Glossary

Glossary: Microwave Air Fryer Combo Terms in Plain English

The words you see on product sheets and listings for microwave air fryer combos, explained in plain English. Where a number changes by model, we say so.

by the editorial team updated November 2, 2026 2 min read

If you read only one entry, read "magnetron." It is what separates a true combo from a lookalike. The basics cover the rest. The size guide and clearance page put the size words to work. For more, see inverter combos, wattage explained and convection versus air fry.

Air fry mode: Hot air from a heater and a fast fan, usually with food on a rack or in a basket. Good Housekeeping says air fry usually uses a larger, faster fan than convection.
Clearance: The free space a manual asks for around the appliance. It changes by model. Panasonic's NN-CD87 manual asks for 6 in on top, 4 in behind and 2 in on each side.
Convection microwave: A microwave with a heater and fan for baking and roasting. It may or may not have an air fry mode, so check the mode list.
Countertop: A microwave that plugs in and sits on the counter, with no installation. Measure height, depth and clearance before you buy.
Cubic feet (cu ft): The size of the inside, as the brand rates it. It says little about the outer size. Sharp's product sheet notes that the space for food is less than the stated number.
Flatbed: An oven floor with no spinning plate. Ninja calls the MW101 a flatbed design and claims 40 % more usable surface versus a 0.9 cu ft turntable microwave.
FusionCrisp: Ninja's name for how the MW101 cooks. Ninja says it starts with microwave cooking and finishes with air frying automatically.
Inverter: A power supply that gives steadier control at low power. Midea says it doesn't remove hot spots or the need to stir, so we don't promise even heating from it.
Magnetron: The part that makes the microwaves. An appliance without one, like a toaster oven or a glass air fryer, can't microwave, however similar its name sounds.
Microwave air fryer combo: One appliance that can both microwave and air-fry in the same oven space. It has the part that does the microwaving, plus a heater and fan that blow hot air over food on a rack or basket.
Output watts: The microwave power that reaches your food. This is the number to compare. It is lower than input watts, and different from an air fry rating like 1700 W.
Over-the-range (OTR): A microwave installed above the stove in place of a range hood, with a vent. It is a fixed installation, and many buyers go to an appliance dealer.
Separate circuit: A circuit that serves only this appliance. Panasonic's NN-CD87 manual asks for a separate 15 A or 20 A, 120 V circuit. Read your model's manual and ask an electrician if you are unsure.
Turntable: The spinning plate in many microwaves. A round plate limits how wide a pan can turn. Toshiba lists 12.4 in for the ML2-EC10SA and 13.6 in for the ML-EC42P.

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microwaveairfryercombo.com Editorial Team

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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.

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