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Chefman Multifunctional Review

An air fryer with diverse cooking options, but not as easy to clean
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Chefman Multifunctional Review
Credit: Chefman
Price:  $140 List
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Manufacturer:   Chefman
By Lesley Robinson and Mallory Paige  ⋅  Apr 22, 2024
67
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#11 of 14
  • Cooking Performance - 35% 6.8
  • User Friendliness - 25% 5.8
  • Ease of Cleaning - 20% 5.5
  • Temperature Accuracy - 20% 8.6

Our Verdict

The Chefman Multifunctional is more than just an air fryer. It has the ability to dehydrate, roast, bake, and even cook a small chicken with the included rotisserie attachment. It has a glass front for easy viewing but didn't perform well in the cleaning and cooking tests. For the money, we feel there are other models that cook better and clean up with a lot less hassle. If you want to see how it ranks next to the rest of our test lineup, check out our comprehensive comparison of the top air fryers.
REASONS TO BUY
Numerous cooking options including rotisserie and dehydrate
Consistent temperature accuracy
REASONS TO AVOID
Display is difficult to read
Trays are challenging to clean

Compare to Similar Products

(change comparison)
 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Air Fryer
Top Pick Award
An Excellent Mid-Volume Model
Best Buy Award
Best Air Fryer on a Budget
 
Price $140 List
$79.99 at Amazon		$140 List
$79.99 at Amazon		$130 List
$69.99 at Amazon		$70 List
$69.99 at Amazon		$70 List
$59.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Bottom Line A multipurpose option with rotisserie, dehydrator and more packed into a compact unitA high-performing and multi-functional device with an outstanding designIts versatility allows it to cook a wide variety of foods well and it's quite easy to useGood cooking performance for a reasonable priceA small air fryer with average cooking performance and basic options
Rating Categories Chefman Multifuncti... Instant Vortex Plus Ninja Air Fryer Ultrean Air Fryer Dash Tasti-Crisp
Cooking Performance (35%)
6.8
8.5
7.5
7.3
5.6
User Friendliness (25%)
5.8
8.0
7.6
6.2
5.6
Ease of Cleaning (20%)
5.5
9.0
7.0
7.5
7.0
Temperature Accuracy (20%)
8.6
7.7
8.3
9.0
8.8
Specs Chefman Multifuncti... Instant Vortex Plus Ninja Air Fryer Ultrean Air Fryer Dash Tasti-Crisp
Measured Dimensions 12.1"L x 14"W x 12.4"D 11.5"L x 13.3"W x 12.8"D 13.6"L x 11"W x 13.3"D 13.2"L x 11.3"W x 12.4"D 8.6"L x 11"W x 10.7"D
Capacity 10 qt 6 qt 4 qt 4.2 qt 2.6 qt
Accessories 3 Wire Racks, drip pan, rotisserie forks, spit, and fetch tool None None None None
Power Consumption 1700 watt 1700 watt 1550 watt 1500 watt 1000 watt
Max Outside Temperature 184 146 160 154 164
Measured Cooking Area 81.7 sq in 87.8 sq in 53.5 sq in 59.2 sq in 49 sq in
Time to Preheat to 400F 3:19 2:31 4:25 2:37 3:13

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Chefman Multifunctional aims to be a multi-purpose workhorse in the kitchen. It has functions for dehydrating, baking, and air frying, plus a rotisserie to cook a very small chicken. We really like the ability to watch things cook with the glass front, but overall it doesn't perform as well as other models we tested.

Performance Comparison


chefman multifunctional - the chefman multifunctional proved to be an average air fryer.
The Chefman Multifunctional proved to be an average air fryer.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Cooking Performance


The Chefman performed okay, but not exceptional, during our cooking test. The sweet potato fries did have crispy ends, but the browning was uneven and harder to manage. Tater tots came out a little better with more even crisping.


It actually did quite well with the chicken test, cooking up a rather juicy and tasty piece of chicken. Many air fryers dry out chicken, but this one did not. The doughnuts were a bit doughy in the interior, but passable.

The Chefman produced golden-brown donuts, though they stuck to the...
The Chefman produced golden-brown donuts, though they stuck to the pan.
The Chefman produced chicken that retained its moisture well.
The Chefman produced chicken that retained its moisture well.
We examined each batch of donuts and air-fried chicken by cutting them open and viewing them side by side.

Overall, the Chefman is a solid contender for cooking performance, though we still recommend other models based on the full testing outcomes.

User Friendliness


This Chefman Multifunctional has a touchscreen control panel. The selected options light up, which we found useful during testing, but it can be a bit challenging to read the buttons since they're placed directly on the front of the unit. It only beeps for select button actions, which we found very pleasant.


The small handle on the front door gets very hot during cooking. And since it's a very light machine, you have to brace with one hand every time you open the door. It's not a total deal breaker, but it is annoying to have to use two hands to open it.

chefman multifunctional - it is very challenging to remove and insert the trays on the chefman...
It is very challenging to remove and insert the trays on the Chefman Multifunctional.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

The Chefman trays are also a bit of a sticking point in that they literally stick to side walls and have to be jammed into place each time. Add that to the fact that they don't have sidewalls and we found it rather difficult to flip foods in them. Other air fryers allow you to quickly shake things like tater tots for even cooking, but with this unit you have to carefully turn items individually.

Ease of Cleaning


The Chefman had the lowest score of all units in our cleaning test. The wire trays are rather sharp, and food sticks to them very easily. While they are technically dishwasher safe, we found they needed a thorough scrubbing after use. And given the nature of the wire, it was quite challenging to clean without shredding our sponge.


We appreciated that the drip tray was very easy to clean. The door can be removed for deep cleaning. This may prove a concern for long-term durability, but it is a nice feature for cleaning.

chefman multifunctional - the chefman tray is very coarse and food sticks easily.
The Chefman tray is very coarse and food sticks easily.
Credit: Lesley Robinson

Temperature Accuracy


This air fryer consistently ran about 5 degrees low and scored high marks for accuracy. It does experience large temperature changes of 40 degrees throughout a cycle but maintains consistency overall. The front of the Chefman also reached an external temperature of 184 degrees Fahrenheit, which was hotter than we would have liked.


Should You Buy the Chefman Multifunction?


The Multifunction performed well. That said, it was challenging to clean and not as user-friendly as other options we recommend.

chefman multifunctional - the chefman air fryer does cook food well, but was outperformed by...
The Chefman air fryer does cook food well, but was outperformed by other air fryers in our lineup.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

What Other Air Fryers Should You Consider?


For less money, you could get the Ninja Air Fryer, which performed much better on all of our tests. And for just 30 bucks more than what you would spend on the Chefman, you could get the Instant Vortex Plus. It has a 6-quart capacity, makes incredibly crispy food, and is super easy to use.

— Lesley Robinson and Mallory Paige
 
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