Kitchen Appliance Alternatives You Should Consider Replacing Your Microwave With

The first countertop microwaves started appearing in homes in the late 1960s. By the 1980s, they became more affordable for the average homeowner, and their popularity grew. Since then, they have become a staple in the modern kitchen. There are other options on the market now, though. With advances in technology, microwave alternatives have become more efficient, compact, and affordable. While the microwave tends to deliver unevenly cooked, soggy food that's hot on the inside, icy-cold in the middle, newer alternatives promise perfectly cooked, crispy food we all crave — in about the same amount of time.

There are a variety of countertop cooking appliances that could replace your microwave: air fryers, toaster ovens, countertop convection ovens, or fancy speed ovens. Some of these microwave alternatives even offer multiple cooking methods (air fryer/convection combo) and a wide range of cooking temperatures that seriously rival your microwave's capabilities. They also come in a variety of price points, sizes, colors, and shapes.

When replacing your microwave with a countertop convection oven, air fryer, toaster oven, or speed oven, there are some things to consider. Do you need an appliance that can quickly reheat food and deliver better taste and texture? Are you trying to eat healthier but still want crispiness and flavor? Are you looking for something that won't take up much space? There may be an alternative kitchen appliance out there that is better suited to your needs than the microwave.

An air fryer can be a good alternative to a microwave with its relatively fast cooking times. With an air fryer, you can cook chicken that is not only juicy on the inside but crispy on the outside (something a microwave wishes it could do). It can reheat food like a microwave, just a little more slowly, but you will be rewarded with evenly heated food. Air fryers also tend to be more compact than most microwaves, even the larger ones.

A countertop convection oven or a toaster oven may also be worth considering. Countertop convection ovens are mini versions of your regular oven. They can bake amazing cookies, roast a chicken to golden brown, and even heat up your leftover pizza to crispy perfection. While toaster ovens are great, they generally can't match the temperature range of a countertop convection oven. And they are compact, making them ideal for limited space. They reheat food well, bake gooey brownies and tasty cookies, and of course, toast your favorite foods to perfection.

A speed oven combines the cooking process of a microwave and a convection oven. This option is the best of both worlds. While the food is being microwaved, a fan circulates the heat evenly. Where all the other microwave alternatives sacrifice time for texture, the speed oven doesn't. Your chicken not only cooks faster but also comes out juicy and crispy. The speed oven may be a perfect alternative to the microwave for you; it's really all about choosing what features you value most and what works best for you, though.