Microwave, Oven, or Air Fryer: What Should You Buy First?
Setting up a kitchen or upgrading your cooking space can be confusing. With options like a microwave, oven, and air fryer, many families ask the same question: Which one should I buy first?
Each appliance serves a different purpose. Your best choice depends on your cooking habits, space, budget, and lifestyle. Let’s break it down simply.
What Each Appliance Is Designed For
What a microwave does
A microwave is built for speed and convenience. It reheats food, defrosts frozen meals, and handles simple cooking tasks quickly.
For many homes, a microwave for home use is the most-used appliance because it saves time – especially on busy mornings or late evenings.
Best for:
- Reheating leftovers
- Defrosting meat
- Quick meals and snacks
What an oven does
An oven is ideal for baking and roasting. It uses dry heat to cook food evenly, making it perfect for bread, cakes, chicken, and family-sized meals.
If you genuinely enjoy traditional cooking and baking, an oven is a long-term investment and often considered a best kitchen appliance for serious home cooks.
Best for:
- Baking cakes and bread
- Roasting meat and vegetables
- Cooking for larger families
What an air fryer does
An air fryer cooks food using hot air circulation, giving you crispy results with little or no oil. It’s popular for people looking for healthy cooking appliances. It’s also compact and energy-efficient, making it a favourite in modern kitchens.
Perfect for:
- Healthier frying
- Quick, crispy meals
- Small households
Cooking Style and Use Cases
For busy users and quick meals
If speed matters most, the microwave wins. From reheating soup to warming rice, it’s unbeatable for quick tasks.
For baking and roasting
The oven is a clear choice. No microwave or air fryer can fully replace an oven for baking.
For healthier frying options
When comparing air fryer vs microwave or oven vs air fryer, the air fryer stands out for low-oil cooking.
For students or small apartments
Air fryers and microwaves are more compact kitchen appliances, requiring less setup and space.
Speed and Convenience
Cooking time comparison
- Microwave: Fastest
- Air fryer: Fast, but slower than microwave
- Oven: Slowest
Preheating needs
- Microwave: No preheating
- Air fryer: Minimal
- Oven: Requires full preheating
Ease of use for beginners
Microwaves are the easiest, followed by air fryers. Ovens may take more practice.
Cost and Energy Use
Power consumption differences
Air fryers and microwaves are generally more energy-efficient kitchen appliances compared to ovens.
Cost to run each appliance:
- Microwave: Low running cost
- Air fryer: Low to moderate
- Oven: Higher electricity use
Best option for daily cooking
For everyday reheating and light cooking, microwaves are the most economical.
Space and Kitchen Setup
Placement and countertop needs
- Microwave: Countertop or mounted
- Air fryer: Small countertop space
- Oven: Fixed installation or large countertop
Ventilation requirements
Ovens need proper ventilation. Air fryers and microwaves are simpler to manage.
Best choice for compact kitchens
Air fryers and microwaves work best in small kitchens.
Price and Long-Term Value
Upfront cost comparison
Microwaves are usually the most affordable, followed by air fryers. Ovens cost more upfront.
Maintenance and cleaning
Air fryers are easiest to clean. Microwaves are simple too. Ovens require more effort.
How often each is used in real kitchens
Most families use their microwave daily, making it a strong first purchase.
So, Which One Should You Buy First?
Best for limited budget
Microwave – affordable, versatile, and energy-efficient.
Best for families
Oven, supported by a microwave of convenience.
Best for single users
Air fryer or microwave, depending on cooking style.
Best for health-conscious cooking
Air fryer – less oil, great taste.
Conclusion
For most African homes, the smartest first step is a reliable microwave, then adding an air fryer or oven as your cooking needs grow. With trusted brands like Bruhm, you can find durable, energy-efficient appliances designed for everyday family life.
Bruhm’s quality home solutions and services offer something for every African family, with distribution and nationwide delivery across Nigeria, Ghana, Angola, Togo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs
They do different things. Air fryers are better for cooking; microwaves are better for reheating.
Not really. Ovens are slower and less convenient for daily reheating.
A microwave for daily convenience, paired with an oven or air fryer for proper meals.
Microwaves and air fryers generally use less electricity than ovens.
A compact microwave or air fryer is ideal.