I Tried Chefman's PFAS-Free Air Fryer – It's Beautifully Designed, Simple to Use, and Impressively Capable

Ever since I got my first air fryer a few years ago, my family of six has used one daily. Sometimes, we use our air fryer several times a day. After more than a month of heavy use, I can confidently say that the Chefman Crispinator Air Fryer has earned its place on my kitchen counter.

Because I have a big family, I often find air fryers are too small for my needs. Although I don't always use an air fryer to cook for my entire family at once, I like being able to make larger portions. This non-toxic air fryer delivers with a huge 8-quart basket that consistently produces evenly cooked, crispy food. Plus, it offers an impressive range of features, including broiling, dehydrating, keeping food warm, and baking like a traditional oven. Even better, while even most high-end air fryers top out at 400 degrees, the Chefman Crispinator Air Fryer goes up to 450 degrees.

I also appreciated that this air fryer is easy and intuitive to use. During testing, my 11-year-old regularly used it himself to warm up pizza to pack for lunch. He loved monitoring his pizza's progress through the basket's large window using its integrated light. I also appreciated that, while the air fryer itself is made from plastic, its basket is made from PFAS-Free ceramic. Even better, the Chefman Crispinator Air Fryer's award-winning design looks nice on my kitchen counter.

Product Specifications: Chefman Crispinator Air Fryer

Design and First Impressions

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The Chefman Crispinator Air Fryer came in minimal packaging without a lot of excess plastic or other materials. I washed the basket and tray in the dishwasher before use and then got to work.

The Crispinator feels sturdy and well-made. It also looks nice on my counter, which is something I haven't said about any of the other small appliances I've tested. Its low-profile design creates nice visual space between the air fryer and the kitchen cabinet. Apparently others agree because it won a 2024 Red Dot Design Award.

At just under 12 pounds, the appliance is easy to move around. Although I usually kept the air fryer on my counter during testing, I took it in and out of my pantry several times to confirm it was portable and would fit easily on my pantry shelves.

The air fryer was easy to use out of the box. I simply plugged it in, turned it on, and adjusted the time and temperature using the large knob on top.

Cooking Performance

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We test a range of standard foods across our air fryers over a few weeks (up to one month) to judge performance and make comparisons between appliances. Here is how I got on:

• French Fries: Making French fries is the true litmus test for an air fryer. A machine that can take frozen fries and make them crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside in minutes can do just about anything well. The Chefman Crispinator performed admirably on this test. With just one shake, my frozen fries were cooked to perfection. Even my young son, who is very picky about his French fries, agreed.
• Roasted Vegetables: I roasted broccoli and green beans separately in the air fryer. Both turned out with a nice char but did not burn or turn soggy. I was impressed by how well both turned out. Although they are technically a fruit, I also roasted cherry tomatoes. They turned out perfectly, having burst slightly with a slight char while remaining very juicy.
• Meat & Fish: I also made vegan chicken nuggets. Historically, I have a hard time getting my nuggets just right. However, the Chefman Crispinator Air Fryer did an exemplary job baking mine, so they were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Overall, the Chefman Crispinator Air Fryer is very easy to use. One of my favorite features is the ability to use the light inside the basket to check on cooking progress and then adjust the cooking time as needed. A few times, the air fryer didn't start cooking right away, and I quickly discovered I needed to make sure the basket clicked into place.

Cleaning and Maintenance

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The Chefman Crispinator Air Fryer is very easy to clean and use. I can easily wipe the basket and tray clean or toss it in the dishwasher. The outside is also easy to wipe clean. The basket's rounded corners makes it easier to clean than other air fryers I've tested.

Because the air fryer stands less than 11" tall, it's easy to store in my pantry, cabinets, or on the countertop.

What Shoppers Say

The Chefman Crispinator Air Fryer has exceptionally high reviews on Amazon. Over 90% of reviews are four stars or above. A whopping 80% of users give it a five-star rating.

"I love this air fryer. It is sleek and slim, and the glass door adds a great touch. I usually don’t like appliances on my counter, but this is nice and modern enough to stay out. It was easy to use. I used it for the first time today, and my salmon came out perfect. While it doesn’t have preset buttons, it was still easy to use and cook for the amount of time that you need. Having the window is helpful to see your food without needing to open the door. It came with a few paper liners, but I used a rubber liner, and cleanup was a breeze. I can’t wait to make more meals with this fryer," says Kiana Jon.

"Amazing air fryer! Beautiful results, especially fish and chicken, which is our protein of choice right now. Roasted cauliflower was perfect. Easy to use and clean up is a snap! The size is perfect, and the window is really helpful," says LW.

Should You Buy The Chefman Crispinator Air Fryer?

I gave the Chefman Crispinator Air Fryer five stars because it's easy to use, is simple to clean, and cooks a range of foods, from French fries to veggies, exceptionally well. Plus, its award-winning design looks great on my countertop and stores easily.

The Chefman Crispinator Air Fryer suits a range of users. It's perfect for large families or those who like to entertain. Because it looks sleek, it's also a great choice for heavy users like me who prefer to leave the appliance on the countertop. Additionally, its low-profile design makes it a good choice for those who want an air fryer that can be stored in a standard cabinet as well. Even better, it comes in black and white.

Because this air fryer is so easy to use, it's also a good choice for students or families with tweens and teens who would like some independence to prepare a snack or simple meal.

The price point for the Chefman Crispinator Air Fryer is very reasonable for such a high-quality, nice-looking machine.

How We Test Air Fryers

When looking at air fryers, we consider several things. Firstly, we look at the materials, looking for potentially toxic coatings, and prioritizing non-toxic products for peace of mind. Then, we focus on exceptional cooking performance. As a team of trained cooks, product testers, and appliance experts, we rigorously test each model by air-frying frozen fries, chicken wings, and roasted vegetables. During our taste tests, we seek food that’s perfectly crispy on the outside and tender within. Having tested the market leaders, we’re familiar with the industry benchmarks.

Ease of use is key, so our tests evaluate the intuitiveness of controls, basket design, and the accuracy of recipe presets. We also explore special features, like grilling and dehydrating, to assess versatility. While cooking, we make notes on capacity – essential for those looking for family-sized air fryers.

Since cleaning can be a hassle, we check if the removable parts are easy to wash, whether by hand or in the dishwasher. We also examine materials' durability, as this is a key criterion for long-lasting, non-toxic items. After testing, we scour the web for the best and worst customer reviews to assess the air fryer's reliability and overall customer satisfaction.

You can go behind the scenes and read more details on our how we test air fryers page.

What Else to Shop

I've rounded up a selection of alternative air fryers and air fryer accessories to make healthier, more convenient cooking easier every day.

All prices were correct at the time of publication.

Neither the Chefman Crispinator Air Fryer nor any other air fryer will perform at its best if you don't use it correctly. Before using your new machine, review these air fryer mistakes. Luckily, our reviewers have made just about every mistake possible and passed on their wisdom.

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