My kitchen counter is precious real estate, so every new gadget has to prove it deserves a permanent spot. Over the past few weeks I put two popular multi-cookers through their paces—the PowerXL Air Fryer Grill and the Emeril Lagasse 360. Both promise to replace a handful of appliances while delivering crisp, evenly cooked meals. After plenty of weeknight dinners, weekend roasts, and a few experimental desserts, I have a clear picture of where each machine shines.
Quick Verdict: PowerXL Air Fryer Grill vs. Emeril Lagasse 360
Both the PowerXL Air Fryer Grill and the Emeril Lagasse 360 are designed to replace multiple kitchen appliances, but they shine in different cooking styles. The PowerXL focuses on air frying and indoor grilling, using top-and-bottom heat with a grill plate to deliver char-like results in a compact footprint. It’s ideal for users who want fast meals, simple controls, and strong air-fry performance without turning their counter into an oven station.
The Emeril Lagasse 360, priced around $193, feels more like a compact professional oven. Its 360° quick-cook technology and five heating elements excel at even baking, roasting, and specialty cooking like rotisserie chicken and pizza. With a much larger internal capacity and stainless-steel construction, it’s better suited for families, meal prep, or anyone who cooks a wide variety of dishes beyond air frying.
Bottom line:
- PowerXL Air Fryer Grill = Best for air frying and indoor grilling in a compact setup
- Emeril Lagasse 360 = Best for oven-style cooking, rotisserie, and all-in-one versatility
Key Difference in a Nutshell: PowerXL Air Fryer Grill vs. Emeril Lagasse 360
Both appliances combine air frying with multiple cooking modes, but they’re built for slightly different cooks. The PowerXL is a 12-in-1 workhorse with a deep 5.7-liter capacity and a grill plate that can sear from below while hot air blasts from above. The Emeril 360 behaves more like a compact professional oven: its 360° quick-cook technology and five heating elements create an incredibly even bake, and it adds rotisserie and pizza-specific functions you won’t find on the PowerXL.
Side-by-Side Comparison: PowerXL Air Fryer Grill vs. Emeril Lagasse 360
| Feature | PowerXL Air Fryer Grill | Emeril Lagasse 360 |
| Dimensions | 30.4 D x 43.6 W x 30.4 H cm | 15 D x 20 W x 10 H in |
| Capacity | 5.7 L | 930 cu in (approx. 15 L) |
| Wattage | 1500 W | 1500 W |
| Cooking Functions | 12 (Air Fry, Grill, Bake, Roast, Slow Cook, Steam, Sauté, Sous Vide, etc.) | 12 (Air Fry, Bake, Rotisserie, Pizza, Dehydrate, Toast, Reheat, Broil, Bagel, Roast, Slow Cook, Warm) |
| Special Feature | Dual Therm top/bottom heat + non-stick grill plate | 360° Quick Cook with 5 heating elements |
| Construction | Aluminum & plastic body with non-stick interior | Full stainless steel exterior & accessories |
| Included Accessories | Non-stick grill plate, dishwasher-safe parts | Crisper tray, rotisserie spit, pizza rack, baking pan, drip tray, recipe book |
| View Current Price on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
Detailed Comparative Review
I cooked the same recipes—garlic-herb chicken thighs, roasted vegetables, air-fried fries, and a homemade pizza—in both units to keep the playing field level.
Design & Build
The PowerXL has a boxier, slightly taller footprint and a modern silver finish. Its aluminum-plastic body feels sturdy but clearly lighter duty than the Emeril. The non-stick grill plate slides out easily for cleaning, a thoughtful touch when you’re searing steaks.
The Emeril 360 looks like it came from a professional test kitchen. Full stainless steel from door to handle, it feels more like a compact oven than a countertop gadget. It’s heavier, but the build quality screams longevity. The included accessories—especially the rotisserie spit and pizza rack—match that premium vibe.
Ease of Use
The PowerXL is the definition of plug-and-play. A bright LED panel and single-touch presets let me start dinner in seconds. Switching between grilling and air frying mid-cook is seamless, and the dual heat system means I can brown meat from below without flipping.
The Emeril takes a bit more menu scrolling to choose among its 12 presets, but the learning curve is short. I liked the clear LCD display and the tactile knobs that mimic a classic oven. Preheat time was consistently shorter than the PowerXL by a couple of minutes.
Cooking Performance
- Air Frying: Both excelled. Fries in the PowerXL were golden and evenly crisp thanks to its vortex airflow and bottom sear plate. The Emeril’s five heating elements, however, gave a slightly more uniform crunch—especially with breaded chicken.
- Grilling & Searing: The PowerXL wins here. That bottom heating element sears salmon skin beautifully and gives burgers a convincing backyard-grill char.
- Baking & Roasting: The Emeril 360’s 360° technology created a perfect roast chicken—juicy inside, evenly browned outside. Cookies baked without hot spots, something the PowerXL occasionally struggled with on the back corners.
- Specialty Modes: PowerXL’s sous-vide-style simmer and steaming options are handy for more adventurous cooking. The Emeril’s rotisserie function is fantastic for whole poultry, and its dedicated pizza setting produced a crisp crust without burning toppings.
Capacity
The numbers tell part of the story: the PowerXL’s 5.7-liter interior is roomy enough for a family meal, but the Emeril’s wider cavity handled a 12-inch pizza pan and a small turkey with ease. If you often cook for a crowd, the Emeril’s extra width matters.
Cleaning
The PowerXL’s removable non-stick grill plate makes cleanup painless. I popped it straight into the dishwasher. The Emeril requires a bit more manual scrubbing of racks and pans, though the stainless steel interior wipes clean fairly easily.
PowerXL Air Fryer Grill & MultiCooker
Pros:
- True 12-in-1 versatility, including steam and sous vide
- Dual Therm top/bottom heating for authentic grilling
- Non-stick, dishwasher-safe grill plate
- Compact yet family-friendly 5.7 L capacity
Cons:
- Aluminum/plastic construction isn’t as premium
- Slightly longer preheat and occasional rear hot spots
- No rotisserie or dedicated pizza mode
Emeril Lagasse 360 Convection Oven
Pros:
- Five heating elements for ultra-even cooking
- 360° quick-cook tech shortens bake and roast times
- Stainless steel build and professional look
- Excellent accessories: rotisserie, crisper tray, pizza rack
- Larger interior handles bigger birds or pizzas
Cons:
- Heavier and takes up more horizontal counter space
- Cleaning racks can be fiddly
- No bottom grill plate for true searing
Final Recommendation:
After cooking nearly every dinner for two weeks in these machines, I’d sum it up like this:
- Choose the PowerXL Air Fryer Grill if you love the idea of grilling indoors, experimenting with sous vide, or you simply want a straightforward all-rounder that’s easy to clean. It’s perfect for smaller kitchens or cooks who value one-touch convenience.
- Pick the Emeril Lagasse 360 if you’re after oven-level performance and regularly entertain. Its rotisserie, pizza mode, and ultra-even heat make it a miniature professional oven—ideal for bakers or anyone who wants crisp results with little fuss.
Personally, I lean toward the Emeril 360 for its rock-solid build and consistent results. But on nights when I crave a quick seared steak without firing up an outdoor grill, the PowerXL earns its keep. Either way, you’re getting a countertop powerhouse capable of replacing several standalone appliances.
👉 Check current prices on Amazon before buying, as deals can easily tip the value in favor of one model.
Emeril Lagasse Everyday 360 Air Fryer (Best for Oven-Style Cooking & Versatility)
- EMERIL 9-IN-1 AIR FRYER: Replace your countertop convection oven! 5 all-over heating elements mimic a commercial-quality oven for perfect, even cooking. Most...
PowerXL Air Fryer Grill Combo (Best for Air Frying & Indoor Grilling)
- ONE APPLIANCE, 12 FUNCTIONS: The Power XL Grill and Air Fryer Combo is the space saving multi-cooker that gives you 12 different ways to cook mouth-watering...
