Chefman 8 Qt Air Fryer Review — XL TurboFry 4-in-1

intro

If you want a roomy countertop air fryer that aims for simple controls, a stainless‑steel look, and a big basket for weeknight dinners, Chefman's 8‑quart TurboFry is one of the obvious budget‑to‑midrange options to consider. The listing touts a number of modern conveniences — touchscreen controls, a shake reminder, an automatic shut‑off, and a dedicated HI‑FRY boost — and owners report fast, crisp results and easy cleanup. At the same time, buyer feedback points to a handful of quality‑control issues (faulty displays, units that stop responding to the off button) that are worth factoring into a buying decision.

What it is / first look

The Chefman Air Fryer 8 Qt (listed as the Square Air Fryer or Large Air Fryer, model RJ38‑SQSS‑8T) is an 8‑quart capacity, countertop air fryer with touch controls and a stainless‑steel exterior. The listing lists these headline specs: 1700 watts, 120 volts, inner material described as stainless steel, item weight 12.8 pounds, and outside dimensions of 12.75" deep × 13.5" wide × 10" high. The product is described as a four‑in‑one appliance with functions for air fry, bake, dehydrate, and reheat, and the manufacturer highlights features like an LED shake reminder and programmable touchscreen UI.

The listing calls out a few selling points that shape first impressions: a minimized exterior footprint for an XL basket, an 8‑quart nonstick basket that the listing says is top‑rack dishwasher safe, and a special HI‑FRY option that the copy says "cranks up the temperature to 450°F for the final two minutes" to add extra browning. Note: the specification block lists a Max Temperature Setting of 400°F, so there is conflicting information in the listing about the absolute top temperature — verify the current manufacturer documentation if the HI‑FRY 450°F claim matters to you.

The listing also notes cETL approval, an automatic shut‑off feature, and a 1‑year limited warranty. The unit is described as not smart‑home compatible and is controlled via a touch controller with preset modes. Included components are limited to the user guide in the listing.

Colors and appearance

The default color listed is Stainless steel. Image filenames suggest a single stainless or metallic finish in the primary listing. Conservatively, available colors may include:

• Stainless steel (default)

In daily use

Owners’ usage notes paint a clear picture of how this Chefman fits into real kitchens. Repeated owner feedback praises the capacity, ease of use, and consistent crisping for frozen snacks and everyday proteins. Several owners report using the fryer multiple times per day for reheating leftovers, cooking frozen snacks in minutes, and making quick dinners like chicken nuggets, french fries, burgers, and roasted vegetables. One owner who replaced a smaller, gimmicky unit said this Chefman became a daily appliance and almost displaced their toaster oven.

Countertop / small kitchen fit

The listing claims a "minimized footprint" for the XL basket; the item dimensions are 12.75"D × 13.5"W × 10"H and the unit weighs 12.8 pounds. Multiple owners confirm that while the fryer is capacious inside, it doesn't feel oversized on a counter and can be easier to fit than a toaster oven. That said, owners emphasize measuring their intended space before buying — at least one owner specifically warns to measure counters because the unit still needs clearance for air circulation and for sliding the basket in and out.

Family meals & batch cooking

Owner reports commonly highlight that the 8‑quart basket is large enough for multiple servings at once. A handful of buyers say the cavity can fit a small whole chicken or Cornish hen; one owner reported the drawer interior was about 9" across and noted they could use pans up to 8" inside. Other owners used the basket for three thick burgers at once, frozen snacks for several people, and mixed protein‑and‑veggie combos (for example, steak fajitas with vegetables cooked together). If you frequently cook for two to four people and want to avoid multiple batches, the capacity is reported to be a practical size.

Reheating & frozen snacks

Several owners call out reheating as a standout use case — fries, chicken nuggets, and fast‑food leftovers crisp up quickly without multiple steps. Owners report frozen mini‑pizzas and garlic toast taking roughly seven minutes on certain presets (owner reported times are descriptive; always follow the current manual for exact timings). The touchscreen presets and a "Frozen" function (listed as part of the four functions) make single‑button reheating straightforward for many buyers.

Cleaning and day‑to‑day maintenance

The listing describes the basket as nonstick and top‑rack dishwasher safe; product care instructions are listed as dishwasher safe and the interior is described as stainless steel. Owner feedback supports that cleanup is generally easy — many note that wipes or a quick hand wash remove residue and that dishwasher cycles are used for the basket. A number of buyers say nothing sticks badly and that they often only need a damp paper towel for light cleanup.

Materials & build quality

The listing lists the item materials as Plastic and Stainless Steel and specifically calls the inner material out as stainless steel. Exterior finish is shown as stainless steel in the listing. The control method is touch, and the user interface is described as an "intuitive touch control UI." The appliance is rated at 1700 watts (output wattage 1700W) and 120 volts, with a listed item weight of 12.8 pounds.

Owners frequently use words like "sturdy," "uncomplicated," and "attractive" to describe the look and build. Several buyers who compared it to bulkier, more complicated machines appreciated the straightforward design and felt the unit looked robust out of the box. Packaging and shipping were reported as adequate by multiple owners.

Still, the internal owner notes include repeated mentions of early electronic failures in some units — faulty digital displays on arrival for some customers and a notable pattern where a small number of owners report the timer or off button ceasing to respond. Those are quality‑control problems rather than material composition issues, but they materially affect reliability and the perception of build quality.

Safety considerations

The listing calls out several safety and convenience features: automatic shut‑off, LED shake reminder (an alert to shake the basket halfway through the cook), and cETL approval with "advanced safety technology" per the listing. The listing also includes a 1‑year limited warranty.

Despite those claims, repeated owner reports raise important safety and convenience caveats. Multiple owners have described units with defective displays or control panels on arrival and a handful report the fryer failing to turn off when the timer ends — sometimes requiring the owner to unplug the appliance to stop it. Two separate owners documented being unable to switch the unit fully off and relying on unplugging. Those reports are significant because they involve controls and the automatic shut‑off claim; they indicate isolated but recurring quality‑control or electronics reliability problems across some units.

Practical safety notes to keep in mind:

• Verify the current listing/manufacturer documentation for details on safety certifications and the exact behavior of the automatic shut‑off, especially since owner reports conflict with the listing's claim.
• Because the basket and interior are hot during and after cooking, plan for heat‑safe clearance and a cooling period before handling or placing the unit under cabinets.
• Follow manufacturer instructions in the included user guide (the listing states a user guide is included), and test controls promptly after unboxing so you can return or exchange a unit with an electronic fault.

Who this is for / who should skip

This section is practical — match the unit to the cook, kitchen size, and use case based on listing specs and owner experience.

Who this is for

• Cooks who want a roomy single‑basket air fryer for weekday dinners and reheating. Owners consistently report the 8‑quart basket works for family‑size portions and batch cooking.
• Households that want straightforward touchscreen presets and a "set and forget" approach — the LED shake reminder and programmable controls are regularly called out positively by owners.
• People with limited counter width who still want larger interior capacity. The listing claims a minimized footprint and owners say it feels more compact than some toaster‑oven conversions while offering a large basket.
• Buyers who prefer a stainless‑steel look and an inner surface described as stainless steel in the listing.

Who should skip or be cautious

• Anyone who cannot tolerate the risk of an electronic control failure. Although many owners have no issues, multiple reports of faulty displays and units that stop responding to the off button suggest you should be ready to test the unit immediately and use return/exchange options if you see problems.
• Buyers who need precise confirmation of maximum temperature. The listing contains inconsistent temperature information — a Max Temperature Setting is listed at 400°F, but the marketing blurb claims a HI‑FRY boost to 450°F for the final two minutes; verify current manufacturer documentation if a 450°F capability is essential for your cooking.
• Those wanting Wi‑Fi or smart‑home features. The listing explicitly states "Not Smart Home Compatible."

Verdict

The Chefman 8‑quart TurboFry positions itself as a practical, roomy, and attractive countertop air fryer with simple controls and a handful of useful conveniences for everyday home cooking. Owner experiences skew strongly positive on the core promise: quick, crispy results, large capacity for batches or family servings, and straightforward cleanup thanks to a nonstick basket the listing describes as dishwasher safe and an interior listed as stainless steel. The unit's wattage (1700W) and the listed functions (air fry, bake, dehydrate, reheat) align with how owners actually use it — reheating, frozen snacks, burger batches, and even small whole birds in some reports.

On the flip side, the recurring owner signals about display faults and, more importantly, units that stop responding to controls or fail to shut off are real downsides you should weigh. Chefman lists automatic shut‑off and cETL approval in the product copy, but multiple buyers had to unplug units when the off button or timer stopped working. That is the single biggest reliability/safety concern callers and owners mention repeatedly and is the reason to test the unit right away and confirm return windows and policies before you commit.

Check before you buy (short checklist)

• Measure the intended counter space — the listing dimensions are 12.75"D × 13.5"W × 10"H; allow extra clearance for ventilation and basket removal.
• Confirm the current listing for exact maximum temperature specs (the listing has both a 400°F max and a marketing claim of a 450°F HI‑FRY boost).
• Plan to test controls and the automatic shut‑off as soon as you unbox the unit. Owner reports show some units arrive with control/display issues.
• Verify the dishwasher‑safe instructions for the basket and any removable parts against the up‑to‑date manual; the listing calls the basket nonstick and top‑rack dishwasher safe.
• Keep proof of purchase and check the 1‑year limited warranty details in case of early electronic faults.

Overall, if you want a capacious, attractive, and easy‑to‑use air fryer at a budget‑to‑midrange price and you're willing to test the unit immediately for electronic faults, the Chefman 8‑quart TurboFry delivers a lot of what most home cooks want. If you need absolute certainty on electronics reliability or require smart‑home features, look elsewhere or verify seller return policies before buying.