It’s not often that you stumble upon a kitchen appliance that can truly change your life. So many items these days are sold as gimmicks or designed for one singular function, which means they spend 364 days a year collecting dust on a countertop or hidden away in a kitchen cupboard. Then, on the one day a year you use the item, you remember exactly why it spends most of the year out of action.
Today, however, I had to write about the device that has replaced several of my kitchen appliances with its multifunctional operation and superior cooking quality. We’re talking about the NuWave Bravo XL Pro Smart Oven with Air Fryer. I wanted to give you a complete review with my personal pros, cons, and overall thoughts on the device’s performance so you can see why I think it’s a game-changer and why it has so many favorable reviews on Amazon, Costco and the brand’s own website.
Pros: The 500℉ Maximum Temperature
Let’s start with the pros of this appliance because, honestly, there are many. First, the smart oven with air fryer capabilities can cook at a maximum temperature of 500°F, which means it can execute virtually any cooking function you would want out of a countertop appliance. It’s not often that you see a temperature this high for a smart oven or air fryer, which makes it especially effective for broiling compared to many subpar appliances in this niche.
Not only does the Bravo XL Pro Oven have a sleek stainless steel finish, but all of the included accessories are metal, meaning you don’t have to worry about microplastic transfer at the high temperatures this device operates at. This ensures that meals cooked at maximum heat remain free from contamination. My previous experiences with budget air fryers left me unsatisfied with their included plastic inserts and trays.
Another excellent feature is the drip tray located at the bottom of the device, which can be easily removed, much like a crumb tray in a toaster oven, and quickly wiped clean after use. This solves one of the biggest complaints people have about air fryers: that they can be difficult to clean effectively every day.
As you may have gathered from my earlier description, this is a smart oven with air fryer capabilities built in, and it is truly multifunctional. There are 12 different cooking functions, ranging from standard air frying to baking, broiling, and grilling along with toasting, reheating, slow cooking, and even proofing. Additionally, the appliance includes 100 one-touch presets, helping make every mealtime easier no matter what dish you want to prepare.
Cons: Slightly Overcomplicated at Times
I wanted this to be a balanced review, so it’s important to include a few drawbacks I noticed while using the device in my kitchen during the first few weeks.
The most obvious downside I discovered very quickly is that the back of the unit can become extremely hot to the touch after cooking. Because of this, it’s worth making sure the appliance is positioned exactly where you want it before you start cooking. In my experience, it could take up to an hour to cool down enough to move safely, so after only a few days of use, I ended up finding a permanent spot on my countertop. With how often I used this smart air fryer oven though, this didn’t end up being much of a problem anyway! The amount of heat this product produces also means you should consider safety precautions if you have small children running around the house, so placing it in a quieter corner of the kitchen where little hands can’t reach is probably the best option.
As mentioned earlier, the device has 12 different functions, although many households may not need all of them. Personally, I have very little need for the proofing function, though I appreciate that it’s available for home bakers who need a low-heat warming mode to help dough rise properly. I can also say, hand on heart, that I have yet to find a use for the dehydrating mode. Even though our household enjoys a fair few gin and tonics during the summer, we would still rather use a fresh slice of lemon than a dried one. That said, if you’re someone unlikely to use an entire citrus fruit before it starts going moldy, the dehydrating function could certainly come in handy.
Finally, as much as my household goes through toast daily as though it were going out of fashion, we found the ten different browning options slightly excessive. Our old toaster only had six settings, and it still took us what felt like half a loaf of bread to figure out which level suited our preferences.
Overall: An Upgrade To Our Current Kitchen Gadgets
Overall, the NuWave Bravo XL Pro Smart Oven with Air Fryer is an extremely impressive appliance. Everyone in my household who used it was genuinely surprised by how quickly it reached its target temperature, making mealtimes noticeably faster and more convenient. In our experience, our traditional oven could take up to 10 minutes to preheat, especially when it came time to bake a pizza at super high temperatures. On the other hand, this smart oven was ready to go in less than five minutes.
We also found the temperature probe incredibly useful for roasting chicken and ensuring it was fully cooked all the way through, with absolutely no pink sections remaining when it was time to carve. We tested the probe on a pot roast as well and managed to achieve the perfect level of doneness in the center without overcooking the outside on our very first try. Every other oven or cooking device we’ve tried has either burnt our roasts or required lots of guessing to get it done just right; that’s not the case with the Nuwave oven.
Ultimately, the biggest takeaway is that the device’s multifunctional capabilities have genuinely replaced several appliances in my kitchen, making it a true space saver. Being able to make toast, reheat leftovers better than my microwave, grill meats, and combine the functions of both a high-end air fryer and a reliable oven means I’ve effectively replaced five separate appliances with this single device.
While this review reflects only my personal experience with the Bravo XL Pro, there are plenty of reviews from verified customers available on the NuWave website that can provide a broader range of opinions before you buy. The appliance is also available on Amazon, where it currently holds a 4.4-star rating from more than 1,000 reviews, as well as through Costco.
