Should I go microwave free and buy an air fryer?

[Accy cyclist]

Being a tight wad, I'm now thinking buying a second hand microwave (if they have any) from a local charity shop/store that sells lots of guaranteed for 6 months and 'thoroughly checked' electrical items, and also buying a small air fryer. My main problem is a lack of plug sockets in my kitchen. I'd have to get an cord extension and feed it around the back of my fridge/freezer to reach the nearest socket as there aren't any near my work surfaces where I'd put both items.🤔

 

[Accy cyclist]

I could buy a mini oven, with grill, oven and hobs, but I fear I could set fire to my kitchen!🙄

 

[AndyRM]

I could buy a mini oven, with grill, oven and hobs, but I fear I could set fire to my kitchen!🙄

Don't. They're rubbish.

Get an air fryer and a microwave and you're sorted.

 

[ColinJ]

How about one of those microwaves that act like a conventional oven in browning and making food crisp, if required?🤔 Having a microwave AND an air fryer would be difficult due to a lack of space in my pokey kitchen!

I had a very expensive combination oven which was a microwave, grill, and fan oven. It was excellent. I paid over £300 for it about 25 years ago so it could well cost over £500 for something of that quality now.

I got over 20 years use out of it but eventually it broke and I decided to buy a replacement rather than try to get it fixed.

The replacement was a cheap microwave/grill costing well under £100.

The microwave oven action is fine. It has a really nice feature - always doing complete turns of the rotating plate no matter what time you set. It means that if you reheat a mug of tea/coffee/whatever, the mug handle always ends up in its original position when the oven switches off so you don't need to mess about turning it by hand to face you.

The grill isn't useless, but it is underpowered. My old grill deserved a score of about 8/10. This new one is only 3/10-4/10.

If you were going to go for a combination device, my advice would be to carefully check multiple reviews, and to be prepared to spend a lot of cash!

 

[Drago]

My Dad's DeLonghi microwave is nearly 30 years old and going strong, so I spent a not inconsiderable sum on DeLonghi job of my own.

Sadly it lasted 4 years before expiring with a loud bang, so ive just bought a cheap Argos one now.