Panasonic 4-in-1 combi microwave air fryer oven review

For individuals who discover standalone air fryers on the small aspect, countertop ovens that air fry are a extra spacious different, however can have restricted use. Not content material with merely bolting on air frying to an oven grill, Panasonic has made the 4-in-1 Combi Microwave Air Fryer Oven NN-CD88.

Its 4 features – microwave, convection, grill and air frying – translate right into a countertop equipment that’s as versatile as they arrive. In addition to an air frying basket that can match as much as 900g of chips, it boasts a 34-litre cavity, enamel tray for roasting and 5 combi cooking presets that mix microwaving for pace with typical warmth or grilling for crisp and crunch. Plus, there’s a built-in sensor so it gained’t dry out a reheated dinner.

You possibly can see how this mannequin stacks up towards our high suggestions in our round-up of the most effective air fryer ovens we’ve examined. We’ve additionally bought suggestions for the most effective dual-drawer air fryers, the most effective Ninja air fryers and the most effective air fryers total.

Design and Construct

• Stainless-steel construct
• The open door will overhang a regular countertop
• Dishwasher-safe equipment

Regardless of Panasonic designing the NN-CD88 to be apparently 15% smaller than typical combi ovens, there’s no getting away from the truth that it’s nonetheless fairly large (H34.3 x W56 x D45cm).

Positioned on a regular 60cm-deep worktop, when the door is open, it’ll overhang, and there’s restricted house in entrance to put dishes. Additionally it is heavy at 18kg, so it’s finest to select a spot for it to dwell and go away it there. On the plus aspect, if you happen to don’t have the countertop house to spare, it may be inbuilt to kitchen cabinetry.

It’s spacious inside, with a 34-litre cavity, 36cm turntable, and equally sized enamel tray, wire rack and air fry basket. The equipment are dishwasher-safe, though hand-washing is beneficial for the air fry basket.

Each the outside and inside are clad in chrome steel – making it extra hygienic and simpler to maintain clear than related fashions. Unsurprisingly, packing in so many features has led to a reasonably complicated management panel that’s ill-explained by the fast begin information and fundamental directions.

Rachel Ogden / Foundry

An LED show goes some approach to guiding the person, however it’s removed from complete. The principle dial, for instance, serves many functions, from altering settings to reheating, whereas the air fry button additionally provides mixture programmes as soon as it’s pressed just a few instances.

Rachel Ogden / Foundry

Efficiency and Options

• Lack of complete steerage for auto programmes
• Fast begin information helpful for fundamentals
• Solely three air frying temperatures

For testing, I concentrated totally on the NN-CD88’s combi and air frying features, partly as a result of that’s what the fast begin information focuses on, and likewise as a result of air frying is way of what units it other than a fundamental micro grill.

As an equipment with a number of features and presets, I used to be shocked on the lack of steerage within the field – the fast begin information, stickers on the machine and easy directions don’t cowl the auto programmes (there are 30) or find out how to use them, or appropriate weights for combi cooking. This implies there’s guesswork concerned if you happen to don’t obtain the total directions, and chances are you’ll not get probably the most use out of it with out them. As an alternative, you’ll be largely guided by the show.

The short begin information is useful for the fundamentals, masking which equipment can be utilized for which sort of cooking and beneficial temperatures for on a regular basis meals. I particularly favored the one-button reheating possibility, which makes use of humidity within the cooking zone to regulate the microwave energy and time, and used it a number of instances throughout the check interval.

Not like a standalone air fryer, the air fry settings solely supply three temperatures – 180°C, 200°C and 220°C – though you’ll be able to management the timer minute by minute. Whereas it’s cooking, you’ll be able to add and subtract minutes, which is helpful ought to it appear to be meals wants roughly time.

I began by cooking frozen hash browns utilizing air frying and the wire rack. As there was no suggestion of settings for air frying frozen meals – a standard use – I selected 200°C for quarter-hour. After the time had elapsed, they have been fairly tender, so I gave them an extra 5 minutes. This time, the browning was higher, they usually have been crisp on high however nonetheless tender beneath.

Emma Rowley / Foundry

Subsequent, I selected one of many mixture programmes (utilizing microwave energy and convection) that was beneficial for chips from scratch, utilizing the air fry basket raised on the rack. The time urged 7-9 minutes, which felt too brief for this sort of dish, so I elevated it to 25 minutes at a temperature of 220°C.

There was no suggestion of turning the chips, however midway by means of I did. I favored that the basket was deep sufficient to provide the contents a very good shake, which is extra sensible than turning with tongs, and that not one of the potato caught to it. Nevertheless, the completed chips have been a blended bag, with many pale items and most of them tender. Some had browned and crisped correctly, however most would have benefitted from an extended time.

Rachel Ogden / Foundry

I additionally cooked a roast rooster utilizing one other of the combi programmes and the enamel tray. This used a decrease temperature of 200°C however the urged timing ranged from 40-60 minutes with out an concept of the load of the hen. I selected one hour for a 1.5kg rooster, which fitted inside simply – the house might accommodate a bigger one.

There was quite a lot of spitting and splashes throughout the cooking, leaving the inside messy, and a good quantity of fats/juice run off within the tray afterwards. The rooster had golden brown bubbly pores and skin, and was very effectively cooked inside, with no pink remaining – however the wings and drumsticks have been overdone and dry. This might have benefitted from much less time.

Value and Availability

This combi oven is out there within the UK from Amazon and Panasonic for £379.99. It’s not but out there within the US, however you should purchase the same, earlier NN-CD87 mannequin, which as the identical capability and performance however barely totally different options, once more from Amazon and Panasonic for $499.99.

If this isn’t the best mannequin for you, try the competitors in our round-up of the most effective air fryer ovens.

Do you have to purchase the Panasonic Combi Microwave Air Fryer Oven?

General, the Panasonic 4-in-1 Combi Microwave Air Fryer Oven NN-CD88 is an efficient package deal: there are lots of cooking choices, a few of which might be time-saving, and its equipment and inside have been simple to wash.

Nevertheless, it’s doubtless that you simply’ll have to check and modify your favorite recipes for the most effective outcomes, particularly if you happen to’re switching from a standalone air fryer – none of what we cooked got here out as anticipated.

On the plus aspect, there’s sufficient performance for the combi micro to complement or substitute a essential oven, work as an air fryer, and substitute a solo microwave, making it an honest purchase for busy kitchens and eager cooks alike.