Model profile
Panasonic HomeChef 4-in-1: Size, Own-Circuit Rule and Air Fry Basket
Buy the Panasonic HomeChef 4-in-1 if you have open space above your counter and a circuit to spare. It is a 1.2 cu ft inverter combo with air fry, convection bake and broil, and Good Housekeeping's best overall pick in April 2026. The listing we link names the NN-CV87QS, while the manual we read is for its sister model, the NN-CD87.
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The short version
Good if you have headroom and want a well-documented combo with a broiler. It has a 1000 W inverter microwave and 1.2 cu ft, and it is 13.5 in tall. The sister model's manual asks for 6 in on top, 19.5 in in total (computed), plus its own 15 A or 20 A circuit. Under a low cabinet, check your manual and never block the vents.
This is a true microwave air fryer combo with a broiler and the most explicit manual we could read for any model. In our best combos, it is the pick if you have the headroom. It is not our best overall, because it is tall, wide and in the premium price class.
Panasonic
Panasonic HomeChef 4-in-1
The combo with the clearest manual and a pick from Good Housekeeping.
Why it fits here: The listing names the NN-CV87QS, so read the manual that comes with your unit for the final figures.
Best for: kitchens with open space above the counter, or no wall cabinet over the spot
- Capacity
- 1.2 cu ft
- Microwave watts
- 1000 W, inverter
- Outer size (W × D × H)
- 22.06 × 17.75 × 13.52 in
- Functions
- Microwave, air fry, convection bake, broil
- True microwave
- Yes
- Price class
- Premium
- Size as stated by
- Sister model. The listing names the NN-CV87QS. Size matches Panasonic's NN-CD87KS sheet and Abt's NN-CV87QS page; the manual we read is for the NN-CD87.
- Named best overall in Good Housekeeping's April 2026 roundup, which linked this listing
- Inverter microwave at 1000 W, with 1.2 cu ft inside
- The sister model's manual is clear about the space it needs, racks and foil
- 13.5 in tall plus the 6 in top space in the NN-CD87 manual is 19.5 in (computed), more than a common 18 in gap
- That manual asks for its own 15 A or 20 A, 120 V circuit
- Premium price class, and the widest body in this group
Is it right for me?
Why it works
- You have open space above the spot, or no wall cabinet over it
- You can give it a circuit of its own
- You want broil as well as air fry and convection
Where it falls short
- The spot sits under a low wall cabinet
- Your counter is narrow: it is the widest of our picks
- You want a budget or mid-range price class
- Crisping is your only goal and you have room for a basket fryer
NN-CV87QS or NN-CD87: which is which?
The Amazon listing names the NN-CV87QS. The manual we could read in full is for the NN-CD87, sold as the NN-CD87KS. Panasonic's pages and Abt's listing show they are close relatives. Here are the differences we could see.
| Spec | NN-CD87KS | NN-CV87QS | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outside size (W × H × D) | 22 1/16 × 13 1/2 × 17 3/4 in | 22.06 × 13.52 × 17.72 in | Panasonic; Abt |
| Size inside | 1.2 cu ft | 1.2 cu ft | Panasonic; Abt |
| Microwave power | 1000 W, inverter | 1000 W, inverter | Panasonic, both |
| Broil and convection power | 1,300 W in the manual | 1,300 W | Panasonic, both |
| Highest power use | 1,350 W | 1,655 W, initial maximum | Panasonic, both |
| Air fry temperature | Not set by the user, per the manual | 425°F, 410°F or 400°F | Panasonic, both |
| Auto programs | 20 | 21 | Panasonic, both |
| Wi-Fi and app | Not on the page we read | Wi-Fi, Kitchen+ app | Abt |
The space and circuit figures below come from the sister model's manual. They aren't confirmed for the NN-CV87QS, and the copy we read has Canadian references, so use the booklet that comes with your unit.
Will it fit?
The manual asks for 6 in on top, 4 in at the back, 2 in on each side, and the door at least 3 in from the counter edge, on a flat surface more than 36 in above the floor.
- Height: 13.5 in plus 6 in is 19.5 in (computed), more than a common 18 in gap, a figure we only have from secondary sources. The manual allows one side flush to a wall if the other side or the top is free. Check your manual and never block the vents.
- Depth: 17.75 in plus 4 in plus 3 in is 24.75 in (computed), more than a typical 24 in counter.
- Width: 22.06 in plus 2 in on each side is about 26.1 in (computed).
Our clearance guide sets this beside other models. The checker below already includes this manual's figures for the Panasonic.
Enter your space and we’ll show which models fit. We use the sizes each brand publishes. It also needs some air around it, so check the manual too.
Many kitchens have about 18 in here, but measure yours to be sure.
Enter all three measurements and the list appears here.
What about power?
The oven must run on its own circuit, with no other appliance sharing it, or a fuse may blow or a breaker may trip. It asks for at least a 15 A or 20 A, 120 V grounded outlet, and says 9.5 A on microwave and 11.4 A on the heaters. Our page on circuits and amps explains what that means, including the manual's unusual wording on extension cords. Ask an electrician if your circuit is unclear.
How is it day to day?
- Air fry: the basket goes on the wire rack, on the enamel tray, on the glass tray. Use a single layer with space between pieces. No preheating, says Panasonic's help page.
- Metal and foil: the rack is for air fry, broil, convection and combo, never for microwave-only mode. The basket is for air fry only. Foil is only for shielding. See metal and foil in a combo.
- Combo modes: one mixes microwave with broil for casseroles, and the other mixes microwave with convection for frozen foods.
- First use: wipe out any excess oil, then run it empty on convection at 425°F for 10 minutes. Smoke and a burnt smell after first use are normal, says the manual.
- Inverter: better control at low power, such as melting butter. It is not a promise of perfectly even heating.
- Cleaning: after broil or combo cooking, wipe the walls and floor with a cloth wrung out in hot soapy water. Run the 20-minute Steam Clean program as needed. Our cleaning guide has the steps.
What does Good Housekeeping say?
Good Housekeeping's April 2026 roundup names this model its best overall pick and links this listing. Its lab looked at microwave heating, popcorn and defrost presets, toast, cake and air-fried wings. The article we read publishes no scores for this model and no comparison with basket fryers.
What are the alternatives?
Pick your situation
If the spot sits under a cabinet and you want a low body → Toshiba ML2-EC10SA
View(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on AmazonIf you want a bigger inside and have a deep counter → Toshiba ML-EC42P 1.5 cu ft
View(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on AmazonIf you have open space and want a premium model with a crisp pan → Breville Combi Wave
View(paid link to Amazon, opens in a new tab)Ad · paid link · check price & delivery on Amazon
The Breville Combi Wave asks for even more air around it, so compare its figures before you switch. Other brands are on our brands page.
Quick questions
What is the difference between the NN-CD87KS and the NN-CV87QS?
They are close but not identical. Both are 1.2 cu ft with a 1000 W inverter microwave and nearly the same outside size. Panasonic's pages show three air fry temperatures for the NN-CV87QS, while the NN-CD87 manual says there is no need to set one. Abt lists Wi-Fi and the Kitchen+ app for the NN-CV87QS. Check the model number on the listing.
Does the HomeChef need its own circuit?
Its sister model's manual says yes. The oven must run on its own circuit, with at least a 15 A or 20 A, 120 V grounded outlet, and no other appliance sharing it. We didn't find the same text for the NN-CV87QS, so read the manual that comes with your unit. Ask an electrician if your circuit is unclear.
Will it fit under my cabinets?
It may be tight. The NN-CD87 manual asks for 6 in above a 13.5 in tall body, which is 19.5 in (computed) and more than a common 18 in gap. The same manual allows one side flush to a wall if the other side or the top is free. Check your manual and never block the vents.
Does it have an air fry basket?
Yes. The NN-CD87 manual and the NN-CV87QS specifications both list one, along with a wire rack and an enamel tray. For air frying, you stack them: basket on wire rack, on enamel tray, on the glass tray. That is more parts to wash than a single pan, though the tray catches drips.
Can I use metal in it?
It depends on the mode. The manual's chart allows the wire rack in air fry, broil, convection and combo, but never in microwave-only mode. The basket is for air fry only. Foil is for shielding, in microwave and combo modes only, and must stay at least 1 in from the walls and door. Don't cover the racks with foil.
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.
- ExplainerClearance by modelCountertop microwave clearance, the space a combo needs around it, depends on the model. See the manual figures we read and how to check cabinets and the door.
- ExplainerCircuit and ampsSome microwave air fryers need their own circuit. The amps we could confirm, what Panasonic, Breville, GE and Sharp say, and what they say about extension cords.
- ExplainerSize guideMicrowave sizes explained: countertop combos here run 0.9 to 1.5 cu ft and 19 to 22 in wide. How to measure, and why cubic feet don't predict the outside size.
- Model profileBreville Combi WaveThe Breville Combi Wave 3-in-1 has 1100 W of microwave output, not 1700 W, says its manual. See its size, the 12 in top space it needs and who it suits.
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