Chefman TurboFry Touch Stainless-Steel 5-Quart Air Fryer review

Chefman | single-basket air fryer

Chefman TurboFry Touch Stainless-Steel 5-Quart Air Fryer (RJ38-SQSS-5T) review

The RJ38-SQSS-5T is the smaller of two size choices on Chefman’s TurboFry Touch stainless-steel product page. The model code matters: the U.S. offer lists RJ38-SQSS-5T for the 5-quart configuration and RJ38-SQSS-8T for the 8-quart one, and Chefman has a different U.S. manual for each. This review covers the five-quart SKU only. It is a conventional pull-out basket with a local digital panel, not a windowed fryer or a two-zone appliance.

What five quarts means in practice

Chefman lists 5 qt (4.73 L) of nominal capacity. That label is useful for comparing the model on paper, but it is not a measured usable-volume figure, food-weight limit, or promise that a particular dinner fits in one layer. The manual specifically advises keeping food below the basket’s MAX line and avoiding crowding so air can circulate. If your typical batch takes more room, compare the distinct eight-quart version rather than treating the two capacities as color options. The 5-quart model weighs 10.2 pounds; its listed dimensions are 11 × 14 × 13 inches, with no width/depth/height order identified on the page. Measure the counter and storage space rather than guessing which number is the height.

The cooking setup stays simple: one drawer, one removable rack, and one cooking zone. You can pull the basket to inspect, shake, turn, or flip food; the guide says heating and timing pause while it is out and resume when it is returned. That is a useful single-batch routine, not a substitute for independently timed foods. If two parts of dinner need separate temperatures at once, choose a true dual-zone model instead.

Four food presets are not four cooking modes

The product page lists four presets—meat, chicken, fish, and fries—alongside a default starting point. The code-matched 5-quart guide gives the default as 15 minutes at 400°F; 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. These are starting suggestions, not tests or guaranteed results. The guide says time and temperature can be adjusted at the panel, and its air-frying chart tells you to check food and use food-safety guidance rather than rely on a preset alone. A halfway shake light and beep remind you to tend the batch, but the machine does not turn food automatically.

Chefman lists the adjustable air-fry range as 200–400°F. Do not read the 400°F ceiling as a brief boost: unlike some TurboFry Touch models, the page and manual for RJ38-SQSS-5T do not document a higher HI-FRY cycle. Nor does this exact configuration list named Bake, Broil, Frozen, or Dehydrate modes. Its presets change the suggested settings for air frying; they do not create multiple heating zones or a broader set of documented functions.

Stainless finish, nonstick parts and cleanup

“Stainless-steel” describes the maker’s finish name, not a verified stainless-steel food-contact basket. Chefman calls the basket nonstick; neither this page nor the exact manual identifies its base metal, coating chemistry, or a complete-surface PFAS-free status. If a specific material declaration is essential, this record does not confirm it. The page and manual do confirm that the basket and rack are top-rack dishwasher safe after cooling. The appliance housing must be wiped by hand, not submerged or put in the dishwasher. The guide also cautions against aerosol spray on nonstick parts because it can chip the coating.

Allow the manual’s airflow space—at least six inches above and behind the unit. The exact page lists 1700 watts and 120 volts; it does not state 60 Hz. A one-year Chefman assurance/warranty is stated, with conditions in the maker’s materials. The page claims cETL approval; that is recorded as a manufacturer statement, not an independent certification check.

Who should choose the RJ38-SQSS-5T?

Consider this model if a single drawer, digital local controls, four food-specific air-fry presets, a nominal five-quart basket and dishwasher-safe removable parts match the way you cook. Its smaller nominal capacity and lower listed weight distinguish it from the eight-quart configuration, while both sizes share a similar stainless-finish look and one-drawer arrangement. If the larger basket’s nominal room is worth its 12.8-pound weight and different dimension set, read the separate RJ38-SQSS-8T review before deciding.

Skip the 5-quart model if your essential needs include two independently set zones, a clear cooking window, a documented 450°F cycle, a named Dehydrate/Bake/Frozen function, or a maker-stated PFAS-free food-contact surface. The exact U.S. page showed the 5-quart SKU out of stock on October 24, 2026; stock is a snapshot, not evidence that the model is discontinued. Confirm the exact RJ38-SQSS-5T code and seller configuration if considering it. Do not substitute the similarly styled 8-quart or another TurboFry guide.

Manufacturer references: Chefman TurboFry Touch product page and size-specific model numbers; RJ38-SQSS-5T U.S. user guide; Chefman U.S. air-fryer document library.