Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
Dreo
Chefmaker Combi Fryer
The Dreo Chefmaker is a little black box from which meaty perfection emerges. It’s not just an excellent air fryer, it’s kinda also a miniature combi-steamer—meaning it adds steam to convection heat to preserve moisture and even out the heat. But while the big combi-steamers start at four figures, this Dreo is closer to $360 at regular price and is currently on a 33-percent-off deal. I’m unaware of anything else with this functionality at this price.
In part, what’s nice is the programming, which you can customize to your heart’s content. By default, its programming will mimic a reverse sear for chicken, roasts, or steaks. Which is to say it’ll slowly bring meat to temp, as assessed by the built-in probe, then blast your meat with 470 degrees Fahrenheit to brown it up. It’s not quite a grill char, but it’s nice. It’s even nicer when it’s $120 off.
