Nuwave Bravo Xl Pro Air Fryer Review

We’ve had the chance to put the Nuwave Bravo XL Pro Air Fryer to the test, and it hasn’t disappointed. From its sleek, modern design to its impressive cooking speed and versatility, the Bravo XL Pro has truly transformed the way we cook.

It’s designed to save you time, reduce the need for excess oil, and deliver consistent, restaurant-quality results from the comfort of your home kitchen. In this review, we’ll break down how it performed across a range of cooking tasks, and why it’s quickly become a staple in our kitchen.

Design & Build Quality

After spending some time using the Nuwave Bravo XL Pro Air Fryer, we can confidently say that its design and build quality have left a strong impression. The first thing that stands out is its sleek, modern stainless-steel finish. It not only looks high-end but also blends seamlessly with other appliances in a contemporary kitchen. The compact design is practical, especially for those of us with limited counter space. Despite its relatively small footprint (measuring 20" x 12.88" x 11.13"), it offers a surprisingly spacious interior that easily accommodates larger meals, such as a whole chicken or multiple servings of food.

The exterior design is more than just good looks—it’s also functional. The digital display is bright, intuitive, and easy to navigate. All the control buttons are clearly labeled, making it simple to switch between the 12 cooking functions, adjust temperatures, or set cooking times. The glass door is another highlight, allowing you to keep an eye on your food as it cooks without opening the oven and losing heat. This feature feels especially helpful during baking or air-frying, where maintaining a consistent temperature is crucial for perfect results.

When it comes to build quality, the Nuwave Bravo XL Pro does not disappoint as we experienced with Nuwave Brio 15.5Qt Air Fryer. Its materials feel sturdy and well-constructed, ensuring durability over time. The included accessories, such as the heavy-duty cooking rack, grill/griddle plate, and mesh rack, are of excellent quality. The fact that all accessories are PFAS-free adds peace of mind, especially for families with kids or pets. We’ve used the grill plate and mesh rack extensively, and both have held up beautifully through multiple cooking sessions and cleanings.

The size of the interior is perfect for a variety of cooking tasks. Its 12.5-inch depth allows you to prepare meals for a small gathering or an average-sized family with ease. We’ve roasted a whole chicken, baked pizzas, and even grilled vegetables—all without feeling cramped for space. Despite its large cooking capacity, the appliance doesn’t feel bulky or out of place on the counter, thanks to its smart design.

One feature we particularly appreciate is the digital thermometer that comes with the unit. It makes precision cooking effortless, ensuring that meats are perfectly cooked to the desired level of doneness every time. Additionally, the included recipe book and quick-start guide were incredibly helpful in getting started and exploring the various functions.

The thoughtful design, coupled with its robust build quality, shows that this appliance was made with the user in mind. Whether you're air frying crispy wedges, slow-cooking stews, or baking cookies, the Nuwave Bravo XL Pro performs consistently well while looking fantastic on the counter.

Cooking Capacity

The Nuwave Bravo XL Pro Air Fryer Grill Combo truly stands out for its impressive cooking capacity, which makes it an ideal choice for both everyday meals and larger gatherings. We’ve tested it with a variety of dishes, and its spacious interior exceeded our expectations every time.

For pizza lovers, the Bravo XL Pro can fit two 13-inch pizzas side by side, making it perfect for serving a crowd or catering to different topping preferences in one go. It can roast a 10-pound chicken effortlessly, which is great for holiday meals or Sunday roasts like Emeril Lagasse 26 QT Extra Large Air Fryer. During our use, we roasted a whole chicken, and it came out perfectly browned and juicy. It also handled a 6-pound roast beautifully, cooking it evenly and retaining the flavors.

For quick snacks or sides, the air fryer mode can cook up to 2 pounds of French fries in one batch. We were impressed by how crispy and evenly cooked the fries were, thanks to the efficient air circulation inside the oven. This feature is a game-changer for families with kids or for those who love making large batches of finger foods without needing multiple cooking cycles.

Despite its generous cooking capacity, the Bravo XL Pro doesn’t feel oversized. Its compact design allows it to fit seamlessly in smaller kitchens, motorhomes, or RVs, making it versatile for a variety of settings. We’ve even used it in a smaller apartment kitchen, and it didn’t take up more space than a standard microwave.

This combination of a large interior with a space-saving exterior design makes the Bravo XL Pro perfect for anyone who wants to cook big meals without sacrificing counter space. Whether you're baking, roasting, grilling, or air frying, it delivers consistent results while accommodating large portions with ease.

User Interface

The Nuwave Bravo XL Pro air fryer toaster oven boasts a user-friendly and intuitive interface, making it incredibly easy to operate even for beginners. One of the standout features of this appliance is its bright and clear digital display. The screen provides real-time updates on temperature, cooking time, and the selected function, ensuring you’re always in control of your cooking.

The layout of the controls is well thought out, with all the buttons clearly labeled. The combination of buttons and the rotating dial makes navigating through the 12 cooking functions and adjusting settings straightforward. From selecting presets to customizing temperatures, everything can be done with minimal effort. During our use, we appreciated how seamlessly we could switch between functions like broil, air fry, roast, and bake.

Another great feature is the inclusion of 100 customizable presets. These presets take the guesswork out of cooking, especially for frequently prepared meals. For instance, when making pizza or French fries, the preset automatically adjusts to the optimal settings for perfect results. If you’re someone who likes to tweak recipes, the appliance also allows manual adjustments, giving you full control over the process.

The addition of the smart digital thermometer enhances the interface even further. It integrates effortlessly into the cooking system, showing precise internal temperatures of meats or other dishes directly on the screen. This is a lifesaver for achieving the perfect doneness without overcooking or undercooking.

One small detail we loved is the inclusion of a light button that lets you illuminate the oven interior while cooking. It’s a simple but useful feature for checking on your food without opening the door and disrupting the cooking process.

In our experience, the interface is not only functional but also user-focused. Everything is designed to minimize effort and maximize efficiency, making the Nuwave Bravo XL Pro a joy to use for cooks of all skill levels.

Cooking versatility

The Nuwave Bravo XL Pro Air Fryer Grill Combo sets itself apart with its exceptional cooking versatility, making it a one-stop solution for a wide variety of meals. With 12 cooking functions built into a single appliance, it effortlessly transitions between roles, whether you’re air frying, baking, roasting, grilling, broiling, dehydrating, or slow cooking.

One of the most impressive aspects is how seamlessly it handles different cooking tasks. We’ve used it to air fry crispy French fries, roast juicy chickens, bake golden pizzas, and even slow-cook hearty stews. Each function works precisely as advertised, delivering consistent results every time. The ability to bake cookies, toast bread, or even proof dough makes it a handy tool for bakers as well.

The Nuwave Bravo XL Pro smart oven & air fryer also shines with its ability to handle specialized tasks. For example, its dehydration function works wonders for making homemade dried fruits, vegetable chips, or jerky. The results are even and flavorful, making it a fun and healthy addition to the kitchen. Similarly, the grill and broil functions provide a charred, smoky finish to meats and vegetables, replicating an outdoor grill experience.

What makes it even more versatile is the wide temperature range of 50°F to 500°F, which allows for precise cooking. Whether you’re slow-cooking at low temperatures or searing at high heat, the appliance adapts effortlessly. The smart digital thermometer further enhances its capabilities by ensuring perfectly cooked meats without guesswork.

The inclusion of 100 customizable presets makes it easy to prepare a variety of meals with minimal effort. You can also save your own cooking preferences in the 30 memory slots, which is incredibly convenient for frequently made dishes.

From quick snacks like mozzarella sticks and wings to elaborate meals like a 6-pound roast or a rack of lamb, the Nuwave Bravo XL Pro handles everything with ease. It even works well in meal prepping, allowing you to batch-cook items like roasted vegetables or grilled chicken for the week ahead.

In our experience, the Bravo XL Pro’s versatility has simplified our cooking routine. It eliminates the need for multiple appliances and opens up a world of possibilities, whether you’re feeding a large family, hosting guests, or simply experimenting with new recipes.

Frying Quality

The Nuwave Bravo XL Pro smart oven excels when it comes to frying quality, offering results that rival traditional deep-frying but with a fraction of the oil. During our time using this appliance, we’ve been consistently impressed with how crispy, golden, and evenly cooked the food turns out. Whether it’s French fries, chicken wings, onion rings, or even battered fish, the air fryer function delivers a satisfying crunch while keeping the inside tender and juicy.

What really sets this air fryer apart is its super-convection technology. The powerful fan ensures hot air circulates evenly around the food, eliminating the need to flip items constantly. This even circulation means no soggy spots or undercooked sections, a common issue with less advanced air fryers. We tested a batch of frozen fries, and they came out perfectly crispy in less time than expected, with minimal effort on our part.

The Bravo XL Pro also allows you to adjust the temperature and fan speed, giving you greater control over the frying process. For example, delicate foods like breaded fish can be fried at a lower fan speed to avoid disturbing the coating, while thicker items like potato wedges benefit from a higher setting for maximum crispiness.

One of the best aspects of frying with this appliance is its ability to replicate the texture of deep-fried foods without the mess or excess oil. In fact, we used just a light spritz of oil (or none at all in some cases), and the results were just as crispy as traditional methods. This not only makes it healthier but also more convenient, as there’s no greasy cleanup afterward.

We also love that the  Nuwave air fryer XL Pro’s air frying capacity is large enough to handle family-sized portions. In a single batch, we were able to fry up to 2 pounds of French fries or a generous serving of chicken wings, making it ideal for larger families or gatherings.

In our experience, the Bravo XL Pro delivers consistently excellent frying results, offering the perfect combination of crispiness, flavor, and convenience. If you love fried foods but want a healthier, easier alternative to deep frying, this appliance is a game-changer.

Food Making Time

When it comes to cooking speed, the Nuwave Bravo XL Pro Air Fryer Grill Combo is a true standout. Thanks to its 2024 newly designed fan and housing, combined with an impressive 1800W of power, the appliance operates at speeds of up to 3,000 RPM. This results in cooking times that are up to 3X faster than traditional ovens or fryers. Whether you're baking, roasting, or air frying, the Bravo XL Pro ensures meals are ready in a fraction of the time without compromising on quality.

We’ve experienced the speed firsthand when preparing a variety of dishes. For instance, air-frying French fries, which typically take 25-30 minutes in a standard oven, was done in just 12-15 minutes with the Bravo XL Pro. Similarly, roasting a whole chicken, which might usually take over an hour in a conventional oven, was completed in about 45 minutes with perfectly crisp skin and tender, juicy meat.

One of the highlights of this appliance is its ability to deliver 35% crispier food while cutting cooking time significantly. The high-speed fan and advanced air circulation system ensure that food cooks evenly and develops that irresistible golden-brown finish. Whether you're air frying chicken wings or baking a pizza, the results are consistently crispy on the outside and perfectly cooked inside.

The combination of fast cooking times and reduced oil usage makes it a healthier and more efficient alternative to traditional methods. By reducing oil usage by up to 95%, the Bravo XL Pro lets you enjoy indulgent fried textures without the guilt or the time commitment of deep frying.

For busy families or anyone short on time, this faster cooking performance is a game-changer. Meals that once required planning ahead can now be prepared quickly, making weeknight dinners and last-minute meals stress-free.

Temperature and Stability

The Nuwave Bravo XL Pro Air Fryer Grill Combo stands out with its highly precise and customizable temperature control, making it a versatile powerhouse for any cooking task. With a wide temperature range of 50°F to 500°F, it allows for delicate tasks like proofing dough or dehydrating fruits at low temperatures, as well as high-heat searing, broiling, and roasting. Whether you’re air frying French fries or baking a thick pizza, this appliance ensures your meals are cooked with precision and consistency.

One of the most remarkable features is its ability to adjust the ratio of top and bottom heaters. Unlike traditional ovens that often have a single fixed heat source, the Bravo XL Pro lets you control the power distribution between the top and bottom heaters from 0% to 100%. For example, when baking a thick pizza, you can set the bottom heaters to 70% power for a crispy crust while keeping the top heaters at 30% power for perfectly melted cheese. This level of control eliminates common baking issues like soggy bottoms or overcooked toppings.

The fan speed control is another game-changer. By allowing you to adjust the intensity of the convection fan, the Nuwave bravo xl pro oven lets you create different heating zones inside the oven. For delicate dishes like soufflés or fish, you can lower the fan speed to avoid over-drying, while higher speeds work perfectly for air-frying crispy wings or roasting vegetables evenly.

Stability is also a key feature of this air fryer oven. Throughout our use, the temperature remained consistent, even during long cooking cycles. The built-in sensors ensure that the heat doesn’t fluctuate, which is especially important for baking or slow-cooking recipes. Additionally, the timer functionality of up to 100 hours is a fantastic feature for those who enjoy slow cooking or dehydrating foods, providing the flexibility to prepare time-intensive recipes with ease.

From perfecting a caramelized roast to achieving a crispy pizza crust or gently baking delicate pastries, the Nuwave Bravo XL Pro delivers stability and precision. The combination of customizable heater ratios, fan speeds, and stable temperatures ensures that every dish is cooked exactly as intended.

Preheat Speed

The Nuwave Bravo XL Pro air fryer toaster impresses with its lightning-fast preheating capabilities, making it a true time-saver in the kitchen. Powered by its 1800W high-performance system and advanced convection technology, the appliance reaches the desired temperature far quicker than traditional ovens, cutting down on waiting time significantly.

During our use, we found that the Bravo XL Pro preheated to 400°F in just a few minutes, which is a stark improvement over conventional ovens that can take 10-15 minutes to reach the same temperature. Whether you’re preparing a quick snack or starting a full meal, the rapid preheat ensures you can jump straight into cooking without unnecessary delays.

The efficient preheating not only saves time but also ensures more consistent cooking results. Unlike some appliances that experience uneven heat distribution during the preheat stage, the Bravo XL Pro delivers uniform heat across the cooking chamber right from the start. This means your food begins cooking at the optimal temperature immediately, reducing cooking times overall and improving the quality of the finished dish.

We especially appreciated this feature when baking pizzas or roasting vegetables, as the appliance maintained even and reliable heat throughout the process. The fast preheat also works hand-in-hand with its other advanced features, such as customizable heating zones and fan speeds, to deliver perfectly cooked meals every time.

For anyone with a busy schedule or who simply values efficiency, the Bravo XL Pro’s preheat speed is a standout feature that streamlines meal preparation without compromising on quality.

Easy to Clean

After several uses, we found that maintaining this appliance doesn't require a lot of effort, which is a huge plus.

First, the non-stick interior is a lifesaver. Any spills or splatters inside the oven can be easily wiped away with a soft cloth or sponge, without the need for harsh scrubbing. For tougher stains, a little soap and warm water do the trick, and the surface cleans up quickly.

The accessories—such as the grill/griddle plate, mesh rack, and cooking rack—are all dishwasher-safe, which makes the cleaning process even more convenient. We tested this, and after a quick run in the dishwasher, they came out spotless and ready to use again.

For areas that require a bit more attention, like the fan and the heating elements, the Bravo XL Pro is designed with easy access. The fan does an excellent job of circulating air, so there’s less grease buildup. However, we recommend wiping down the fan and heating elements occasionally to ensure optimal performance. A quick dusting or wipe with a damp cloth is all it needs to maintain smooth operation.

One thing we particularly liked was the crumb tray, which easily slides out and collects any food debris or crumbs. It makes keeping the interior of the oven clean a breeze and prevents buildup from accumulating inside.

Final Verdict 

The Nuwave Bravo XL Pro Air Fryer smart oven, air fryer & grill is an outstanding kitchen appliance that truly lives up to its promises. With its versatile cooking functions, impressive cooking speed, and precision temperature control, it stands out as a top choice for anyone looking to streamline meal prep while achieving restaurant-quality results at home.

The appliance’s cooking capacity is perfect for large families or gatherings, easily accommodating dishes like pizzas, roasts, and fries. The user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, ensuring a hassle-free cooking experience even for beginners. Its frying quality is superb, delivering crispy, golden finishes with minimal oil, while the preheat speed is incredibly fast, saving you precious time in the kitchen.

The temperature control and stability offered by the Bravo XL Pro are top-notch, giving you full control over how your food is cooked, from baking pizzas to slow cooking stews. Its versatility shines through with its ability to perform tasks like baking, roasting, air frying, and even dehydrating, making it a true all-in-one solution. Additionally, the ease of cleaning and the durable, high-quality build ensure long-lasting performance with minimal maintenance.

Highly recommended for anyone who loves cooking with speed and precision.