Do these questions bother you? — Is microwave cooking unhealthy? Or does a microwave destroy nutrients? And you feel you need a microwave but not quite sure if it is a healthy choice, you have landed on the right page.

Let us start with science, because the anxiety is mostly built on myth. According to Harvard Health, microwave cooking can do a better job of preserving heat-sensitive nutrients — like vitamin C — compared to boiling, precisely because the cooking time is shorter.

What has genuinely changed the game for home cooks, though, is not just the microwave itself, it is the microwave with an Air Fry. Because now, the question is not just "is this healthy?" It is "can I make my samosas, aloo tikki, and chicken kebabs without drowning them in oil?" And the answer, with the LG Microwave Oven, is a confident yes.

Microwave with Air Fry: What Changes When You Combine Both?

A microwave with an Air Fry working together in one appliance is not a marketing gimmick. It is a genuinely practical combination for an Indian kitchen where cooking is diverse, frequent, and calorie-conscious.

Air Fry cooking refers to a culinary technique that mimics the crispy, browned results of traditional deep-frying but uses rapid hot air circulation, with minimal oil.

LG's Convertible Oven with Air Fry brings this together with the convenience of a microwave. The LG ThinQ-powered platform lets you access an Auto Cook Menu, with 60 Air Fry recipes built in, covering everything from frozen snacks to fresh Indian preparations. (Please note that the number of recipes and Auto Cook menu availability may vary from model to model.)

What the LG Convertible Oven Offers

Feature How it Works?
Air Fry Mode Circulates hot air to crisp food with minimal oil — same crunch, a fraction of the fat
Auto Cook Menu (Air Fry) 60 built-in preset recipes including Indian snacks — just select, and the oven handles temperature and time
Convection Mode Cooks evenly using a fan and heating element — ideal for baking, roasting, and grilling
Microwave Mode Quick reheating and cooking — shorter cook times help retain heat-sensitive nutrients
Combination Cooking Use microwave + convection together for food that is cooked through and golden outside
LG ThinQ Connectivity Control and monitor your oven remotely via the LG ThinQ app
Charcoal Lighting Heater Available on select models; adds a grilled char-like finish

Feature availability varies by model. Please check lg.com/in/microwave-ovens for model-specific details

Disclaimer: Cooking guidelines and times may vary. Please strictly follow the instructions and safety guidelines outlined in the product user manual.

Microwave Cooking: Dos and Don'ts

A microwave is one of the safest, most nutrient-friendly ways to cook — when used correctly. Used carelessly, it can be ineffective or, in a few cases, dangerous. Here is the practical guide, recommended by most culinary experts and brands like LG for customer safety.

DO DON'T
Use microwave-safe glass or ceramic containers Never use metal cookware or aluminium foil inside — it causes sparking and can damage the magnetron
Cover food loosely with a microwave-safe lid to retain moisture Don't seal containers airtight — steam builds up and can cause containers to burst
Stir or rotate food halfway through reheating for even heat distribution Don't reheat eggs in their shell or whole boiled eggs — steam pressure builds inside and they can explode
Use the lower wattage or defrost settings for delicate foods Avoid heating foods with very low water content on high power for extended periods
Add a splash of water when reheating rice, biryani, or bread to restore moisture Don't use cracked or chipped containers — they can shatter

Recipes You Can Make With the Air Fry Microwave

The LG Convertible Oven's Air Fry menu covers 60 preset menu — a thoughtfully curated list that reads like it was written by someone who actually eats Indian food daily. Here is a snapshot of what is possible, drawn directly from LG’s official Microwave oven Air Fry Menu Booklet:

Frozen Snacks — Ready in Minutes, Without the Kadhai

The Air Fry Low Calorie menu handles a wide range of frozen snacks with preset modes. This means no guessing temperatures or timings, just select and cook.

Frozen Aloo Tikki Frozen Veg Momos Frozen Chicken Nuggets Frozen Samosa
Frozen Onion Rings Frozen French Fries Frozen Pizza Pockets Frozen Veg Spring Rolls
Frozen Chicken Wings Frozen Cheese Sticks Frozen Chicken Seekh Kebab Frozen Cheese Ball

Fresh Indian Preparations — The Heart of the Menu

What makes the list genuinely impressive is how deeply it covers Indian regional cooking.

Category Recipes Covered
Tikki & Patties Corn Aloo Tikki, Palak Tikki, Poha Patties, Stuffed Aloo Patties, Mix Vegetables Tikki, Soyabean Tikki
Vada & Pakora Batata Vada, Sabudana Vada, Masala Vada, Methi Masala Vada, Buff Vada, Pyaaz Pakora
Non-Veg Preparations Chicken 65, Fish Amritsari, Frozen Chicken Popcorn, Frozen Chicken Breast Strips, Frozen Chicken Fries
Kebabs Frozen Lebanese Falafel Kebab, Frozen Veg Shami Kebab, Frozen Hara Bhara Kebab, Oats Cutlet
Bakes & Cookies Butter Cookies, Chocolate Cookies, Coconut Cookies, Bread Sticks, Garlic Masala Bread Sticks, Fried Broccoli

*Auto Cook Menu/Feature may vary from model to model. Recipe numbers and recipes may vary from model to model and time to time. For more details, visit https://www.lg.com/in/microwave-ovens/

Disclaimer: Cooking guidelines and times may vary. Please strictly follow the instructions and safety guidelines outlined in the product user manual.

How much oil does Air Frying actually need?

Follow these steps to get a tasty dish out of your Air Fry:

  1. Step 1. Use Minimal Oil
    For most preparations, a light spray or a teaspoon brushed over the surface is sufficient.
  2. Step 2. Let Hot Air Do the Cooking
    Air Frys eliminate fat content and calories compared to deep frying, because of minimal oil.
  3. Step 3: Enjoy a Lighter Version of Your Favourite Foods
    That samosa you love? Air-fried, it is a meaningfully lighter version of itself, same crunch, without the oil pool underneath.

Conclusion

The best microwave oven in India is one that fits how your household actually cooks, and for most Indian kitchens, that means something that can reheat dal on a Tuesday morning, bake cookies for a Sunday gathering, and air fry aloo tikki for a Thursday evening snack, all without a separate appliance for each task.

The LG Convertible Oven with Air Fry — powered by LG ThinQ — is designed around that kind of cooking life. With 60 Air Fry preset menu covering everything from Sabudana Vada to Chicken 65, it makes healthy cooking feel natural rather than effortful.

Whether you are looking for the best convection microwave oven in India, or simply a reliable everyday microwave oven that does more than reheat, the honest answer is: look for one that gives you modes, not just wattage. For current model availability and specifications, check out LG microwave oven range.

Disclaimer: *T&C Apply. Auto Cook Menu/Feature may vary from model to model. Recipe number and recipes may vary from model to model and time to time. For more details, visit https://www.lg.com/in/microwave-ovens/.

FAQs

A. Sparks inside a microwave, also called arcing, almost always happen because of metal. This includes metal utensils, aluminium foil, takeaway containers with metallic rims, or even the gold or silver trim on decorative crockery. Metal reflects microwave energy instead of absorbing it, causing electrical discharge. The fix is straightforward: use only microwave-safe glass, ceramic, or approved plastic containers. If sparking happens with no metal present, switch off the microwave immediately and get it checked — it may indicate a damaged interior coating or waveguide cover. Do not continue using a microwave that sparks without a clear reason.

A. Yes, reheating tea in a microwave is safe — with one important note. If you heat water or a liquid very close to its boiling point in a very smooth container (like a perfectly clean mug), it can become superheated. To avoid this, use a container with a small spoon inside or stir before heating. For tea specifically, heat in short 30-second intervals rather than a long continuous blast.

A. Simply put, eggs can explode in a microwave, and it is one of the more genuinely dangerous microwave mistakes. Whole eggs in their shell, and even peeled boiled eggs, can explode when microwaved. The shell and the yolk membrane trap steam pressure that builds rapidly. When it releases, it can do so with significant force — either inside the microwave or when you cut into the egg afterwards.

A. The answer is moisture and a lid.

  1. Step 1. Sprinkle 2–3 tablespoons of water over the biryani — this creates steam as it reheats, which keeps the rice from drying out.
  2. Step 2. Cover the container loosely with a microwave-safe lid or a damp paper towel — loose enough to let steam escape but tight enough to keep moisture in.
  3. Step 3. Reheat on medium power (60–70%) in 1-minute intervals, stirring gently between rounds. This prevents the edges from drying out while the centre stays cold. A knob of ghee or butter stirred in before reheating also helps restore the original richness

No, and the evidence is fairly clear on this. Harvard Health has noted that microwave cooking actually preserves heat-sensitive nutrients like vitamin C better than boiling, because the cook time is shorter.