Air fryer or microwave oven? What is the best buy?

The kitchen is a place in the home that is constantly affected by the advancement of technology, with new appliances being released every day that promise new functions, new ways of connecting and more practicality and agility for everyday life.

The fryer and microwave are tools that contribute significantly to the level of preparation, energy consumption and practicality. But is it really worth having all this gear? We have prepared a comparison between these two devices so that you can understand which one will best meet your expectations and needs.

deep fryer

Easy to use and with intuitive controls, the fryer is the ideal piece of equipment for anyone accustomed to eating foods that are normally deep-fried. Thanks to its electrical resistance and high heat circulating inside, the model eliminates the use of grease or other non-stick pans, making meals healthier and more practical. It also stands out as being compact, versatile and compatible with dozens of baked and boiled dishes.

Advantages include greater safety and speed when preparing food. However, its characteristics cause noise due to the internal circulation of heat, limited capacity of stored food, changes in the taste of food, and attention to cleanliness and hygiene.

microwave

Unlike the fryer, the microwave oven works based on electromagnetic waves, which are responsible for vibrating food molecules and generating heat. However, while less powerful than an air fryer, it has more meal customization features with pre-programmed panels, more cooking time options, and a significant increase in usable space for internal storage.

Advantages include fast preparation of frozen or reheated food, low operating temperature and less susceptibility to burns, and ease of operating functions. However, microwaves take up more counter space, are heavier and difficult to transport, can leave some foods drier, and have restrictions on supported materials, and metal, wood, and aluminum are not recommended.

deep fryer etc Microwave: which one is worth it?

To choose between a fryer and a microwave, you need to understand how each piece of equipment can adapt to your kitchen applications. This is because the air fryer is recommended for making proteins and other foods that would normally be fried in a conventional frying pan. Meanwhile, microwave defrosting is good for reheating or doing something that requires less time.

Regarding price and energy cost, the microwave may be more expensive, but it has a relatively low energy consumption and preparation time as it prepares several foods in a matter of minutes. The air fryer, on the other hand, is cheaper and more versatile, but its energy consumption is higher compared to a competitor. It is worth remembering that many houses use models as a complement. If it fits your budget, this is a good recommendation.

Fryer and microwave recommendations for purchase

Oster Oil Free Fryer, 3.3 L

%12 Closed

3-in-1 deep fryer: ideal for cooking, frying and defrosting, optimizing your time in the kitchen.

599.90 BRL

Designed to optimize time spent in the kitchen, the Oster fryer is a device that cooks, frys and defrosts without the need for oil. Practical and easy to clean, it comes with a temperature setting of 80ºC to 200ºC, a timer up to 30 minutes, a removable tray with a capacity of up to 3.3L and a minimalist panel for more accessible use.

Stomach fryer, 4L

21% Closed

Thanks to its special 4L non-stick tray and rectangular basket, the easy-to-clean fryer offers the ideal space for preparing meals for the family.

599.00 BRL

Midea’s deep fryer with 4L tray capacity has a square inner basket, making it easy to wash in case of debris buildup. Its 1,500 watts of power ensures that frozen meals are ready in up to 10 minutes. The model also comes with a safety lock to release the basket, a shut-off sensor, and two control buttons for temperature and heat.

Fryer Mondial, AF-31, 3.5L

%27 Closed

4-in-1 Deep Fryer: Bake, bake, gratin and deep-fry all recipes get ready very quickly.

599.90 BRL

Ready to help with recipes from breakfast to dinner, Mondial’s air fryer holds up to 3.5 liters of food in its tray and offers a high rate of hot air circulation in a fast and precise cooking technology. The model has a compact design, temperature control up to 200ºC, non-stick solution that prevents the stored products from sticking, and accessible features without the need to use oil or butter.

Electrolux Microwave, MEO44, 34L

With the Keep Warm function, your meals will always be hot, as well as having many menus to make you feel like a chef! With just one tap you can defrost meat, chicken, fish and beans!

The Electrolux microwave is ideal for those who seek reliability when preparing healthy recipes. With 34L counter space, Tira combines innovation and beauty to eliminate the strongest odors through the Fragrance function, automate processes and shutdown, save energy during use, and keep foods such as soups and vegetables as nutritious as possible from the Light menu. It also regulates the temperature according to the food and disables the Mute feature and warning sounds.

Panasonic Microwave, NN-ST27LWRUN, 21L

5% Closed

Panasonic Microwave has 700 W power, 3 pre-programmed tariffs, 10 power levels, 3 memory positions and electronic security lock.

689.00 BRL

With its non-stick tray, the Panasonic microwave has a technology that prevents the growth of bacteria. The model includes deodorization, the Easy Pickup function that returns the dish to its starting position, and a sophisticated panel with three pre-programmed recipes, 10 power levels and three memory locations.

Midea Microwave, MRAE22, 20L

Your ally for a practical kitchen has easy access to the 1, 2 and 3 minute buttons, pre-programmed recipes, the energy-saving ECO function, the deodorization function and much more.

With easy-to-use and accessible programming, Midea’s microwave oven offers 20L of storage space to ideally heat foods with the most diverse composition types. It includes a time-saving function, a safety lock, a deodorizer and high energy efficiency for favorite recipes, providing economy, convenience and modernity for users.