The Calphalon Performance French Door Air Fry Countertop Oven is a versatile kitchen appliance designed to offer a range of cooking functions, including air frying, baking, roasting, broiling, toasting, and more. This countertop oven features a sleek design with French doors and an intuitive LCD screen display for easy operation.
Function Description
The oven offers 11 distinct cooking functions, each tailored to specific food preparation needs:
- Toast: Ideal for toasting sliced bread, English muffins, and frozen waffles. Users can select from seven shade settings to achieve their desired level of crispness. The wire rack should be placed in the upper rack position for optimal results.
- Bagel: Similar to the Toast function, but optimized for bagels. It also offers seven shade settings and utilizes the upper rack position.
- Bake: Suitable for a wide variety of baked goods. The wire rack is typically placed in the lower rack position, though some recipes may call for upper rack placement. This function allows for temperature adjustments from 150°F to 450°F and a cooking time of up to 1 hour. Preheating is required.
- Air Fry: Designed for achieving crispy results with less oil. The Air Fry Basket should be slid into the upper rack position. For foods with high fat or grease, placing the baking pan below the Air Fry Basket is recommended. Temperatures range from 250°F to 450°F, with a maximum cooking time of 1 hour. Preheating is required.
- Roast: Perfect for roasting meats and vegetables. The wire rack is placed in the lower rack position. Temperatures can be set from 150°F to 450°F, with a cooking time of up to 2 hours. Preheating is required.
- Broil: Used for quick cooking and browning the top of food. The wire rack is placed in the upper rack position. Temperatures range from 350°F to 450°F, with a cooking time of up to 2 hours. For high-fat foods, the baking pan can be placed under the rack to catch drippings. Preheating is required.
- Pizza: Optimized for cooking pizzas. The wire rack is placed in the upper rack position. Temperatures can be set from 150°F to 450°F, with a cooking time of up to 1 hour. Preheating is required.
- Cookies: For baking cookies and other small treats. The wire rack can be placed in either the upper or lower rack position, depending on the recipe. Temperatures range from 150°F to 450°F, with a cooking time of up to 1 hour. Preheating is required.
- Keep Warm: Maintains food at a serving temperature without further cooking. The wire rack can be placed in either the upper or lower rack position. Temperatures range from 150°F to 200°F, with a cooking time of up to 1 hour. No preheating is required.
- Wings: Specifically designed for air frying chicken wings. The Wings Basket is slid into the upper rack position, with the baking pan underneath for drippings. Temperatures range from 350°F to 425°F, with a cooking time of up to 1 hour. Preheating is required.
- Dehydrate: For drying fruits, vegetables, and other foods. The Dehydrate Rack is slid into the upper rack position. Temperatures range from 130°F to 200°F, with a cooking time of up to 12 hours. The oven door should be left open approximately 3 inches during this cycle. Preheating is required.
Usage Features
The Calphalon Countertop Oven is designed for user-friendly operation:
- LCD Screen Display: Provides clear visual feedback on selected functions, temperature, time, and preheating status. The screen illuminates upon plugging in the oven, and the START button LED flashes, indicating readiness.
- Function Selector Dial: Allows users to easily scroll through the 11 available cooking options. The Function Indicator on the LCD screen moves with the dial.
- Time/Temperature Control Dial: Used to adjust cooking temperature (for Bake, Air Fry, Roast, Broil, Pizza, Cookies, Keep Warm, Wings, Dehydrate) or shade setting (for Toast and Bagel), and to set the cooking time. Turning clockwise increases values, while counter-clockwise decreases them.
- START Button: Initiates preheating or the cooking cycle. The button flashes when preheating is complete, prompting the user to add food.
- CANCEL/OFF Button: Turns off the countertop oven and clears the display.
- Turbo Convection Selector Button: Activates the turbo convection fan for enhanced air circulation, leading to crispier results. An icon on the LCD screen indicates when Turbo Convection is active. Pressing it again deactivates the feature.
- Preheating: Most functions require preheating, indicated by "PREHEATING" on the LCD screen. An audible alert sounds when preheating is complete. Toast, Bagel, and Keep Warm functions do not require preheating, allowing food to be placed in the oven immediately.
- Timer: The timer begins counting down once the START button is pressed after food is placed in the oven. An audible alert signals the end of the cooking cycle.
- Automatic Shut-off: The oven stops heating once the allotted time expires. The LCD screen will remain lit for a period before timing out, or it can be manually turned off with the Cancel/OFF button. The LCD screen light turns off after 90 seconds of inactivity, but any button press will wake it up.
- Accessories: The oven comes with an Air Fry Basket/Dehydrate Rack, Baking Pan, Removable Wire Rack, and Removable Crumb Tray, all designed to facilitate various cooking tasks.
- Safety: Always use oven mitts or pot holders when removing hot food or accessories. The glass door is tempered, but should be inspected for damage before use. The appliance should be kept 6 inches clear from walls and on all sides on a dry, stable, level surface.
Maintenance Features
Proper cleaning and maintenance ensure the longevity and optimal performance of the countertop oven:
- Cool Down: Always allow the oven to cool completely before cleaning. Unplug the power cord from the outlet.
- Exterior Cleaning: Wipe the exterior with a damp cloth using mild, soapy water. Avoid abrasive cleaners, scrubbing brushes, and chemical cleaners, as they can damage the coating. Do not immerse the cord, plug, or the main body of the unit in water.
- Accessory Cleaning: The Wire Rack, Baking Pan, Air Fry Basket/Dehydrate Rack can be removed and washed in warm, soapy water with a soft cloth or sponge. These accessories are also dishwasher-safe (top rack recommended). Dry thoroughly after washing.
- Crumb Tray Cleaning: The Removable Crumb Tray should be removed and emptied of crumbs after each use. Wash it with soapy water and dry thoroughly. Regular cleaning of the crumb tray prevents accumulation and potential burnt odors.
- Interior Cleaning: Clean the oven and all accessories after each use. Food build-up inside the oven, on heating elements, or in the crumb tray can cause burnt smells, so regular cleaning is essential.