This air fryer and grill is actually pretty great. I used to try every new kitchen gadget that came out in my younger years and pretty much every one ended up in a closet or cabinet collecting dust because the basics are always better. I think this thing will actually get used.

　　I really wanted to try this because I have teenagers and I wanted them to have a safer way to prepare food on their own. This machine definitely seems safer than the oven or deep fryer. It will only turn on when the food bin is pushed all the way in and it turns off immediately if the food bin is pulled out. The outside of the machine does not get very hot at all. The only thing they'll have to be careful of is that the metal part of the bin is hot, but you hold it by the plastic handle anyway, it's not easy to get burned on it. It works on a timer only, so no worries that they'll leave something in there and forget it on.

　　It's very simple to use. It only has one piece to remove and that's the food bin. It also has a grill plate to set in there if you're using the grill mode. It's digital and you start it up by putting the bin in and then selecting either one of the pre-programmed modes or setting the temp and time yourself. It comes with clear instructions and a guide for cooking different types of foods. It's super easy to clean, you only have to clean the food bin and it's non-stick, so very easy to wash. I didn't notice anything on the inside or outside of the machine that needed wiping. The grill plate is also coated and the stuck-on food and grease barely needs scrubbing.

　　We made tater tots using the fryer option. They cooked in about twenty minutes, which is pretty close to oven time, but no preheating is needed. You do have to pull out the bin and shake it every now and then, just like in the oven. They came out good, the outside was crispy, but they were kind of mushy in the middle of the lump and lots were stuck together in a rectangle. I don't think we'll do a full bag next time. Even with the middle chunk, they were fully and evenly cooked and not as bad as I expected.

　　I really like the grill feature and this was the part I was really skeptical about. I love to grill but not in the winter, and I've always thought about how great it would be if I could quickly and easily grill myself up a piece of chicken for lunch (I work from home). I tried it out with two small chicken breast pieces and it was delicious! I just seasoned them, drizzled a bit of olive oil and lemon, put them in on the highest temp on grill mode for fifteen minutes, turned halfway through, and they came out perfectly. I'm not going to try to say they were as good as the real grill because they don't get that smoky flavor, but they were less dry and more juicy. They even got grill marks on them and the outside had a good crust. I can say that they came out better than baking or pan cooking and way better than those little countertop grills that used to be popular. I think the air cooking keeps the chicken more moist and cooks more evenly. I was really impressed with this feature and I'm so excited to be able to make quick pieces of meat with very little mess or effort. I also put a whole red bell pepper rubbed with olive oil on the grill part for eight minutes, turning a few times, and that came out very good as well.

　　Overall, it's hard for me to compare this machine to others since it's the first I tried, but I can't imagine I'd be happier with any other brand. The air fry feature is probably similar to others based on what I've heard, but this grill feature is amazing!