The Breville Air Fryer Microwave is a new kitchen appliance that combines air frying technology with a traditional microwave. It allows users to cook foods quickly with less oil using superheated air while also taking advantage of all the conveniences of a microwave oven for reheating and defrosting. But is this 2-in-1 product really worth the investment? Here is an in-depth look at the features, benefits, and drawbacks of the Breville Air Fryer Microwave to help you decide if it’s right for your kitchen.
The Breville Air Fryer Microwave has a compact, countertop-friendly footprint that houses a 1100-watt quartz heating system and a 0.8 cubic foot capacity stainless steel interior. It utilizes Breville’s Element iQ system to precisely control the time, temperature, and airflow required to cook foods using convection, grill, bake, broil, and dehydrate presets. The star feature is the integrated air frying technology that uses superheated air to crisp and brown foods like french fries, chicken wings, and pizza pockets with minimal oil compared to deep frying.
Additional features include:
It comes with a basket insert and baking tray to hold foods in the optimal position for air frying and grilling and has a maximum temperature of 480°F when using convection settings.
One of the main selling points of the Breville Air Fryer Microwave is its ability to combine two popular kitchen appliances – an air fryer and a microwave – into one multi-cooking unit. But how well does it actually perform both functions compared to owning standalone appliances? Here is an analysis of how the all-in-one Breville stacks up.
The integrated air frying technology in the Breville allows you to make crispy fried foods like french fries, chicken wings, and breaded veggies with up to 80% less fat than deep frying. The superheated air rapidly circulates around foods to recreate the crispy, golden finish you would get from a deep fryer.
However, with only a 0.8 cubic foot capacity, you can realistically only prepare small batches of air fried foods at a time. A comparable standalone air fryer would likely have a larger 3-5 quart basket capacity allowing you to cook bigger batches.
The Breville has a 1100 watt inverter microwave that provides rapid, even heating for reheating, defrosting, and quick cooking. The microwave function performs just as well as any comparable standalone microwave model. However the smaller 0.8 cubic foot capacity again limits the amount of food you can fit compared to a full-sized microwave.
While the Breville can technically replace both a microwave and air fryer, you make some sacrificies in terms of capacity by combining both appliances into one. If you are only cooking for 1-2 people, then the Breville makes sense. But larger families will find standalone full-sized appliances more practical. Assess your needs and capacity requirements before deciding if the Breville all-in-one is right for replacing two appliances.
Benefits
Potential Drawbacks
For the home cook that wants to reduce oil usage and free up counterspace, the Breville Air Fryer Microwave offers an appealing 2-in-1 functionality. The combination of air frying, grilling, and traditional microwave heating provides cooking versatility. But the higher price and smaller capacity may make it impractical for larger families.
Ultimately it comes down to your cooking needs and budget. The unique ability to air fry and microwave cook in one appliance is innovative. But you can also purchase a good quality air fryer and microwave separately for around the same price if counter space is not an issue. Take time to weigh the pros and cons to decide if the all-in-one Breville Air Fryer Microwave is the right fit for your kitchen needs.
