I cooked a perfect steak from my sofa with the Dreo ChefMaker Air Fryer

Our list of the best air fryers is dominated by household names like Ninja, Philips, and Instant. Dreo is a relative newcomer. You might recognize the name from the best fans and air purifiers. Now, they've made a bold step into the kitchen with their new spin on the air fryer, and in my opinion, they've propelled themselves straight to the top with one of the best air fryers I have tested in a while.

The Dreo ChefMaker stands out in a crowded field, thanks to its clever algorithm. Once you choose a 'Chef Mode' recipe preset, the algorithm gets to work by combining celebrity chef techniques, food scientist-level precision and high-tech cooking elements to create delicious results. The best part? You don't have to lift a finger – you can send the cooking instructions from your phone and receive notifications via the app.

I was impressed from the start, but to make it into our list of best air fryers, there were more hoops to jump through. I made sure to ask all my usual questions: is it easy to use? Is it well-designed? Is it a nightmare to clean? You'll find all the answers below, but for now I'll just say this: if you’re skeptical about smart cooking technology, I defy you to give the Dreo Chef Maker a go.

Dreo ChefMaker Air Fryer: First impressions

The first thing I noticed about the Dreo ChefMaker was the sleek, premium design. It has a small footprint; slender enough to fit neatly under your kitchen cabinets.

The exterior is almost like a mirror – shiny and luxurious – with a transparent glass basket. I think it would suit modern, sleek countertops, but it's also compact enough to store away in a cupboard if you're maintaining that minimalist look.

Cooking performance

Tested and reviewed by

Tested and reviewed by

Lydia Hayman

As a trained cook and air fryer obsessive, I tested the Dreo Chef Maker in my home kitchen.

To test the best air fryers on the market, I focus on exceptional cooking performance. I rigorously test each model by air-frying frozen French fries, proteins, and roasted vegetables, before testing out all the special features, too.

Test 1: French Fries

There wasn't a clever, algorithm-based recipe preset for French fries on Chef Mode. Perhaps they're not considered 'cheffy' enough? Instead, I used the Classic Mode, selecting the Air Fry option to cook my fries at 190°C for 10 minutes.

As soon as I pressed the button, the fryer got to work, sizzling away without the need for preheating. In just 10 minutes, I had perfectly crispy, golden fries, and no shaking or flipping required.

I loved the viewing window on the basket and the interior light (which can be switched on and off to save energy). This cleverly allowed me to peek at the cooking progress and prevent overcooking. The fries turned out nicely golden, crispy and fluffy. I'll admit, they didn't quite top the restaurant-quality fries I made using the Ninja Double Stack – but I don't think I'll ever get over those.

Test 3: Roasted vegetables

There are tonnes of recipes for vegetables on Chef Mode, so I selected the asparagus preset. They roasted for 10 minutes (I switched on the light to see them sizzle) and they came out crisp, golden and perfectly tender.

Test 3: Steak

The Dreo Chef Maker is much more than a basic air fryer: it's renowned for cooking steak, which is where the Chef Mode really comes into its own.

Dreo automatically divides the cooking process into four perfectly timed stages. It begins by setting the optimum temperature for your ingredient, then introducing a fine mist for the juiciest textures. After a quick pre-sear, it releases a final burst of rapid heat for that golden brown finish.

I picked up a flank steak from my local butcher, cut it in half, and placed one portion in the Chef Maker. After seasoning the meat, filling the water tank and inserting the temperature probe, I sent over the cooking instructions from the app on my phone. I was shocked to see the estimated cooking time was a whopping 55 minutes – the longest time I've ever seen on a fryer – but at least I had time to relax and watch an episode of my show back on the sofa.

I cooked the other steak half in a frying pan, searing for 2-3 minutes on either side. When it came to the taste test, the results were surprising. The Dreo Chef Maker produced a perfectly caramelized, medium-rare steak. Both juicy and golden, thanks to the steam and sear combination.

I was amazed by how delicious it tasted. Although the pan-fried version took a fraction of the time, the Chef Maker’s steak was definitely more tender, richly-flavored, and worth the wait.

My partner and I agreed we wouldn't use this function all the time – it deprives you of the theatre and excitement of searing steak in the pan. However, the results were effortless, reliable, and if you're not confident in the kitchen, it's a total game-changer. Next, I want to try the lobster tail and salmon fillet functions (I've read rave reviews online).

Test 4: Toast

I wasn't a huge fan of the toast function. I used a slice of wholegrain sourdough (something I toast almost daily for my lunch) and after a slow five minutes, it came out rather pale and dry. If toast is really important to you, check out the KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven with Air Fry instead.

Test 5: Bake

I had a quick 20-minute lunch break – and since speed is really the aim of the game in air frying, I decided to put the Dreo to the test here.

I chose the bake function to make a rather sloppy but adorable, mini pizza pie. It took me 2 minutes to shape my pre-made dough and add toppings. The Dreo chef baked it to perfection in 8 minutes - no waiting for preheating. Lunch was delicious and complete in 10 minutes. My only criticism was that it could have been slightly crisper on the bottom.

Ease of use

The 4.3-inch display panel is sleek and user-friendly, with colorful ingredient illustrations that make the experience a joy (though I did smile at a small typo, 'sweek potatoes').

The screen provides helpful advice, reminding you to 'season your meat' or 'add oil' where needed. If you're ever in doubt, the Dreo app is packed with helpful recipe videos – no need to rifle through instruction booklets.

The app also lets you control the fryer remotely. You can prep the ingredients in the kitchen, put them into the basket, then send the cooking instructions and start command from my phone while lounging on the sofa. This level of convenience is a dream for anyone who values multitasking or simply wants to unwind while dinner cooks itself.

I was so impressed by the recipe presets. I’ve found that with other air fryers I've tested, I need to monitor the process and stop them short to prevent overcooking. Nearly everything I preset I tried on Chef Mode cooked exactly as promised.

It was easy to tip my fries and vegetables out the basket - the handle was comfortable and grippable. However, I did need to use a pair of silicone tongs to remove the scorching hot temperature probe and meat fillet. Thankfully, tongs are already in my collection of air fryer accessories I couldn't live without.

Capacity

With its 6-quart square basket, the Chef Maker is large enough to prepare family-sized portions of fries and veggies. For protein, it can accommodate four chicken thighs, four salmon fillets, two steaks, or one large joint of meat.

You can't prepare an entire meal in the 6-quart basket. If you're looking for this kind of capacity, I recommend choosing a dual-basket air fryer instead, which can cook your fries, veggies and proteins all at once.

Ease of Cleaning

If you're wondering how to clean the Dreo ChefMaker, the removable parts are dishwasher-safe and easy to hand-wash. You can't submerge the cooking probe in water, so you just need to give that a wipe with a damp cloth.

The shiny exterior and glass window attract fingerprints and dust. I'd recommend keeping a microfibre cloth nearby to keep it looking smart.

Design & Durability

The air fryer feels sturdy and reliable (the materials are certainly not cheap) and from what I’ve seen in user reviews, Dreo’s customer service is top-notch.

One reviewer shared a story about an issue with their temperature probe, which was swiftly resolved with a replacement unit. Such responsive and supportive service is a reassuring bonus for anyone considering an investment in this appliance.

Customer reviews

Customer reviews for the Dreo ChefMaker are generally very positive, with an impressive 4.5-star rating on Amazon. Customers rave about its ability to make anyone a gourmet cook. Most reviews mention the steak settings – it's a hit with meat-eaters and grill-fanatics.

How does it compare?

Dreo's combi fryer is definitely at the top of the range. It's the smartest air fryer I've ever tested and it's certainly one of the best-looking, too.

We also rate the Cosori Dual Blaze Air Fryer for its smart features and app connection, but its cooking performance is much slower and louder than the Dreo ChefMaker.

In terms of design, the Dreo is super sleek and the viewing window is a massive bonus. However, Dreo is not unique in this design feature. The Instant Vortex Plus (our favorite air fryer of all time) also benefits from a helpful 'ClearCook' window. In fact, if you don't need any fancy features and you're just looking for a basic air fryer for French fries and nuggets, you'd be better off with the Instant model - it's much more affordable.

Our Verdict

If you love eating delicious, perfectly-cooked meat and seafood, but you're not super confident in the kitchen, the Dreo Chef Maker's smart tech is worth every penny.

I quite often see it discounted in seasonal air fryer sales. I keep track of the prices here, in our guide to the best air fryer deals and you can view the best deals of the day below.

If you're specifically looking for a basic air fryer or a toaster/air fryer combination, I'd skip this one. The toast isn't as delicious as the lobster tail.

How we test the best air fryers

To test the best air fryers on the market, I focus on exceptional cooking performance. As a trained cook and kitchen appliances editor, I rigorously test each model by air-frying frozen French fries, chicken wings, and roasted vegetables. During our taste tests, we seek food that’s perfectly crispy on the outside and tender within. Our team has already tested the market leaders, so we know the industry benchmarks.

Ease of use is the best part of air frying, so my tests also evaluate the intuitiveness of the controls, basket design, instruction booklet and the accuracy of recipe presets. I also make sure to explore any special features, like grilling and dehydrating, to assess the versatility. While I'm cooking, I make notes on capacity – essential knowledge if you're looking for a family-sized air fryer.

Cleaning up can be a hassle, so I check if the removable parts are easy to wash, whether by hand or in the dishwasher. I also examine for non-toxic materials and durability. After testing, I scour the web for the best and worst customer reviews to assess the air fryer's reliability and overall customer satisfaction.

Finally, when you're making a kitchen investment, price really matters, so we weighed up the grill's features and performance to see if it offers good value for money. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure you choose an air fryer that looks stylish in your kitchen, as well as being reliable, efficient, and a joy to use.