A microwave air fryer combo is a countertop microwave with a heating element and a fan added, so the same box that reheats soup can also brown, roast and crisp. For a small kitchen, a dorm, an RV or anyone tired of an appliance for every job, that is one footprint instead of two or three. The compromise is real, though: these are bigger and heavier than a plain microwave, the air fry cavity is not as fast as a dedicated basket fryer, and owner ratings across the category sit lower than for single-purpose machines. We ranked the microwave air fryer combos in our home and kitchen catalog by capacity and wattage, which cooking modes they really have, controls and presets, inverter and sensor features, and what hundreds to tens of thousands of owners report.
We have not cooked in every one of these ourselves; the verdicts rest on the spec sheets and the owner review history. Prices are not printed because they change daily; every button opens the live Amazon page. Over-the-range and built-in models are out of scope here. If you only need to reheat and defrost, a plain model from our microwaves guide costs less and lasts as long, and if crisping matters more than microwaving, see our air fryer toaster ovens guide.
How we picked
- A true air fry or convection mode, with a heating element and fan, not a microwave with a crisper tray alone.
- Stated capacity and microwave wattage, from 0.9 to 1.5 cubic feet and 900 to 1,100 watts.
- Combination cooking, where microwave and convection or grill run together to cut cooking time.
- Controls that reduce guesswork. Air fry presets, sensor cooking and inverter power where offered, plus mute and child lock.
- Owner feedback from hundreds to tens of thousands of reviews, with honest note of the lower ratings this category earns and why.
The picks
BLACK+DECKER 5-in-1 Microwave Oven Air Fryer Combo, 0.9 Cu.Ft, 900W
BLACK+DECKER’s 5-in-1 is the combo with the track record. Tens of thousands of owners have reviewed it and given it a good owner rating, which in this category, where disappointment with air frying is common, is a strong result. It is a 0.9 cubic foot, 900-watt microwave with ten cooking levels and seven auto menus for the usual suspects, popcorn, potato, vegetables, oatmeal, beverages and frozen pizza. Around that it adds four more functions: air fry, a combination mode that pairs grill and convection, bake and roast. Eleven air fry presets cover frozen French fries, steak fries, chicken nuggets, wings and legs, fish sticks and fillets, cheese sticks, vegetables and spring rolls. Pressing start gives 30 seconds at full power, and holding stop for three seconds locks the panel. It is compact, so large dishes will not fit, and there is no inverter or humidity sensor.
- Tens of thousands of owner reviews, far more than any other combo
- Five cooking modes in a compact 0.9 cu ft body
- Eleven air fry presets take the guesswork out of frozen foods
- One-press 30-second start and a child lock
- Good rather than great owner rating, typical of combos
- 0.9 cu ft will not take a large casserole or a 12-inch pizza
- No inverter or sensor cooking
TOSHIBA 4-in-1 Microwave Oven with Air Fryer Combo, 1.5 Cu.Ft, 1000W
When a compact combo is too small, this is the Toshiba to look at. At 1.5 cubic feet with a 13.6-inch removable turntable, it takes a whole roasting chicken or a 12-inch pizza, and the 1,000-watt microwave is quick on reheats. The four modes are microwave, air fry, convection and a combination that runs microwave and convection together, with ten air fry menus, four auto bake and four auto roast programs, and thirteen sensor menus that set the time for foods like frozen pizza and vegetables. The interior is stainless steel, which matters because air frying spatters fat in a way microwaving never does. Convenience touches include one-touch popcorn, memory and multistage cooking, a kitchen timer and a mute function. Thousands of owners give it a fair owner rating, which is typical for a large combo with several modes to learn, and air frying a full load takes longer than in a basket fryer. It needs a deep counter.
- 1.5 cu ft cavity cooks for a family
- Sensor menus adjust time for popular foods
- Stainless steel interior wipes clean after air frying
- Mute function, memory and multistage cooking
- Large and heavy; needs a deep counter
- Fair owner rating, and several modes to learn
- Air frying a full load is slower than a basket fryer
FRIGIDAIRE 1.2 cu ft Microwave, Digital Air Fryer, Convection Oven, Combo-Fry with XL Capacity, Stainless Steel Finish
Frigidaire’s Combo-Fry lands in the middle on size and near the bottom on cost for its capacity. The 1.2 cubic foot cavity is noticeably roomier than a 0.9 without the bulk of a 1.5, and the power figures are stated plainly: 900 watts for the microwave, 1,000 for the oven element and 1,500 for convection. It microwaves, air fries, bakes, roasts and works as a convection oven, with the maker claiming up to 70 percent less fat than traditional frying. Controls are deliberately simple: five one-touch menus for potato, popcorn, beverage, reheat and frozen dinner, defrost by time or weight, and ten power levels. Hundreds of owners give it a good owner rating, on par with the BLACK+DECKER. The listing is thin on detail about air fry presets and what racks come in the box, and there is no inverter or sensor. For a mid-size combo without a premium, it fits.
- 1.2 cu ft sits between the compact and family sizes
- 1500 W convection element for baking and roasting
- Simple one-touch menus
- Good owner rating from hundreds of reviews
- Listing gives few details on presets and accessories
- No inverter or sensor cooking
- Smaller review base than the BLACK+DECKER or Toshiba
TOSHIBA Countertop Microwave Oven Air Fryer Combo, Inverter, Convection, Broil, Speedy Combi, Even Defrost, Humidity Sensor, Mute Function, 27 Auto Menus, 1.0 cu.ft, 1000W, Stainless Steel
This 1.0 cubic foot Toshiba packs the most technology into a compact case. The microwave is inverter-driven, so instead of pulsing full power on and off it delivers a steady lower output, which defrosts without cooked edges and reheats more evenly, and a humidity sensor reads the steam coming off the food to adjust power and time. On the hot side there is an 1,800-watt convection system that reaches 425 F, a 1,000-watt grill for broiling, and combination modes that run microwave with convection or grill to speed up roasts. Functions extend to toast and yogurt making. Presets include six auto menus, ten home fry menus, five sensor cook programs and six defrost settings, and a cookbook with 47 recipes is included. A mute function silences the beeps. Thousands of owners give it a fair owner rating, in line with the category, and the number of modes takes some learning. It is pricier than simpler combos.
- Inverter power heats and defrosts more evenly than on/off cycling
- Humidity sensor adjusts time and power on its own
- Convection reaches 425 F for real baking
- Combi modes shorten roasting times
- Fair owner rating; controls take time to learn
- Costs more than non-inverter combos of similar size
- 1.0 cu ft limits dish size
The OptiChef PRO MAX is Toshiba’s answer to the main complaint about combo ovens, that the controls are a puzzle. A 2.4-inch color screen with a responsive menu replaces the grid of cryptic buttons, so choosing air fry, convection or a sensor program is a matter of reading the display. The hardware is the brand’s best: a 1,100-watt Origin Inverter microwave for even heating and precise low power, a humidity sensor that keeps food from drying out, and ChefFry Plus, a fan and heating element mounted in the top of the cavity the way an air fryer oven is built. The 1.3 cubic foot interior takes a 13-inch pizza or a whole chicken. The product description also lists Alexa compatibility. Hundreds of owners give it a good owner rating. It is the costliest combo here, measures 21.8 by 17.8 by 12.8 inches, and has not been on sale as long.
- Color screen makes the many modes easier to navigate
- Top-mounted fan and element mimic an air fryer oven
- Inverter and humidity sensor together
- Good owner rating from hundreds of reviews
- The most expensive pick on this page
- Nearly 22 inches wide and 18 deep
- Newer model with a shorter track record
TOSHIBA Inverter Countertop Microwave Oven Air Fryer Combo MASTER Series, Broil, Convection, Speedy Combi, Even Defrost, Sound On/Off, 27 Auto Menu&47 Recipes
The MASTER Series is the earlier of Toshiba’s inverter combos and the one to consider when the sensor model above costs too much. It offers six functions, microwave, air fryer, convection, broil, defrost and Speedy Combi, on inverter power that spreads heat more uniformly through the cavity for gentler defrosting and more even reheats. Convection runs at 1,800 watts up to 425 F, the grill at 1,000 watts, and the combi modes join microwave to either one to shorten cooking. Presets cover eleven auto menus, ten air fry menus and six defrost programs, a recipe cookbook is included, the maker rates it as quiet-running, and the beeper can be turned off. The turntable is 11.3 inches. Thousands of owners have reviewed it, and the owner rating is the lowest of these six, just meeting our minimum, so read the most recent reviews before you buy. If the budget allows, the sensor model above is the safer Toshiba.
- Inverter heating at a lower cost than the newer Toshiba models
- Quiet operation and a sound on/off setting
- Convection to 425 F plus a separate grill
- Thousands of owner reviews
- Lowest owner rating on this page; it only just meets our bar
- No humidity sensor
- 11.3 inch turntable limits pan size
Compare the picks
| Product | Capacity | Microwave power | Modes | Standout | Our score | Our score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLACK+DECKER 5-in-1BLACK+DECKER | 0.9 cu ft | 900 W | Microwave, air fry, combi, bake, roast | 11 air fry presets, huge owner base | 8.4/10 | 8.4 | See price |
| Toshiba 4-in-1 1.5 Cu.FtTOSHIBA | 1.5 cu ft | 1000 W | Microwave, air fry, convection, combination | 13.6 in turntable, sensor menus | 8.0/10 | 8.0 | See price |
| Frigidaire Combo-FryFrigidaire | 1.2 cu ft | 900 W | Microwave, air fry, convection, bake, roast | 1500 W convection, simple controls | 8.4/10 | 8.4 | See price |
| Toshiba 1.0 cu.ft InverterTOSHIBA | 1.0 cu ft | 1000 W inverter | Microwave, air fry, convection, broil, toast, yogurt | Humidity sensor, 425 F convection | 8.0/10 | 8.0 | See price |
| Toshiba OptiChef PRO MAXTOSHIBA | 1.3 cu ft | 1100 W inverter | Microwave, air fry, convection, sensor | 2.4 in color screen, top fan | 8.4/10 | 8.4 | See price |
| Toshiba MASTER SeriesTOSHIBA | 11.3 in turntable | Inverter | Microwave, air fry, convection, broil, combi | Quiet, sound on/off | 7.8/10 | 7.8 | See price |
Is a microwave air fryer combo worth it?
It depends on what you are replacing. If you have room for only one appliance, a combo is clearly better than a plain microwave: you gain baking, roasting and crisping for a moderate premium and a little more counter depth. If you already own a good air fryer and a microwave, a combo will not outperform either. The air fry mode in a microwave cavity heats a larger space with a fan that is farther from the food, so fries take longer and brown less evenly than in a basket. The combination modes are where these ovens shine: microwave energy cooks the inside while convection browns the outside, and a chicken is done far sooner than in a regular oven.
What size do you need?
Capacity runs from 0.9 to 1.5 cubic feet. A 0.9 or 1.0 cubic foot combo suits one or two people and takes a dinner plate, a small baking dish or a few portions of fries; the turntable is around 11 inches. A 1.2 or 1.3 cubic foot model handles a 13-inch pizza or a whole chicken. At 1.5 cubic feet you can roast for a family, but the case is large, close to 22 inches wide on some models, and heavy. Combos also need clearance: leave several inches above, behind and at the sides, because the outer case gets hot in convection and air fry modes in a way a plain microwave does not.
Getting good results from the air fry mode
Use the metal rack or crisper tray that comes with the oven so air can reach the underside of the food, and never use metal in microwave-only mode unless the manual says the accessory is safe for it. Preheat for convection baking as you would a normal oven. Do not crowd the tray; a single layer crisps and a pile steams. Shake or turn fries and wings halfway through. Start with the presets, then adjust time rather than temperature. Wipe the cavity after air frying, since grease left on the walls will smoke the next time, and expect the fan to keep running for a few minutes after cooking to cool the electronics.
What is the best microwave air fryer combo?
For most kitchens the BLACK+DECKER 5-in-1 is the safest choice: a compact 0.9 cubic foot, 900-watt oven with five cooking modes, eleven air fry presets and by far the largest owner base. Families should look at the 1.5 cubic foot Toshiba 4-in-1, and the Toshiba OptiChef PRO MAX is the premium option.
Does a microwave air fryer combo work as well as a regular air fryer?
Not quite. A dedicated basket air fryer is smaller inside and moves air faster, so it crisps quicker and more evenly. A combo gets close with a single layer on the rack and a few extra minutes, and it can do things a basket fryer cannot, such as combination roasting and baking.
Can I put metal in a microwave air fryer combo?
Only in the modes and with the accessories the manual allows. The metal racks and trays supplied with these ovens are made for air fry, convection and grill modes. In microwave-only mode, use microwave-safe dishes unless the maker states that a specific tray is safe.
What does an inverter do in a combo microwave?
A standard microwave lowers power by switching full power on and off. An inverter supplies a steady lower power instead, which defrosts without cooking the edges and reheats more evenly. The Toshiba 1.0 cubic foot model, the OptiChef PRO MAX and the MASTER Series all use inverters.
Why do combo microwaves have lower ratings than plain microwaves?
They are more complicated. Owners mention a learning curve with the controls, slower air frying than they expected, more cleaning after greasy cooking and a hot outer case. People who read the manual and use the combination modes are generally the satisfied ones.
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