Buying guide
3-in-1 Microwave Air Fryer Oven: What the Number Means
A 3-in-1 microwave air fryer oven microwaves, air fries and bakes with hot air, all in one oven space. That is the set that matters, and a bigger number on the box buys little more. Buy the Sharp SMC0985KS: a true 3-in-1 with its size and watts on Sharp's own product sheet.
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The short version
A 3-in-1 microwaves, air fries and bakes with hot air. We found no standard behind 4-in-1, 5-in-1 or 8-in-1, so each brand counts its own way. Ignore the number and read the list of modes. Buy the Sharp SMC0985KS. The one extra mode worth paying for is a broiler, which browns food from above.
The number before "in-1" looks like a spec. It is closer to a slogan. Two models with very different counts can do nearly the same jobs.
Sharp
Sharp SMC0985KS
The smallest footprint we could confirm on a company's own product sheet.
Why it fits here: A true 3-in-1 by Sharp's own description, with the watts, the size and an air fry basket confirmed on its product sheet.
Best for: apartments and small kitchens where every inch of counter counts
- Capacity
- 0.9 cu ft
- Microwave watts
- 900 W
- Air fry watts
- 1450 W
- Outer size (W × D × H)
- 19.6 × 15.77 × 11.38 in
- Functions
- Microwave, convection, air fry, roast, bake
- True microwave
- Yes
- Price class
- Budget
- Size as stated by
- Maker.
- 19.6 in wide and 15.77 in deep, says Sharp's product sheet
- Dishwasher-safe air fry basket and baking pan, says Sharp
- Up to three cooking steps in one run
- Only a 10.6 in turntable and 0.9 cu ft inside
- 900 W microwave, lower than the 1000 W models
- The product sheet lists a 120 V, 20 A power source. Check your circuit and the manual
Which one is right for me?
Pick your situation
If you want a plain 3-in-1 with the numbers on the company's own sheet → Sharp SMC0985KS
View(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on AmazonIf you want a 3-in-1 with a bigger inside and can check the listing first → West Bend WBAF130K3S · Seller data only
View(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on AmazonIf you will use all three modes and accept a premium price class → Breville Combi Wave
View(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on AmazonIf you also want a broiler and have the headroom → Panasonic HomeChef 4-in-1
View(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on AmazonIf you want our pick for most kitchens, whatever the count → Toshiba ML2-EC10SA
View(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon
| Comparison | Best for small kitchensSharp SMC0985KS | Seller data onlyWest Bend WBAF130K3S | Seller data onlyBLACK+DECKER ES9P032NA | Premium pickBreville Combi Wave | Best if you have height to sparePanasonic HomeChef 4-in-1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 0.9 cu ft | 1.3 cu ft according to the seller | 0.9 cu ft as listed | 1.1 cu ft as listed | 1.2 cu ft |
| Microwave watts | 900 W | 1000 W according to the seller | 900 W as listed | 1100 W output per an excerpt of Breville's US manual; we could not read the full manual | 1000 W, inverter |
| Air fry watts | 1450 W | – | – | – | – |
| Outer size (W × D × H) | 19.6 × 15.77 × 11.38 in | 21.3 × 18.5 × 11.8 in | 19.5 × 14.5 × 11.4 in | 20.5 × 20.1 × 12.6 in | 22.06 × 17.75 × 13.52 in |
| Functions | Microwave, convection, air fry, roast, bake | Microwave, air fry, convection according to the seller | Microwave, air fryer, combi, bake, roast as listed | Air fryer, convection oven, inverter microwave | Microwave, air fry, convection bake, broil |
| True microwave | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Price class | Budget | Mid-range | Budget | Premium | Premium |
| Best for | apartments and small kitchens where every inch of counter counts | shoppers who want a plain 3-in-1 with a bigger inside and can check the listing first | small counters on a tight budget, once you have confirmed the size on the listing | cooks who will use all three modes and accept a premium price class | kitchens with open space above the counter, or no wall cabinet over the spot |
| On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon | On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon | On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon | On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon | On Amazon(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon |
What does each label count?
| Label | Model | What it counts |
|---|---|---|
| 3-in-1 | Sharp SMC0985KS | Microwave, oven, air fryer |
| 3-in-1 | Breville Combi Wave | Air fryer, convection oven, microwave |
| 4-in-1 | Panasonic HomeChef | Microwave, air fry, convection bake, broil |
| 5-in-1 | BLACK+DECKER ES9P032NA | Microwave, air fryer, combi, bake, roast |
| 8-in-1 | Toshiba ML2-EC10SA | Not listed in the text we read |
Sharp's sheet gives convection, air fry, roast and bake the same 1450 W. That suggests one heating system doing four named jobs, though the sheet does not say so. Sharp still calls it a 3-in-1. Another brand could call the same hardware a 5-in-1.
Which model is best?
Sharp SMC0985KS. Sharp combines a 900 W microwave with 1450 W for air fry, in 0.9 cu ft. At 19.6 × 15.77 × 11.38 in, it is also our pick for small kitchens. The dishwasher-safe air fry basket and baking pan come in the box. It can run up to three steps in one go, like defrost, cook and crisp. The trade-offs: a 10.6 in turntable, a 900 W microwave and no broil mode that we could see. The sheet lists a 120 V, 20 A power source, so check your circuit and the manual.
West Bend WBAF130K3S. The West Bend* is listed at 1.3 cu ft and 1000 W. That is more room and power than the Sharp. But we only have the listing. Its title says 12 presets and its detail table says 5 programs. Check it before you buy.
BLACK+DECKER ES9P032NA. The 5-in-1* is 900 W and 0.9 cu ft. We have no manual, so we cannot say how "combi" works. The better reason to look is its listed depth of 14.5 in.
Breville Combi Wave. The Combi Wave has 19 presets, a crisp pan and a trivet, says Breville. It is 20.1 in deep and wants open space. Pay for the presets and the pan, not the number.
Panasonic HomeChef. The HomeChef adds broil, and broiling is a real extra job. It is 13.5 in tall, so you need the headroom.
Toshiba ML2-EC10SA. Our pick for most kitchens carries an 8-in-1 label. We like it for 1.0 cu ft, 1000 W and 11.8 in of height. See the Toshiba ML2-EC10SA page.
Which modes matter?
- Microwave. The whole point. Compare microwave watts.
- Air fry. Check what comes with it, like a basket or rack.
- Convection. Hot air for baking and roasting. Good Housekeeping says air fry usually uses a bigger, faster fan. See convection versus air fry.
- Broil or grill. The one extra mode that adds a clearly new job.
- Combination modes. Microwave plus hot air in one program. Panasonic has these. Check your model.
- Presets. Defrost, popcorn and reheat are helpers, not modes. Do not pay more for them alone.
Air fryer toaster ovens have similar names but no microwave. Look for microwave watts from the company. We found no controlled test of a combo against a basket air fryer, so see combo versus basket air fryer.
Still undecided?
Which combo is yours?
Question 1
Where will it go?
This decides how you buy.
Take the Sharp SMC0985KS for a real 3-in-1. Choose the Panasonic only if you want to broil and have room. Otherwise start with the Toshiba ML2-EC10SA, or see all the best combos. Unsure of a word? Try the glossary.
Quick questions
What is a 3-in-1 microwave air fryer oven?
One appliance with a microwave, an air fry mode and a hot-air oven mode in the same space. It is not three compartments. You use one mode at a time unless the model offers combination cooking.
Is a 4-in-1 or 5-in-1 better than a 3-in-1?
Not automatically. A higher count can mean a new job, like broiling on the Panasonic HomeChef. It can also mean bake and roast are counted separately. Sharp's product sheet gives convection, air fry, roast and bake the same 1450 W. Read the modes and ignore the number.
What are the 8 functions on an 8-in-1 microwave air fryer?
It depends on the model. Toshiba's page for the ML2-EC10SA has an 8-in-1 heading, but the text we read does not list all eight. It mentions defrost, a low-temperature function, an odor-removing function and 10 air fry presets.
Can a 3-in-1 microwave air fryer replace my toaster oven?
It can do many toaster oven jobs, like baking. But the inside size decides what fits, and a model without a broiler browns the top less well. If toast is your daily job, check for a toast or broil setting first.
Where this comes from
Keep reading
- ComparisonBest combosThe best microwave air fryer combo for most kitchens is the Toshiba ML2-EC10SA. See which pick fits a small kitchen, a big family or a tall cabinet gap.
- ComparisonConvection vs air fryA convection microwave and an air fry mode share a heater and a fan. See what differs: fan strength, accessories and settings, as the manuals describe them.
- Buying guideSmall kitchensSmall microwave air fryer combos at 0.9 cu ft, with real sizes. Our pick is the Sharp SMC0985KS. See what you give up and which sizes come from listings only.
- Model profilePanasonic HomeChefThe Panasonic microwave air fryer combo in plain terms: NN-CV87QS and NN-CD87 compared, its 13.5 in height, the own-circuit rule and who should buy one.
- GlossaryGlossaryWhat magnetron, inverter, air fry mode, flatbed, cu ft, output watts and clearance mean on a microwave air fryer combo, in one to three plain sentences.
Who is behind this
microwaveairfryercombo.com Editorial Team
Fit checks and buying advice
We are the editorial team at microwaveairfryercombo.com. We read spec sheets, owner's manuals, retailer data and published tests, then turn them into plain answers about what fits your kitchen and what each combo can do. We do not run lab tests, and we say so openly.
- Spec sheets and manuals read
- Sources on every page
- No own lab tests, stated openly
- Publisher details in the imprint