Information checked: 18 October 2026
A microwave air fryer combo is worth considering when you want microwave cooking and a crisping function in the same appliance. Two UK models to investigate are the Ninja CRISPi Microwave MW101UK and Panasonic NN-CD88QSBPQ. Start with the dishes you use and the meals you need to finish together; the number of advertised functions comes later.
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This is a researched buying guide using manufacturer information and the Panasonic UK instruction manual. We have not tested cooking results, noise, speed or energy use. The comparison explains documented differences rather than awarding a performance winner.
Table of Contents
Two microwave air fryer combinations to compare
On small screens, swipe the table sideways. Keyboard users can focus the table area and use the arrow keys.
| Buying question | Ninja MW101UK | Panasonic NN-CD88QSBPQ |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking layout | Flatbed microwave, without a turntable | Turntable microwave with grill, convection and Air Fry modes |
| Published capacity to interpret | 5.2L supplied glass cooking dish | 34L oven cavity; 36cm turntable |
| First fit check | Will your normal dishes fit the usable cooking area? | Will your dish rotate freely in the required setup? |
| Compare listings | Search MW101UK on Amazon UK | Search NN-CD88QSBPQ on Amazon UK |
Sources: Ninja MW101UK specifications and Panasonic NN-CD88 information. The two litre figures measure different things and should not be ranked as equivalent capacities.
Check the model name before comparing features
This guide concerns the MW101UK microwave. If you meant the portable FN101UK, see our original Crispi versus drawer air fryer comparison. The Ninja Combi SFP700UK is a steam and hot-air multicooker, not a microwave. Similar names and claims about replacing appliances do not establish the cooking technology.
For Panasonic, keep the full NN-CD88QSBPQ reference when checking UK listings. Other CD-series models can have different capacities or controls. A search result that shares a few letters is not enough to confirm that this comparison applies.
If Combi was the appliance you meant, see our Ninja Combi versus Speedi UK comparison for the model references, layouts and programmes to check. Keep that buying decision separate from the microwave functions discussed here.
Ninja MW101UK: consider it for the flatbed layout
Ninja lists microwave and air-fry cooking, plus a FusionCrisp programme that starts with microwaving and finishes with air frying. The supplied glass dish and crisper tray form part of the cooking setup.
Why investigate it: you prefer arranging food without a rotating plate. What to check: usable space with the required accessories installed, and instructions for your intended dish and mode. The absence of a turntable alone does not prove that a favourite rectangular casserole will fit.
Panasonic NN-CD88QSBPQ: consider the turntable and accessories
Panasonic combines microwave, grill, convection and Air Fry cooking. Its published layout gives you a useful starting point for checking your existing plates, but the required accessories also occupy space.
Why investigate it: you want those cooking methods and are comfortable with a rotating setup. What to check: dish fit after allowing for handles, rims and the accessory arrangement. For occasional cakes, our baking guide helps you think about tin dimensions and headroom.
Match the cookware to the cooking mode
Do not carry a microwave-only container assumption into an oven or combined programme. Check both the appliance instructions and the vessel’s permitted uses. Write down the correct dish and accessories beside the two or three settings you expect to use most.
A concrete example: Panasonic’s manual puts the Air Fry basket on the wire rack, above the enamel tray and glass turntable. It also prohibits the supplied metal accessories in microwave-only mode. Those are instructions for this Panasonic model, not permission to use the same arrangement in the Ninja. See the NN-CD88 UK manual, particularly its accessory and cooking-mode sections.
Our glass cookware guide explains why an item’s appearance does not establish its heating permissions. A cooking dish, storage lid and crisper accessory should each be checked separately.
For a separate standalone air fryer, see our guide to using tin foil in an air fryer. Do not transfer that guidance to microwave-only or combination modes; the exact appliance and mode instructions still govern here.
Measure the working space, then plan the cleanup
Measure the available width, depth and height, including room to open the door and lift out a hot dish. Add the ventilation space required by the exact manual; do not assume that a unit fitting physically into a shelf is a suitable installation.
For example, Panasonic’s countertop instructions require 15cm above, 10cm behind and 5cm at one side, with the other side open. Use the complete installation instructions when checking a location. Those clearances do not apply automatically to MW101UK.
Think beyond wiping the cooking area: where will the accessories cool, be washed and dry? Can you reach the surfaces that collect splashes? If you plan to store food in a cooking dish, our glass-container checklist covers the separate questions of lids, lifting and storage fit.
Will one combined appliance suit your meals?
Walk through a normal dinner before replacing two appliances. If one person wants to microwave a side while another is using the same cavity for a crisping programme, that is a scheduling conflict. Decide whether waiting, changing the meal order or retaining a separate appliance would be acceptable.
Compare the complete delivered package and replacement-accessory options, then check the seller and return terms. A lower price or longer programme list has little value if the dish you use most does not fit. Shortlist the Ninja for its flatbed arrangement or the Panasonic for its documented turntable setup; make the final choice around your own meals and working space.
Specifications were checked on 18 October 2026. No current stock, fixed price, independent cooking result or energy-saving claim is made. Use the supplied manual for operation and confirm any missing fit information before ordering.