The Breville Smart Oven Air has positioned itself as a multi-functional kitchen appliance, promising to replace your toaster, convection oven, and air fryer all in one sleek package. But does it truly live up to the hype, especially when it comes to its air frying capabilities? In this comprehensive review, we’ll delve into the specifics of the Breville Smart Oven Air, examining its air frying performance, features, pros, cons, and overall value to help you decide if it’s the right addition to your kitchen.
Understanding the Breville Smart Oven Air
The Breville Smart Oven Air, officially known as the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro, is more than just an air fryer. It’s a countertop convection oven with a built-in air frying function. This means it can bake, roast, broil, toast, dehydrate, and, of course, air fry. It aims to provide versatility and convenience in a single appliance, saving space and streamlining your cooking process.
Key Features and Specifications
The Breville Smart Oven Air boasts a range of features designed to enhance your cooking experience. Some of the most notable include:
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Element IQ System: Breville’s Element IQ system intelligently adjusts the heating elements to ensure precise and even cooking.
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Super Convection Technology: This technology speeds up cooking time and promotes even browning, particularly when air frying.
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Pre-set Functions: A variety of pre-set functions for common cooking tasks like pizza, cookies, toast, bagel, roast, bake, broil, air fry, dehydrate, and proof, simplifies operation.
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Large Capacity: Its generous interior can accommodate a 13-inch pizza, making it suitable for families and those who entertain.
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LCD Display: The clear and intuitive LCD display provides information on temperature, cooking time, and function settings.
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Interior Oven Light: A convenient interior light allows you to monitor your food’s progress without opening the door.
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Included Accessories: The oven comes with several essential accessories, including an air fry basket, a baking pan, a pizza pan, and a broiling rack.
These features combine to offer a versatile and user-friendly cooking experience.
How Air Frying Works in the Breville Smart Oven Air
The air frying function in the Breville Smart Oven Air relies on rapid air circulation to cook food, mimicking the results of deep frying but with significantly less oil. A powerful fan circulates hot air around the food, creating a crispy exterior and a tender interior. The “Super Convection” setting enhances this process, providing even faster and more even cooking results.
Air Frying Performance: Does it Deliver?
The most crucial aspect of any air fryer is its ability to produce crispy, delicious food. So, how does the Breville Smart Oven Air fare in this regard?
Crispiness and Texture
When it comes to achieving that desirable crispy texture, the Breville Smart Oven Air generally performs well. The Super Convection setting plays a significant role in ensuring even browning and crisping. Foods like french fries, chicken wings, and vegetables come out with a satisfying crunch. However, achieving optimal crispiness often requires experimentation with cooking times and temperatures.
Even Cooking
One of the standout features of the Breville Smart Oven Air is its ability to cook food evenly. The Element IQ system and Super Convection technology work together to distribute heat uniformly throughout the oven cavity. This minimizes the risk of hot spots and ensures that your food is cooked thoroughly and consistently. This is a major advantage over smaller, less sophisticated air fryers.
Cooking Speed
Compared to traditional oven baking, the air frying function in the Breville Smart Oven Air significantly reduces cooking time. The rapid air circulation ensures that food cooks faster and more efficiently. This can be a major time-saver, especially on busy weeknights.
Capacity and Versatility in Air Frying
The Breville Smart Oven Air offers a larger capacity than most dedicated air fryers. This allows you to cook larger batches of food at once, making it ideal for families or gatherings. Additionally, its versatility extends beyond just air frying. You can use it to roast, bake, and broil, making it a true multi-functional appliance.
Pros and Cons of the Breville Smart Oven Air as an Air Fryer
Like any appliance, the Breville Smart Oven Air has its strengths and weaknesses. Understanding these pros and cons is essential for making an informed purchasing decision.
Advantages
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Versatility: A true multi-tasker, capable of air frying, baking, roasting, toasting, and more.
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Large Capacity: Accommodates larger portions, perfect for families.
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Even Cooking: Element IQ and Super Convection ensure consistent results.
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Faster Cooking Times: Air frying significantly reduces cooking time compared to traditional methods.
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User-Friendly Interface: The LCD display and pre-set functions simplify operation.
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Sleek Design: Aesthetically pleasing and complements most kitchen decors.
Disadvantages
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Price: Significantly more expensive than dedicated air fryers.
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Size: Its larger size may be a drawback for those with limited counter space.
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Learning Curve: May require some experimentation to master optimal cooking times and temperatures for different foods.
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Cleaning: While relatively easy to clean, the larger size can make it slightly more cumbersome than smaller air fryers.
Comparing the Breville Smart Oven Air to Dedicated Air Fryers
When considering the Breville Smart Oven Air, it’s important to compare it to dedicated air fryers to determine which option best suits your needs.
Dedicated Air Fryers
Dedicated air fryers are typically smaller, more compact, and specifically designed for air frying. They often come with a basket or drawer that allows for easy food removal and shaking. They tend to be less expensive than the Breville Smart Oven Air.
Breville Smart Oven Air
The Breville Smart Oven Air offers greater versatility, larger capacity, and more features compared to dedicated air fryers. However, it comes at a higher price point and requires more counter space.
Which is Right for You?
The choice between a dedicated air fryer and the Breville Smart Oven Air depends on your individual needs and priorities. If you primarily want an appliance solely for air frying and have limited counter space, a dedicated air fryer may be the better option. However, if you value versatility, larger capacity, and are willing to invest in a multi-functional appliance, the Breville Smart Oven Air is a compelling choice.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Maintaining your Breville Smart Oven Air is crucial for ensuring its longevity and optimal performance.
Cleaning Procedures
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Regular Cleaning: Wipe down the interior and exterior of the oven with a damp cloth after each use.
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Air Fry Basket: Wash the air fry basket with warm, soapy water after each use. It’s often dishwasher-safe.
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Baking Pan and Pizza Pan: Wash these accessories with warm, soapy water. Avoid using abrasive cleaners or scouring pads.
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Interior Oven Light: Clean the interior oven light cover with a damp cloth as needed.
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Drip Tray: Empty and clean the drip tray regularly to prevent buildup.
Maintenance Tips
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Avoid Overfilling: Do not overcrowd the oven or air fry basket, as this can hinder air circulation and result in uneven cooking.
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Preheating: Preheating the oven before air frying can improve crispiness.
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Proper Ventilation: Ensure that the oven has adequate ventilation to prevent overheating.
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Descaling: Periodically descale the oven to remove mineral buildup.
Is the Breville Smart Oven Air Worth the Investment?
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not the Breville Smart Oven Air is a good investment depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you value versatility, convenience, and are willing to invest in a high-quality, multi-functional appliance, the Breville Smart Oven Air is definitely worth considering. It excels at air frying, baking, roasting, and more, making it a valuable addition to any kitchen. However, if you primarily need an appliance solely for air frying and are on a tight budget, a dedicated air fryer may be a more practical choice.
The Breville Smart Oven Air offers a compelling combination of performance, versatility, and convenience. While it comes at a premium price, its ability to replace multiple kitchen appliances makes it a worthwhile investment for those seeking a streamlined and efficient cooking experience. The superior air frying capabilities, coupled with its ability to bake, roast, and toast, positions it as a leading contender in the world of multi-functional kitchen appliances. The large capacity, even cooking, and user-friendly design make the cooking experience enjoyable and help deliver excellent results. The key is to consider how it fits into your lifestyle, cooking habits, and budget to determine if it’s the right choice for you.
Is the Breville Smart Oven Air truly capable of replacing a dedicated air fryer?
The Breville Smart Oven Air performs admirably as an air fryer, offering a significantly larger capacity compared to most dedicated air fryers. Its spacious interior allows for cooking larger batches of food, making it ideal for families or those who frequently entertain. Furthermore, the Smart Oven Air utilizes Breville’s Element iQ system, which intelligently adjusts heating elements to ensure even cooking and crisping, rivaling the results of many stand-alone air fryers.
However, it’s important to note that the Breville Smart Oven Air doesn’t quite achieve the same level of crispness in the same timeframe as some dedicated air fryers. This is partly due to its larger size and the fact that it’s a multi-functional appliance rather than solely an air fryer. While the results are still excellent and often preferable due to the oven’s versatility, those seeking the absolute fastest and crispiest air frying might still prefer a smaller, dedicated unit for specific applications.
What are the key advantages of using the Breville Smart Oven Air as an air fryer over a traditional oven?
The Breville Smart Oven Air offers several advantages over using a conventional oven for air frying. Firstly, it preheats much faster than a full-sized oven, saving you time and energy. The smaller cavity also means that it cooks food more quickly and efficiently, reducing overall cooking time and minimizing energy consumption.
Secondly, the Smart Oven Air’s dedicated air frying setting and included air fry basket promote better air circulation around the food, leading to crispier and more evenly cooked results compared to a conventional oven. The high-powered fan ensures that the food is surrounded by hot air, mimicking the rapid air circulation found in dedicated air fryers, resulting in a superior texture and flavor.
What types of food does the Breville Smart Oven Air excel at air frying?
The Breville Smart Oven Air shines with foods that benefit from crispy exteriors and tender interiors. Think of classics like French fries, chicken wings, and mozzarella sticks. Its ability to cook large batches evenly makes it ideal for these types of crowd-pleasing appetizers and snacks.
Beyond the basics, the Smart Oven Air also excels at air frying vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and sweet potato fries. The high heat and rapid air circulation caramelize the vegetables beautifully, creating a delicious and healthy side dish. It’s also a great option for reheating leftovers, reviving their crispness and texture without drying them out.
Does the Breville Smart Oven Air require any special accessories for optimal air frying?
The Breville Smart Oven Air typically comes with an air fry basket, which is essential for optimal air frying performance. This basket is designed with holes that allow hot air to circulate freely around the food, ensuring even cooking and crisping. Using the correct basket is crucial for achieving the desired results.
While the air fry basket is the most important accessory, some users may find additional accessories useful. For example, a pizza stone can be helpful for making crispy pizzas, and a roasting pan can be used for cooking larger cuts of meat. However, for basic air frying tasks, the included air fry basket is sufficient.
How easy is the Breville Smart Oven Air to clean after air frying?
Cleaning the Breville Smart Oven Air after air frying is generally straightforward. The interior has a non-stick coating that makes it easy to wipe away splatters and spills. Regular cleaning after each use will prevent buildup and make maintenance easier in the long run.
The included air fry basket is also relatively easy to clean, although it may require some scrubbing if food residue is baked on. Most users find that soaking the basket in warm, soapy water for a few minutes before scrubbing makes the process easier. Some models even have dishwasher-safe components, further simplifying the cleaning process. Always refer to the user manual for specific cleaning instructions.
What are some potential downsides to using the Breville Smart Oven Air as an air fryer?
One potential downside is its size. The Breville Smart Oven Air is a countertop appliance, and its larger dimensions may require significant counter space. If you have a small kitchen or limited counter space, this could be a drawback. Consider the dimensions carefully before purchasing to ensure it fits comfortably in your kitchen.
Another potential downside is the price. The Breville Smart Oven Air is generally more expensive than dedicated air fryers. While it offers greater versatility and functionality, the higher price point may be a barrier for some consumers. If you are only interested in air frying and don’t need the other oven functions, a dedicated air fryer might be a more cost-effective option.
How does the Breville Smart Oven Air compare to other multi-functional ovens with air frying capabilities?
The Breville Smart Oven Air stands out from other multi-functional ovens with air frying capabilities due to its Element iQ system and dedicated air frying setting. The Element iQ system intelligently distributes heat to ensure even cooking and crisping, while the dedicated air frying setting optimizes the fan speed and temperature for optimal air frying results. These features contribute to superior air frying performance compared to many other multi-functional ovens.
Additionally, the Breville Smart Oven Air often boasts a higher build quality and more intuitive controls compared to other similar appliances. The stainless steel construction and user-friendly interface make it a durable and easy-to-use option. While there are other ovens with air frying functions, the Breville often provides a better overall user experience and superior cooking performance, justifying the higher price point for many users.