probably ticks all the boxes, but it is probably more hassle to use in each mode than some separates. Look it up on you tube to see some cooking examples.

That's really useful thank you.

But I'm still missing the combi microwave viewpoint!

Doesn't it function as a microwave OR a mini oven???

@FusionChefGeoff just stumbled across this post - what did you ever decide on?

I have a combi oven but really don’t use it to its full capacity - the odd baked potatoes but mostly just it’s an expensive microwave. It’s just complicated to use.

its broken down twice in 4 years !!! and the local repair guy can’t fix it - we have to use a more expensive company.