PowerXL Air Fryer Grill vs. Emeril Lagasse 360: Which Multi-Cooker Actually Rules the Counter?

The kitchen appliance market has shifted from “do one thing well” to “do everything at once,” and few models embody this better than the PowerXL Air Fryer Grill and the Emeril Lagasse Power AirFryer 360. I spent a month testing these side-by-side, oscillating between perfectly seared steaks and golden-brown rotisserie chickens.

While they both look like sleek stainless steel boxes destined for the same countertop real estate, their “personalities” in the kitchen are surprisingly distinct. One is a grill-first powerhouse designed for the barbecue enthusiast, while the other is a sophisticated mini-oven that aims to replace your toaster, slow cooker, and convection oven in one fell swoop.

The Key Difference: Grilling Grates vs. Oven Airflow

The fundamental key difference between the PowerXL Air Fryer Grill and the Emeril Lagasse 360 is their core engineering focus. The PowerXL is designed as an indoor grill first; it features a heavy-duty, non-stick grill plate that sits directly over a heating element to reach a searing 450°F. It’s built to give you those deep, charred grill marks you usually only get from a propane tank in the backyard.

The Emeril Lagasse 360, conversely, is a convection-style oven through and through. It uses “360° Quick Cook Technology” with five heating elements (most convection ovens only have three) to create a whirlwind of superheated air. While it has 12 presets—four more than the PowerXL—it excels at even baking, slow cooking, and rotisserie rather than intense bottom-up searing.

Comparison Table: PowerXL vs. Emeril Lagasse 360

Feature	PowerXL Air Fryer Grill	Emeril Lagasse 360
Primary Goal	Indoor Grilling & Air Frying	Full Convection Oven Replacement
Heating Elements	Dual (Top & Bottom)	5 (360° Quick Cook Tech)
Presets	8 Functions	12 Functions
Max Temperature	450°F	400°F (Air Fry) / 450°F (Toast)
Capacity	10 lb Chicken / 6 Burgers	930 Cubic Inches (XL)
Special Function	High-Heat Searing Grill	Slow Cook (Up to 10 hours)
Finish	Black or Stainless Steel	Brushed Stainless Steel
Wattage	1500 Watts	1500 Watts
Check Latest Price & Deals	Buy on Amazon	Buy on Amazon

Detailed Comparative Review: My Experience

Lets dig deep and find out how both products will do in terms of design, ease of use and number of cooking functions offered followed by pros and cons to make your decision making easier for you.

Design and Build Quality: Industrial vs. Professional

The first time I touched the PowerXL Air Fryer Grill, it felt like a sturdy piece of outdoor equipment that had been miniaturized for the kitchen. It has a slightly more “rugged” feel, with a heavy lid and a layout that prioritizes the grill grate. It’s a bit wider and deeper (15″D x 20″W), which means it takes up a serious chunk of counter space.

The Emeril Lagasse 360 has a more “professional chef” aesthetic. The brushed stainless steel is high-quality and easy to wipe down. It feels more like a luxury toaster oven than a specialized grill. Despite its XL capacity, it’s only 10 inches tall, which meant it actually fit under my low-hanging kitchen cabinets better than the PowerXL did when the latter’s lid was open.

Cooking Performance: Searing vs. Roasting

I put both units to the “Saturday Night Steak Test.”

• The PowerXL: I used the non-stick grill plate. Because the heat comes from a dedicated element right below the plate, the sear was incredible. I got authentic char marks and that slightly smoky flavor (without the actual smoke filling my apartment). It felt like using a real grill.
• The Emeril 360: I used the air fry basket for the steak. While the steak was cooked perfectly to a medium-rare and had a nice crust from the five heating elements, it lacked the “barbecue” soul of the PowerXL. However, when I switched to a rotisserie chicken, the Emeril 360 won by a landslide. The 360° airflow made the skin paper-thin and crispy all the way around, whereas the PowerXL had a few “soft spots” near the bottom.

Functions and Versatility: The “9-in-1” Reality

The Emeril Lagasse 360 is objectively more versatile. It includes a Slow Cook function that goes up to 10 hours, which allowed me to make a decent pot roast while I was at work—something the PowerXL isn’t really designed for. It also has a “Pizza” preset that handled a 12-inch frozen pie with ease, creating a crisp bottom that usually requires a pizza stone.

The PowerXL is less of an “everything” machine and more of a “high-performance” machine. Its 8 functions (Air Fry, Grill, Roast, Bake, Broil, Toast, Rotisserie, Reheat) cover the basics, but it really wants you to use that grill. If you’re a fan of “one-pot” meals where you sear a protein and then air fry some veggies around it, the PowerXL’s wide, flat layout is superior.

Ease of Use and Cleaning

I have a love-hate relationship with cleaning air fryers.

• PowerXL: The grill plate is phenomenal. It’s genuinely non-stick; I’ve had burnt BBQ sauce slide off under a warm tap. However, the internal “walls” of the unit are harder to reach if you’re doing a lot of messy rotisserie.
• Emeril 360: It has a non-stick interior coating that is a dream. A quick wipe with a damp cloth after it cools down usually does the trick. The drip tray is also easy to slide out and dump. The only downside? The mesh crisper tray is a bit of a nightmare to scrub if you’re cooking something like breaded fish.

PowerXL Air Fryer Electric Indoor Grill

Pros:

• True Grill Marks: The 450°F heated grill plate is the best in its class.
• Wide Layout: Easier to lay out multiple burgers or a large flank steak.
• Fast Air Frying: The cyclonic air is powerful and crisps wings very quickly.
• Heavy Duty: Accessories feel built to last.

Cons:

• Bulky Footprint: Takes up a lot of horizontal space.
• Fewer Presets: Lacks the slow cook and specialized pizza settings of the Emeril.
• Lid Height: Needs clearance to open the top-hinged lid.

Emeril Lagasse 360 Air Fryer Oven

Pros:

• 360° Evenness: Five heating elements ensure no cold spots in the oven.
• 12-in-1 Versatility: The slow cook and dehydrate functions are game-changers.
• Compact Height: Fits under standard cabinets more easily.
• Sleek LCD: The display is intuitive and looks very high-end.

Cons:

• No Dedicated Searing: You won’t get the same “char” as a dedicated grill plate.
• Mesh Tray Cleaning: Food can get stuck in the fine wires of the air fry basket.
• Loud Fan: The “Turbo” air fry mode is noticeably noisier than the PowerXL.

The Verdict: My Final Recommendation

I recommend the PowerXL Air Fryer Grill if you are an “indoor griller.” If you live in an apartment where you can’t have a grill, or if you simply want the best possible sear on your steaks and burgers while still having the option to air fry some fries on the side, this is the machine for you. It’s a specialized tool that prioritizes texture and high-heat performance.

I recommend the Emeril Lagasse 360 if you want to retire your toaster oven and slow cooker. It is a more complete “kitchen in a box.” If you value even baking for cookies, the ability to slow-cook a stew, and a perfect rotisserie chicken, Emeril’s 360° technology is the superior choice for a multi-functional household.

Personally, I keep the Emeril Lagasse 360 on my counter. As much as I love a grilled steak, the ability to slow-cook and bake with such precision in a compact frame makes it more useful for my day-to-day meal prep.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can you actually fit a 10 lb chicken in these?

A: In the PowerXL, yes, but it’s tight. In the Emeril 360, I found a 6–8 lb chicken is the “sweet spot” for the rotisserie to spin freely without touching the heating elements.

Q: Are they smoke-free?

A: Mostly. They use “smokeless” technology (smoke extraction or rapid air), but if you’re grilling a very fatty ribeye at max temperature, you might see a little wispy steam. It’s never enough to set off my sensitive apartment smoke alarm, though.

Q: Do I need to flip food in the Emeril 360?

A: Even with “360° technology,” I still recommend a quick flip halfway through for things like fries or wings. It just ensures that the spots touching the tray get as much air as the tops.

Q: Can I use metal utensils on the PowerXL grill plate?

A: I wouldn’t. The non-stick coating is great, but it’s not invincible. Stick to silicone or wooden tongs to keep that surface pristine for years.