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CES 2022: Your Whirlpool oven may have just gotten an air-fryer upgrade

Several of the brand's existing ovens got remote updates today, including an air fryer mode and a smart thermometer integration.

David Watsky Senior Editor / Home and Kitchen

David lives in Brooklyn where he's spent more than a decade covering all things edible, including meal kit services, food subscriptions, kitchen tools and cooking tips. Since earning a BA in English from Northeastern in Boston, he's toiled in nearly every aspect of the food business, including as a line cook in Rhode Island where he once made a steak sandwich for Lamar Odom. Right now, he's likely somewhere stress-testing a blender or researching the best way to make bacon. Anything with sesame is his all-time favorite food this week.

Expertise Kitchen tools, appliances, food science, subscriptions and meal kits.

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David Watsky

Jan. 4, 2022 12:48 p.m. PT

2 min read

If you've been eyeing an air fryer to get a healthier start to 2022, give a quick check to your main oven before you pull the trigger. If it's one of several Whirlpool smart ovens and ranges, you're getting an air-fryer upgrade coming your way as soon as today. The kitchen brand announced today that five of its smart oven models are eligible for an Air Fry Mode to be virtually installed, along with a brand-new integration with Yummly smart thermometers.

Both of Whirlpool's new oven features are available via over-the-air updates, meaning owners can install the new functions remotely and without a live technician. It'll only require working Wi-Fi connectivity as well as downloading the Whirlpool smart oven app to install them. Do that and you'll be air-frying crispy wings and French fries that taste like they've been deep-fried but with little or no oil. Air fryers work by circulating hot air at a faster pace than normal convection cooking, giving food a crispy outside while keeping the inside moist.

The Yummly integration will sync Whirlpool ovens with Yummly smart thermometers to nail the internal temps on select recipes including poultry, fish, rib roasts and other cuts of meat. The thermometer must be purchased separately and can be had for around $130.

The following Whirlpool ovens are eligible for the free air fryer mode and Yummly updates as of today:

Whirlpool Smart Slide-in Gas Range with EZ-2-Lift Hinged Cast-Iron Grate (WEGA25H0H and WEG750H0H)
Whirlpool Smart Slide-in Electric Range with Scan-to-Cook Technology(WEEA25H0H and WEE750H0H)
Whirlpool Smart Single Wall Oven with True Convection Cooking (WOS72EC0H and WOS72EC7H)
Whirlpool Smart Double Wall Oven with True Convection Cooking (WOD77EC0H and WOD77EC7H)
Whirlpool Smart Combination Wall Oven with Touchscreen (WOC75EC0H and WOC75EC7H)

Don't own one of these qualifying smart ovens? Don't worry. Solo air fryers aren't terribly expensive. Just check out our list of the best air fryers for 2022.