TL;DR
- Microwave wins for speed, reheating liquids and defrosting.
- Air fryer wins for crisping, roasting and browning.
- They do different jobs, so many kitchens are happiest with both.
- If you can only pick one: choose by whether you reheat (microwave) or crisp (air fryer) more often.
- Cost to run is low for both; the microwave is slightly cheaper for pure reheating.
Table of Contents
An air fryer and a microwave both heat food fast, but they do it in completely different ways. A microwave excites water molecules inside the food. An air fryer blows hot air around the outside. That single difference decides which one is right for you.
Speed: microwave wins
For reheating a plate of dinner, warming soup or defrosting mince, a microwave is quicker because it heats from the inside out. An air fryer has to heat the air first, so a cold plate takes longer.
Crispness: air fryer wins
A microwave cannot brown or crisp; it tends to make things soft or rubbery. An air fryer dries and browns the surface, so chips, wings and reheated pizza come out crunchy, not soggy.
What each does best
| Task | Best tool |
|---|---|
| Reheat a plate of leftovers | Microwave (fast) or air fryer (crispier) |
| Defrost meat | Microwave |
| Chips, wings, roast veg | Air fryer |
| Reheat pizza or pastry | Air fryer |
| Warm a drink or soup | Microwave |
| Cook frozen snacks | Air fryer |
Cost and space
Both are cheap to run. A microwave uses a little less energy for pure reheating because it is faster, while an air fryer is still far cheaper than a full oven, as we show in running costs. On space, a compact air fryer and a microwave take similar room, so it comes down to what you cook.
Which one should you buy?
Reheat and defrost more than you crisp? Get the microwave. Crave crunch, roast vegetables or cook frozen food often? Get the air fryer, and start with our best air fryers. If budget and space allow, owning both covers every job.
Frequently asked questions
Is an air fryer better than a microwave?
Neither is better overall; they do different jobs. A microwave is faster for reheating and defrosting. An air fryer browns and crisps, which a microwave cannot do. Choose based on whether you reheat or crisp more often.
Can an air fryer do everything a microwave does?
Not quite. An air fryer reheats solid food well and crisps it, but it is slower and cannot easily warm liquids like soup or drinks, or defrost as quickly. A microwave remains the better tool for those tasks.
Which uses less electricity, an air fryer or a microwave?
For pure reheating, a microwave usually uses slightly less because it is faster and heats the food directly. For cooking, the air fryer is very efficient compared with a full oven. Both cost only pennies per use.
Can you reheat food in an air fryer instead of a microwave?
Yes, and it comes out crispier. Reheating chips, pizza, pastry or fried chicken in an air fryer restores crunch that a microwave turns soggy. It just takes a few minutes longer.
Do I need both an air fryer and a microwave?
If you have the space and budget, both is ideal because they cover different jobs. If you must pick one, decide by your habits: reheating and defrosting favour a microwave, crisping and roasting favour an air fryer.