Chefman RJ38-RDO-V12 6-in-1 Air Fryer Oven: problems, parts and running costs
Checked: 2026-10-17
Summary
A 12-quart countertop air fryer oven with six functions whose exact model has never been independently tested; the caution signals come from sibling and competitor tests — a large claimed-vs-measured capacity gap, poor temperature accuracy across Chefman’s line, and rotisserie hardware that is hard to use [3][4][5]. Running cost is electricity, about $6.27 a year at one hour a week per Consumer Reports’ sibling test [3]. At $129.99 direct (down from $149.99, captured July 2025) it is a fair buy for oven-style batch cooking if you discount the capacity claim [1].
Common problems and fixes
- Claimed capacity overstates usable space — Consumer Reports measured the 6.3-quart sibling at 2.7 quarts of usable capacity against its 6.3-quart claim; the same generous marketing may apply to this 12-quart model, so plan batches around what actually fits the racks [3].
- Temperature accuracy is poor across Chefman’s air fryers — TechGearLab scored the 8-quart TurboFry Touch at 3.5/10 (it measured about 17°F below the set temperature) and the 2-quart Compact at 5.3/10; expect to calibrate by hand or use a separate oven thermometer [4].
- Rotisserie is weak in this category — Wirecutter’s test of a competing air fryer toaster oven found the spit attachments difficult to assemble and produced a pale, unevenly roasted chicken; treat the included spit as an occasional extra, not a reason to buy [5].
- Undocumented details — the 12 presets are not named on the product page and the rotisserie’s maximum load is not stated; check the manual before relying on either [1].
- Short warranty — 1 year, against 2 years from Breville and 3 from Cuisinart on comparable ovens [1][5].
Parts and consumables
- Three cooking racks, rotisserie spit and forks, rotisserie retrieval tool, drip tray — included in the box and dishwasher-safe [1]; no replacement parts or consumables catalog was found for this model, so damaged racks or spits are not documented as reorderable [1].
Yearly running cost
Consumer Reports puts the 6.3-quart sibling’s electricity cost at about $6.27 for one hour of use per week for 52 weeks at 350°F; the V12 draws the same 1700W, so treat that figure as a rough guide [3]. There are no filters, pods or other consumables.
When it is a good buy
Chefman direct: $129.99 sale, $149.99 regular (captured July 2025) [1]; the RJ38-RDO-PV12 sibling with an integrated smart thermometer is $99.47, down from $129.99 [2]; Consumer Reports lists the 6.3-quart RJ38-6-RDO at $150.00 [3]. Wirecutter’s tested alternatives in this category: Cosori CO130-AO at $169 with a 2-year warranty, Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro at $320, Cuisinart TOB-260N1NAS at $300 [5].