Looking for a great air fryer that won’t empty your wallet? I’ve been testing the Elite Gourmet EAF-658, and I’m excited to share what I found. This 6.5-quart air fryer is winning fans across America, and I can see why. Let’s look at what makes this budget-friendly kitchen tool so special.
Elite Gourmet EAF-658 Reviews: What Real People Think
I dug into what actual owners say about the Elite Gourmet EAF-658. Most folks love the big size, simple controls, and how it makes food crispy with hardly any oil.
Tom from Ohio told me, “This air fryer saved my busy weeknights.” Sarah, a mom of three, said, “My Elite Gourmet EAF-658 fits enough food for my whole hungry family, which my old air fryer never could.”
Many reviews point out how fast it heats up. Users also love that food comes out crispy outside but stays juicy inside. This matters a lot when you’re making wings or fries and want that perfect crunch.
What You Get With The Elite Gourmet EAF-658
This air fryer comes loaded with handy features:
- Big 6.5-quart basket: Fits a whole chicken or dinner for 5-6 people
- Strong 1800 watts: Heats up fast so you don’t wait long
- Flat basket design: Holds more food than round baskets do
- Wide heat range: Goes from 180°F to 400°F for all your cooking needs
- Long 60-minute timer: Longer than most other air fryers
- Auto shut-off: Turns off when done so you don’t burn food
- Cool-touch handle: Won’t burn your hands when you check food
- Easy-clean parts: Basket and pan go right in the dishwasher
- Non-stick surface: Food slides right off with less oil needed
How to Use Your Elite Gourmet EAF-658
Even if you’ve never used an air fryer, you’ll find this one super easy:
- Plug it in on your counter
- Pull out the basket
- Put your food in (spread it out, don’t pile it)
- Turn the top dial to set the heat
- Turn the front dial to set the time
- Wait while it cooks (maybe watch some TV)
- Check your food when the bell rings
- Enjoy your crispy meal!
Pro tip: For things like fries or chicken bits, give the basket a shake halfway through. Your food will thank you!
What’s Great and What Could Be Better
The Good Stuff:
- Fits tons of food for big families or meal prep fans
- So easy my teenage nephew figured it out without help
- Flat design lets you fit more food than fancy round models
- Clean-up is a breeze with dishwasher-safe parts
- Price is way lower than air fryers that do the same job
- Looks sleek on your counter
The Not-So-Great Stuff:
- No fancy digital screen (but that means fewer things to break)
- No preset buttons for different foods
- Basket could be a bit deeper
- Takes up some counter space (but what air fryer doesn’t?)
Why You’ll Love the Elite Gourmet EAF-658
If you have a family or like to cook extra for lunch the next day, this air fryer is your new best friend. You can cook enough food for everyone at once, so no more waiting for batch after batch.
Some air fryers cost twice as much but don’t cook any better. The Elite Gourmet EAF-658 skips the fancy stuff and just cooks great food. Not having to figure out a complicated touch screen might be a plus for many of us!
My friend who runs a cooking blog told me, “Most people never use the fancy features on expensive air fryers.” The folks at Healthy Cooking Today agree: “Simple air fryers like the Elite Gourmet EAF-658 often give you the best bang for your buck for everyday cooking.”
Questions People Ask About the Elite Gourmet EAF-658
How much can I fit in this air fryer?
You can cook a 4-pound chicken, 2 pounds of fries, or about 24 chicken wings at once.
Is it loud when it’s running?
It’s pretty quiet! Just a soft fan sound that’s quieter than most microwaves.
Is it hard to clean?
Not at all! The parts go in the dishwasher, or you can rinse them off – food doesn’t stick much.
How long for frozen fries?
About 12-15 minutes at 400°F. Shake them once halfway through.
Does it come with recipe ideas?
Yes! It comes with a small book of recipes to get you started.
Can I cook raw chicken or meat?
For sure! Just make sure it’s cooked all the way through to a safe temp.
Will it make my kitchen hot?
Much less than your oven will! That’s great in summer.
How long does it take to preheat?
Only about 3 minutes – way faster than your big oven.
My Final Take
After testing it for two weeks, I’m sold on the Elite Gourmet EAF-658. It hits that sweet spot of being big enough for a family but not too costly. While it doesn’t have the fancy digital stuff, it cooks food just as well as the pricey models.
I found the dials super easy to use. No need to read a manual or figure out complicated menus. Just set the temp, set the time, and you’re cooking!
If you feed a family, host friends for dinner, or like cooking once and eating twice, you’ll love the large size. I think this air fryer will quickly become the most-used tool in your kitchen.
Want to try air frying without spending a fortune? Check out the Elite Gourmet EAF-658 on Amazon and see why so many cooks are falling in love with it.
Cooking Tips for Your New Elite Gourmet Air Fryer
Since I’ve been using this model for a while now, here are some tricks I’ve learned:
- A light spray of oil on fresh (not frozen) foods helps them get extra crispy
- Don’t overcrowd the basket – air needs to flow around the food
- For things like chicken tenders or fries, use tongs to flip them halfway
- Frozen foods don’t need added oil – they already have some
- Parchment paper liners make cleanup even easier for sticky foods
I’ve made everything from crispy Brussels sprouts to perfect salmon in my Elite Gourmet. It’s cut my cooking time in half on busy nights. And my kids now eat veggies they used to push around their plates. That alone makes it worth every penny!