If you’re trying to save time and money, the best appliance for cooking chips is an air fryer, according to Which? An oven took a much longer 76 minutes, and also cost more at 39p, although Which? testers noted that the meat was a little dry.

Essentially a grill microwave is just like a microwave oven but with the addition of a specialised grill plate that you can use whilst cooking.

What are the different types of microwaves?

But again, due to the air fryers size limitations Which?’s experts did have to make a smaller cake than for the other appliances.

This means it wouldn’t be the most practical appliance if you’re feeding several people, or want to cook a few different food items simultaneously. As the potential for cooking opens up, so does the price tag in most cases. Combination microwaves tend to be pricier, so it's worth looking at a solo microwave if you only plan to heat up and defrost foods. Integrated Microwave But the air fryer also provided impressive results, taking half the time of an oven and only using 9p worth of electricity. EASY TO USE – The 95-minute timer and easy-to-use controls will help you to stay in control of your cooking every time. The model Which? tested recommends filling the basket just halfway and using a maximum of 500g of chips, which is enough for around two to three portions.While some claim that halogen ovens are cheap to run, Which? found the halogen oven tested was most expensive, costing 40p.

With a very generous 23L capacity, the Toshiba won’t take up too much valuable counter space, but will be able to cook for the whole family too. Unlike a tabletop microwave, integrated microwaves are built into an area of the kitchen, like a cupboard or designated unit for example. Foods that are traditionally cooked in an oven or on a stove top can be rustled up in grill microwave, which offers a bit more flexibility with meals than your standard solo microwave. As the name suggests, these microwaves offer a combination of cooking options including steaming, baking and grilling. It's a good way to cook up a storm in a busy household giving you almost endless cooking possibilities. In a classic turntable microwave, the 'microwaves' are bounced quite randomly inside, which is often why food tends not to be heated evenly.

How do I choose the best microwave for my home?

In addition, they tend to be less bulky and are perfect for basic kitchen tasks. However, they often have a smaller capacity and their limited functionality means that you can't roast or grill food. Grill Microwave Settings - most models will have several cooking functions to suit the types of meals you'll be preparing. Some microwaves will even have setting for your liquid contents. Which? found that the pressure cooker used slightly more energy than the induction hob and overcooked the broccoli. AUTO-COOK SETTINGS - Make your time in the kitchen a little bit easier by choosing from one of the 8 pre-set options to cook your food perfectly. Which? found that it cost 11p and took just 32 minutes - but it also meant having to sacrifice the distinctive crispy skin that other appliances still managed to achieve.

Although a bit more advanced than a solo model, grill microwaves tend to be less versatile than a 'combination' style microwaves - which gives you more options for baking, roasting and more. Combination Microwave There are loads of factors you could consider when buying a new microwave, but we've listed some of the most important below.

Wattage - generally the higher the wattage the faster the cooking speed, which is something to consider if you have a big family.