REASONS TO BUY
Sleek appearance
Plentiful functions and presets
Intuitive interface
REASONS TO AVOID
Terrible temperature accuracy
Uneven cooking
Tray falls out too easily
Dreo Pro Max Review
A sleek model with plenty of presets, but it does lack in cooking performance and temperature accuracy
Credit: Dreo
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Our Verdict
The sleek look of the Dreo Pro Max may instill more confidence than is warranted. The digital touch screen interface responds to the slightest of touch, and the nicely coated basket is easy to clean. The presets and functions come in handy, but the overall cooking performance leaves much to be desired. The temperature is off by at least 20°F, so food cooks very fast on the outside while the interior remains completely uncooked. If you are looking for something that looks good on the counter and don't mind adjusting your temperature 20°F lower than what the machine is reading, this may be a good option for you. However, there are higher-performing options for less money.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The smaller footprint of the Dro Pro Max and its sleek look make this an enticing option. This 6.8-quart air fryer is 13.6" by 12.4" by 14.9" and looks great in any kitchen.
Performance Comparison
The Pro Max is sleek but its performance is lacking.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Cooking Performance
This air fryer cooks a decent donut. It is slightly doughy on the inside, with a decent crisp on the outside. Tots are notably the easiest food item to cook properly in an air fryer, and the Pro Max does alright. They are done in about 10 minutes. The outside is nice and crispy, but the inside is a little underdone.
Here are the test donuts, pre-glaze.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente
While the donut performed well during our testing, the rest of the Dreo's cooking performance falls short. The sweet potato fries took longer than expected and came out burnt on both ends and the tops; they were also mushy in the middle. Onion rings took half the time recommended but were burnt on the outside and undercooked in the middle, similar to sweet potato fries. The Pro Max produces a chicken breast with a tough outer layer and a juicy interior, making it chewy rather than tender.
The Pro Max provides a decent crisp but did not evenly cook our test tots.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente
Ease of Use
The super sleek, all-black Pro Max looks great in any kitchen, and it is relatively easy to use. The digital interface registers fingers with the slightest touch, and they disappear completely when the Pro Max is turned off. Unfortunately, the lighting is a little dim, rendering it difficult to read.
The Dreo interface is intuitive and the buttons are responsive.
Credit: Austin Palmer
The drawer slides smoothly in and out, and the button on the handle quickly releases the inner basket. The tray comes out easily for cleaning, however, it flops out when pouring your food out. The temperature ranges from 100°F to 450°F, and the Pro Max offers six functions: air fry, bake, roast, dehydrate and preheat. The cook time caps out at 60 minutes, but the dehydrate function lasts up to 72 hours. This air fryer also has presets for fries, poultry, steak, seafood, bacon, and vegetables. The Pro Max also has an interior light, which makes it easy to keep an eye on your food.
If you look through the viewing window from the right angle, it's easy to keep an eye on your food while it's cooking.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Ease of Cleaning
The Pro Max is easy enough to wipe down as it has a generous non-stick coating, although crumbs can fall between the top and the side walls. The tray is stacked with grooves that need to be individually wiped out with a sponge, which can be cumbersome. The silicone feet on the tray come off, which is nice, but they are so difficult to get back on that most people will elect never to take them off again.
Small grooves and holes can make air fryer trays difficult to clean.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Temperature Accuracy
The Pro Max is sleek and easy to use, but its temperature is painfully inaccurate. We test each air fryer's temperature accuracy with a series of thermometers at four preset temperatures: 300°F, 350°F, 375°F, and 400°F. The Pro Max is consistently 20 to 25°F over the set temperature.
An air fryer that is 25 degrees off can negatively affect your cooking.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Value
This air fryer performs well, but the lack of temperature accuracy is a dealbreaker. Since it is consistent in its inaccuracy, you could feasibly set it 20°F lower than the recommended temperature. However, there are other options in our test suite that cost the same or less and offer a more reliable performance.
Conclusion
The Dreo Pro Max is a sleek, easy-to-use air fryer. This might be the right option if you are in the market for something that doesn't take up too much space and looks nice on your countertop. Although, its lack of cooking performance and the ability to hold an accurate temperature are a big deterrent.
The Pro Max did not prove to be a top performer. More affordable and higher performing options exist in our fleet.
Credit: Austin Palmer
—
Hayley Thomas
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