An air fryer and a microwave do different jobs, so one cannot fully replace the other
An air fryer heats food by circulating hot air at high speed, which crisps the outside while cooking the inside. A microwave uses radiation to heat water molecules inside food, which warms it quickly but does not brown or crisp anything. If you use your microwave mainly to reheat leftovers or defrost chicken, an air fryer can do that. If you use it to cook rice, steam vegetables, or heat liquids, an air fryer cannot.
The real question is not whether an air fryer replaces a microwave, but whether your actual daily use overlaps enough to justify removing one. Most households use both for different tasks, and most people who own both keep both.
Key Takeaways
- An air fryer excels at crisping frozen foods and reheating fried or breaded items, while a microwave is faster for warming liquids, steaming vegetables, and defrosting.
- Microwaves heat food in 2 to 5 minutes; air fryers typically need 10 to 20 minutes, making them slower for everyday reheating.
- Air fryers cannot heat water, cook grains, or steam food the way microwaves do, so they cannot handle all microwave tasks.
- An air fryer works best as a second appliance for specific tasks like crisping leftovers, not as a primary replacement for microwave cooking.
What each appliance does fastest and best
A microwave is fastest for warming liquids, defrosting meat, and heating soft foods. Reheating a cup of coffee takes 90 seconds. Defrosting a pound of ground beef takes 5 to 8 minutes. Steaming broccoli takes 4 minutes. These tasks rely on the microwave's ability to penetrate food and heat it from the inside out, and an air fryer cannot match that speed.
An air fryer is best for crisping things that are already cooked or frozen. Leftover pizza, french fries, chicken wings, and breaded fish all come out crispier from an air fryer than from a microwave. If you reheat pizza in a microwave, the crust turns rubbery. In an air fryer, it stays crispy. That is the trade-off: the air fryer takes 8 to 12 minutes where the microwave takes 2, but the result is better.
For foods that do not need to be crispy — soup, oatmeal, rice, steamed vegetables — a microwave is both faster and more practical. An air fryer cannot cook rice or heat soup evenly. It cannot steam a vegetable the way a microwave can.
Time and counter space: the real cost of keeping both
A microwave occupies roughly 1 to 2 cubic feet of counter or cabinet space. An air fryer occupies 1 to 1.5 cubic feet. If you have limited counter space, choosing between them matters. A compact microwave is roughly 18 inches wide; a compact air fryer is roughly 10 inches wide, so an air fryer takes less room.
The time cost is larger. A microwave heats most foods in 2 to 5 minutes. An air fryer needs 5 to 10 minutes of preheating, then 8 to 15 minutes of cooking. If you reheat lunch five days a week, a microwave saves you roughly 30 to 40 minutes per week. Over a year, that is 26 to 35 hours. For people who eat on a schedule and reheat often, that adds up.
If you use your microwave mainly for defrosting or heating liquids, an air fryer cannot replace it. If you use it mainly for crisping leftovers and frozen foods, an air fryer can handle most of that work — just not as fast.
When an air fryer makes sense as a replacement
An air fryer can replace a microwave if your household uses the microwave mainly for reheating fried, breaded, or frozen foods. If your typical week includes leftover pizza, french fries, frozen chicken nuggets, or breaded fish, and you do not often defrost meat or heat liquids, an air fryer will serve you well.
An air fryer also makes sense if you already own a microwave and want to add one for specific tasks. Many households keep a small microwave for defrosting and heating drinks, and use an air fryer for crisping. This combination covers almost all common cooking needs.
An air fryer does not make sense as a replacement if you regularly cook rice, steam vegetables, heat soup, defrost meat, or warm beverages. If any of those are part of your weekly routine, removing the microwave will create a gap you cannot fill.
Comparing what each appliance can and cannot do
| Task | Microwave | Air Fryer | Which is faster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reheat pizza or fried food | Makes it soft | Keeps it crispy | Microwave (2 min vs. 10 min) |
| Defrost meat | Works well | Cannot do this | Microwave only |
| Heat soup or sauce | Works well | Cannot do this | Microwave only |
| Steam vegetables | Works well | Cannot do this | Microwave only |
| Cook rice or grains | Works well | Cannot do this | Microwave only |
| Reheat soft foods (rice, pasta) | Works well | Works, but slower | Microwave (3 min vs. 8 min) |
| Crisp frozen french fries | Makes them soggy | Makes them crispy | Air fryer (better result) |
The cost difference between buying one or both
A basic microwave costs between $50 and $150. A basic air fryer costs between $40 and $120. A compact microwave costs $40 to $100. A compact air fryer costs $35 to $80. The price difference is small enough that cost alone does not drive the decision.
The real cost is what you lose by not having one. If you remove a microwave to make room for an air fryer, you lose the ability to defrost meat quickly, heat liquids, or cook grains. If you remove an air fryer to make room for a microwave, you lose the ability to crisp leftovers. The cost of that loss depends on how often you need each function.
What to do if you have limited space
If counter space is tight, a compact microwave is usually the better choice to keep. Microwaves handle more everyday tasks — defrosting, heating drinks, cooking rice — and are harder to replace. An air fryer is more specialized and handles fewer core tasks.
If you must choose one, ask yourself: Do I defrost meat or heat liquids more than once a week? If yes, keep the microwave. Do I reheat fried or frozen foods more than three times a week? If yes, an air fryer becomes more valuable. Most households answer yes to both, which is why most people who own both keep both.
A third option is to keep a small microwave and add an air fryer later, once you know whether the air fryer fits your cooking style. Many people buy an air fryer and discover they use it less than expected because reheating in a microwave is straightforward faster for their daily routine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I defrost meat in an air fryer?
No. Air fryers heat the outside of food faster than the inside, which can cook the outer layer while the center stays frozen. A microwave is the right tool for defrosting because it heats from the inside out. If you defrost regularly, you need a microwave.
Can I heat water or make tea in an air fryer?
No. Air fryers are designed to circulate hot air around solid food, not to heat liquids. A microwave heats water in 2 to 4 minutes depending on the amount. If you drink hot beverages or cook with boiling water, an air fryer cannot replace that function.
Is an air fryer worth buying if I already have a microwave?
Yes, if you regularly reheat fried, breaded, or frozen foods and want them crispy. An air fryer does that better than a microwave. No, if you rarely eat those foods or if counter space is already tight. Start by tracking what you reheat for a week to see if an air fryer would actually get used.
How much faster is a microwave than an air fryer?
For most reheating tasks, a microwave is 3 to 5 times faster. Reheating leftovers takes 2 to 3 minutes in a microwave and 10 to 15 minutes in an air fryer (including preheat time). If speed matters to you, a microwave is the better choice for everyday use.
Can I cook frozen vegetables in an air fryer instead of a microwave?
Yes, but a microwave is faster. Frozen broccoli steams in 4 minutes in a microwave and takes 10 to 12 minutes in an air fryer. Both work, but if you cook vegetables several times a week, the microwave saves significant time.