How to Use a Microwave Air Fryer: Racks, Modes, Limits

The three manuals we read don't agree with each other. Use this page to know what to look for, and treat the manual for your exact model as the last word. Still choosing? Start with the basics.

What do I need?

• The manual for your exact model, with its accessory chart
• The accessories that came in the box
• Microwave-safe dishes for microwave mode, heat-safe ones for oven modes
• Oven mitts and a heat-safe spot to set things down

What are the steps?

1. Do the first run your manual asks for

   Read the first-use section. Panasonic's NN-CD87 manual says to wipe excess oil from the inside and run the empty oven on Convection at 425°F for 10 minutes. Some smoke and a burnt smell after first use can be normal, it adds. Otherwise never run it empty.

2. Pick one mode for the job

   Use microwave for reheating, soup and defrosting. Use air fry for crisp food in a single layer. Use convection or bake for baking and roasting. Use a combo mode for food your manual lists for it.

3. Fit the accessory that mode calls for

   Use the chart in your manual. Take out any rack or tray it excludes from that mode. Do not cook directly on a glass tray if your manual forbids it, as Panasonic's does.

4. Load food in a single layer

   Leave space between the pieces so hot air reaches them. Use a dry coating and a light layer of suitable oil, not wet batter. Do not cover racks with foil.

5. Set the time, and the temperature if it asks

   Panasonic's air fry mode has no temperature to set and no preheat. Breville's preheats for 3 minutes and then asks for the food. Start from your manual's chart, not a recipe for another appliance.

6. Turn or stir partway through

   Panasonic's chart says at about two-thirds of the time. Breville's air fry mode beeps at about halfway. Use oven mitts, because food, accessories and the inside all get very hot.

7. Check the food, then wipe the inside

   Use a thermometer rather than guessing, but only the kind your manual allows in that mode. Once the oven has cooled, wipe the walls and floor to remove grease, and wash the accessories.

Which rack goes in which mode?

The Ninja column is from the UK edition, the only one we could read. The Panasonic column is from the NN-CD87 manual, sister of the HomeChef we link.

So "the rack goes in" is not one rule. On the Panasonic, the wire rack must come out for microwaving. On the Ninja, the crisper plate is microwave safe only when seated in the glass basket. See metal and foil and accessories.

Tip: tape a photo of your manual's accessory chart inside a cabinet door.

What never goes in?

These come from the manuals we read. Yours may list more.

• Foil over racks or any other part. Panasonic and Breville both warn it causes overheating. Foil for shielding is a narrower rule in Panasonic's chart.
• The wrong metal in microwave mode. The FDA says microwaves reflect off metal, so metal pans and foil generally don't belong there. Panasonic also warns against metal trim on dishes and metal twist-ties.
• Paper in broil. Panasonic rules it out. Plastic or paper containers may melt or burn under the heater.
• Deep frying. Panasonic and Ninja both forbid it.
• Whole eggs and sealed containers. Panasonic and Ninja warn they may explode.
• Wet batter. Whirlpool says avoid it. Use a dry coating.

Don't store anything inside either. Panasonic warns against leaving cookware, paper or food in the oven when not in use, in case someone starts it by accident.

What mistakes are common?

1. Assuming a preheat. Some air fry modes preheat and some don't. Follow your screen.
2. Crowding the basket. Panasonic asks for one layer with space, and more stirring for larger amounts. Still soft? See why air fry is not crispy.
3. Picking any oil. Ninja's UK guide recommends canola, refined coconut, avocado, vegetable and rapeseed oils, and does not recommend olive oil, butter, margarine or cooking spray.
4. Skipping the wipe-down. Panasonic says grease can build up and make the oven smoke. See how to clean and grease and smoke.
5. Using recipes for other appliances. Basket fryer times needn't fit a bigger oven space. Start with your manual's chart.

What about safety?

Keep the vents clear. See the clearance guide. Panasonic warns that outer surfaces, vents and the door get hot in air fry, convection, combo and broil. If smoke or fire appears inside, Panasonic says press Stop, keep the door closed and disconnect the power. Ninja's UK guide says unplug it and wait for black smoke, and call customer service for error codes.

• Time conversionDon't multiply. Microwaves and hot air heat food differently, and the charts in one manual show no steady ratio between modes. Start with your manual's air fry chart for the same food and weight. If it isn't listed, use the closest food, set the shortest time, turn it partway and check that it is cooked through.
• Baked potatoWash and dry a russet, pierce it, and microwave it for a head start. Move it to the air fryer at 400°F until it reads 205°F inside, says Potatoes USA. Brush with oil, add salt, and air fry 1 to 2 more minutes for crisp skin. In a combo, take out whatever your manual excludes from microwave mode first.
• ManualsFind the model number on the appliance, then search the company's site for that exact number. We read manuals for the Galanz GSWWD09S1A09A, GE GCST10A1, Panasonic NN-CD87 and Breville BMO870, plus the UK edition for the Ninja MW101. Toshiba's product page had no manual link. Avoid PDF downloads on unrelated sites, and use a manual only if the model number matches.

Which combo has the clearest instructions?

Panasonic's sister-model manual is the most explicit about which accessory goes where, though the HomeChef needs headroom. For most kitchens, the best combos page starts with the lower Toshiba ML2-EC10SA^*.