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Chefman TurboFry Touch Review

An extra large air fryer that makes succulent chicken and crips well, but isn't as intuitive as others
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Chefman TurboFry Touch Review (The Chefman TurboFry Touch 8-Qt cooked very juicy chicken during our testing.)
The Chefman TurboFry Touch 8-Qt cooked very juicy chicken during our testing.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Price:  $120 List
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Manufacturer:   Chefman
By Lesley Robinson and Mallory Paige  ⋅  Nov 13, 2024
67
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#10 of 14
  • Cooking Performance - 35% 7.3
  • User Friendliness - 25% 7.0
  • Ease of Cleaning - 20% 6.0
  • Temperature Accuracy - 20% 5.9

Our Verdict

The Chefman TurboFry Touch air fryer offers a spacious cooking area and excels at producing juicy chicken and crispy tater tots. However, its overall performance is somewhat inconsistent. While it shines when crisping donuts, chicken, and tater tots, it falls short in other ways, particularly in temperature accuracy, which turned out to be lower than what we wanted. The large capacity makes it suitable for families or those who frequently cook in bulk, but the small control panel and average cooking performance for some foods may be drawbacks for some users. At its price point, it presents a decent value, especially if chicken is a staple in your diet, but there are more well-rounded air fryers available in the market.
REASONS TO BUY
Delivers crispy tater tots and juicy chicken
REASONS TO AVOID
Temperature consistently low
Hard to read display
Difficult to remove crisping plate

Compare to Similar Products

 
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Best Buy Award
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Price $120 List
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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Star Rating
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Bottom Line Solid crisping abilities, but it's set temperature isn't the most accurateA 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 TurboFry Touch Instant Vortex Plus Ninja Air Fryer Ultrean Air Fryer Dash Tasti-Crisp
Cooking Performance (35%)
7.3
8.5
7.5
7.3
5.6
User Friendliness (25%)
7.0
8.0
7.6
6.2
5.6
Ease of Cleaning (20%)
6.0
9.0
7.0
7.5
7.0
Temperature Accuracy (20%)
5.9
7.7
8.3
9.0
8.8
Specs Chefman TurboFry Touch Instant Vortex Plus Ninja Air Fryer Ultrean Air Fryer Dash Tasti-Crisp
Measured Dimensions 12.5"L x 13"W x 15"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 8 qt 6 qt 4 qt 4.2 qt 2.6 qt
Accessories None None None None None
Power Consumption 1700 watt 1700 watt 1550 watt 1500 watt 1000 watt
Max Outside Temperature 133 146 160 154 164
Measured Cooking Area 97.5 sq in 87.8 sq in 53.5 sq in 59.2 sq in 49 sq in
Time to Preheat to 400F 5:07 2:31 4:25 2:37 3:13

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Chefman TurboFry Touch made some delicious donuts and impressively juicy chicken during our testing, but it delivered lackluster results in other areas. We do like that it has an 8-quart capacity, which makes it great for cooking for larger groups and families. And, despite it's large capacity, it doesn't take up too much real estate on your counter.

Performance Comparison


chefman turbofry touch - we cooked four different meals in the chefman to see how well it...
We cooked four different meals in the Chefman to see how well it crisps a variety of foods. It struggled the most with sweet potato fries.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Cooking Performance


In our cooking performance tests, the Chefman TurboFry Touch showed mixed results. This places it slightly above average compared to other models we've tested, but there's definitely room for improvement.

When it came to sweet potato fries, the results were disappointing. While the interiors remained soft, the edges and corners tended to blacken, lacking the crispy, crunchy texture we look for in perfectly air-fried potatoes. On a more positive note, the Chefman did fry up deliciously crispy donuts. We were pleased with the flaky, crispy exterior that gave way to a light and fluffy interior — a testament to its ability to handle baked goods reasonably well.

chefman turbofry touch - our testers boasted that the chefman's chicken had a "wonderful...
Our testers boasted that the Chefman's chicken had a “wonderful texture that wasn't stringy like others.”
Credit: Lesley Robinson

The standout performance of the Chefman is cooking chicken. The chicken emerged tender and juicy, rivaling some of the best results we've seen in our air fryer tests. If chicken is a staple in your diet, this air fryer certainly deserves your attention.

The Chefman Turbo Fry cooked our sweet potatoes unevenly.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Tater tots were another high point. The TurboFry Touch created a great outer texture, although the interior wasn't quite as impressive as the exterior promised. Still, this air fryer delivers satisfactory resuls for crispy potato bites.

chefman turbofry touch - the chefman turbofry didn't score as highly in the cooking test as...
The Chefman TurboFry didn't score as highly in the cooking test as other units.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

User Friendliness


The Chefman TurboFry Touch is fairly user-friendly but has some noticeable drawbacks, landing it in the middle of the pack in this test.

One of the first things we noticed was the small text on the display. While the control panel is functional, the tiny text may pose a challenge for users with vision impairments or those who prefer larger, more legible controls.

The Chefman TurboFry takes up a decent amount of counter space at 12.5 by 13 inches.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

The drawer opens easily with one hand, which is convenient when you're juggling multiple tasks in the kitchen. However, we found removing the crisping plate for cleaning to be more difficult than it should be. This could be a pain point for users who prioritize easy maintenance. Other than that, this device is fairly straightforward and simple to use.

The crisping plate of the Chefman TurboFry is a bit challenging to remove.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

The Chefman offers a variety of presets, which can be handy for quick cooking. However, our testing team noted that these presets have a limited temperature range, which might restrict some cooking options. The presets include fish (375 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes), fries (400 degrees for 18 minutes), chicken (400 degrees for 22 minutes), and meat (375 degrees for 18 minutes).

Ease of Cleaning


Cleaning the Chefman TurboFry Touch presents a mixed bag of experiences. The drawer itself is easy to wipe down, which is a plus. However, the crisping plate poses some challenges, as mentioned earlier.

chefman turbofry touch - we gave this unit bonus points for having dishwasher-safe components.
We gave this unit bonus points for having dishwasher-safe components.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

The non-stick coating does its job for the most part, but we found that oil residue tends to accumulate in the corners, making thorough cleaning a bit of a chore. This is a common issue with many air fryers, but it's worth noting for those who prioritize easy cleanup.

chefman turbofry touch - oil tended to stick in the corners of the crisping tray.
Oil tended to stick in the corners of the crisping tray.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

On a positive note, the drawer is dishwasher safe (top rack only). We were pleasantly surprised to find that it fit in our office dishwasher without any issues, which could be a time-saver for busy households.

Temperature Accuracy


Unfortunately, the Chefman TurboFry Touch fell short in our temperature accuracy tests. While it showed consistency in maintaining its temperature, the accuracy left much to be desired. This could lead to inconsistent cooking results, especially for recipes that require precise temperature controls.

A key part of cooking is getting the temperature just right, which is why we measured each unit's temperature accuracy. The Chefman's temperature trended lower than what we set it to.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

On the bright side, in our outside temperature test, the front of the air fryer only reached 133 degrees Fahrenheit, falling below our 140-degree threshold. This means the exterior remains relatively cool during operation, reducing the risk of accidental burns.

chefman turbofry touch - the outside of this unit stayed below the burn threshold and was...
The outside of this unit stayed below the burn threshold and was among the lowest we've tested.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

Should You Buy the Instant Vortex Plus?


The Chefman TurboFry Touch air fryer could be a good fit if you're looking to cook large quantities of tasty and juicy chicken. Its spacious cooking area and excellent performance with poultry make it a solid choice for those who frequently fry their meat and poultry or for larger households.

What Other Air Fryers Should You Consider?


If you're looking for better overall performance and the convenience of dual drawers, we recommend checking out the Instant Vortex Plus. It consistently outperforms many competitors across our tests and offers more cooking versatility. For those on a tighter budget who don't want to compromise on cooking performance, the Ultrean Air Fryer is worth considering. It performed well across all our tests, made us crispy potatoes and tater tots, and offers great value for its price point.

Lesley Robinson and Mallory Paige