Nuwave Brio Plus 8 Qt Air Fryer Review 

In this review, we’ll share our personal experience with the Nuwave Brio Plus 8 Qt Air Fryer after using it for a variety of cooking tasks. From air frying to baking, roasting, and even dehydrating, we put this appliance through its paces to see if it lives up to the hype. Whether you’re new to air frying or looking to upgrade your current appliance, this review will help you determine if the Nuwave Brio Plus air fryer is the right fit for your kitchen.

Design and Build Quality

The Nuwave Brio Plus 8 Qt Air Fryer delivers a combination of style, functionality, and practicality, making it a great addition to any modern kitchen. After using it for a while, we found its overall design to be quite impressive like Cosori Dual Blaze Air Fryer.

The sleek black glossy finish gives it a premium, high-end appearance that blends seamlessly with a variety of kitchen aesthetics. Its compact dimensions—11.5"D x 11.25"W x 12.75"H—mean it doesn't occupy too much counter space, making it a perfect fit even for smaller kitchens. At the same time, the spacious 8-quart capacity makes it ideal for family-sized meals, handling up to 5 pounds of chicken wings or 4 pounds of French fries with ease.

The build quality is solid and well-thought-out. The detachable baking pan feels durable and easy to handle, even after repeated use. It's designed for convenience, so cleaning is a breeze—whether you’re washing it by hand or using a dishwasher. The air fryer basket has a nice weight to it, which makes it feel sturdy, yet it’s not overly heavy, so you won’t struggle with handling it. The ergonomic handle is a highlight, offering a comfortable grip that feels secure when removing hot food. We appreciated how smoothly the basket slides in and out without any sticking or misalignment.

The digital control panel is another standout feature. It’s highly intuitive, with a responsive touchscreen that makes selecting functions easy as we found in Oster 6 Quart Digital Air Fryer. The panel features clear, labeled icons for functions like air fry, bake, roast, and dehydrate, as well as settings for preheating and reheating. The timer and temperature display are bright and easy to read, even from a distance. We especially liked the attention to detail in the layout—everything is logically placed, and there’s no unnecessary clutter.

From a practical perspective, the size-to-capacity ratio is well-balanced. Despite its relatively compact footprint, it doesn’t compromise on internal space, making it capable of preparing large meals in a single batch. This is a major convenience for families or when entertaining guests. Plus, the overall build feels durable, and even after multiple cooking sessions, there’s no sign of wear and tear. This Nuwave Air Fryer runs quietly, which was a pleasant surprise, as some air fryers can be quite noisy.

Cooking Capacity

The capacity of the Nuwave Brio Plus 8 Qt Air Fryer is one of its most impressive features, especially for families or those who enjoy meal prepping in large batches. Having used it for various cooking tasks, the 8-quart size feels spacious and practical. It comfortably holds up to 5 pounds of chicken wings or 4 pounds of French fries in one go, making it ideal for family dinners, parties, or even preparing meals for the week.

One of the standout aspects of its capacity is how well the space is designed. The basket is deep and wide, ensuring even airflow around the food for thorough cooking. Even when loaded to full capacity, we didn’t experience uneven cooking or overcrowding, which can sometimes happen with smaller air fryers.

We especially appreciated how the capacity allowed us to cook entire meals in a single batch. For example, we were able to roast chicken and vegetables simultaneously, saving time and effort. It's also great for reheating multiple portions of leftovers without needing to use a stovetop or microwave.

The large size is particularly useful for families or households with varying dietary preferences. You can easily prepare two different items in one session by using dividers or layering lighter items on top. Despite its spacious interior, the air fryer itself remains compact on the outside, so it doesn’t dominate counter space. There should be a divider with this basket like Ninja DZ071 Foodi FlexBasket Air Fryer so that we can easily make 2 types of food without mixup.

User interface

The user interface of the Nuwave Brio Plus 8 Qt Air Fryer is a standout feature, designed with simplicity and convenience in mind. The full digital touchscreen is highly responsive and intuitive, making it easy for users of all experience levels to operate. The interface provides clear icons and labels for its versatile 5-in-1 cooking modes: Air Fry, Bake, Roast, Dehydrate, and Toast. This ensures that selecting the desired function is quick and straightforward, even for those who are new to air fryers.

The display is bright and easy to read, with a modern layout that shows temperature, time, and the selected function clearly. The inclusion of essential controls such as preset options, preheat, reheat, and watt adjustment makes it highly versatile like HiCOZY 10-in-1 Air Fryer. The touch buttons are sensitive enough to respond without excessive pressure but not so sensitive that accidental touches are an issue.

Another notable feature is the visual appeal of the interface. The black background with white, backlit icons ensures excellent contrast, making it readable even in low-light conditions. The streamlined design minimizes clutter while still offering all the necessary functions, which enhances the overall user experience.

Cooking Versatility

The Nuwave Brio Plus 8 Qt Air Fryer surprised us with how versatile it is in the kitchen. We’ve used it for everything from quick snacks to full meals, and it truly feels like a one-stop solution for cooking. What stood out to us the most is how well it handles multiple cooking styles—air frying, baking, roasting, dehydrating, and even toasting. It eliminates the need for separate gadgets, saving both counter space and time.

We’ve made crispy fries, chicken wings, and even tempura vegetables, all with a fraction of the oil you'd typically need. The results are consistently golden and crispy on the outside while staying moist on the inside. It’s also a lifesaver for baking—we’ve tried cookies, muffins, and even a small cake, and everything came out perfectly. The texture was just right, and we didn’t need to use the oven, which was a big plus.

The roasting function has been a game-changer for weeknight dinners. We’ve roasted chicken, salmon, and even beef with excellent results—juicy on the inside and beautifully browned on the outside. We also love the dehydrating feature, which we used to make dried apple slices and homemade veggie chips. It’s perfect for healthy snacks and gives us so many options for preserving food without additives.

One thing that makes this air fryer feel so versatile is the wide temperature range and wattage control.. We’ve also tried using the presets for popular dishes, and they’re spot-on. It’s convenient to just tap a button and let the air fryer take care of the rest.

Another big advantage is the size. Because of its 8-quart capacity, we’ve been able to cook multiple items at once. For example, roasting chicken and baking vegetables together was a breeze. Even with larger portions, everything cooks evenly, which is something we were really impressed by.

Frying Quality

The frying quality of the Nuwave Brio Plus 8 Qt Air Fryer is truly impressive and lives up to the promise of delivering crispy, golden results with minimal oil. From our experience, it handles a variety of fried foods exceptionally well, producing restaurant-quality dishes right in your kitchen. 

One thing we noticed immediately was the evenness of the frying. Thanks to the 360-degree hot air circulation, there are no cold spots or uneven cooking. Even when we loaded the basket to full capacity with fries or chicken pieces, every single item was evenly cooked and perfectly crispy. It’s a noticeable improvement compared to traditional frying methods, where food can sometimes cook unevenly in batches.

What we loved the most was how little oil is needed. For most recipes, we used just a light spray of oil, and in some cases, none at all, and the food still turned out crispy. For health-conscious individuals or anyone looking to reduce their oil consumption, this air fryer is a game-changer. It’s particularly great for re-creating deep-fried favorites without the guilt, and the taste difference is almost unnoticeable.

We also tested it with breaded items like mozzarella sticks and frozen snacks like samosas and spring rolls. The Brio Plus nailed the crispy texture every time without making the food overly dry. The adjustable temperature control was especially helpful for delicate items like fish fillets, which turned out flaky and moist while still having that perfect crispy coating.

Food Making Time

The Nuwave Brio Plus 8 Qt Air Fryer is designed to cook faster than traditional ovens or stovetop methods, making it perfect for busy schedules. In our experience, it significantly cuts down cooking time without compromising the quality of the food.

For example, French fries that would typically take 30-40 minutes in a conventional oven were ready in about 15-18 minutes in the Brio Plus. Similarly, chicken wings took only 20-25 minutes to achieve that crispy, golden perfection, whereas deep frying or baking would have taken much longer. Even frozen foods like nuggets or mozzarella sticks were ready in under 10 minutes, which is a huge time-saver, especially when you’re in a hurry.

We also tested its preheat function, which is surprisingly quick. The air fryer heats up within a couple of minutes, unlike traditional ovens that can take up to 10-15 minutes to reach the desired temperature. This alone saves a lot of time, particularly for recipes that require precise heat from the start.

For more complex dishes like roasted chicken or baked vegetables, the cooking time was about 30-35% shorter than using a traditional oven. What’s even better is that the results were consistent—juicy inside, crispy outside, and evenly cooked throughout. The preset functions also helped reduce prep time. With just one touch, the air fryer automatically selects the ideal temperature and cooking duration for popular dishes, saving us the hassle of guessing or experimenting.

Additionally, the dehydration mode, while naturally requiring longer timeframes, still performs efficiently. It allowed us to dehydrate apple slices and other fruits in about 6-8 hours, which is comparable to dedicated dehydrators.

Temperature & Stability

The temperature control and stability of the Nuwave Brio Plus 8 Qt Air Fryer are some of its most impressive features, offering precision and consistency that elevate the cooking experience. From our time using it, we found that the air fryer maintains its set temperature reliably throughout the cooking process, ensuring even results for a variety of dishes.

One of the first things we noticed is how customizable the temperature settings are. With a wide range from 50°F to 400°F, it accommodates everything from low-temperature tasks like dehydrating fruits to high-heat requirements for frying and roasting. The ability to adjust the temperature in precise increments (as small as 5°F) is a great advantage, especially for recipes that require accuracy. This feature gave us confidence when cooking more delicate items like fish or when we wanted a perfectly browned crust on baked goods.

The temperature stability is excellent. Once the air fryer reaches the desired heat level, it holds it consistently, even during longer cooking cycles. For example, while roasting a whole chicken, we observed no noticeable temperature fluctuations, resulting in even cooking from edge to center. Similarly, when air frying a large batch of fries, every piece came out uniformly crispy without any undercooked spots.

Another impressive feature is the preheat function, which ensures the fryer is at the perfect temperature before you start cooking. It takes only a couple of minutes to preheat, and this step made a noticeable difference in achieving better textures and faster cooking times. The preheat reminder is also a nice touch for those who might forget this step.

In terms of safety and stability, the Nuwave Brio Plus feels very secure. The exterior remains cool to the touch during operation, and the sturdy build prevents any wobbling or instability, even when handling heavy batches of food. The rubberized feet at the base ensure the fryer stays in place on the countertop, which is particularly important for a larger-capacity appliance.

Preheat Speed

From our experience, the preheat function of Nuwave Brio Plus 8 Qt Air Fryer typically takes only 2-3 minutes, which is a huge time-saver, especially when you're in a rush or cooking multiple dishes.

This quick preheating time is not only convenient but also ensures that your food starts cooking at the ideal temperature immediately, which can make a significant difference in achieving the desired texture and cooking results. Whether we were air frying fries, roasting chicken, or baking a small cake, the food always cooked more evenly and efficiently when the fryer was preheated.

The digital display gives a clear indicator of when the air fryer is preheated and ready, so we didn’t have to guess or check. It’s a small but very helpful feature that made the entire cooking process smoother. We also appreciated that there was no need to wait around for the fryer to reach temperature like with conventional ovens, which can sometimes take 10-15 minutes or more.

Even when we were cooking larger or more complex meals, the quick preheat saved valuable time—allowing us to skip the waiting and dive right into cooking. It’s one of those features you may not think about until you experience it, but once you do, you realize how much faster and more efficient cooking becomes.

Easy to Clean

Cleaning the Nuwave Brio Plus 8 Qt Air Fryer is a breeze, and this is one of the features we really appreciate after using it consistently. From the removable basket to the non-stick surfaces, the design makes cleanup as simple as possible, leaving us with more time to enjoy our meals and less time scrubbing.

We’ve cooked a variety of foods, from greasy French fries to sticky chicken wings, and the cleanup was much easier than we expected. The non-stick coating prevents food from sticking to the basket, which means there’s no need for hours of scrubbing. Even foods with a lot of grease or oil wiped off with a simple cloth or paper towel.

Another helpful feature is the detachable basket and pan. The basket slides in and out easily, and it’s light enough that we didn’t have any issues lifting it, even when it was full of food. The fact that both components are dishwasher-safe also meant that we didn’t have to worry about hand-washing every time—just pop them in the dishwasher, and they come out spotless.

When we did hand wash the basket, we found it was still very easy to clean, as there are no tight corners or hard-to-reach areas where food could get stuck. The air fryer itself is compact, so there’s no need to worry about cleaning large or awkwardly shaped surfaces. The exterior is smooth, and any cooking splatters wiped off with just a damp cloth.

Final Verdict 

After using the Nuwave Brio Plus 8 Qt Air Fryer extensively, we can confidently say it’s a game-changer in the kitchen. 

What stands out most is its fast cooking times. The Brio Plus consistently delivers crisp, evenly cooked food with little to no oil, making it a healthier option for a wide range of dishes. The 8 Qt capacity is ideal for families, allowing you to cook large portions at once, from crispy chicken wings to golden fries, with impressive results every time.

The digital controls are intuitive and easy to navigate, and the preheat time is incredibly fast, getting you cooking in just a few minutes. The temperature control and stability are spot on, ensuring your food is cooked at the perfect temperature for optimal results. Plus, it’s very easy to clean, which is a major win for anyone who wants a low-maintenance appliance. While it’s not the cheapest option out there, the Nuwave Brio Plus 8 Qt offers fantastic value for the price, especially with its versatility and consistent performance across multiple cooking methods.