DASH DCAF26CM (01) PDF MANUAL

When using the DASH DCAF26CM, basic safety precautions should always be followed, including:

• Read all instructions before use.

• Remove all bags and packaging from the appliance before use.

• Never leave the appliance unattended when in use.

• Make sure the appliance is cleaned thoroughly before using.

• Do not use the appliance for other than its intended use. For household use only. Do not use outdoors.

• Only use the appliance on a stable, dry surface.

• Do not place the appliance on or near a hot gas burner, hot electric burner, or in a heated oven.

• Extreme caution must be used when moving an appliance containing hot oil or other hot liquids.

• This appliance is not a toy. Do not let children use this appliance. Close supervision is necessary when any kitchen appliance is used by or near children.

• Do not touch hot surfaces with bare hands. Use handles or knobs.

• To prevent the risk of fire, electric shock, or personal injury, do not put the cord, plug, or appliance in or near water or other liquids. The DASH DCAF26CM Air Fryer is NOT dishwasher safe.

• Do not let the cord touch hot surfaces or hang over the edge of tables or counters.

• Refrain from using attachments that are not recommended by the appliance manufacturer, as this may result in fire, electric shock, or personal injury.

• Unplug the appliance and allow it to cool prior to assembly/disassembly, moving, cleaning, storage, and when not in use. To unplug, grasp the plug and pull from the outlet. Never pull from the power cord.

• To disconnect, turn any control to “OFF,” then remove the plug from the wall outlet.

• To avoid burns, use extreme caution when removing accessories or disposing of hot grease.

• Do not store any materials other than the manufacturer’s recommended accessories in this appliance.

• Do not place any of the following materials in the Air Fryer: paper, cardboard, plastic, or similar products.

• Do not cover any part of the Air Fryer with metal foil. This will cause overheating of the oven.

• Oversize foods, metal foil packages, and utensils must not be inserted in the Air Fryer as they may involve a risk of fire or electric shock.

• Do not allow the appliance to be covered by or touch flammable materials such as curtains, draperies, or walls when in operation. Do not store any items on top of the appliance when in operation. Do not operate under wall cabinets.

• Do not clean with metal scouring pads. Pieces can break off the pad and touch electrical parts, creating a risk of electric shock.

• Do not attempt to dislodge food when the appliance is plugged in. Unplug and allow the appliance to cool down completely before proceeding.

• Use recommended temperature settings for all cooking, baking, roasting, and air frying.

• Do not operate this appliance with a damaged cord, damaged plug, after the appliance malfunctions, is dropped, or damaged in any manner.

• This appliance has a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other). To reduce the risk of electric shock, this plug will fit in a polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does not completely fit in the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician. Do not attempt to modify the plug in any way.

• A short power supply cord is provided to reduce the risk resulting from becoming entangled in or tripping over a longer cord. An extension cord may be used if care is exercised in its use. If an extension cord is used, the marked electrical rating of the extension cord should be at least as great as the electrical rating of the appliance. The extension cord should be arranged so that it will not drape over the countertop or tabletop where it can be pulled on by children or tripped over unintentionally.

The DASH DCAF26CM includes the following parts and features:

• Air Inlet

• Digital Display

• Power Button

• Air Outlet (on the reverse side)

• Crisper Drawer

• Crisper Drawer Handle

• Crisper Tray

Before using your DASH DCAF26CM, please follow these steps:

1. Remove all packaging materials.

2. Check that the Air Fryer has no visible damage and that no parts are missing.

3. Before using the appliance for the first time, or before using it after prolonged storage, wash and dry the appliance and any accompanying accessories. Please refer to the “Cleaning & Maintenance” instructions.

1. Place the appliance on a stable, flat, heat-resistant surface.

2. Remove the Crisper Drawer from the Air Fryer and insert the Crisper Tray. Place food in the Crisper Drawer on the Crisper Tray. Note: There is no need to add any oil as the appliance cooks with hot air, although foods can be tossed in a small amount of oil for crispier results.

3. After adding food, slide the Crisper Drawer back inside the Air Fryer.

4. To begin cooking, plug the Air Fryer in. Once plugged in, the Air Fryer will chime and the digital screen will begin flashing, indicating that the Air Fryer is on and in standby mode.

5. To manually choose settings, press the Start Button. This will cause the digital screen to stop flashing.

6. To choose a temperature for cooking, press the “Temp” button on the Digital Display. Then use the up and down buttons to find the preferred temperature between 200°F and 400°F.

7. To set the Timer for cooking, press the “Time” button on the Digital Display. Then use the up and down Timer Buttons to find the preferred time between zero and 60 minutes.

8. Once time and temperature are set, begin air frying by pressing Start again.

Quickstart Mode is a shortcut that cooks food quickly and automatically at a preset of 400°F for 20 minutes. To enter Quickstart Mode and begin cooking immediately, press the Start button once, then press again.

The DASH DCAF26CM has three Preset Buttons that can be programmed to cook food at preferred times and temperatures.

To program a Preset:

1. Select a preferred time and temperature.

2. Press and HOLD the desired Preset Button (PRE 1, 2, or 3) for about 3 seconds.

3. A chime will sound, indicating that the Preset has been saved and programmed.

To cook using a Preset:

1. Simply press the desired Preset Button.

2. Press Start.

3. The Air Fryer will begin cooking right away.

To reprogram a Preset:

Select the new preferred time and temperature, then press and HOLD the Preset Button for three seconds. A chime will sound indicating the new preferences have been saved.

1. When the DASH DCAF26CM is done cooking, a chime will sound.

2. Pull the Crisper Drawer out of the appliance and place it on a heat-resistant surface. Caution: The Crisper Drawer and Crisper Tray will be hot. Only touch the Crisper Drawer by the Crisper Drawer Handle.

3. If food is not done, slide the Crisper Drawer back into the appliance and set the timer for a few extra minutes.

4. Empty the Crisper Drawer into a serving dish. To remove large or greasy items, lift them out of the Crisper Drawer with a pair of tongs. Excess oil will collect at the bottom of the Crisper Drawer. Allow the appliance to cool before disposing of any excess oil.

• Some foods require shaking halfway through the cooking cycle for even cooking results. For the crispiest results, remove the Crisper Drawer from the appliance halfway through cooking and shake it gently from side to side.

• Soak fresh potatoes in water for 30 minutes prior to frying, then add a small amount of oil for a crispy result. Fry potatoes in the Air Fryer within a few minutes of adding the oil.

• Snacks like frozen chicken nuggets and mozzarella sticks usually prepared in an oven can also be cooked in the Air Fryer.

• Air frying smaller items or fewer items will require a shorter cooking time than larger items or more items.

• Avoid preparing extremely greasy items such as sausage in the Air Fryer.

• Use a baking pan in the Crisper Drawer to bake a cake or quiche or to fry fragile or filled items.

• The DASH DCAF26CM can also be used to reheat foods. To reheat food, set the temperature to 300°F for up to 10 minutes.

1. Prior to cleaning, remove the plug from the wall socket and let the appliance cool down completely. Removing the Crisper Drawer allows the Air Fryer to cool down quicker.

2. Allow the Air Fryer and all components to cool completely after cooking before moving, cleaning, or storing.

3. Thoroughly clean the appliance after every use.

4. Do not clean the Crisper Tray, Crisper Drawer, or the inside of the appliance with metal kitchen utensils or abrasive cleaning materials as they will damage the ceramic nonstick coating.

5. To clean the outside of the appliance, wipe with a moist, soft cloth.

6. To clean the Crisper Tray and Crisper Drawer, use a non-abrasive sponge with hot water and dish soap.

7. To remove residue from the heating element inside the Air Fryer, use a soft brush or towel. Only attempt to clean the heating element after the Air Fryer has cooled completely.

8. Make sure that the appliance is unplugged and all parts are clean and dry before storing.

Chef Tip: If food is still stuck on the Crisper Tray or Drawer after initial cleaning, fill the Drawer with hot water and let the Tray and Drawer soak for up to 10 minutes, then wash by hand.

Please keep in mind that these temperatures and times are guidelines, not exact specifications. Actual cooking times vary depending on the size, shape, and amount of food. When air frying a new item, always make sure food is cooked properly before consumption. According to the USDA, the safe internal temperature is 165°F for poultry and 160°F for beef. If food is not cooked properly using these guidelines, add a few minutes to the Air Fryer and cook food longer.

INGREDIENT	TEMP (°F)	TIME (MIN)
Thin frozen fries	400°F	16-20
Thick frozen fries	400°F	17-20
Frozen chicken nuggets	370°F	10
Drumsticks	400°F	Cook for 8-10 minutes at 400°F, then lower the temp to 320°F for 10 minutes
Hamburger	360°F	6-10
Meatballs – 1″	400°F	6-10
Chicken breast (boneless, skinless)	360°F	15-20
Chicken wings	400°F	13-18
Bacon – regular	400°F	10
Shrimp (frozen)	390°F	8-20
Onion rings	400°F	12-15
Frozen fish sticks	390°F	10
Mozzarella sticks	350°F	10
Spring rolls	390°F	10-15
Pot Stickers	400°F	7-10
Brussels sprouts (trimmed, halved if large sizes)	375°F	20
Sweet potato fries – frozen	360°F	10-12
Sweet potato fries – fresh	400°F	10
Air fried mixed veggies (red bell pepper, summer squash, zucchini, mushrooms and onion)	375°F	15-20

If your DASH DCAF26CM does not turn on, the appliance may not be plugged in. Please plug the Air Fryer into a grounded wall socket.

There could be a couple of reasons for this:

• Too much food has been added to the Crisper Drawer. Use less food and cook in batches if necessary; food will also cook more evenly.

• The temperature was set too low. Adjust the temperature to the required temperature setting based on the cooking charts.

Certain types of food need to be shaken halfway through the preparation time. Items that lie on top of or across each other (e.g., fries) need to be shaken halfway through the preparation time.

This may be because the food was not dry enough or needs more oil. Make sure to properly dry the food or lightly brush some oil onto the snacks for a crispier result.

There may be too much food in the Crisper Drawer. Do not overfill the Crisper Drawer.

There are a couple of possible causes for white smoke:

• The food may have too much oil or grease. When frying greasy items in the Air Fryer, a large amount of fat will leak into the Crisper Drawer. The fat produces white smoke and the Crisper Drawer may heat up more than usual. This does not affect the appliance or the end result.

• The Crisper Drawer still contains residue from previous use. White smoke is caused by grease heating up in the Crisper Drawer. Make sure to clean the Crisper Drawer properly after each use.

Certain types of food need to be shaken halfway through the preparation time. Items that lie on top of or across each other, like fries, need to be shaken halfway through the preparation time.

The crispiness of the fries depends on the amount of oil and water in the fries. For a crispier result, try the following:

• Make sure to dry the raw fries properly before adding the oil.

• Slice the potato into smaller pieces.

• Add slightly more oil.