This Compact Microwave Does the Job of an Air Fryer and Convection Oven and Saves Me So Much Counter Space

This year, making home upgrades is a huge goal of mine. Since moving back into my childhood home to help with upkeep, I’ve picked up a number of home renovation projects. The kitchen is a BIG one. Literally every appliance has seen better days so we’re in the process of replacing them one by one. When I saw the state of the old microwave that had a dinner plate in place of its old glass turntable, I knew it needed to be the first to go.

My deep dive into microwaves took a few weeks to complete and ultimately came down to what was available in the store. Fortunately, I couldn’t have made a better pick for our space than GE’s 1050-watt microwave oven with air fryer, broiler, and convection capabilities. This machine was flying off the store shelves the day I bought it, and I came very close to missing out, but happened to snag the very last one. Months later, it’s one of my favorite finds.

Chances are, if GE’s 1050-Watt Microwave Oven with Air Fryer, Broiler, and Convection caught your attention, you’re already looking into its air fryer feature. It’s one of the draws of the appliance, especially since so many people have air fryers at home these days. What makes it convenient in this microwave is that you don’t have to worry about pulling out any large trays or performing heavy cleanups. It’s a small appliance that effectively takes care of quick air frying jobs, including reheating day-old french fries.

Aside from the air fry function, however, the microwave can also defrost, broil, and use convection heating with the help of elevated racks that come with the machine. It can be programmed to reheat drinks and dishes based on size to ensure they’re hot inside and out, and it has auto buttons for popcorn, pizza, and potatoes. You can also use preset controls to heat nuggets, fries, and other foods, which takes out the guesswork and keeps you from having to stand next to the microwave in order to monitor it.

Though it’s not fingerprint-proof, the stainless steel exterior and interior gives the microwave a sleek, futuristic appearance that would be an instant upgrade to any kitchen.

When I started shopping for a microwave, I wasn’t necessarily looking for one that did anything more than a microwave’s basic functions. However, I couldn’t be happier that I took a chance on this one! For starters, it’s small and mighty. It’s spacious for its size and I’ve never run into a situation where I had more food than the microwave could fit. We’ve warmed drinks, leftovers, defrosted meat, popped popcorn, and more in this appliance, and haven’t run into a problem, yet.

As far as the microwave’s air fryer goes, I actually had really low expectations for it. I have an air fryer I love, and didn’t think a microwave could measure up, but I stand corrected. I’ve cooked crab cakes, fried mushrooms, and more using the GE microwave’s air frying feature, and it did an amazing job with them all. The appetizers came out hot and crisp, and really hit the spot when I was craving an afternoon snack.

• Compact Size: Our old microwave was double the size of this GE model, so this one looks completely different in our kitchen. However, because it’s so much smaller (and no less effective), it takes up a lot less space on the counter, which gives us more room for preparing meals and we’ve even been able to scale back on the number of appliances left out in the kitchen as a whole!
• Air Frying Feature: There are some foods that aren’t worth breaking out the big air fryer for. Leftover takeout is one of them. As much as I love my air fryer, I love even more that I can simply whip out the microwave’s crisper pan, throw my food into it, and have deliciously air-fried food in minutes.
• Preset Controls: Being able to set the timer on the microwave according to the size of the food or drink inside of it has been a gamechanger. I’m so used to hitting the 30-second timer and hoping for the best, but now I can let the microwave do the math for me without leaving my food in for too long.

The control panel of the microwave isn’t backlit, so if you don’t have it in an area with good lighting, you might find yourself leaning in close or using a phone light to find the buttons you need. Additionally, while this microwave has air-frying capabilities, it doesn’t have the capacity to take on large dishes — like one whole chicken — that full-fledged air fryers can handle. However, smaller dishes like chicken breasts, fish, chicken nuggets, and fries are well within reason.

If the the ratings for the GE 1050-Watt Microwave Oven with Air Fryer aren’t enough to convince you, then take my word for it. I’d recommend this microwave to anyone who:

• Wants an appliance that’s small-space friendly
• Wants an multipurpose appliance that helps to save precious counter space
• Wants a sleek and stylish microwave that packs a lot of power into a compact build
• Wants a microwave that’s truly built to handle breakfast, lunch, and dinner

• Amazon, $189 (normally $219)
• Best Buy, $219
• Lowe’s, $189 (normally $219)

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