Practical Emeril Lagasse 26 QT

Introduction 

The Emeril Lagasse 26 QT Extra Large Air Fryer, Convection Toaster Oven with French Doors, and Stainless Steel is a versatile kitchen appliance that combines ten kitchen appliances into one. It has a full menu of 24 custom presets and an LED display panel to make it easier to elevate your everyday meals with extraordinary results. The extra-hot 500°F convection crisp technology generates 360° air flow at higher temperatures up to 30% faster vs. traditional ovens using less or no oil for the same piping hot, extra-crispy fried texture and flavor of your favorite deep-fried foods and up to 70% less calories from fat.

The family-size extra-large 26-quart capacity fits a whole rotisserie chicken, bakes a 12” pizza, and prepares your main dish and sides on three cooking racks for an entire family dinner.

Pros and Cons of the Emeril Lagasse 26 QT

Pros:

• The Emeril Lagasse 26 QT Extra Large Air Fryer, Convection Toaster Oven with French Doors, and Stainless Steel is a versatile kitchen appliance that combines ten kitchen appliances into one.
•  It has a full menu of 24 custom presets and an LED display panel to make it easier to elevate your everyday meals with extraordinary results.
•  The extra-hot 500°F convection crisp technology generates 360° air flow at higher temperatures up to 30% faster vs. traditional ovens using less or no oil for the same piping hot, extra-crispy fried texture and flavor of your favorite deep-fried foods and up to 70% less calories from fat.
•  The family-size extra-large 26-quart capacity fits a whole rotisserie chicken, bakes a 12” pizza, and prepares your main dish and sides on three cooking racks for an entire family dinner.

Cons:

• This appliance’s large size means it may not be suitable for smaller kitchens or those with limited counter space.
•  The power cord is too short, which is inconvenient.
•  Some reviews mention that the grill plate and handle are missing. 
•  To power through such a large interior, the fan runs louder than average, which could be distracting.
•  A few users noticed inconsistent cooking, with certain areas like the back wall and corners over or under-cooked.
•  Due to the large 26qt capacity, getting up to air frying heat takes 10+ minutes, reducing convenience.
•  It only includes two shallow trays, which limits what you can make. Added trays are costly.

Review of Emeril Lagasse 26 QT

With its expansive 26-quart capacity, the Emeril Lagasse Air Fryer Oven can be considered the MVP for large gatherings and batch meal production. It embodies “the bigger, the better” appeal with ample room to prepare party trays of apps and several pounds of wings, nuggets, and other crispy delights in one go.

I also appreciate that it wasn’t all about size but also multi-functionality – allowing you to air fry, bake, roast, broil, toast, warm, and dehydrate. The inclusion of a rotisserie spit for self-basting meats was clever, too. However, the dizzying array of cooking options did make the digital interface overly complicated.

Regarding performance, the superconvection power generates admirable heat and airflow for crunchy textures with minimal oil. But because preheating the voluminous interior takes 10+ minutes, it’s not as convenient as smaller air fryers. And while mostly even, I did notice some burn spots in the back corners at times from uneven heat distribution.

Given the premium price tag, the accessories like trays felt cheaply made and prone to warping over time. And since only two shallow trays are included with the purchase, you’ll have to shell out more for added capacity. Finally, expect a robust fan noise level akin to a turboprop plane engine, given the brute force needed to power the 26qt cavity.

So, if you mostly need to feed large groups, the Emeril Lagasse 26 QT Air Fryer Oven satisfies that requirement. But smaller households can likely get away with more affordable, user-friendly models.