The Air Fryer That Wants to Be Your Second Oven
If you’re looking at the Chefman Multifunction Air Fryer, you’re likely past the “what is an air fryer?” stage. You probably know they’re countertop convection ovens. The real question is whether this particular model—with its rotisserie spit and dehydrator racks—is a versatile kitchen upgrade or a unitasking gadget in a clever disguise.
Let’s start with the one thing most people get wrong about this style: the rotisserie. You imagine a perfectly golden, rotating chicken. The reality is more logistical. The spit is long, requiring you to carefully balance and truss the bird, and the cavity is relatively shallow. A 4-pound chicken is the practical limit; anything larger will brush against the heating element at the top. It does a decent job, but it’s not a set-it-and-forget-it rotisserie experience. It requires attention. Where this function surprisingly shines, however, is with smaller items: a couple of cornish hens, or even kebabs threaded onto the spit (using the included forks). It’s a niche feature, but not a useless one.
What this Chefman does unusually well is provide a genuinely large, usable cooking space in a relatively compact footprint. The square basket is more efficient than round ones for fitting frozen fries or chicken wings for a family. The real win, though, is the dual racks for dehydrating or multi-level cooking. You can fit an astonishing amount of sliced fruit, jerky, or herbs on those trays. If you have even a passing interest in dehydration, this model makes it incredibly accessible. The temperature goes low enough (starting at 90°F) for the job, which many cheaper air fryers do not.
Now, for the tradeoffs that define daily use. The control panel is all buttons and a small digital display. It’s not a sleek dial. This means switching from “Air Fry” at 400°F to “Dehydrate” at 135°F involves a few precise button presses. It feels utilitarian. More importantly, the non-stick coating on the main basket and trays is functional but thin. You’ll want to avoid metal utensils and abrasive scouring pads from day one. Hand-washing is strongly advised, as the basket’s size and shape can be awkward in some dishwashers.
Here’s what you’d regret not knowing: The door clearance. This isn’t a toaster oven you slide food into. The door swings open on a wide, fixed arc. You need a solid 10-12 inches of clear space in front of the appliance to open it fully to remove the basket or trays. This permanently affects where you can place it on your counter. Tucking it under a cabinet lip is fine, but shoving it back against a wall isn’t.
And a specific design quirk: the removable inner rear panel. This panel, which houses the heating element and fan, is designed to be taken out for cleaning. It’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, it allows you to wipe away grease and crumbs that would be permanently trapped in other models, a huge plus for longevity and preventing smoke. On the other, it’s an extra step in cleanup, and you must let it cool completely before handling. It’s a feature for the meticulous, not the rushed.
So, who actually buys this? It’s for the home cook who sees “multifunction” as a challenge, not just marketing. Someone who will use the air fryer for weeknight potatoes but also plans to make apple chips, dry garden herbs, and occasionally spin a small chicken. It’s not for the person who just wants the fastest possible frozen fries. It’s a kitchen workhorse that asks for a bit more engagement in return for a broader range of results. Its value isn’t in being the best at any one thing, but in being competent at several, saving you from buying three separate appliances. Just make sure you have the counter space for that swinging door.