Chefman TurboFry Touch 4-Qt Digital Air Fryer review

The Chefman RJ38-4T-BLACK is a compact, four-quart digital basket fryer for someone who wants direct time-and-temperature adjustment, a removable crisper rack and familiar food presets. It has an opaque drawer rather than a window. Chefman’s normal adjustable range tops at 400°F; its separate HI-FRY control adds a short 450°F finish, not a sustained 450°F cooking plan.

Identify this exact TurboFry Touch

Chefman’s U.S. page calls this the TurboFry Touch 4-Quart Digital Air Fryer and gives the model as RJ38-4T-BLACK. Its product data exposes one default-title SKU, so the inspected current listing is a single black-finish configuration rather than a family of color choices. The exact page and linked guide describe a 4-quart basket-and-rack design. It is not the separately listed 4-quart Easy-View RJ38-4TW-BLACK: that model adds a window and light, weighs less in the maker’s specification, and lists a lower wattage. The model suffix matters if visibility or power is a deciding constraint.

One basket for modest everyday batches

The four-quart figure is Chefman’s nominal capacity, not measured usable food volume or a guaranteed serving count. There is one pull-out basket and one cooking zone, with a removable rack inside to lift food for airflow. The guide says not to fill past the MAX line and explains that crowded food browns less evenly; that is a practical reason to think in batches rather than assume every four-quart load will feed a particular number of people. A single basket works for fries, tenders, vegetables or a small main dish, but it cannot cook two foods at different temperatures in parallel. If your usual meals need more room or two separate finish times, compare a larger single drawer or an independently controlled dual-basket model instead of treating nominal capacity as a promise.

Preset convenience with manual control

The exact guide shows four food presets: Meat (18 minutes at 375°F), Chicken (22 minutes at 400°F), Fish (10 minutes at 375°F) and Fries (18 minutes at 400°F). Those are starting points, not doneness guarantees. The touchscreen lets you select time or temperature and adjust it with plus and minus controls. The product page lists a regular 200–400°F range and the guide cautions that food size and fryer temperature vary, so check doneness against current food-safety guidance rather than relying only on a preset timer.

The shake indicator is a prompt, not a mechanism that turns food. Chefman’s guide tells you to shake or turn items when appropriate; it notes delicate fish should be flipped rather than shaken. Pulling the basket out pauses cooking and returning it resumes, which makes a visual check possible, but the opaque front means you do have to open the drawer. Preheating for five minutes is optional in the guide. If you want to brown a finished portion further, HI-FRY raises heat to 450°F for two minutes, either near the end or just after the regular cycle. That is useful as a brief finishing step, not a continuous 450°F setting.

Counter space, electrical details and cleanup

Chefman lists dimensions of 13.8 × 10 × 10.2 inches, but does not label the order as width, depth and height; leave room for the drawer to pull out and do not assume the listed sequence identifies those axes. The user guide calls for a hard, flat, heat-resistant counter with at least six inches of clearance above and behind the appliance. Its published 9.02-pound weight and compact description may help with occasional repositioning, but safe operating clearance still matters more than a tight cabinet fit.

The exact U.S. specification lists 1700 W and 120 V. Neither that page nor the linked guide states 60 Hz, so this is not confirmation of both values for a strict documented-supply requirement. The guide says the cooled basket and rack can go on the top dishwasher rack. It advises letting parts cool, avoiding aerosol cooking spray on the nonstick surfaces, and wiping the body rather than washing or submerging the appliance. These are simple care steps, but the manufacturer does not identify a complete coating stack or promise every food-contact surface is PFAS-free. Its California disclosure page names RJ38-4T among the listed products and describes pot/rack/dip-tray components as aluminized with PTFE coating; the disclosure groups model codes and does not further map every layer or surface. Do not mistake a black exterior for a surface-material specification.

Who should choose the RJ38-4T-BLACK?

Choose this version if a nominal four-quart, one-zone basket, local digital controls, a documented regular 400°F ceiling and dishwasher care for the cooled basket and rack fit your cooking. Skip it if seeing food through a lit window is essential, if you need independent zones, or if a sustained 450°F setting is non-negotiable. The windowed RJ38-4TW-BLACK is the closer comparison when visibility matters; a larger basket is a better direction when repeated small batches would disrupt dinner. The manual’s one-year limited warranty is conditioned on an authorized sale and proof of purchase, so confirm the seller and current terms. Recall applicability, line frequency, dimension axes and the maker’s full coating details remain unconfirmed in the exact records inspected here.

Manufacturer sources

• Chefman TurboFry Touch 4-Quart Digital Air Fryer product page
• Chefman RJ38-4T Series U.S. guide linked from the exact product page
• Chefman California AB-1200 disclosure page