ARTICLE – The IKEA GÅTEBO doesn’t look like much sitting on your counter. It’s a black box with a dial, some buttons, and a door that swings open to reveal a 26-liter cavity and a spinning turntable. Nothing about it screams revolution. But plug it in, toss in the included air fry grid, and suddenly that cramped studio kitchen feels a little less limiting.
Price: $199
Where to buy: IKEA
IKEA’s three-in-one microwave combines microwaving, air frying, and grilling into a single freestanding unit priced at $199 in the US, £149 in the UK, and $249 CAD north of the border. The pitch is simple: stop cluttering your countertop with three separate appliances when one can handle the job. For renters, dorm dwellers, and anyone who’s ever measured their kitchen in square feet rather than square meters, that’s a compelling argument.
More Than Reheated Leftovers
The microwave function covers the basics you’d expect. Ten power levels span 90 to 900 watts, enough range to defrost frozen chicken without cooking its edges or melt chocolate without scorching it into a bitter mess. A 29 cm turntable handles most dinner plates comfortably, rotating your food so you don’t end up with that dreaded cold spot in the middle of last night’s pasta.
But the microwave mode is really just table stakes here. The air fry function is where the GÅTEBO earns its keep. Dedicated temperature settings run from 150°C to 240°C, with optional preheating for those times you want crispy results from the first bite. The included air fry grid elevates your food so hot air circulates underneath, crisping frozen fries or chicken wings without the oil bath a traditional fryer demands. IKEA’s manual even walks you through specifics: french fries, potato wedges, chicken nuggets, each with recommended times and temperatures rather than leaving you to guess.
There’s also a separate grill grid for when you want that oven-style browning. Think lasagna tops with actual texture or crème brûlée that cracks under your spoon.
You can chain cooking modes together using the multi-stage feature, defrosting a casserole then switching automatically to convection cooking—fan-assisted heated air circulating like a compact oven—without opening the door between steps. That kind of automation used to require appliances that cost significantly more, like the Samsung Combi Smart Microwave Oven at £329 (roughly $440), which runs more than double the GÅTEBO’s price.
Built for Small Spaces
All that cooking capability lives inside a box that won’t dominate your counter. At 49.5 cm wide, 43.6 cm deep, and 29.2 cm high, the GÅTEBO occupies roughly the same footprint as a standard countertop microwave. The difference is weight: 16.1 kg means this isn’t something you’ll casually shuffle around, but it’s light enough to relocate when you move apartments or decide the corner near the window gets better ventilation.
Electrical requirements scale to what the appliance actually does. IKEA lists a 2100W connection rating at 10A for UK and European models running on 230-240V. That’s higher than a basic microwave but remains within standard household outlet capacity. US and Canadian models are configured for local voltage standards, meaning specs differ by region. Check your local product page if you’re buying internationally or want exact numbers for your wiring situation.
Like most convection and air fry appliances, the GÅTEBO needs breathing room. The internal fan pulls air through the cavity during air fry and grill modes, which means heat exhausts from the unit and noise levels rise above standard microwave operation. IKEA’s product pages don’t specify exact clearance distances, but standard practice for countertop convection appliances calls for several inches of clearance at the rear and sides. If you’re sliding this under low cabinets or into a tight corner, verify your setup allows adequate airflow before committing.
IKEA includes a five-year warranty in the purchase price. That matters. Budget multifunction appliances often ship with 12 or 18 months of coverage, leaving you exposed if something fails after the honeymoon period. Half a decade of protection adds real peace of mind for a product designed to replace multiple gadgets.
The control panel feels utilitarian rather than flashy: a dial for power levels, tactile buttons that click with enough resistance to confirm your input, and a display that shows what you need without burying functions behind nested menus. Preset programs handle everyday tasks, and a child lock keeps curious hands from starting unattended cooking cycles.
Cleaning is straightforward but manual. IKEA recommends wiping the interior after each use with a damp cloth and mild detergent, then drying with a soft cloth. No solvents or abrasive cleaners. The air fry and grill grids will accumulate grease during use, and while the product pages don’t explicitly confirm dishwasher compatibility, the grids are removable and sized for hand washing in a standard sink. Expect the same post-cook wipe-down routine you’d follow with any air fryer: a few minutes of cleanup in exchange for skipping the deep fryer oil disposal.
Who Actually Needs This
The GÅTEBO makes the most sense for people working with constrained space or constrained budgets, ideally both. If you’re renting a place without a proper oven, this comes closer to filling that gap than any microwave-only option. If you’ve been eyeing standalone air fryers but can’t justify another appliance on an already crowded counter, the GÅTEBO consolidates that function into something you’d probably own anyway.
Price: $199
Where to buy: IKEA
It’s not a full oven replacement for serious home cooks. The 26-liter interior won’t accommodate a Thanksgiving turkey or sheet pans of roasted vegetables. There’s no app, no WiFi connectivity, no voice control: just a microwave that does three jobs reasonably well. For some buyers, that simplicity is a feature. For others expecting smart home integration, it’s a gap.
Demand has been high enough that the GÅTEBO sold out during the holiday season and required restocking. At this price point, with this feature set, that’s not surprising. The question isn’t whether IKEA built something useful. The question is whether you have the counter space to give it a permanent home.
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