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Is the Chefman Air Fryer+ the Only Appliance You Need?
We have all seen the standard “egg-shaped” air fryers. They are great for tossing in a handful of frozen fries or reheating pizza, but they have a limitation: capacity and versatility. If you want to dehydrate fruit, you have to stack it awkwardly. If you want to cook a whole chicken, you are usually out of luck.
The Chefman Multifunctional Digital Air Fryer+ breaks the mold by ditching the basket for an oven-style design. It boasts a massive 10-liter capacity, three cooking racks, and—perhaps most excitingly—a dedicated rotisserie function. It promises to be a convection oven, air fryer, and dehydrator all wrapped in one sleek black box.
But does “multifunctional” mean it does everything well, or is it spreading itself too thin? We looked past the marketing specs to see how this unit handles real-world family cooking.
Key Features and Design
The first thing you notice about the Chefman is that it looks like a miniature professional oven. It utilizes a drop-down door with a large viewing window, which immediately solves the annoyance of having to pull a basket open to check on your food.
1. 3-in-1 Versatility
While most units just “fry,” this machine is designed to tackle three distinct cooking styles:
- Air Frying/Roasting: Uses rapid air technology to crisp food with 98% less oil.
- Rotisserie: It comes with a spit and forks to rotate a chicken or roast, self-basting the meat as it turns.
- Dehydrating: Because it uses racks (airflow racks) rather than a deep basket, air circulates freely around sliced fruit or beef jerky, making it a surprisingly effective dehydrator.
2. The “Oven” Experience
The 10-liter internal capacity is spacious. You aren’t limited to piling food on top of itself. The unit includes three wire racks, allowing you to cook multiple layers at once—for example, chicken tenders on the top rack and broccoli on the bottom.
3. Digital Precision
The front panel is a capacitive touchscreen with 17 presets. While seasoned cooks might prefer manual controls (which are available), the presets take the guesswork out of common items like fish, steak, or fries. The display is bright, modern, and easy to wipe clean.
Hands-On Experience: Does It Deliver?
A spec sheet is one thing, but performance in the kitchen is what matters. Here is how the Chefman handles typical culinary tasks.
The Rotisserie Chicken Test
This is the feature everyone buys it for. Loading a chicken onto the spit requires a bit of practice (you must truss the bird tightly so wings don’t flop around). However, once it’s in and spinning, the results are fantastic. The skin gets evenly crispy in a way that a stationary basket fryer can’t achieve. It handles birds up to about 3.5 to 4 lbs well; anything larger might graze the heating element.
The Fry Test: Racks vs. Baskets
There is a learning curve here. In a basket fryer, you shake the basket to mix the fries. In the Chefman, you are using racks. This is great for airflow, but it means you might need to swap the top and bottom racks halfway through cooking to ensure even browning, as the top rack is closer to the heating element.
That said, the crispiness is top-tier. Because the food is laid out flat on racks, the hot air hits every surface area. Onion rings and mozzarella sticks come out perfect without getting crushed.
Dehydrating Snacks
If you love beef jerky or apple chips, this unit shines. Dedicated dehydrators are bulky one-trick ponies. The Chefman allows you to slide in three racks of sliced mangoes, set the temp low (it goes down to warm/dehydrate settings), and walk away. The large window lets you monitor the shrinkage without opening the door and losing heat.
Cleanup and Maintenance
The door is removable for cleaning, which is a nice touch. The bottom drip tray catches fat and crumbs effectively. All the removable parts (racks, rotisserie spit, drip tray) are dishwasher safe. However, the interior is plastic and metal, so you’ll want to wipe it down after greasy sessions to prevent buildup.
Pros and Cons
| What We Love | What Could Be Better |
|---|---|
| Rotisserie: Genuine rotisserie function is rare at this price point and works well. | Rack Rotation: You often need to swap rack positions for even cooking on large batches. |
| Visibility: The large window and interior light make it easy to watch food cook. | Plastic Smell: Like many air fryers, it has a “new plastic” smell that needs a few run-throughs to dissipate. |
| Capacity: 10 Liters is perfect for families; the racks offer more surface area than baskets. | Door Hinge: The door is removable for cleaning, but can feel slightly flimsy if not aligned correctly. |
| Versatility: It effectively replaces an oven, toaster, and dehydrator. | Counter Space: It is tall (14.6 inches), so measure your cabinet clearance. |
Comparison: Chefman vs. The Field
How does the Chefman stack up against other popular air fryer configurations?
| Feature | Chefman Air Fryer+ (Main) | Instant Vortex Plus (Competitor) | Ninja AF101 (Budget) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | 🚪 Oven / Racks | 🚪 Oven / Racks | 🧺 Basket |
| Capacity | 📏 10 Liters | 📏 10 Liters | 📏 3.8 Liters |
| Rotisserie | 🍗 Yes (Included) | 🍗 Yes (Included) | ❌ No |
| Viewing Window | 👀 Large Window | 👀 Large Window | ❌ None |
| Best For | Family / Dehydrating | Family / Roasting | Singles / Quick Snacks |
Verdict: Should You Buy It?
The Chefman Multifunctional Digital Air Fryer+ is a fantastic upgrade for anyone feeling limited by a standard basket air fryer. The switch to a rack-based oven system opens up a world of possibilities, specifically for dehydrating large batches of snacks and cooking rotisserie meats.
This is for you if:
- You want to cook whole chickens.
- You want to make your own dried fruit or jerky.
- You prefer watching your food cook through a window.
Skip this if:
- You just want to heat up frozen nuggets as fast as possible (a basket fryer is slightly faster and requires less thought).
- You have very limited vertical counter space (under low cabinets).
Overall, for the price, the functionality you get is impressive. It’s a versatile workhorse that earns its place on the counter.
