DREO - ChefMaker Combi Fryer

If you have the budget for it, the **DREO Chefmaker** is the one to get as far as compact units go: * [https://www.dreo.com/pages/chefmaker-combi-fryer](https://www.dreo.com/pages/chefmaker-combi-fryer) If you're not in a rush, I would wait to see if it goes on sale for Black Friday. Notes: * This goes up to 450F, Most only do 380F to 400F. Raw wings come out crispy in 30 minutes! * This has a probe with AI cooking. Stick the probe in, perfect steaks, chicken, pork, etc. EVERY TIME. This is the most advanced basket airfryer on the planet. Push a button, it cooks the food for you! * This has Sous Vide Mode using water, which also uses AI. Makes the meat more tender & then you can finish searing it in a pan or the grill Restaurant technology on your countertop! If you have the space (and budget) for it, the **Anova Precision Oven** is larger (family-sized) & has more features: * [https://anovaculinary.com/pages/anova-precision-oven](https://anovaculinary.com/pages/anova-precision-oven) I originally had to put this on a microwave cart because I didn't have the counterspace for it (it is a countertop oven with airfrying, not a small basket model). Notes: * This is the size of a large microwave * It can take larger 12x16" pans for baking cookies & whatnot * The new version comes out in a few weeks & has AI feature (a camera that detects the food & cooks for you, the app can read recipes & packages to cook for you, etc.) More info: * [https://www.reddit.com/r/productivity/comments/kell7l/comment/ggnw388/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/productivity/comments/kell7l/comment/ggnw388/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) Both of these airfryers are expensive, but both will pay for themselves in no time! I have both units; feel free to ask any questions! If you're open to a serious discussion: * The average family of 4 spends $15,000 a year on food in 2024 * Around $4,000 of that is food not prepared at home (packaged foods, prepared meals, fast-food, delivery, takeout, etc.) * $1,500 of that is lost to food waste **The questions are:** 1. How can we save money? 2. How can we cook at home more? 3. How can we make cooking easier? * The Chemaker & Anova both make cooking easier thanks to the built-in computers. That means: 1. You get repeatable results without trying 2. You don't need to be a skilled chef to get restaurant-level results 3. You don't have to babysit the machines, they do the work for you This interview is a few years old, but if you're up for some reading: * [https://anovaculinary.com/blogs/blog/kaido-mac-anova-precision-oven](https://anovaculinary.com/blogs/blog/kaido-mac-anova-precision-oven) Here are some of my computer-cooker projects over the years: * [https://www.reddit.com/r/CombiSteamOvenCooking/search/?q=author%3Akaidomac&cId=125c79ea-7d62-4fd9-80d0-f13891d1bd27&iId=fd418ba1-ad0e-4118-a6ba-127bbe55328d](https://www.reddit.com/r/CombiSteamOvenCooking/search/?q=author%3Akaidomac&cId=125c79ea-7d62-4fd9-80d0-f13891d1bd27&iId=fd418ba1-ad0e-4118-a6ba-127bbe55328d) So part one is the machine & what it can do (i.e. make cooking pushbutton easy). Part two is meal-prepping. I treat cooking as a required chore. My approach is simple: 1. I plan & shop once a week 2. I cleanup my kitchen & get everything out the night before 3. I cook one batch a day to divvy up & freeze I still cook for fun when I'm in the mood, but I treat meal-prepping as a once-daily chore, where I use my modern appliances to get better results easier & faster! I also use an Instant Pot: * [https://www.reddit.com/r/kaidomac/comments/uwxdjl/instant\_pot\_101/](https://www.reddit.com/r/kaidomac/comments/uwxdjl/instant_pot_101/) The results are: * Typically about 20 minutes a day of active, hands-on time per cooking job using pushbutton appliances * Each batch makes an average of 8 servings a day * 8 servings time 30 days a month equals 240 servings in my deep freezer every month, like magic! I use Souper Cubes extensively: * [https://www.reddit.com/r/mealprep/comments/dj4yl3/comment/f41hmyi/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/mealprep/comments/dj4yl3/comment/f41hmyi/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) Which let you efficiently stock your freezer: * [https://www.instagram.com/p/CcArMi1rQGE/?hl=en](https://www.instagram.com/p/CcArMi1rQGE/?hl=en) I do vac-seal meal-prep for things like chicken: * [https://www.reddit.com/r/sousvide/comments/1go1g1c/comment/lwgnw11/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web3x&utm\_name=web3xcss&utm\_term=1&utm\_content=share\_button](https://www.reddit.com/r/sousvide/comments/1go1g1c/comment/lwgnw11/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) Lots of great veggie ideas here: * [https://www.reddit.com/r/IWantToLearn/comments/16icf6o/comment/k0se94q/?utm\_source=share&utm\_medium=web2x&context=3](https://www.reddit.com/r/IWantToLearn/comments/16icf6o/comment/k0se94q/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3) There are lots of fun things to do, such as [steam-toasting](https://www.reddit.com/r/MealPrepSunday/comments/1f8t751/comment/llhm44u/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button) & the [Instant Pot weekday pasta system](https://www.reddit.com/r/kaidomac/comments/1gi2rwm/instant_pot_pasta_system/)! **Summary:** * Food is expensive. You can save thousands of dollars by cooking at home. * Good tools are expensive. The up-front investment get recouped within 6 months for most families. * Meal-prepping is a hassle. You can make it easier by using good tools & treating it as a **chore** where you only prep *one single batch* per day to freeze!

The DREO Chefmaker looks really cool: * [https://www.dreo.com/products/dreo-chefmaker-combi-fryer](https://www.dreo.com/products/dreo-chefmaker-combi-fryer) Futuristic, plus it's the quietest airfryer I've ever used!

If you are serious about "best quality air fryer on the market" and price is no object, you should take a look at the Dreo ChefMaker.

Yo I’ve owned one for about 6 months. It’s cool, but would not buy it again. The best feature is its probe thermometer that’s inside of it, but there are much cheaper air fryers that do the same thing, I’m sure. Its big gimmick, the water spraying thing, is pretty hit and miss. Sometimes it makes excellent proteins like chicken breasts and steak, other times it bugs out and nothing happens to your food for like an hour. And using that feature doubles or triples cooking time so I never find myself using it at all. In summary I’m sure you could find an air fryer that is 95% as good for half the price Edit: whoever downvoted my comment, frick you

I know someone will dismiss my suggestion because it uses teflon, but I've been extremely happy with the Dreo Chefmaker. Not only does it air fry, but it uses a temperature probe for precise cooking and uses steam to keep food moist. It now even lets you compose your own cooking programs if you want to get very technical. All I know is mine cooks steaks, pork chops, and chicken perfectly every time. I've owned multiple air fryers over the years and there's simply no comparison. The Chefmaker isn't cheap, but it's one of the best purchases I've ever made. If you don't want your food coming into contact with teflon, I imagine it could still work well if you place your meat on to aluminum foil.

It’s very good as it’s a combination cooker, the steaks it cooks are amazing, seared and already rested. I also did a pork joint in it for Christmas last year and that was amazing too, tender juicy meat and nice crispy crackling

I picked up a Dreo Chefmaker. I really like it. Cook everything from steak to breakfast sausage to fries, etc. It's got a temperature probe and some really nice features built into the software.

I've been using this thing since the day it came out. I was in the first wave of Kickstarter backers to get mine. I use it more than I use my oven, and if it ever breaks I ***am*** buying another one.

I’ve had the dreo with the probe for over a year! It legit makes the best steak and burgers I’ve ever had!!!! This air fryer is underrated! Steaks taste better than outback or longhorns! I stg! 

Haven't seen what they put as the best one but the one I have is [Dreo Chefmaker](https://www.amazon.com/Dreo-ChefMaker-Atomizer-professional-cooking/dp/B0C5JHKGFP/) and I absolutely love it.

This thing kicks absolute ass. I use it about as much as my rice cooker, and for an Asian dude, that's saying a lot.

It really is in terms of how this is "scored" on the list. For example I've owned Cosori, Ninja and now a Dreo. My current Air Fryer doesn't even rank on the list but I personally like it the best. But that said, due to it being a more expensive unit and a lesser known brand than Cosori, ninja and, the like it doesn't appear as much on Reddit.

I'd buy it again for $199 in a heartbeat. Check my most recent post on the turkey breast I made in it.

I haven't done cake, but I have done pizookies and bread, overall not entirely recommended though and they need more effort and care to not burn than just sticking it in the oven. Nofareally faster because of this too.

I agree I have two high end version of each type Dreo Chefmaker for my basket air fry needs (and combi fry) it may not have the space but the power is there. Wont get better chicken from a different one. Ninja DT250 series toaster oven style for my larger items. It 100% doesnt work the same as the basket BUT it does some things SO much better. Each has its use and cooks exclusively different things.

My effortless wings actually come from my basket dreo chefmaker. All I do is throw them in after standard prep with seasoning and come back in whenever it is done.i dont even know the actual timer or temp for it since it has a chicken wing mode.

Dreo. Works great.

I had a Ninja Foodi, loved it and the surface area you have with it, it was great for reheating pizza. It doesn't crisp up the food quite as well as the basket style ones, but good enough. The fan on mine got clogged with grease after a month or two, and it is essentially impossible to clean. I cleaned it up as well as I could and used it another couple years, now I have a Dreo and the Foodi lives in the pantry until I need to reheat pizza. The Dreo is excellent. 10/10 as an air fryer, and the smart probe cooking actually works great, except I think mine had a software problem that would turn a 45 minute cook into 3 hours at random. A warranty replacement comes soon. The original works perfectly as a basic air fryer, so I'll give it to a friend. Ninja conventional air fryers I rate 1/10. I do not understand how they can not have a window so you know when the food is ready. We have one in our office kitchen, and unless you open it constantly, it is a total gamble how your food comes out. I have had a couple items that I followed the packaging directions and they came out burnt black and smoking. It's too bad because when you get the timing right, the Ninja does a nice job, just as good as the Dreo and better than the Foodi. Also, I don't understand why they have to preheat for longer than it takes to cool the food. An item that I know takes 4 minutes at 400 in my Dreo takes 4 minutes at 400 in the Ninja, but the Dreo requires no preheating and the Ninja needs a few minutes of preheating time. If the food comes out the same from both air fryers, why is the Ninja taking all that preheating time?