DREO ChefMaker Combi-Oven Review - What I Love and Where it Comes Up Short

[@mark93373]

Thanks for the honest review. I can always count on you to tell it the way it is.

[@Cindy75K]

Congrats on your Dreo! My husband got in on the launch of it (kick starter) and because of another KZbinr trying it and loving what it did for steaks, lamb and ribs. I've been using it for steaks mostly and got rid of our Sous Vide machine. The probe feature is very handy, I now have 3 air fryers which the other is a combo and much bigger ( I.P. Omni) and the other is regular size in our RV for the road.

[@rsawyer757]

Nice review Steve! I absolutely love my Chefmaker. I picked it up during the kickstarter for 40% off and it's been one of my favorite small appliance purchases ever. Being able to have a moderately decent steak when I don't feel like cooking is awesome. Obviously it's not close to what you get with a hard sear in a cast iron or grill but it does the job in a pinch. I have to say that I've had it for like a year and they've continued to add new features and cooking modes which is really awesome too. The regular $350 price is probably too high for many, and I can't blame them, but the current sale price is pretty close to what I got mine for and I think it's a good deal. Totally agree with your issues. The basket isn't that big and the bottom of the steak is NEVER seared the way you want it to be. I typically pop it out and hit it with the blowtorch for a minute or two to get a bit better sear all around. I created a couple of cooks with the creative cook mode but haven't really spent a ton of time experimenting with it. Looking forward to seeing your results!

[@theastewart6721]

Hi Steve. Thanks for a great review. Looking forward to seeing what else you do with this machine!😊

[@cozy_king]

I second that.Steve Is the best narrator and demonstration keto person I have seen out of EVERY keto person I have ever seen on the web.That guy Is highly Intelligent.👍🏾💯🫶🏾🙋🏽‍♂️

[@theastewart6721]

@@cozy_king Definitely and so thorough!

[@SCash-rl5ee]

Even though I don't have the counter space for any additional gadgets/appliances, I still really enjoy watching reviews on new products. Even if I had the counter space, we're feeding 2 adults and 3 teenagers, so this would not work for us. But maybe in future they'll come out with a more family friendly model. They have some nice features and I liked how juicy all the meats turned out.

[@SeriousKeto]

This is definitely a product for a 1 or 2 person household, in my opinion.

[@MyFatAdaptedLife]

Great review. Thank you, Steve.

[@kenfischer2285]

Just bought it for a final price of $240.59.....thanks for the discount code and of course your other amazing videos....have been watching your videos since I started KETO in June.

[@SeriousKeto]

Nice. It's a fantastic air fryer, but I think it will really shine as more people develop recipes using the Creative Cooks mode.

[@axfel3190]

thanks for the actual honest review

[@SeriousKeto]

I like the unit quite a bit, but it’s not for everyone. It’s definitely too small for a family.

[@22qcat]

An honest review, always-Thank you! I had never heard of this brand before now. 👍🏻

[@gyoung1455]

Thanks, Steve. Don’t think I’m impressed enough to replace my current Ninja, but, as always, appreciate the review!

[@randombrokeperson]

Oh dang, wish I had seen your video day before yesterday. I purchased one and got the $140 off. I’m excited to get it! Thanks for a great review video - there was no fluff, just great talking points

[@CellasChariot]

Thanks for the review! Seemed a bit pricey at first look but after you showed all the features and with the discount thru Serious Keto, I would consider it worth the money!! Thanks for sharing and keto on...

[@SeriousKeto]

If you have Amazon Prime, it is deeply discounted today.

[@CellasChariot]

@@SeriousKeto thanks Steve! I forgot today and tomorrow prime days !!!

[@purplekat9685]

Thanks for the review Steve!😀👍 Have a blessed weekend 💜🙏✌️🎶🌞🪻

[@keckojones3324]

Great review. I’ve been eyeing this unit for a long time

[@RonJDuncan]

I held off from getting an air fryer for years until the DREO came out and I got in on the day 1 offering for $199 though kickstarter. For the price and all it does, the positives far outweigh the negatives, especially as they keep updating the software with new recipes. I do wish they had manual steam control though. Given the APO is still two to three times the price (depending on when sales are going on) and my budget won't support it, pulse the larger size it is (that I don't have space for) I'm very happy with the purchase.

[@georgemaurice9179]

I have the unit but very much appreciate your review and comments

[@KarenWimberley]

I really like my Dreo. I love the internal temperature probe.

[@gabrielsyt]

Good review Steve. That looks like a good oven watching your results.

[@stormet54]

I bought an Instantpot Vortex Pro a few years ago, mainly because of the window. I need to see what is happening inside. It works well. If I didn't already have an air fryer with a window, I'd buy the DREO.

[@terrybrinkman9664]

We LOVE our Dreo!! We find the wait time to calculate the cook is well worth the wait. We cook our second batch of wings while we eat the first batch 😄. There are two of us. We do ribeye, and pork chops (sous vide) are the Best!

[@Lowellian1]

$208 with extra 5% off on their site us a great price! Thanks Steve 🎉

[@RedSapphires]

As always, I appreciate your honest reviews. Those steaks did look good, despite any issues.

[@Boilerking76123]

I love my Dreo. Took a chance and bought it when it was a kickstarter and saved some money. Was like waiting for Christmas morning when they finally started shipping them.

[@SeriousKeto]

I'm really excited to see what people come up with using the new Creative Cooks system. How long have you had yours and how often do you use it?

[@user-micfco2486]

Thanks for the honest review !

[@ellieb2914]

Looking forward to your thoughts Steve. I cook all my steaks from frozen in the Dreo using Broil/450 flipping every 5-8 until they are defrosted. Once it defrosts I pop the probe in and continue cooking. That gets me the crust I think you are looking for. My only regret about the Dreo is the Teflon. I had never owned anything that was nonstick before buying my first air fryer about 2 years ago and now I own 3 nonstick air fryers that we use nearly every day. I hope they do a redesign on a later model. I'm always on the lookout for ceramic or fully stainless options. Agree on your size assessment. Hubby and I have to split steaks or the air can't get around the food. My dad LOVES doing salmon in his. Says it was worth the price of admission just for the fish alone. Oh and pork tenderloin is wonderful in it. That was a new option added a few updates in. Thanks for the video!

[@judithlehman9122]

Send me the ninja. Just a little Virgo joke.

[@esmith1771]

Thanks Steve for your honest reviews! Still happy with my current "window air fryer" after 3 yrs. But will keep yours in mind. :) Right now Amazon Canada wants $500 for this DREO model.

[@SeriousKeto]

Yikes! That's pretty steep.

[@marilynmcmanis4630]

Great video Steve! This definitely gives me something to think about when my Ninja air fryer quits working.

[@Artemis0421]

Oh this looks promising! I really don't need another appliance but I'm very tempted by this thing! 😂

[@SeriousKeto]

With the exception of the first steak, which was my screw up, everything we’ve made in it has been so tender and juicy.

[@Artemis0421]

@@SeriousKeto sounds amazing! maybe I can get rid of some things I don't use as often to make room for this! 🤣

[@2nGeneva]

Love my Dreo. Try this on your wings: use 1 or 2 eggs with a splash of heavy cream and a splash of water. Pour pork panko into a pie dish and season as you like (we use smoked paprika and dry chili peppers to kick it up a notch). Dip the wings/dummies into the heavy cream and roll them in the panko. I air fry them for 12 min on the 1st side, flip and cook another 10min. PERFECTION!!

[@rundeks]

I really like my Dreo. I highly recommend trying Sous Vide chicken breast and cod. Be sure to add some extra virgin olive oil and seasonings. I have issues with searing steaks as well.

[@SeriousKeto]

I'm looking forward to doing some steak experiments using the Creative Cooks mode. I just wish I steak wasn't so expensive these days...

[@methanial73]

I have a Ninja air fryer. I found that the recommended times seemed a mile off. I now error on the side of caution and try a short time and add ass necessary.

[@SeriousKeto]

Pretty good call when using any air fryer.

[@mgaddini8363]

Thanks for the review!

[@shelleyhodgkinson1341]

Always know you will give an honest review.

[@aainca]

Thanks for the review & I love the knives & fire tee! 😅

[@vickibennett8297]

Wow! Thanks Steve ❤❤

[@-.Steven]

Helpful And Interesting! Thanks Steve!

[@RoadsandRipples]

We LOVE our Dreo. But the probe went bad after 6 months and they sent us the new “updated” one which is coated in silicone and so far no problems. It’s weird that they aren’t sending those updated probes with their new shipments.

[@SeriousKeto]

I've seen other posts saying that the new probe is really nice.

[@marshagaffin7593]

Had to look for you again, utube is playing “hide this video” with me. But I’m on to them!

[@starlightone6948]

Thanks Steve for the review.❤️🇨🇦🐕

[@jeanwoodall1523]

I got it during the launch after Old School Soul Food reviewed it. Fortunately, I had an income then. I haven't used it yet. My mother or my brother's wife Corie does most of the cooking here. I will use it when I get a place for the three of us. I haven't had an income since July 17, 2023. I have to replace the majority of my kitchen items since we couldn't get it all out in time. Of course, this time I can get what I want. Plan to go with NonToxU cookware recommendations. I love Totally Bamboo Malta Kitchen Utensils. I got most of them when I had an income. Love Bennington Pottery Agate dinnerware. My favorite colors are blue and brown so I get most items in those colors when I can.

[@colleenmckeeman1342]

If you want a very good air fryer, try out the COSORI 6.8Qt Air Fryer model: Dule Blaze, It has a heating element on the top and bottom, perfect cooking no flipping required. I am not affiliated with them. I’m just a very pleased owner of one.

[@SeriousKeto]

It looks like a pretty cool unit.

[@wanda7519]

Thanks but too rich for my pockets! That’s an enormous price for an air fryer that a lower priced one could be just as good 🤔Living on pension and what SS decided to grant 😠me I will have to stick to lower priced safe fryers 😉PS I do appreciate your review 👍🏼

[@CandysCritters]

Looking forward to your follow-up!

[@alanacreates]

what is the timing on defrosting meat? does the book give examples for different options like ground meat? chicken? steak? etc?

[@SeriousKeto]

I haven't done any defrosting yet...

[@katieirish5765]

Very timely - I'm in the market for a new fryer.

[@bdctrans70]

Thank you for the review! I can see this one working well for folks who are looking for an air fryer. I am trying to minimize my home since I have become an empty nester. I find this device is too much of a uni-tasker for me. I have found the Kalorik MAXX 26 qt. air fryer oven to be the perfect multi-tasker for me. Having the air-fryer, dehydrator, rotisserie, convection oven and proofer. I use all of the functions, especially in the summer, and I have had it for four years now without any problems.

[@SeriousKeto]

I definitely think this targets a specific demographic (probably one that doesn’t already have an abundance of gadgets) but wants some of the specific features of a combi-oven.

[@juliawigger9796]

Got rid of my oven and bought 10litre Ninja. Has a huge drawer, takes a 3kg leg of lamb, and a large chicken easily , comes with a divider, fully sync system, super air fryer and airfryer mode. Bakes ,roasts, dehydrates, proves, reheats, super reliable.

[@SeriousKeto]

Ninja makes good products.

[@judyfrank2551]

I am looking forward to your follow-up video on the creative cook mode. Good review though, and thank you.

[@SeriousKeto]

I wish steaks weren't so expensive these days. As much as I'd love to run a week's worth of Creative Cook experiments on some NY strips or ribeyes, I just can't afford it. So, it could be a while until I get my preferred programs dialed in.

[@ingemaumus8442]

I’m looking for a ceramic vs usual ‘nonstick’ and hoped this might be such.. otherwise tempting! Thank you!

[@Sunny_Chronicles]

That's not a bad price with the coupon code. Only thing I see about it that I wouldn't like is the non stick coating because of the PFAs. Ceramic coating would be better for me. Thanks for the review Steve

[@rowenalux5848]

Great review!! Looks like it would be fun to play with. Now, if I had more counter space 🤪

[@bbahr7782]

Great review, Steve! A little too much $$$ for me, but this was an excellent review.

[@lissajean]

What's the little hat thingy on top. I THOUGHT it was a fan , but when I looked on Amazon, it looked like a little box with some liquid inside.?❤

[@SeriousKeto]

It’s a water reservoir for the functions or recipes that do moist cooking.

[@BetterHealthBetterMan]

For searing my sous vide steaks, I went "Full Guga" and bought the sous vide flamethrower gun. 😅

[@SeriousKeto]

This one? kzbin.info/www/bejne/gpDRonWIjtyXn8k

[@BetterHealthBetterMan]

@SeriousKeto YEEEESSS! That's the one. I purchased the hose attachment with mine and hook it to my 5gal propane tank.

[@topdrivejesus]

Hope the decorative tile hanging above the backsplash behind the Chef Maker is not sensitive to heat.

[@SeriousKeto]

It releases very little heat, surprisingly. Still, just like my Ninja before this, if I’m going to broil, I’ll pull it away from the wall.

[@Mom0fTwins]

❤ The t-shirt.

[@geekynana]

Thank you!

[@josephlarsen]

i love mine. the ease is the main win for me . throw in a steak, and come back when it beeps. not browned on both sides but for the effort it's the best

[@SeriousKeto]

I think the Creative Cooks option will allow me to dial in the perfect steak. I just love how juicy everything turns out; now I just need to get a proper crust.

[@josephlarsen]

@@SeriousKeto ya, that's a brand new feature. it's the 1 feature I asked them for like day 1 - I was in on the kickstarter. I'm excited that you're going to be in there, I know full well I'm going to use your presets over the current ones :)

[@rassman48]

Thank you for this review. I was interested in the Dreo, except that a vlog I saw said you can not interrupt the cooking because it messes up the Dreo's cooking stages, but without interrupting to turn food over, you have to accept that the under side of steaks etc will not be great. I suspect that if you pre-sear steaks Dreo will not understand that so it might over cook them. Also, I haven't seen a test that does a joint of beef or pork using the the auto menus, instead they go straight to manual. This might be because users are nervous of risking an expensive piece of meat just to test if the Dreo can do it. So not sure if this is right for me, except that when ever I have seen vlogs where they cook fish it always looks perfect.

[@SeriousKeto]

I definitely need to experiment with mine more, especially the Creative Cooks mode. People in the DREO Facebook group have been requesting that DREO allow for a "pause" in recipes for the purpose of flipping, saucing, etc.

[@thomasehnert2083]

Try Thick Pork Chops which will give you the best ever! My favorite in it! Had mine 6 months and use it every day! I have had no luck putting butter on the beef! I do it just seasoned!

[@kfirmj]

The review is great although I wish I could see this creative mode in action because I can’t find any video about this

[@SeriousKeto]

I’ll be playing with creative mode soon, now that grilling season is about over in Wisconsin. If you join the DREO user group on Facebook, a lot of folks are sharing their custom settings.

[@kfirmj]

@@SeriousKeto Thank you for responding, looking forward to this video. How does it work, do I have the option to choose creative mode on the oven itself and have recipes already installed there (ones which I created and decided to use or other recipes that people created, and I decided to install and use) or will I always have to use my phone and the app in order to use the creative mode?

[@SeriousKeto]

@@kfirmj I don't have an answer on that yet, but I'm pretty sure it requires your phone. In the user group, they have numeric codes you can enter to get a given person's "recipe" or you can scan a QR code.

[@randomhuman19]

guess im still looking for a new air fryer. ive tried a few over the last 10 years and the #1 thing that drives me crazy is having to turn/flip food. maybe there will never be one. when i do my research there seems to be a lot of neg on the teflon based ones and points to choosing those that are stainless preferably in most of its construction.

[@lavellnutrition]

I have a Ninja Foodie and it's very hard to clean. What do you use to clean the inside of yours? The inside looks like aluminum and not stainless steel. What do you clean yours with? Soap and water and even baking soda just don't do a good job on mine. What to do?

[@SeriousKeto]

Just dish soap and water.

[@JAdams-jx5ek]

Good review.

[@alanacreates]

what were the wires inside the basket?

[@SeriousKeto]

That was the probe.

[@denisea5208]

Thanks Steve. I struggle to find a device big enough for a family of 5.

[@SeriousKeto]

This is just barely big enough for a family of 2.

[@arlenearmy]

I like the ninja air fryer you already have.

[@SeriousKeto]

The Ninja is a great air fryer at a great price. The ChefMaker is so feature rich and really a different appliance all together. It’s not for everyone, but for foodies who really want to dive into all that it’s capable of, it’s quite impressive.

[@beccaprice7108]

I've never been able to use the Anova presets and recipes.

[@jaywalks9918]

Is the basket Teflon?

[@SeriousKeto]

Per Amazon: The interior has a Teflon non-stick coating that is PFOA-free and BPA-free.

[@cheriepanter9333]

Not available in Australia 🇦🇺

[@EK--ry3lr]

Weird, I didn't get a notification for this video. 😂

[@SeriousKeto]

I'm glad you still found it.

[@EK--ry3lr]

@@SeriousKeto Me too! Looks like a neat machine but the size is a no no for me.

[@roncenti]

I cant afford this. Even with the great discount. I put my steak in my Instant Vortex with a separate Bluetooth thermometer and when it reaches temp, I take it out and blow torch the hell out of it - triggering my smoke alarm every time - and done.

[@TheHrb1234]

My wife wants to know where to get that shirt from! haha

[@SeriousKeto]

Here you go amzn.to/3XUlAdY

[@TheHrb1234]

@@SeriousKeto Just an FYI, the Dreo is currently $187 + tax on AMZ with the $40 coupon on the AMZ page

[@sabinamock4799]

Steve you lost weight. Is it the long fasting? Thanks for this review.

[@SeriousKeto]

I'm actually only down 3 lbs since prior to my extended fast, however, if my Withings scale is to be trusted, my body fat is down close to 4%. Thanks for noticing.

[@esther.f.g]

Hi Steve, sorry but my comment is not related to the video, is just to tell you that I watched a recipe with your keto chow potato flavor 😉. In the recipe she mixes heart of palm, cream cheese, keto chow, milk to make kind of a "smashed potato"

[@SeriousKeto]

Yum!

[@AramSahakian-q5i]

I have the Dreo and the Tastee, and the Tastee does a much better steak than the Dreo! A medium rare in the Dreo is medium, but the Tastee nails it every time and for half the price!

[@SeriousKeto]

If you check out the Dreo Facebook group, you'll see that there are a number of recipes using the Creative Cooks option that nail a medium rare. You'd think Dreo would update the firmware based on proven Creative Cooks recipes. I don't disagree with you on the price difference with the Tastee.

[@deozeo4442]

Hi Steve! 👋🐈 Amazon price is $360. The $140 off... $220 is crazy! THANKS for yours and Colton's GREAT, WELL DONE review. I bought the IP 6.5qt Duo Crisp w/ (MORONIC permanent seal) ultimate lid for $219 last November (2023). I absolutely HATE, loathe it. Used it once to make yogurt. There are NO accessories... none(!)... big ZERO... for the 6.5qt. Now, it takes up valuable counter space (live in small 1 bedroom apt). By giving IP to a shelter, it will free up counter space. For this Dreo, I will pinch some SS mula from my meds and food for a month, to purchase this... w/ the freed up counter space. Thanks again... and bravo to your LeanBody site as I now struggle daily with keto after losing 119# (April 2023). You DO inspire me! 🤗🐈

[@SeriousKeto]

I don’t know if my code will work on Amazon or just on the DREO site.

[@deozeo4442]

​@SeriousKeto okie dokie. Oh, Steve, could you please notify how long this discount is locked down for. You mentioned "maybe a month?" Thanks!

[@amydavis7951]

Looks like a neat air fryer oven for sure. I love my instant Vortex oven but this one has some amazing features.

[@deozeo4442]

@@amydavis7951 And that discount price! 🐈

[@nancycurtis3964]

It's a tragedy to overcook a tenderloin, and over an hour?? I'm a big fan of the sous vide with a cast iron sear. It always comes out perfect. The ribeye looked like a great improvement. Chicken wings look amazing, but I thought the basket was larger than 8-10 wings. Thanks, once again, for being the crash-test dummy.

[@NikkiK890]

Sooooooooo hungry now 😋

[@terrib7911]

Now I want wings!

[@SeriousKeto]

Pretty much a thought that's in my brain every day. 😉

[@michaelmcgregor1776]

If you had selected Filet Mignon setting it would have come out perfect.

[@SeriousKeto]

I guess I'll find out the next time I do a filet mignon...

[@billmcclarin5865]

I should have expected an "ANOVA" oven in the household of a statistics guru.... lol

[@SeriousKeto]

Well played, sir. 😉

[@johndelabretonne2373]

@@SeriousKeto Speaking of the Anova oven, if you had it to do over, would you purchase this instead of your Anova Precision Oven? Is the Anova worth the price over this? I've been considering the Anova for some time for a family of 2... I just bought a Phillips Air Fryer, but I haven't opened it yet; this could replace that, and I'm still within my return window. Thanks.

[@SeriousKeto]

@@johndelabretonne2373 we use the Anova daily and love it. The downside is we are on our third one. The two prior ones both had a control panel failure. Anova replaced both, even though the 2nd one was just past the warranty period. If the 3rd one fails, I think I’ll probably investigate an alternative oven.

[@christinamcclory6841]

Comment. Man i wish i had dehydrate on my AF

[@SeriousKeto]

Given the small size of the basket on this unit, I’m not sure what the dehydrator function would be good for.

[@judithlehman9122]

I thought airfryers were faster than other methods.

[@SeriousKeto]

The steaks weren’t air fried. They used the combi-oven feature to cook in a way that emulates sous vide, then it finishes with air frying for the sear.

[@brianparkman8183]

It gives you the rest off when you put it in the cart and go there.

[@SeriousKeto]

Good to know.

[@ZeroRegen]

Steve, is that a new tattoo?

[@SeriousKeto]

I haven't had anything new inked this year.

[@lhughes521]

1 hr and 21 minutes???!!!!😮

[@SeriousKeto]

I guess you’re not familiar with sous vide cooking.

[@cherylroush6737]

Cooking a steak for 81 minutes?

[@SeriousKeto]

Your question is unclear to me.

[@melissaglasser4759]

I will note that the way the price is listed on the company website is somewhat deceptive. There's a big -$140 in front of a price of $219. What isn't obvious until you put it in the shopping cart is the $219 is AFTER the "auto-applied discount". I expect im not the first person (nor the last) to see the $219 price and subtract the discount from that. Its annoying enough to make me give this a pass. I have other similar devices that work well for me.

[@SeriousKeto]

I didn't read it that way at all. It seemed pretty obvious to me that the the link had already applied the discount. That said, the link was supposed to apply MY coupon code of $150 off and it's necessary to manually replace the coupon code at checkout.

[@grumpyoldlady_rants]

Who wants to take 2 hrs to cook a steak.

[@SeriousKeto]

I supposed if you're not familiar with sous vide, you wouldn't know...

[@grumpyoldlady_rants]

@@SeriousKeto - you’re right. I’m not.

[@SeriousKeto]

Similar to cooking something “low and slow” on a smoker, cooking a steak sous vide creates a succulent piece of meat in which the fat and connective tissue can render practically to collagen.

[@grumpyoldlady_rants]

@@SeriousKeto - now, using a smoker I understand. Nothing better than a smoked brisket and ribs!

[@michaelbattista1334]

Adding 10 minutes to an air fryer after it’s already cooked is a lot. An extra 2 minutes would have been enough.