If you’ve been on the fence about air fryers, wondering if they are just another kitchen gadget destined to collect dust, let me stop you right there. I was in your shoes, skeptical and wary of the hype.
Then I brought home the Big Boss Oil-Less Air Fryer, and it fundamentally changed my approach to weeknight dinners, healthy eating, and even reheating leftovers. If you want crispier food, less fat, and more time back in your day, you owe it to yourself to get this machine.
It’s not just an appliance; it’s your new secret weapon in the kitchen.
My Big Boss Journey: The First Impression And Beyond
I remember the day the box arrived. It was, to be blunt, enormous.
Unpacking it, my first thought was, “Where on earth am I going to put this thing?”
It looked less like a modern kitchen gadget and more like a futuristic crystal ball.
The main component is a massive, heavy glass bowl, with a lid that houses the heating element and fan.
There are no sleek digital displays, no touch screens, just two simple dials: one for temperature and one for time.
My inner tech-lover was a little disappointed, but the part of me that hates overly complicated appliances was intrigued.
For its maiden voyage, I decided on the ultimate test: frozen french fries. I was tired of the sad, soggy results from the microwave and the long preheat time of my conventional oven.
I tossed the fries onto the included mesh rack, set the temperature to 200°C, and cranked the timer to 15 minutes. The moment I turned it on, the kitchen was flooded with a bright, orange light from the halogen bulb in the lid.
It was surprisingly intense, like a tiny sun had descended upon my countertop. Paired with the whir of the convection fan, it felt like a serious piece of machinery was at work.
The magic, however, was in the visibility. Through the glass bowl, I could see everything happening in real-time. I watched the frost melt, the potatoes start to sizzle, and then, slowly but surely, they began to turn a beautiful golden brown.
I could see which fries were browning faster and could give the rack a little shake without stopping the cooking process. After 15 minutes, the timer chimed with a satisfying ‘ding’. The result? Perfectly crispy, golden fries that were fluffy and steaming on the inside.
They had the crunch of deep-fried potatoes without a single drop of added oil. I was sold. That single, simple success opened the floodgates for experimentation with chicken wings, roasted vegetables, and even reheating pizza to a state of crispy-crusted perfection I didn’t think was possible outside of a pizzeria.
What I Absolutely Love: The Big Boss Pros
After months of putting this air fryer through its paces, I’ve come to appreciate its unique design and powerhouse performance. It’s not just about making fries; it’s about a whole new way of cooking that has genuinely made my life easier and my food tastier.
It has a set of advantages that I believe set it apart from the sea of black plastic boxes that dominate the market.
- The Sheer Volume is a Game-Changer
The first and most obvious pro is its massive 16-quart capacity.
When you see pictures of other air fryers, you often see a small basket that might hold enough wings for one or two people.
With the Big Boss, I can cook an entire 5-pound chicken. I’m not exaggerating.
It comes out with skin so crispy it crackles, and meat that is unbelievably juicy because the convection fan circulates the air perfectly.
This isn’t just for single items, either. The unit comes with two racks, a high one and a low one. This means you can create two cooking levels.
I regularly place salmon fillets on the top rack for a quick, crispy sear while a bed of asparagus and bell peppers roasts beneath them on the lower rack. This ability to cook a main and a side dish simultaneously is a massive time-saver for family meals.
You simply can’t achieve this kind of volume or versatility in a standard basket-style air fryer.
- The 360-Degree Cooking View
I cannot overstate how much I love the glass bowl. Most air fryers are black boxes. You put your food in, set the timer, and hope for the best. You have to constantly pull out the basket to check on the progress, which lets all the hot air escape and slows down the cooking process.
With the Big Boss, cooking becomes a visual experience. You can see the exact moment your chicken skin starts to crisp up or when your Brussels sprouts are perfectly charred. This eliminates all the guesswork.
You’re no longer cooking blind. It prevents you from ever burning your food because you can see it happening and adjust the time accordingly. It’s also a fantastic way to get kids interested in cooking.
They are mesmerized watching the food transform before their eyes. It turns dinner prep from a chore into a little bit of kitchen theater.
- Three-Way Cooking Power
The Big Boss doesn’t just use hot air. Its lid contains a powerful combination of three cooking methods that work in harmony. First, there’s the halogen bulb. This provides an intense, radiant heat that is fantastic for browning and searing, much like a broiler.
Second, there’s infrared heat, which penetrates the food to cook it from the inside out, ensuring that your chicken isn’t just crispy on the outside but perfectly cooked and juicy near the bone.
Finally, there’s the convection fan, which circulates the super-heated air all around the food. This is the key to that “air fried” crispiness, as it wicks away moisture from the surface of the food.
This triple-threat technology means food cooks faster and more evenly than in many other appliances.
- Simplicity in Operation
In an age of smart appliances with Wi-Fi connectivity and a dozen preset buttons, the Big Boss is refreshingly simple. There are two mechanical dials on the lid: one for temperature (up to 250°C) and one for time (up to 60 minutes).
That’s it.
There are no menus to navigate, no complicated programs to set. You want to cook something at 190°C for 20 minutes? You turn the dials to 190 and 20. This straightforward interface makes it incredibly accessible for everyone, regardless of their comfort level with technology.
It’s robust, intuitive, and there are fewer electronic parts to potentially fail down the line. It’s a workhorse, not a show pony, and I appreciate its direct, no-fuss approach to getting the job done.
Some Things To Keep In Mind: The Cons
No appliance is perfect, and my love for the Big Boss doesn’t blind me to its quirks and drawbacks. It’s important you know what you’re getting into, as some of its unique features can also be its biggest challenges.
- The Countertop Real Estate It Demands
Let’s be clear: this thing is huge. It’s not a petite appliance you can tuck away in a corner.
It has a wide, round footprint that commands a significant amount of counter space.
If you have a small kitchen with limited surface area, this is a major consideration.
You also need to account for vertical clearance, as the lid handle adds a few inches to its height.
I have to store mine on a separate utility cart because it’s just too bulky to live on my main countertop permanently.
- The Glass Bowl’s Weight and Fragility
The very feature I love—the giant glass bowl—is also a source of anxiety. It is heavy. When it’s hot and full of food, lifting it requires care. More importantly, cleaning it can be cumbersome.
While it’s dishwasher safe, its size means it will likely take up most of your bottom rack. I prefer to wash it by hand, but maneuvering a heavy, potentially slippery glass bowl in a sink is not for the faint of heart.
The ever-present fear is that one wrong move could lead to a crack or a complete shatter, which would render the entire unit useless.
- The Halogen Bulb’s Brightness
When the Big Boss is running, it is incredibly bright. The halogen bulb that does such a great job of browning your food illuminates the kitchen with an intense, warm glow. If your kitchen is open to your living area, it can be distracting.
It’s not a deal-breaker by any means, but if you’re sensitive to bright lights, it’s something to be aware of. You won’t be cooking in a subtly lit environment.
- Navigating the Hot Lid
The lid contains all the heating elements and the fan, which means it gets extremely hot during operation. You absolutely cannot touch it anywhere but the handle. The Big Boss comes with a small plastic stand for you to place the hot lid on when you need to access the food.
You must use this stand every single time. Placing the hot lid directly on your countertop could damage it. It’s a safety step that becomes second nature, but it requires a bit of discipline and an extra bit of space next to the unit to place the stand.
Keeping Your Big Boss in Tip-Top Shape: Maintenance and Pro Tips
Owning the Big Boss has taught me a few tricks for keeping it clean and getting the most out of every meal. Proper care not only extends its life but also ensures your food always tastes fantastic.
This isn’t a high-maintenance machine, but a little bit of know-how goes a long way.
- The Self-Cleaning Trick
One of the coolest, and perhaps undersold, features is its light cleaning function. For everyday messes, you don’t always need to haul the heavy bowl to the sink.
Once you’re done cooking and the bowl has cooled down slightly (but is still warm), pour about two inches of warm water into the bottom. Add a single drop of dish soap. Now, place the lid back on, set the temperature to a low setting like 120°C, and run it for about 5-10 minutes.
The hot, soapy water will be swirled around by the convection fan, effectively steam-cleaning the inside and loosening most of the light grease and food particles. After it’s done, you just pour out the water, give it a quick rinse, and wipe it dry.
This is a lifesaver for quick cleanups after making something like roasted vegetables.
- Deep Cleaning the Glass Bowl
For heavier jobs, like after cooking a whole chicken or greasy chicken wings, the self-clean trick might not be enough. That’s when you have to commit to a proper hand wash. My best advice is to tackle it while the bowl is still warm, as the grease will come off much more easily.
Use a non-abrasive sponge or cloth to avoid scratching the glass. I find that a good degreasing dish soap works wonders. The biggest challenge, as I mentioned, is its weight. Make sure you have a firm grip and clear the area around your sink to avoid any accidental bumps.
Always dry it thoroughly with a soft cloth to prevent water spots, which can be quite noticeable on the clear glass.
- Caring for the Racks and Accessories
The wire racks are the parts that get the dirtiest. While they are dishwasher safe, I’ve found that grease can get really baked on. The secret weapon here is to spray them with a bit of cooking oil before you place your food on them.
This creates a non-stick layer that makes cleanup infinitely easier. If you do have stubborn, baked-on food, soaking the racks in hot, soapy water for about 30 minutes before scrubbing will loosen almost anything.
I also make sure to dry them completely right after washing to prevent any chance of rust forming over time.
- My Secret to Even Cooking
Because the heat source is directly at the top, food placed in the very center, right under the halogen bulb, can sometimes cook faster or get a bit too brown.
To combat this, I’ve learned to arrange my food in a doughnut shape whenever possible, leaving a small open space in the middle. This allows the hot air to circulate more freely and ensures everything from chicken thighs to potato wedges cooks evenly all the way around.
- Mastering the Extender Ring
The metal extender ring is a simple but brilliant accessory that increases the cooker’s capacity. It sits on the rim of the glass bowl, allowing you to place the lid higher up. This is essential for cooking larger items like a whole chicken or a small turkey breast.
The tip here is to remember that the farther the food is from the heating element, the longer it will take to brown. When using the ring, you might need to increase your total cook time slightly or finish the food with a few minutes at a higher temperature to get that perfectly crispy skin.
How Does the Big Boss Stack Up? A Friendly Comparison
While I’ve shared my personal journey with the Big Boss, the real question for you is how it stacks up against the other options you’re likely considering.
The air fryer market is crowded, and the unique design of the Big Boss puts it in a very different category from the typical basket-style models. Let’s break down how it compares to some popular competitors in a direct, feature-for-feature analysis.
- Big Boss Vs. Fabuletta Air Fryer
This is a classic battle of capacity versus countertop chic.
When you place the Big Boss next to a Fabuletta air fryer, the difference is immediately obvious.
The Fabuletta Air Fryer is all about modern aesthetics and compact efficiency.
It’s the kind of appliance you choose when kitchen space is at a premium and you want something that looks sleek and sophisticated next to your coffee maker.
Fabuletta models are typically basket-style, ranging from 4 to 9 quarts, and boast vibrant digital touchscreens with multiple cooking presets. This is for the user who loves a “set it and forget it” approach.
You can tap the icon for chicken or fries, and the machine knows the time and temperature for you. The non-stick, lightweight basket is a dream to clean and handle. However, its compact size is also its main limitation.
You’ll be cooking in smaller batches, and larger items are simply out of the question.
The Big Boss, on the other hand, is a functional beast. It completely sacrifices the sleek, compact design for sheer, unadulterated cooking volume. At 16 quarts, it can handle a family-sized meal in one go, something the Fabuletta could only dream of.
The comparison in user experience is stark. With the Fabuletta, your food is hidden away in a basket. With my Big Boss, I am watching the entire cooking process through the glass bowl, giving me total control to prevent burning. The Big Boss’s simple analog dials feel rustic in comparison to Fabuletta’s tech-forward display.
The verdict here depends entirely on your lifestyle. If you are cooking for one or two, live in an apartment with a smaller kitchen, and value a stylish, easy-to-clean gadget with smart presets, the Fabuletta is your winner.
If you have a family, prioritize cooking large quantities of food at once, and love the idea of visually monitoring your meal, the Big Boss is in a league of its own.
- Big Boss Vs. Bella Pro Series Air Fryer
This matchup is about unique technology versus trusted, mainstream performance.
The Bella Pro Series is a staple in many stores, known for its reliable performance and powerful heating elements.
The Bella Pro Series Air Fryer represents the gold standard for a conventional basket-style air fryer.
These units are workhorses, often featuring a powerful 1700-watt heating system that gets food crispy, fast.
They come in various sizes and offer both analog and digital controls, but their core function is the same: a drawer-style basket that you pull out to shake and check on your food.
The stainless steel finishes on many models give them a durable, professional look.
Cleaning is straightforward, and the operation is exactly what most people picture when they think of an air fryer. It’s a proven, reliable design that consistently delivers great results.
The Big Boss challenges this convention with its entirely different approach to cooking. Instead of just a standard heating element and fan, it uses that three-pronged attack of halogen, convection, and infrared heat.
I find this combination gives a unique, oven-roasted quality to food, especially larger items like a whole chicken, that a Bella basket fryer can’t quite replicate. The Bella is fantastic for getting things like fries and nuggets evenly crispy by shaking them, a task that’s more awkward with the Big Boss’s rack system.
However, my Big Boss can perfectly roast a rack of ribs or a large fish fillet in a single, flat layer, which would be impossible to fit in most Bella baskets.
Your choice comes down to cooking style. If you want a no-frills, powerful, and proven machine primarily for cooking smaller, shakable items to crispy perfection, the Bella Pro Series is a fantastic and dependable choice.
If you see yourself cooking larger roasts and full meals, and you’re intrigued by the unique cooking technology and the ability to watch your food transform, the Big Boss offers a more versatile, albeit unconventional, experience.
- Big Boss Vs. Kitchen Elite Air Fryer
This is the battle of the titans—two large-capacity machines with fundamentally different designs.
This comparison is less about size and more about shape and function.
The Kitchen Elite Air Fryer often comes in a toaster-oven or “air fryer oven” form factor.
Think of it as a miniaturized convection oven.
Its shape is rectangular, and its major advantage is the ability to use multiple flat racks simultaneously.
This makes it an absolute champion for cooking large, flat batches of food—think three racks of chicken wings for a party, or multiple sheets of dehydrated fruit. Many models also include a rotisserie function, which is a fantastic feature for poultry.
It’s a multi-purpose appliance that excels at baking, toasting, and air frying in layers.
The Big Boss, while also large, uses a completely different airflow dynamic. Its round bowl and top-mounted fan create a vortex of hot air that is incredibly efficient for cooking a single large item, like my favorite whole-roasted chicken.
The air circulates evenly around the central item, creating a perfectly uniform, crispy skin. While the Kitchen Elite can cook more individual pieces at once on its racks, the heat distribution might not be as perfectly even from top to bottom.
Furthermore, the Big Boss is a dedicated air fryer/roaster. The Kitchen Elite is a countertop oven that also air fries. The focused power of my Big Boss often feels more intense and faster for pure “air frying” tasks than the more diffuse heat of a larger oven-style unit.
The decision here is about your cooking priorities. If you envision using your appliance for multi-layered cooking, dehydrating, rotisserie, and toasting bread, the Kitchen Elite Air Fryer oven offers superior versatility.
If your primary goal is to achieve the best possible roast on large, single items and to have the most intense, focused air frying power in a simple-to-operate machine, the Big Boss and its unique circular design holds the edge.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Absolutely, but it depends on what you value. If your priority is maximum capacity, the ability to cook an entire meal at once (like a whole chicken and vegetables), and you enjoy visually monitoring your food as it cooks, then the Big Boss is an excellent air fryer. Its simple, two-dial operation is also a huge plus for those who dislike complex digital controls. However, if you have limited counter space or find a heavy glass bowl cumbersome, a smaller basket-style model might be a better fit.
There are a few common reasons. Some people buy small, cheap models and are disappointed with the limited capacity and uneven results, leading them to believe all air fryers are like that. Others dislike the cleaning process, especially with basket models where grease can get baked into crevices. Another reason is the countertop footprint; like any appliance, if you don’t use it regularly, it can start to feel like clutter. People who successfully integrate an air fryer into their routine are usually the ones who chose a size and style that genuinely fits their cooking habits and kitchen space.
The “highest rated” title is constantly changing and often depends on the specific needs of the user and the criteria of the reviewer (e.g., best budget, best for families, best multi-cooker). Brands like Ninja, Instant Pot (Vortex), Cosori, and Philips consistently receive top marks for their performance, reliability, and innovative features. The key is to look at what makes them highly rated. It’s usually a combination of powerful and even cooking, ease of use, simple cleanup, and a capacity that suits the user’s household size.
The Big Boss brand is primarily associated with E. Mishan & Sons, Inc., also known as Emson. They are a company known for developing and marketing “As Seen on TV” products and various housewares. The Big Boss Air Fryer gained significant popularity through direct marketing and television commercials, highlighting its large capacity and unique glass bowl design, setting it apart from the more traditional basket-style fryers that were also entering the market.
Wrapping Up
After months of use, the initial novelty has worn off, but my appreciation for the Big Boss has only deepened. It has earned its place as a true workhorse in my kitchen, delivering consistently delicious, crispy, and healthier food with minimal fuss.
For anyone looking to eat better without sacrificing flavor or spending hours over a stove, this appliance is a revelation.
I wholeheartedly recommend you take the plunge and discover the joy of air frying with the Big Boss. It will redefine what’s possible for your weeknight meals.