The NuWave Bravo XL is an innovative smart oven that combines multiple cooking technologies to provide versatility and convenience in the kitchen. With the Bravo XL, you get 12 cooking presets that allow you to air fry, grill, bake, roast, broil, dehydrate, reheat, toast, and more all in one appliance. The extra-large capacity accommodates family-sized meals while the integrated temperature probe enables precise monitoring during cooking. Read on to learn all about the features and capabilities of the NuWave Bravo XL smart oven.
Cooking Technologies
The NuWave Bravo XL utilizes a combination of convection, infrared, and conduction heat to cook food quickly and evenly. Here are the key cooking technologies used in the Bravo XL:
Convection Cooking
The convection fan circulates hot air throughout the cooking chamber to surround food with heat. This allows for fast, even cooking and browning without hot or cold spots.
Infrared Cooking
Infrared heat is delivered via heating coils on the top and bottom of the cooking chamber. Infrared heat cooks food from the inside out, locking in juices and flavors.
Conduction Cooking
Direct contact with the cooking chamber’s surfaces allows conduction heat to brown and crisp foods.
By combining these three heating methods, the Bravo XL can mimic the results of traditional ovens, air fryers, grills, and more with the convenience of one appliance.
Preset Cooking Modes
The NuWave Bravo XL comes loaded with 12 smart preset functions to take the guesswork out of cooking. Here are the cooking presets and what they can do:
| Preset | Function |
|---|---|
| Air Fry | Get crispy fried results with little to no oil |
| Bake | Bake cakes, cookies, casseroles, and more |
| Broil | Make juicy, seared meats and veggies |
| Reheat | Evenly reheat leftovers without drying them out |
| Roast | Cook tender, flavorful roasts |
| Toast | Toast breads and bagels to your desired doneness |
| Pizza | Cook homemade or frozen pizza |
| Rotisserie | Slowly rotate meat for tender, juicy results |
| Dehydrate | Make healthy dried fruits, veggie chips, jerky and more |
| Slow Cook | Cook foods low and slow when you’re not around |
| Grill | Get char-grilled flavors indoors |
| Probe | Cook foods to a precise internal temperature |
With so many options, you can skip using multiple small appliances and use the NuWave Bravo XL to make virtually any meal.
Extra-Large Capacity
The NuWave Bravo XL boasts an extra-large capacity compared to most toaster ovens and air fryers. It has 12.5 quarts of usable cooking space, which is large enough to fit a 12-inch pizza, 9 slices of bread, or even a 5-pound chicken.
Some specifics on capacity include:
- 12-inch pizzas
- 6 slices of bread side-by-side
- Two 5-inch personal pizzas at once
- 9-inch square baking pans
- 5-pound chickens
- Sheet pans up to 405 square inches
The spacious interior gives you flexibility to cook meals and side dishes simultaneously. You can make a whole roasted chicken with vegetables, a pizza and breadsticks, or a sheet pan full of roasted vegetables. It’s like having an extra oven right on your countertop.
Integrated Temperature Probe
Food safety and accurate cooking is ensured with the integrated temperature probe included with the NuWave Bravo XL. The stainless steel probe inserts directly into food items and monitors the internal temperature as it cooks. You’ll insert the probe into the thickest part of meats, poultry, fish, and other proteins.
The temperature readings display clearly on the digital touchscreen throughout the cooking process. The oven automatically adjusts cooking times and settings to hit your target temperature. For example, you can set the probe to alert you when a roast reaches 135°F for medium rare doneness. This takes all the guesswork out of roasting meats to perfection.
The probe also protects against overcooking. Once your set temperature is reached, the oven will automatically hold at that temperature until you are ready to serve.
Precision Temperature Control
A hallmark of the NuWave Bravo XL is its precise temperature control between 100°F and 450°F. This enables proper cooking of everything from meat proteins and thick cuts to gently dehydrating fruits and vegetables.
The combination of convection, infrared, and conduction heating allows fast preheating and recovery times. When you set a temperature, the Bravo XL heats up rapidly and maintains an even, steady temperature throughout cooking. There are no cold or hot spots that can lead to uneven cooking.
You can monitor the chamber temperature on the digital display and make any adjustments needed. For foods like bread that rely on an exact temperature, you can have confidence the Bravo XL will hold the right temperature for perfect results every time.
User-Friendly Digital Controls
Operating the NuWave Bravo XL is simple thanks to the large digital touchscreen display. It offers one-touch cooking with cooking presets, manual options, and probe cooking.
From the display you can:
- Select cooking presets and adjust time/temperature
- Set probe target temperatures
- Switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit
- Delay start cooking
- Access cooking guides and tips
- Monitor current oven temperature
The screen is easy to read, so you can monitor settings, food probes, timers, and temperatures during the cooking process. Everything can be controlled right from the intuitive display.
Additional Functions
Aside from its cooking abilities, the NuWave Bravo XL includes additional functions to make use and maintenance easy.
Delayed Start
The delayed start function allows you to program cooking to begin up to 24 hours in advance. This way you can load food in the morning but have it cook at dinnertime. Just input the cooking mode, temperature, time, and future start time.
Automatic Shutoff
For safety, the oven automatically shuts off after 12 hours of being in operation. This prevents overheating or fire risks if the oven is accidentally left on.
Built-In Interior Light
An interior light illuminates the cooking chamber to help monitor cooking progress. The light automatically turns on at the beginning of a cooking cycle.
Detachable Crumb Tray
A crumb tray slides out from the bottom to catch grease, oil, and food debris. It’s dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
Accessories
Included accessories like the cooking rack, drip/broil pan, mesh basket, and rotisserie spit expand what you can make. The oven is also compatible with most 9 x 13-inch pans.
Benefits and Drawbacks
Here are some key benefits and potential drawbacks of the NuWave Bravo XL smart oven:
Benefits
- 12 one-touch cooking presets add convenience
- Extra-large capacity cooks family-sized portions
- Combines multiple cooking technologies for versatility
- Precise temperature control up to 450°F
- Integrated probe cooks food to exact doneness
- Digital touchscreen for easy use and monitoring
- Delay start function to program cooking
Potential Drawbacks
- Higher price than basic toaster ovens
- Learning curve for multi-function controls
- Large footprint may not fit smaller kitchens
- Top rack placement can be awkward
Conclusion
With smart preset cooking, ample capacity, and integrated probe monitoring, the NuWave Bravo XL aims to be an all-in-one countertop cooking appliance. It can tackle everything from whole chickens to pizza to toast with advanced heating technology and precision temperature control.
The digital controls and delayed start offer convenience, while the bright interior light and detachable crumb tray make use easy. Overall, the NuWave Bravo XL is ideal for home cooks looking to replace multiple small appliances and have multifunctional cooking capabilities.
With some practice using the presets and probes, the NuWave Bravo XL can expand what you can cook conveniently from your kitchen countertop. Just be prepared for the larger footprint and initial learning curve of a multi-cooking device.