Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro: The All-in-One Countertop Powerhouse
Discover how Breville's Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro transforms everyday cooking with versatility and oven-quality performance.
Review: Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro—A Countertop Revolution
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro stands as a leading example of modern kitchen innovation, blending multiple appliances and transforming how home cooks approach daily meals. Equipped with broad functionality and intelligent design, this oven isn’t just an upgrade from a standard toaster oven; it aims to replace multiple single-use gadgets, free up valuable counter space, and deliver oven-quality results at unprecedented speed.
At a Glance
- All-in-one design: 13 cooking functions including air frying, baking, roasting, proofing, and more
- Generous capacity: Fits 9 slices of bread, a 9″ x 13″ pan, a 14-pound turkey or a 12-cup muffin tray
- Digital precision: User-friendly interface with 3 dials and a clear digital screen for seamless control
- Counter space conscious: Conserves space by performing the jobs of multiple appliances
- Comes with key accessories: Pizza pan, two oven racks, broil rack, enamel roasting pan, mesh basket for air fry/dehydrating
What We Like
- All-in-one versatility eliminates the need for a separate toaster, air fryer, or dehydrator
- Oven-quality results delivered faster than a traditional oven
- Stable temperature offers reliable results for baking and roasting
- Clear digital interface and easy-to-use controls make it beginner-friendly
- Generous cooking capacity suits families or bulk meal preppers
- Thoughtful details like suggested rack heights marked on the oven door
What We Don’t Like
- Air frying can take longer than dedicated basket-style air fryers
- Mesh basket is difficult to clean after some uses
- Larger footprint may not suit every kitchen, though justified by its versatility
The Ambitious Promise: 13-In-1 Cooking Functions
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro earns its “ambitious” reputation with a total of 13 distinct cooking modes. With a simple spin of the dial, users can jump between:
- Toast
- Bagel
- Bake
- Air Fry
- Roast
- Broil
- Pizza
- Cookies
- Reheat
- Warm
- Proof
- Slow Cook
- Dehydrate
This impressive versatility is designed to suit both everyday staples—like toast for breakfast—and ambitious culinary projects, such as dehydrating fruit or slow-cooking a stew. The oven even handles proofing bread dough, making it a boon for serious bakers and ambitious home chefs alike.
Real-World Performance: A Month in the Kitchen
Testing the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro through more than a month of daily use revealed its strengths across various culinary tasks:
- Morning toast and bagels for the family—up to 9 slices at once
- Baking slice-and-bake cookies with consistent results
- Reheating pizza without sacrificing crispness
- Air frying a large batch of French fries for burger night
- Experimenting with dehydrated snacks and slow-cooked recipes
The oven handles these tasks with a level of agility and consistency challenging even traditional large ovens to match. For those willing to sacrifice a bit of speed for the convenience of batch cooking, the oven’s air fry basket delivers crisp, golden fries and snacks—though it may trail dedicated basket-style air fryers in total speed.
Setup and Ease of Use
Brevillle’s ease-of-use focus is apparent from the start. The oven is virtually plug-and-play. The digital screen and simple control dial make it effortless to select modes—from baking to dehydration—while intuitive labels and visuals help even the most novice cooks make adjustments confidently.
- The oven’s three dials let users seamlessly toggle between function, temperature, and time
- Specific presets make it easy to select the right toast shade or number of slices
- A clear display visually guides timing and temperature and confirms all settings before you start
Accessories included out-of-the-box (pizza pan, racks, broil and roasting pans, mesh basket) cover most typical cooking needs without further investment, and the oven door itself is marked with recommended rack positions for each cooking style, removing guesswork and optimizing results.
Capacity and Cooking Chamber Design
The roomy cooking chamber is immediately impressive, easily accommodating—for example—a 9″x13″ pan, a dozen muffins, or even a 14-pound turkey. This generous space makes it ideal for family meals, party prep, or bulk cooking for the week ahead.
Key features:
- Vertical space allows taller items like bread loaves
- Two oven racks enable multi-level baking for cookies or appetizers
- Mesh air fry basket encourages even circulating heat and crisping
The oven’s large size does mean a more prominent footprint on the countertop, but for many users, the ability to replace several appliances makes this tradeoff justifiable.
Performance by Cooking Function
| Function | Performance Notes |
|---|---|
| Air Fry | Delivers crisp, golden-brown results with room for single-layer batch cooking; may take longer than basket air fryers but achieves even cooking with the mesh basket. |
| Bake/Roast | Stable internal temperatures lead to reliable baked goods and roasts, though oven often stays about 20-30°F below selected temperature. Consider setting temperature slightly higher for delicate baking. |
| Toast | Capable of toasting up to 9 slices at once; most even at 4 slices. At full capacity, results can be uneven. Slower than standalone toasters but offers large batch convenience. |
| Reheat/Warm | Preheats slowly but avoids overshooting, producing leftovers that are warmed through without drying out. |
| Dehydrate/Proof/Slow Cook | Handles specialty functions well for a countertop appliance. Perfect for bread proofing, jerky, or slow-cooked meals you might otherwise reserve for larger ovens or dedicated appliances. |
Cleaning & Maintenance
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro’s large nonstick-coated chamber simplifies most cleaning tasks, and its removable crumb tray and widely spaced lower heating elements make it easy to reach under and around messes. However, users note that cleaning above or between the upper heaters is less convenient, and the mesh air fry basket can be challenging to scrub after use.
- Removable crumb tray streamlines regular cleanup
- Enamel-coated roasting tray wipes clean easily but may stain over time with repeated use
- Mesh air fry basket is not nonstick and can trap grease/crumbs, making scrubbing necessary
- Caution: Metal guards have sharp corners—handle with care to avoid cuts
User Experience: Standout Features & Little Gripes
Users consistently highlight several features that positively impact daily cooking:
- Auto-suggested rack heights marked inside the oven for optimal cooking
- Clear digital interface with easy presets
- Preset reminders like preheat notifications so you can multitask
But some points may warrant consideration for potential buyers:
- The oven can be slow to preheat, particularly compared to small slot toasters or stand-alone air fryers
- If used at full toast capacity, expect inconsistent browning
Comparing Breville to Other Countertop Ovens
Few countertop ovens offer this breadth of functions with such capacity and control. For those considering a dedicated air fryer, note that while the Breville excels in batch cooking and versatility, basket-style air fryers may yield slightly quicker air-fried results in smaller quantities. For toasting, conventional four-slot toasters are faster but offer much smaller batch sizes.
Where the Breville distinguishes itself most is in its ability to consolidate multiple appliances and consistently deliver quality results across a variety of kitchen tasks.
Accessories: What’s in the Box?
- 13-Inch Pizza Pan
- Two Oven Racks
- 9″x13″ Broil Rack and Enamel Roasting Pan
- Mesh Air Fry/Dehydrate Basket
These included accessories allow users to unlock virtually every function of the oven right out of the box—making it easy to experiment with everything from homemade pizza to slow-roasted meats.
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro: Who Is It For?
- Home cooks seeking a single appliance for a wide range of tasks
- Families or entertainers needing a large-capacity oven without occupying full-size oven space
- Apartment dwellers or those with limited kitchen space seeking to consolidate gadgets
- Baking, roasting, and dehydrating enthusiasts
- Anyone wanting reliable performance for daily toasting, pizza, leftovers, and more
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How large is the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro?
A: The interior fits most 9″ x 13″ pans and a 12-cup muffin tray, or a 14-pound turkey. It’s designed to handle large batches or big single items, making it excellent for family meals or parties.
Q: What are the main downsides of the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro?
A: The air fry function can take longer than dedicated air fryers; the mesh basket can be difficult to clean; it has a relatively large countertop footprint, though it’s typically offset by replacing other appliances.
Q: Is it easy to use for beginners?
A: Yes. The combination of a clear digital display, labeled controls, dials for functions and timing, and marked rack heights make it accessible and user-friendly for cooks of any level.
Q: Does it toast bread evenly?
A: At full capacity (9 slices), toasting can be uneven. For best results, toast in smaller batches of 4 slices or less for more consistent browning.
Q: Is it worth the investment?
A: For those seeking to combine air frying, baking, roasting, and more into a single appliance with generous capacity and reliable results, the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro stands out as an excellent investment.
Final Thoughts: Is the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro Right for You?
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is an ambitious, feature-packed solution for busy kitchens and ambitious home cooks. While it’s not the fastest at every task, its consistency, versatility, and thoughtful design make it a standout choice for those looking to do more with less countertop space. If you value appliance consolidation, family-size capacity, and a foolproof interface, this oven deserves a spot in your kitchen arsenal.
References
- https://www.rtings.com/toaster-oven/reviews/breville/the-smart-oven-air-fryer-pro-bov900bss
- https://www.purewow.com/food/breville-smart-oven-air-fryer-pro
- https://www.simpleitaliancooking.com/reviews/breville-smart-oven/
- https://www.breville.com/en-us/product/bov900
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbgwKePuudY
