It is a well-known fact that the consumption of health-threatening ingredients like oil is always on the rise, and air preparations add to the health threat appliances. For example, fried food, without a doubt, tastes delicious but is extremely unhealthy due to the excess oil and calories it contains. This increase in health problems has resulted in the introduction of new kitchen appliances that promise healthy cooking without compromising on taste and diet. Among the numerous appliances taking the market by storm, two of the most popular ones are the Air Fryer and the Convection Microwave. The biggest concern with these two appliances is whether they really save oil in the cooking process.
This article will provide a feature-wise comparison of the Air Fryer and Convection Microwave, along with their usability, while taking the oil-saving capacity as the primary factor. You will have all the information you require to make the right decision regarding the gadget that best addresses your oil-cutting needs.
What is an Air Fryer and How Does it Work?
People around the world are ogling at the air fryer, an attractive new kitchen appliance. The reason for replacing an oily frying pan with the air fryer is because it claims to make fried dishes with little to no oil. How does it manage to do something so fantastical? The air fryer utilizes rapid air circulation in tandem with high temperatures to cook food. With this process, air-fried food gets that crispy golden texture like deep-fried food, but cooks it with less oil.
An air fryer is fundamentally an oven that has a fan. It is designed to use 80% less oil than traditional frying. The air fryer only requires a light coating of oil. Instead of hot oil surrounding the food, the air fryer only lightly coats the food being fried. The hot air that envelops the food does not only fry it to a light brown, but does so without needing grease.
What About a Convection Microwave with Air Fryer Functionality?
Convection microwaves are appliances that most households already own. They can cook food with the speed of a microwave while evenly heating it with convection. When a convection microwave is fitted with air fryer functionality, this adds versatility to the microwave.
Brand Haier, for example, offers a 30L Convection Microwave with an In-Built Air Fryer. It combines these two strong cooking techniques. The microwave’s air fryer features add the ability to achieve a crispy finish without the added oil. Convection cooking, like traditional ovens, surrounds food with hot air. In contrast, microwaves use microwave radiation to quickly heat food.
The motorized rotisserie is one of the best features on these convection microwaves. This feature guarantees consistent heating throughout the entire piece of food while locking in all the moisture. It also helps grill and roast more evenly. So, whether you’re munching on grilled veggies, roasted chicken, or sweet kebabs, the machine aids in perfecting the texture.
How is Oil Used in Each of Them?
Now let’s get to the details: Which device will be friendly to your wallet and oil consumption?
Air Fryers
An air fryer is made to cook foods with little to no oil. For instance, if you are preparing French fries, chicken wings, or even some donuts, you can use a tablespoon’s worth of oil or sometimes even none. The rapid air circulation system works like magic, so submerging the food in oil is no longer required. Imagine deep-frying without the deep-frying oil tank—that’s classic air fryer magic. A dense and crunchy surface is achieved not by drowning the food in oil, but by having everything hot for oil-less deep frying.
Convection Microwaves with Air Fryer Function
Convection microwaves combined with air fryers offer another alternative to deep-frying, with more positive than negative options, in my opinion. In these models, the built-in air fryer option air fries with up to 36 dedicated air fryer menus, which means multiple items can be served without using oil, and it’s ridiculously effortless. The microwave function speeds up cooking, and the rotisserie also contributes to less oil needed for frying while rotating and grilling the food. It can be compared to a grill.
What Makes a Convection Microwave “More Versatile”?
While most microwaves can save oil, the convection microwave’s multifunction features make it one of the most versatile kitchen appliances. Here’s why:
Diverse Cooking Methods
A convection microwave is much more than just an air fryer. It combines many cooking functions like microwaving, baking, and roasting. The versatility of such multifunction cooking appliances allows you to operate as many as five different cooking options. For instance, cooking, baking, grilling, frying, and roasting. There are also 305 auto-cook menus available, making cooking faster and more efficient with the touch of a button.
Different Foods, Different Power Levels
Convection microwaves make it easy to adjust the cooking power with its five multi-level settings. For example, when cooking a baked casserole or delicate fish fillet, you can select the right power level and avoid problems like overcooking or using too much oil. The different power levels make it easier to avoid excessive oil being used.
Convection microwaves are more user-friendly because of their stainless steel parts, which not only increase the heating efficiency but also ensure that microwave heat is retained within the appliance for even cooking throughout. These features allow extra oil to be avoided while maintaining crispness in food.
Air Fryer vs Convection Microwave: Comparison
Air fryers and convection microwaves both have their individual characteristics. But how do they stack up together in terms of functionality and oil saving? To help you decide which appliance may be more suitable for your requirements, check out the brief comparison provided below.
| Feature | Air Fryer | Convection Microwave with Air Fryer Function |
| Primary Function | Primarily air fries food using hot air | Combines microwave cooking with convection and air frying |
| Oil Usage | Uses little to no oil, up to 80% less. | Also uses little to no oil, with added versatility for baking and roasting. |
| Cooking Methods | Air frying, grilling, roasting. | Microwave, convection, air frying, baking, grilling. |
| Cooking Speed | Fast (usually quicker than traditional frying). | Moderate speed, especially with convection and microwave combo. |
| Versatility | Limited to frying and crisping. | High versatility with multiple cooking functions. |
| Ease of Use | Simple one-step cooking. | More complex with multiple functions but still user-friendly. |
| Space Requirements | Compact and space-saving. | Larger and requires more space due to multifunction. |
| Preset Menus | Few preset options. | 305 pre-set auto cook menus including air fryer functions. |
| Maintenance | Easy to clean and mostly removable parts. | Easy to clean, especially with stainless steel cavity. |
Oil Saving Advantages of the Haier 30L Convection Microwave
One excellent example of a convection microwave with air fryer capabilities is the Haier 30L Convection Microwave with In-Built Air Fryer. This microwave is designed to help make cooking healthier, more convenient, and simply easier, while reducing oil usage where possible.
- In-built Air Fryer: All you have to do is select the air fryer option on the Haier microwave, and it will handle the rest. You can cook oily dishes like French fries and roast vegetables with minimal oil use.
- Motorized Rotisserie: This will allow further grilling or roasting of food without the addition of fat or oil. Gentle automatic rotation of food enables uniform grilling of every part of the food, ensuring a consistently delicious product.
- 305 Pre-set Auto Cook Menus: All remarked functions allow for proper time and temperature adjustment with preset settings. Loss of precision and adjustable power will also lower efficiency during oil-based cooking.
- Stainless Steel Cavity: With the reliable heating element, the stainless polished inner surface will enhance energy efficiency and cooking processes. Its resistance to wear and tear improves the device’s longevity.
- Achieve the Best Cooking Results: Using the 5 multi-power level cooking features, prevent overcooking and oil wastage.
Final Thoughts: Factors to Consider When Making an Oil-Free Cooking Choice
When oil intake is a primary concern, both the air fryer and the convection microwave with air fryer functions have a great impact. Nevertheless, for a greater range of cooking needs and efficiency, the convection microwave is the best choice. With an extensive assortment of programmed menus, motorized rotisserie, and assorted cooking functionality, maximum accuracy is guaranteed for all meals without excess oil and fat.
The all-in-one solution for healthier cooking need not look any further than the Haier 30L Convection Microwave with In-Built Air Fryer. Designed with an assortment of cooking functionalities aimed toward saving both time and oil, this unit allows effortless preparation of tasty dishes with less oil and fat while keeping the taste and texture intact.
Looking to make cooking healthier a part of your everyday life? Check out all the microwaves under Haier Home Appliances to find one that fits perfectly in your kitchen.