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Key Points
- The Power XL Air Fryer Microwave is just a convection microwave oven and not one that is easy to use.
- There are a total of 37 cooking programs on this air fryer microwave, making the user manual invaluable.
- I do not recommend the Power XL Air Fryer Microwave due to its poor usability.
- Contemporary aesthetics
- Touchscreen and dial controls
- Can replace air fryer, oven, and microwave
- Rapid Air Technology
- BDK03: 37 Presets
- BDK02: 29 Presets
- Dishwasher safe parts
- 1-year replacement guarantee
- Premium price tag
- Bulky size
- Requires substantial ventilation space (1 foot above)
- Not a good air fryer
- Complicated controls
Power XL Microwave Air Fryer Overview
The Power XL Microwave Air Fryer peaked in popularity in 2020. And to this day, it’s still thought-provoking. A combination of microwave and air fryer? Intriguing, to say the least. Of course, that begs the question, “Is the Power XL Microwave Air Fryer worth the hype?”
Microwave Air Fryer = Convection Microwave
This combination isn’t new. The only difference is that the brand used Microwave Air Fryer instead of Convection Microwave. However, they’re the same concept. In fact, there was already a convection microwave as early as 1985, at least according to this youtube video.
Ventilation Space Required
The PowerXL Microwave Air Fryer requires proper ventilation space. 1 foot (30 cm) above, 3 inches (7.5 cm) behind and on the left side, and open space on the right-hand side.
Won’t Work in Microwave Cabinet
In other words, if you have a dedicated microwave cabinet with standard dimensions, this air fryer is NOT for you. If that’s the case, you should consider a standalone microwave and a separate basket air fryer, such as the Ninja DZ201.
Here’s more:
This air fryer has a lesser-expensive sibling — PowerXL Microwave Air Fryer Plus.
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| Air Fryer Name | Power XL Air Fryer Microwave (BDK03) | Power XL Microwave Air Fryer Plus (BDK02) |
| Price | $$ | $$$ |
| Presets | 37 Programs | 28 Cooking Functions |
| Check Price at Walmart → | Check Price at Walmart→ |
Surprisingly, they don’t differ as much. The only thing you have to note is the number of presets and the display. The PowerXL Microwave Air Fryer BDK03 has a more contemporary and bigger screen. In contrast, the Plus version (BDK02) has a smaller LED display.
Nonetheless, they’re about the same function-wise. Therefore, I’ll refer to both in this review unless otherwise specified.
Features of the Power XL Microwave Air Fryer
The truth is, I can’t say a lot about the features of the Power XL Microwave Air Fryer. It doesn’t have a nonstick coating on the interior, and the oven and air fryer racks are stainless steel.
This combination microwave, air fryer, and toaster oven has a lot of features that look attractive on the surface, but don’t work as well as you’d hope. Here’s what makes the Power XL Microwave Air Fryer Oven appealing.
Whisper Quiet Operation
Whether you’re using the microwave, air fryer, or convection oven features, this machine is incredibly quiet to operate. It is one of the most attractive features, because you can run it for long periods without overwhelming the senses.
An appliance like this is best for supplementing your cooking capacity while preparing large meals for gatherings and holidays, and no one wants to be bombarded by a loud appliance while puttering about the kitchen preparing other foods.
Multiple Cooking Modes
The Power XL has multiple cooking modes, each with its own preset programs.
On the surface, it might seem like having 37 preset programs would make operation easier by removing the guesswork, but in reality, the menu options can be confusing.
In total, there are 37 preset cooking programs, including:
- 6 one-touch microwave presets
- 6 one-touch air fry presets
- 6 one-touch bake presets
- 6 micro menu microwave cooking programs
- 13 air fryer menu cooking programs
- Defrost
The defrost feature and microwave settings are the most effective, but you can get that from any microwave oven.
Deodorizing Feature
Don’t you hate it when you clean your microwave and it still holds smells from previous cooks? The deodorizing feature helps eliminate that problem. It works fairly well, but only if you do a thorough cleaning of the microwave convection oven first. The feature basically works by activating the heating element for 5 minutes to burn off anything that has been left behind.
This might seem like a great feature, but it is actually compensating for the fact that you cannot clean the heating element any other way. It is very brittle and will fall apart or break if you try to clean it with a rag and soap like the rest of the interior. More on how to clean the Power XL microwave in a moment.
Technical Specifications
| Type | Air Fryer |
| Brand/Series | PowerXL Microwave Air Fryer Series |
| Model # | BDK02, BDK03 |
| Price | $$ |
| Rating | 3.9 out of 5 |
| Wattage | Microwave: 1000-watt Air fry: 1800-watt Bake: 1500-watt |
| Functions | 3-in-1: Microwave, Air Fry, Bake |
| Air Fryer Type | Microwave |
| Basket Shape | n/a |
| Basket Material | N/A (but the bake pan is non-stick, and air fry rack is stainless steel) |
| Capacity | 1 cubic feet |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Colors | Stainless Steel |
| Dimensions | 20 x 20.47 x 12.8 inches (50.8 x 52 x 32.5 cm) |
| Cord Length | ~ 39 inches (99 cm) |
| Application | Personal Use |
| Warranty | 1-year replacement guarantee |
When you get your new Power XL Microwave Air Fryer, it will come with one metal oven rack, one metal air fryer rack, and one nonstick baking pan. You can get additional baking pan accessories, which are necessary if you want to extend the life of the appliance. More on that in a moment.
What can you cook in a Power XL Microwave Air Fryer?
According to the brand’s commercial, the PowerXL Air Fryer Microwave can replace 6 appliances; Fryer, microwave, toaster, deep fryer, rice cooker, and grill.
But in reality, it can’t substitute for a rice cooker or grill. With the rice cooking functionality, it just can’t hold a candle to any high-end Instant Pot.
Another reason I recommend the Instant Pot over this Power XL Air Fryer Microwave is that the IP Duo line can handle whole eggs and sealed containers, which the Power XL cannot. With the Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Air Fryer Lid, you can do most of the things that this appliance does but with much better results.
The other four, on the other hand, are more plausible. So, suppose you want to save space and replace your air fryer, microwave, toaster, and deep fryer with only one appliance. In that case, this product will seem perfect for you.
Best of all:
You can concoct endless recipes with this appliance. Some everyday recipes you can cook are as follows:
Beverage
It can make popcorn, defrost, and reheat just like a regular microwave. In fact, you can even use the air fryer function to reheat fried foods to retain their crispness! I also like reheating pizza in this air fryer microwave so that the crust is crispy instead of greasy and floppy.
Besides, anything you can bake in a full-sized oven, you can also bake in the PowerXL Air Fryer Microwave — albeit a smaller portion. In fact, the manual specifically states not to cook oversized food or use oversized metal cookware.
Warning: NEVER use metal when using the microwave function. You should also stick to the pans that come with the Power XL and its available accessories. These pans have a special coating that make them safe for the appliance. Putting a traditional metal pan in the Power XL Air Fryer Microwave Oven will damage the unit and pose a fire hazard.
Here’s the catch:
Suppose you need to use the microwave when it’s still hot from baking or air frying. In that case, you must use oven-safe components as any microwave-safe plastic will undoubtedly melt.
A better option is to wait for at least 30 minutes to cool down.
If you want to use the oven and microwave for multitasking, perhaps for both the side and main dishes, it’s simply not possible. This is one of the significant drawbacks of a microwave air fryer.
This is yet another reason to take a look at the Instant Pot Duo Crisp. The Duo Crisp can cook the food and then crisp it with the air fry feature without cooldown, and you can even set it to switch as part of the cooking program so that it is automatic and hassle-free.
Furthermore, you can’t really roast a chicken in this air fryer microwave oven. I have seen a chicken come out of the Power XL Microwave Air Fryer looking beautiful – with a core internal temperature of just 120 degrees. While some parts of the chicken do reach the recommended 165 degree internal temperature for safe consumption, this too demonstrates that this appliance does not cook evenly.
This means that you don’t want to use this appliance to try to make any baked goods. While it works well to reheat pizza, and frozen pizzas can be cooked in it as well, trying to bake a fresh pizza will likely lead to uneven cooking as well.
Essentially, it cooks the center well (on the surface) but the edges will not be cooked. If you want to be able to use a countertop convection oven air fryer, I recommend the Cuisinart Large Air Fryer Toaster Oven instead. It can also handle most of the tasks you would do in a microwave, including reheating and defrosting foods.
As if that’s not enough:
The Power XL Microwave Air Fryer not as good as a basket-drawer air fryer either. For one, it has limited space, which can only fit about two servings at a time.
Secondly, it doesn’t feature any basket. If you use the baking pan for air frying, hot air circulation will be inferior to other air fryers in the market.
You can technically use the rack by itself, but it’s just not practical for recipes like fries. Moreover, it’ll be a hassle to clean afterward.
There are also a lot of things you can’t put in this air fryer microwave. The user manual states not to put any type of aluminum foil or tray in the oven, nor can you use parchment paper, paper bags, plastic foam, or wood.
This leads me nicely to the next topic, usability…
Is PowerXL Microwave Air Fryer easy to use?
Rather than bury the lead, I’m just gonna tell you that the Power XL Microwave Air Fryer has complicated controls.
I consider myself tech-savvy for context, so I find learning new devices easy. But this isn’t one of those devices.
The presets are technically helpful since it takes the “guess” out of the “work,” right? But, if there are around 30 presets, it’s more troublesome than helpful. And instead of using simple words, the machine displays codes like DEF1, A10, or CH3.
To properly use the presets, you either have to memorize all these codes or refer to the manual every single time. Both the bake and the air fry features also require preheating, which isn’t calculated into all of the presets.
In my humble opinion, it seems like they don’t follow the Keep It Simple, Stupid (KISS) principle.
To make things more difficult, I found that turning and/or flipping food midway through cooking is absolutely essential with the Power XL Microwave Air Fryer. This means you can’t just set it and walk away until the timer goes off.
Luckily, the cleaning is relatively simple. The accessories are dishwasher safe, so you can simply load it in the dishwasher and poof, no more cleaning tasks.
Just make sure you don’t use corrosive chemicals or scouring pads, as these can damage the surface of the interior and make the unit unsafe to operate. You must use a mild soap like Dawn and a gentle cloth to clean the interior, and do not by any means try to wipe down the heating element. That is what the deodorizing feature listed above is for.
The microwave will only require simple wiping with a damp cloth, btw.
See Power XL Microwave Air Fryer in action.
Don’t take my word for it; Vivian demonstrates this air fryer nicely.
The Power XL Microwave Air Fryer is a unique 3-in-1 appliance that can replace an air fryer, microwave, and toaster to save space in the kitchen. It hallmarks 29 – 37 presets and a temperature range of 100ºF to 425ºF (37ºC to 218ºC) for vast recipe ideas.
*Product Images and Videos Courtesy of PowerXL
Is Power XL Microwave Air Fryer worth it?
I absolutely love the idea of the PowerXL Microwave Air Fryer, which combines microwave and air frying. However, the overall performance is Nah.
You’re better off with your current microwave and a standalone air fryer. You should check out Cosori Dual Blaze, Philips Airfryer XXL, or Instant Vortex Air Fryer for an excellent air fryer.
FAQs
How big is the Power XL Microwave Air Fryer?
The Power XL Microwave Air Fryer has dimensions of 20 x 20.47 x 12.8 inches (50.8 x 52 x 32.5 cm). In simple terms, it’s pretty big. More importantly, you need space around the microwave — 1 foot (30 cm) above, 3 inches (7.5 cm) behind and on the left side, and open space on the right-hand side.
Can you make toast in the Power XL Microwave Air Fryer?
Yes, you can make toast in the PowerXL Microwave Air Fryer.
How many watts is the Power XL Microwave Air Fryer?
The Power XL Microwave Air Fryer features 1000-watt for microwave function, 1800-watt for air fry setting, and 1500-watt for baking.
How much clearance do I need to safely operate the Power XL Microwave Air Fryer?
According to the manual, you’ll need 3 inches of clearance on all sides and at the rear, as well as a full 12 inches of clearance above the unit. A stand-alone microwave stand is your best bet.
