Chefman TurboFry XL 9-Quart Air Fryer (RJ38-9TW-WM) review

The Chefman TurboFry XL 9-Quart Air Fryer, model RJ38-9TW-WM, is a one-drawer design with a front viewing window and six labeled cooking programs. Its 9-quart figure describes one nominal basket, not a pair of smaller drawers and not a measured amount of usable food space. Choose it if you want one large, viewable load and flexible program choices; consider a dual-basket machine if two foods need separate settings and coordinated finish times.

One large drawer, rather than two cooking zones

This model has a single pull-out basket and one control panel. The removable rack sits inside that basket to lift food above the bottom and leave room for air to move beneath it. That arrangement can suit a larger single batch, but it does not let you cook a main and side at different temperatures at the same time. The manual also advises staying below the MAX line and leaving space around food. A 9-quart label should not be treated as a promise that a packed basket will brown evenly or as a serving-count test.

If separate settings are your priority, compare the Chefman RJ38-45DBW: its nine-quart nominal total is divided between two 4.5-quart baskets, each with its own controls. That is a different way to use capacity, not a larger single cavity. The RJ38-9TW-WM keeps one continuous basket instead. The window and a small interior light let you check progress without sliding the drawer out, although you may still need to shake or turn food when the guide calls for it.

Six programs have different temperature ranges

The six choices on the panel are Air Fry, Bake, Broil, Frozen, Reheat and Dry (Dehydrate). They use different temperature and fan settings, so the overall 90–450°F span is not available in every program:

• Air Fry: 300–450°F.
• Bake: 200–400°F.
• Broil: 425–450°F.
• Frozen: the chosen setting is 300–400°F, with the first five minutes at 200°F.
• Reheat: 300–425°F.
• Dry (Dehydrate): 90–200°F.

The low 90°F endpoint belongs to Dry, not Air Fry; the 450°F upper endpoint is documented for Air Fry and Broil. The guide’s table lists default times for these programs, not the maximum timer limits for every mode, so it does not support assuming a particular long dehydration cycle. The Frozen program’s initial low-temperature stage is also distinct from simply beginning at the selected temperature. These details matter more than the number of menu labels if you have a specific recipe or low-temperature routine in mind.

Chefman says optional five-minute preheating may help with speed and crisping, but the guide does not make preheating a requirement. Shake reminders are a prompt for the cook, not automatic turning: for eligible cycles longer than five minutes the guide tells you to remove the drawer and shake or flip when appropriate. Returning the basket resumes cooking.

Check clearance and cleaning before choosing it

The user guide calls for a hard, flat surface and at least six inches of clearance above and behind the fryer for airflow. That instruction should be part of a counter-space decision, especially if you plan to keep it under a cabinet. Chefman’s reviewed product page and guide do not state an external dimension set or an electrical nameplate rating for this exact listing, so they do not establish whether a particular shelf or circuit is suitable.

After the appliance cools, the guide says the basket and rack may be washed on the dishwasher’s top rack. Wipe the housing rather than immersing or dishwashing it. The guide warns that aerosol cooking sprays can chip nonstick parts. It does not identify the basket substrate or coating chemistry, or make a complete PFAS-free statement for all food-contact surfaces. If those disclosures are essential, this model cannot satisfy that requirement from the available manufacturer statements; unknown is not a material claim.

Who should compare another TurboFry?

The RJ38-9TW-WM makes the most sense when you want one nominal 9-quart basket, a window, digital controls and named programs that include Broil and Dry. It is not the pick for independently timed zones, a rotisserie, a documented probe, or a verified footprint and electrical rating based on the reviewed maker materials. A viewing window is useful for checking but is not a substitute for leaving room around the food or following the manual’s shake guidance.

Do not confuse this SKU with the separate RJ38-9TW-V2 TurboFry 7-in-1 listing. Both are one-basket, nine-quart products, but they are distinct model identities with separate pages and series guides; the V2’s motor and specifications should not be transferred to the WM model. For an entirely different layout, the RJ38-45DBW provides two smaller controlled baskets. Read the RJ38-9TW-WM product page and the RJ38-9TW-Series U.S. user guide for the exact model family’s current listing and operating instructions.