Can You Microwave In An Air Fryer? | Rules That Stop Damage

If you’ve ever stared at cold leftovers and thought, “My air fryer is right here… can it do the microwave job?” you’re not alone. The catch: “microwaving” is a specific kind of heating, and an air fryer simply isn’t built for it.

This article lays out what your air fryer can do, what it can’t, and how to reheat fast without drying dinner out.

How An Air Fryer Heats Food

An air fryer is a small countertop oven with a heating element and a strong fan. The fan pushes hot air around your food, browning the outside and drying the surface.

A microwave works differently. It uses electromagnetic waves that excite water molecules in food, warming the inside quickly. That inside heat is why a bowl of soup can go from fridge-cold to steaming in minutes. KitchenAid sums it up well in its air fryer vs microwave comparison: microwaves heat with waves, while air fryers cook by circulating hot air.

So the real ask is two things: speed and inside warmth. Inside warmth takes a different playbook.

Kitchen Task	Microwave Result	Air Fryer Result
Reheat a plate of leftovers	Fast, may heat unevenly	Crisps edges, slower on thick foods
Bring soup back to serving temp	Common and quick	Works in oven-safe dish, watch splatter
Revive pizza slices	Soft crust	Restores crunch fast
Defrost frozen food	Quick, can start cooking edges	Better for small items, not a true defrost
Melt butter or chocolate	Low power can work	Easy to scorch if you blink
Steam vegetables	Good with a foil-topped bowl	Roasts more than steams
Warm bread without drying	Can go chewy	Needs moisture tricks
Keep fried foods crisp	Makes them soggy	Often restores crunch

Can You Microwave In An Air Fryer?

No. A standard air fryer has no magnetron and doesn’t make microwave energy. It can’t “microwave”. Trying to treat it like a microwave usually leads to one of three headaches: dried-out food, melted accessories, or a smoky mess from sauces that splatter under high heat.

There is one exception that trips people up: combo appliances. Some countertop units are sold as a “microwave air fryer” or “air fryer microwave.” Those are microwaves with an added convection or air-fry mode. If your machine has microwave wattage listed on the label, a mesh window in the door, and a “Microwave” button, you’re dealing with a combo unit, not a typical basket air fryer.

If you own a classic basket style model, stick with this rule: use it like a small oven, not like a microwave.

Microwaving In An Air Fryer And Why It Misses The Mark

Even if you ignore the tech difference, the everyday “microwave tasks” don’t translate cleanly. Hot air cooks the outside first. That flips what you want when you’re aiming for a quick, gentle warm-up.

Liquids can splatter and bake onto the heater guard

Soup, sauce, and gravy can heat in an air fryer, yet the surface boils first. Steam pops bubbles and throws droplets upward. Those drips can bake onto the metal above the basket and stick.

Cheese and sugar burn fast under direct heat

Microwaves melt cheese without browning it much. Air fryers brown by design. That’s great for nachos you want blistered. It’s rough for a plain bowl of mac and cheese where you just want it hot.

Some packaging is risky in an air fryer

Microwave-safe plastic isn’t automatically air-fryer-safe. Air fryers run hot, and the airflow can lift light plastic or paper. Stick with cookware meant for oven heat: glass, ceramic, or metal that fits your basket.

How To Tell If Your Appliance Is A Combo Microwave Air Fryer

Before you change your routine, confirm what you own.

If you’re asking can you microwave in an air fryer? because you saw a combo model online, this check will keep you from buying the wrong accessories.

Check the control panel wording

• If it lists “Microwave” as a mode with watt levels or power levels, it’s a combo unit.
• If it lists only “Air Fry,” “Bake,” “Roast,” “Reheat,” or temperature in °F/°C, it’s a standard air fryer or air-fryer oven.

Look for a microwave rating

Microwaves show wattage (often 700–1100W) for the microwave function. Air fryers list cooking power and temperature range instead.

Open the door and scan the window

Microwaves use a perforated metal screen in the door window. Basket air fryers have no door window at all, or a clear glass door on toaster-oven style units.

Best Ways To Reheat Like A Microwave Using An Air Fryer

You can still get quick reheats. You just need a method that respects how an air fryer cooks: outside first, airflow always on, heat dry by default.

Use lower heat for thicker foods

For casseroles, pasta bakes, or a stuffed burrito, start at 300°F to 320°F. Give the center time to catch up. Once the middle is warm, bump the heat to 360°F to tighten the outside if you want.

Add a small “moisture helper” for foods that dry out

• Place foil over the food for the first half of the reheat (remove it near the end for texture).
• Warm saucy foods in a small oven-safe dish, not loose in the basket.
• For rice, add a teaspoon of water and place foil over the dish.

Use time in short bursts

Air fryers reheat fast once the food surface is hot. Work in 2–4 minute bursts, then check. This keeps you from overshooting and drying the edges.

Flip, stir, or rotate when it makes sense

Flip slices of meat or pizza once. Stir chili or stew if it’s in a dish. This mimics the “stir and rotate” advice used for microwave reheats, just with hot air.

Food Safety Notes For Leftovers

Speed is nice, yet safety still matters. When you reheat leftovers, the goal is a hot center. The USDA leftovers page says reheated foods should reach 165°F when checked with a food thermometer. That rule applies whether you use a microwave, oven, or air fryer.

Keep a small instant-read thermometer near your air fryer. It turns guessing into a quick check, and it’s handy for chicken and burgers too. If the center is under temp, put it back for another short burst.

Containers And Materials That Work In An Air Fryer

People also bump into this question because they want to use “microwave dishes” in the air fryer. Some work. Some are a bad idea. Air fryers combine heat and airflow, so a container needs both heat tolerance and stability.

Good choices

• Oven-safe glass (like tempered glass that’s labeled oven-safe)
• Ceramic ramekins and stoneware
• Metal pans that fit and don’t block airflow too much
• Silicone liners made for air fryers (check the temp rating)

Skip these

• Thin plastic containers, even if they say microwave-safe
• Paper bowls and plates that can lift into the heating area
• Foam takeout boxes

When A Microwave Still Wins

Reach for the microwave for soup, oatmeal, quick defrosting, and small melting jobs. Air fryers shine when you want a crisp finish.

Quick Reheat Playbook By Food Type

This is the part people actually use day to day. These ranges assume a standard basket air fryer and fridge-cold leftovers. Times vary by portion size and basket load, so treat them as a starting point.

Pizza

• 330°F to 350°F for 3–5 minutes
• Put slices in a single layer
• Place foil over the top for the first 2 minutes if toppings dry out

Fried chicken and fries

• 360°F for 4–8 minutes
• Shake fries halfway
• Keep pieces spaced so air can move

Rice and pasta

• 300°F to 320°F for 6–10 minutes in a small dish
• Add a splash of water, then place foil over it for the first half

Container Heat Ratings And Practical Picks

Material	Air Fryer Fit	Notes
Oven-safe glass	Good	Warm slowly to avoid thermal shock
Ceramic ramekin	Good	Great for dips, mac and cheese, leftovers
Metal pan	Good	Keep room for airflow; avoid blocking basket holes
Silicone liner	Good	Check temp rating; oil can pool in the bottom
Parchment liner	Mixed	Use only with food on top so it doesn’t lift
Thin plastic tub	No	Can warp and blow around under airflow
Paper plate	No	Can brown and lift into the heater area
Foam container	No	Can melt and give off odors

Common Mistakes That Make Reheats Go Sideways

If your air fryer reheats feel hit-or-miss, it’s usually one of these habits.

Running too hot from the start

High heat browns the outside before the middle warms. Start lower for thick food, then raise heat at the end if you want crisp edges.

Overloading the basket

A packed basket blocks airflow. Food steams in its own moisture, then dries unevenly. Reheat in a single layer when you can, or do two quick rounds.

Skipping foil for saucy food

Sauces splatter and bake onto the heater guard. Use a small oven-safe dish and place foil over it for the first part of the reheat.

One Page Reheat Checklist

Print this part or save it as a note on your phone. It keeps reheats consistent and keeps cleanup easy.

• Check if the food is thin or thick. Thin: 350°F. Thick: 300°F to 320°F.
• Reheat in 2–4 minute bursts. Check, then repeat if needed.
• For rice, pasta, and casseroles, add a teaspoon of water and place foil over a dish.
• Keep food in a single layer when you can. Shake fries halfway.
• Use oven-safe glass, ceramic, metal, or rated silicone. Skip thin plastic and foam.
• Use a thermometer for leftovers and aim for 165°F in the center, per USDA page.

Once you treat the air fryer like a small oven, it becomes a great reheat tool for foods you’d never toss in a microwave, like pizza, fried chicken, and pastries. And when you need fast, gentle heat for soup or a melting job, the microwave keeps its crown.

If you came here still wondering “can you microwave in an air fryer?”, the answer stays no for standard models. Use the air fryer for hot-air reheats, use an oven-safe dish when you need a bowl, and lean on a thermometer so the middle is hot, not just the edges.