Overview:
The Breville Smart Oven® Air Fryer Pro (BOV900BSS) is a premium, high-performance countertop oven that combines a convection oven, air fryer, toaster oven, and dehydrator, offering incredible versatility in a compact, sleek, stainless steel design. It’s designed for users who want more than just basic toasting or baking; it provides professional-grade cooking with features like air frying, roasting, broiling, and slow cooking.
Key Features:
- Element IQ® Technology: Adjusts power across 6 independent quartz elements to ensure precise and even cooking.
- Air Fryer Function: Uses convection heat to produce crisp, golden-brown results similar to deep-frying but with less oil.
- 10 Cooking Functions: Includes options like Bake, Broil, Roast, Air Fry, Toast, Pizza, Reheat, Warm, Slow Cook, and Dehydrate.
- Large Capacity: Fits a 14-pound turkey, 9 slices of toast, or a 13-inch pizza, making it great for families or small gatherings.
- LCD Display: A user-friendly, backlit display for easy program selection and viewing of cooking progress.
- Fast Heat-Up Time: The oven heats up quickly, usually within 5-10 minutes, which is a huge benefit for time-conscious cooks.
- Non-Stick Interior: Easy to clean, with a simple wipe-down for the interior and removable crumb tray.
- Brushed Stainless Steel Design: Stylish and durable, it’s easy to maintain and looks great on any kitchen counter.
Design & Build Quality:
The Breville Smart Oven® Air Fryer Pro is robustly built with high-quality brushed stainless steel for a modern, sleek look that’s both attractive and durable. At 19.5 x 15.7 x 11.5 inches and weighing around 24 pounds, it’s on the larger side compared to standard toaster ovens, but the size is justified by the large interior and the wide range of functions it offers. It’s a well-engineered appliance that feels solid without being too heavy or unwieldy.
Its LCD display screen is one of the most intuitive and user-friendly parts of the design. It shows clear and easy-to-read icons and numbers, giving you information like the selected cooking mode, time remaining, and temperature, which are all adjustable with simple button presses.
The knobs and buttons for selecting cooking modes and adjusting temperature are well designed, and though some users may prefer a touch-screen interface, the tactile feedback of the buttons and knobs is satisfying and practical for a kitchen appliance that’s likely to get used frequently.
The door is made of heat-resistant glass, allowing you to watch your food cook without opening it. This glass is sturdy and well-insulated to prevent heat loss.
Cooking Performance:
The Breville Smart Oven® Air Fryer Pro shines in terms of versatility, cooking performance, and consistency. Let’s break down its key cooking functions:
1. Air Frying:
- The air fryer function is one of the highlights of this model. It uses convection fans to circulate hot air around the food, providing crispy, even results that resemble deep frying but with much less oil.
- It works exceptionally well for frying frozen foods like French fries, chicken wings, and mozzarella sticks, producing a satisfying crunch on the outside while keeping the interior moist and tender.
- You can also experiment with healthier alternatives like air-fried vegetables or even homemade chips. This feature alone makes the oven an excellent alternative to a standalone air fryer.
2. Baking:
- The Element IQ® system ensures that the oven distributes heat evenly. Whether you’re baking cookies, cakes, or bread, the oven consistently produces evenly browned and perfectly baked results.
- The baking stone (which is sold separately) is a great addition for pizza lovers, allowing for a crispier crust. For standard baking, the oven’s bake function works efficiently and quickly, shortening typical oven preheating times.
3. Roasting:
- Roasting meats (chicken, turkey, beef) and vegetables is made easy with the Smart Oven Pro’s convection settings.
- The Roast function allows for even cooking, resulting in juicy meats and perfectly roasted veggies. Users report that whole chickens and turkeys (up to 14 lbs) cook thoroughly with a nicely browned exterior.
4. Toasting:
- The Smart Oven Pro offers precise toast control with its toast function. It can brown up to 9 slices of bread at a time, making it an excellent option for larger families or those who entertain often.
- The toaster function provides a uniform brown and crisp finish, and it can handle thicker slices like bagels or artisanal bread with ease.
5. Broiling:
- The broiler is very powerful and provides excellent top-down heat for perfectly crisping or browning your dishes. This is great for recipes like gratins, casseroles, or browning the top of a lasagna.
- The broiler doesn’t produce as much smoke as some other ovens, even when used at higher temperatures, thanks to the Air Fryer’s convection system, which helps mitigate excessive heat buildup.
6. Slow Cooking:
- While the Smart Oven Pro isn’t a traditional slow cooker, the Slow Cook function works surprisingly well, offering a great option for slow roasting meats, stews, or soups.
- The oven can maintain low, steady heat for hours, which is perfect for dishes that need time to tenderize. The moisture retention is impressive, and you won’t have to worry about drying out your food.
7. Dehydrating:
- The Dehydrate function provides an excellent way to preserve fruits, vegetables, herbs, and even meats for jerky. It circulates air evenly, allowing for consistent drying without overheating.
Ease of Use:
The LCD display and easy-to-read control panel are well-thought-out and make navigating the different cooking modes intuitive, even for someone new to countertop ovens. The timer function is another key benefit, as it gives users flexibility to adjust cook times according to the recipe. You can also adjust temperatures in increments, so precision is never an issue.
The removable crumb tray and non-stick interior make it simple to clean after use. The door’s design allows for easy access, and the interior racks can be taken out and washed if needed.
Noise:
The Breville Smart Oven® Air Fryer Pro is quieter than many traditional ovens, even when using the convection fan or air frying. During air frying or dehydrating, you’ll hear some sound from the fan, but it’s not overly loud or distracting.
Capacity & Versatility:
The BOV900BSS has a generous interior capacity, allowing you to cook a 14-lb turkey, 9 slices of toast, or a 13-inch pizza. For small to medium households, this should be more than adequate for most daily cooking needs. Its ability to cook both large meals and smaller portions with ease makes it a versatile option for a wide range of cooking styles.
Pros:
- Versatile Cooking: Offers 10 cooking functions, including air frying, baking, roasting, and slow cooking.
- Large Capacity: Fits a variety of food sizes, from whole chickens to large pizzas.
- Fast Cooking: Preheats and cooks quickly compared to traditional ovens.
- Consistent Results: Element IQ® ensures even heat distribution for perfect cooking every time.
- Easy to Clean: Non-stick interior and removable crumb tray.
- Energy Efficient: Uses less energy than a full-size oven.
Cons:
- Size: While the size is necessary for its large capacity, it may be too large for smaller kitchens or countertops.
- Learning Curve: The numerous functions might be overwhelming for beginners, though this is mostly an issue with first-time use.
Final Thoughts:
The Breville Smart Oven® Air Fryer Pro (BOV900BSS) is a standout choice for anyone looking for an all-in-one countertop appliance that excels in performance, versatility, and style. Whether you’re air frying crispy fries, baking artisan bread, roasting a Thanksgiving turkey, or dehydrating your favorite fruits, this oven delivers professional-level results with ease. The only real downside is its size and price, but for those who want top-tier quality and a versatile range of cooking options, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is well worth the investment.
If you frequently cook for a family or entertain, or if you’re someone who loves experimenting with different cooking techniques, this oven is a game-changer that could replace multiple kitchen appliances.
No comments:
Post a Comment