5 Reasons My Favorite Small Kitchen Appliance Of 2026 Won Me Over
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CNET reviewer David Watsky says the $250 Magnifique Combo Glass Air Fryer + Multi-Cooker became his most-used small kitchen appliance after months of testing. Its glass bowl and detachable air-fryer hood make it easier to store and serve from, though it cannot air-fry and slow-cook at once and costs more than many standalone air fryers.

CNET reviewer David Watsky says the $250 Magnifique Combo Glass Air Fryer + Multi-Cooker became his most-used small kitchen appliance after months of testing, citing its combination of air frying, slow cooking and other cooking modes in a design that breaks down for storage. The review names it a 2026 standout and reports that it received a CNET Editors’ Choice, but also notes it cannot perform both headline functions at the same time and costs more than most standalone air fryers.

Watsky identifies space-saving versatility as a main reason the appliance won him over. Its 4.5-quart glass cooking bowl sits on a multicooker base for functions including slow cooking, steaming, braising, rice, proofing, pasta, oatmeal and warming. A separate hood attaches for air frying. The hood and base can be stored away, while the glass bowl and matching lid can go in the dishwasher. Fully assembled, the appliance measures 12 by 13.5 by 13 inches.

In the review, Watsky says the slow cooker handled beef stew and braised meatballs well, and that the air fryer cooked foods including chicken thighs, wings, fries and hash browns. The air fryer offers warm, bake, air fry and max air fry settings, with a reported maximum temperature of 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Its controls do not let users set a precise air-frying temperature. The base cooker’s slow-cook settings include low and high heat with four- or six-hour cook times; it reaches a maximum of 214 degrees Fahrenheit.

The glass bowl can also serve as an oven-safe serving dish, according to CNET, reducing the need to transfer food into another vessel, much like the practical features found in workstation kitchen sinks for small kitchens. Watsky describes the combination as a useful fit for someone who regularly uses both an air fryer and slow cooker. The review also records drawbacks: the two functions cannot run at once, the appliance is pricier than many standalone air fryers, and its large capacity makes it slower and less convenient than the reviewer’s separate rice cooker for smaller batches.

At a glance
reportWhen: Published in 2026; the appliance launch…
The developmentA CNET reviewer has named Magnifique’s combination glass air fryer and multicooker a 2026 standout after months of testing.
5 Reasons My Favorite Small Kitchen Appliance of 2026 Won Me Over
Kitchen gear • 2026 review

5 Reasons This Small Kitchen Appliance Won Me Over

After months of testing, CNET reviewer David Watsky says the Magnifique Combo Glass Air Fryer + Multi-Cooker became his most-used small kitchen appliance. Its modular design brings air frying and multicooking together, with a few clear trade-offs.

Capacity 4.5 qt Glass cooking bowl
Air fry max 450°F Max air fry setting
Footprint 12 × 13.5 × 13 in Fully assembled
Recognition Choice CNET Editors’ Choice, per review
Why it won him over

Five practical advantages

Watsky’s praise centers on regular usefulness: two familiar cooking jobs, a range of extra modes and a design built to move from counter to cupboard to table.

01

Two weekly-use appliances in one

It combines an air fryer and slow cooker, the two functions Watsky says he uses regularly.

Versatility
02

Breaks down for storage

The air-fryer hood detaches from the multicooker base, making the parts easier to put away.

Space saving
03

Glass bowl goes beyond cooking

The dishwasher-safe, oven-safe bowl can also serve food, reducing transfers to another dish.

Cook • serve • clean
04

Useful results across familiar foods

The review reports good results with stew and braised meatballs, plus chicken, wings, fries and hash browns.

Reviewer tested
05

See food as it cooks

The transparent glass bowl lets cooks keep an eye on the contents without lifting a conventional opaque lid.

Visible cooking
One base, many modes

How the setup works

The glass bowl sits on the multicooker base. Attach the separate hood for air frying; use the base for its other cooking modes.

A

Air-fryer hood

Warm, bake, air fry and max air fry settings. Maximum reported temperature: 450°F.

B

Multicooker base

Slow cook, steam, braise, rice, proof, pasta, oatmeal and warming functions.

C

Removable glass bowl

4.5-quart capacity; described as dishwasher-safe and oven-safe, with a matching lid.

A useful fit, with caveats

The trade-offs to weigh

Its appeal is strongest for people who will use both headline functions. The combination does not remove every reason to keep a separate appliance.

What works

  • Combines air frying and slow cooking, plus several additional modes.
  • Detachable components make storage more flexible.
  • Glass bowl can move from cooking to serving and cleanup.
  • Reviewer says it performed well on multiple tested foods.

What to consider

  • Air frying and slow cooking cannot run at the same time.
  • At the listed $250, it costs more than many standalone air fryers.
  • No precise air-frying temperature selection.
  • Reviewer found a separate rice cooker faster and better for small batches.
The reviewer’s comparisons

Where it sits among cookers

These are review observations, not results from a controlled, identical-recipe comparison.

Magnifique Combo

Glass + detachable hood

Distinctive for adding multicooker modes to air frying, with parts that break down and a bowl that can serve at the table.

Ninja Foodi / Instant Pot

Multicooker alternatives

Watsky says these models performed well in CNET testing, but are bulkier and less easy to store in pieces.

Ninja Crispi

$180 in the review

Watsky calls it his favorite standalone air fryer. Magnifique’s distinction is the added multicooker functionality.

CookChoose hood or base
ServeUse the glass bowl
CleanDishwasher-safe bowl
StoreDetach and put away
From the review

Why it became a regular

The reviewer’s enthusiasm reflects his own experience over several months and his cooking habits.

“Save for my coffee maker, this is the small kitchen appliance I use most.”

David Watsky • CNET reviewer

What the review does not establish

The source provides no independent lab measurements for energy use, cooking speed or long-term durability. Its statement that the appliance uses less energy than an oven includes no quantified comparison or test method. Results may vary by recipe, household and use. Availability and current pricing may also change; the review reflects one tester’s experience.

Before buying

Check the fit for your kitchen

Compare current price and availability with the appliances you might otherwise buy or keep.

01 / Your routine

Will you regularly use both air frying and slow cooking?

02 / Your space

Can you store the detached hood and base, and does 4.5-quart capacity suit your meals?

03 / Your budget

Does the extra versatility justify the listed $250 price for your needs?

Key questions

Quick answers

What is the Magnifique Combo?

A 4.5-quart countertop appliance with a multicooker base, glass bowl and detachable air-fryer hood.

Can it air fry and slow cook at once?

No. The review says the two headline functions cannot operate simultaneously.

What price does the source list?

$250. Prices and availability can change; the source does not confirm whether that remains current.

Why use the glass bowl?

It is described as dishwasher-safe and oven-safe, lets you see the food and can serve at the table.

One Base, Two Regular Cooking Jobs

The appeal reported by Watsky is practical rather than a claim that the machine replaces every kitchen appliance: it combines two tools he says he uses weekly, while offering additional cooking modes. For households with limited cupboard or counter space, a unit that can be disassembled and stored may matter as much as its cooking performance. The bowl’s ability to move from cooking to serving also reduces the number of dishes involved in a meal.

The trade-off is that multi-functionality comes at a premium. At $250, the Magnifique costs more than most standalone air fryers, and its air-fry and slow-cook functions cannot operate simultaneously. Buyers who mainly want one of those functions, or who already have a multicooker they like, may not find the extra modes worth the price. The review reflects one tester’s experience, not a guarantee of identical results in every kitchen.

Products Worth Considering

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How It Compares With Other Cookers

Magnifique is described by CNET as a relatively new countertop-appliance company, with other products including a clay-pot multicooker, rice cooker, glass air fryer and handheld ice cream maker. The combination air fryer and slow cooker launched earlier in 2026, according to the source material. The review places it alongside multicookers such as Ninja’s discontinued Foodi and Instant Pot models, which can combine functions such as pressure cooking, slow cooking and air frying.

Watsky says those alternatives performed well in CNET testing but are bulkier, do not break down as easily for storage, and offer cooking chambers that are less versatile for serving. The Magnifique’s glass bowl also lets users see food as it cooks. The review compares it with the $180 Ninja Crispi, which Watsky calls his favorite standalone air fryer, while describing the Magnifique as distinct for adding multicooker functions. These are the reviewer’s comparisons; the source does not provide a full side-by-side test with identical recipes and conditions.

“Save for my coffee maker, this is the small kitchen appliance I use most.”

— David Watsky, CNET reviewer

What the Review Does Not Establish

The source material does not give independent laboratory measurements for energy use, cooking speed or long-term durability. It describes the appliance as using less energy than an oven, but supplies no test method, usage scenario or quantified comparison. That claim should not be read as a measured savings figure. The review also does not establish how the cooker performs across every recipe, household size or frequency of use.

It is also unclear from the source how widely the appliance is available, whether its price or configuration has changed since the review, and whether later testing will alter CNET’s assessment. The article’s praise is based on one reviewer’s experience over several months; readers should distinguish that evaluation from independently verified performance claims.

Check Price and Fit Before Buying

Readers considering the Magnifique can compare its current price and availability with standalone air fryers and other multicookers, then decide whether they will regularly use both air frying and slow cooking. They should also account for the 4.5-quart capacity, storage space for the detachable components and the lack of simultaneous cooking. CNET’s assessment may be updated if the product, price or testing record changes; no additional review milestone is specified in the source.

Key Questions

What is the Magnifique Combo Glass Air Fryer + Multi-Cooker?

It is a 4.5-quart countertop appliance with a multicooker base, glass cooking bowl and detachable air-fryer hood. The base offers several cooking modes, including slow cook, steam, braise and rice.

Can it air-fry and slow-cook at the same time?

No. The review lists this as a limitation: the appliance cannot use its air-fryer and slow-cooker functions simultaneously.

What does the CNET review say it costs?

The source lists a price of $250. Prices and availability can change, and the source does not confirm whether that price remains current.

What are the main drawbacks?

The appliance costs more than most standalone air fryers, cannot air-fry and slow-cook at once, and does not allow precise temperature selection for air frying. The reviewer also says a separate rice cooker is faster and produces better results for smaller rice batches.

Why did the reviewer like its glass bowl?

According to the review, the bowl is dishwasher-safe and oven-safe, lets users see food while it cooks and can be used to serve or store food. Those features can reduce transfers and cleanup, though results may vary by use.

Source: CNET

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