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Air drying involves hot air circulation to make food that would if not get submerged in oil. Aside from bread baking, these fryers have become a significant part of pandemic cooking. I gave a model a shot previously yet gave up on it because of its noise, size, and performance. Nevertheless, recently, I have decided to give Nuwave airfryer a try. Here is what happened.
- LESS FAT: Now enjoy guilt-free food. Air fry with up to 75% less fat than traditional frying methods.* *Tested against hand-cut, deep-fried French fries..Special Features: Programmable
- WIDE TEMPERATURE RANGE: 105°F-400°F allows you to gently remove moisture from foods or quickly cook and crisp foods with convection heat.
- FAMILY-SIZED CAPACITY: 4-quart ceramic-coated nonstick basket and crisper plate fit 2 lbs of French fries.
- 4-IN-1 VERSATILITY: Includes 4 versatile cooking programs: Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate.
- DEHYDRATE: Create flat, chip-like dehydrated foods for fun, homemade snacks. The combination of low fan speed and low temperature enables thorough dehydration.
Quick conclusion
This fryer boasts a capacity of 7.25 quarts, a non-stick basket, to name a few. Being a great value, it does far more than air fry, is versatile, and comes at a reasonable price. Aside from frying well, it sits pretty easily on a kitchen countertop, Cleaning the device is quite simple and it would make a decent addition to a home cook’s collection of appliances.
Pros and cons
What you may like:
- Powerful
- Multi-functional cooking
- Intuitive design
- Large capacity
- Dishwasher safe
- Outside stays cool
- Quite quiet
What you may not like:
- On the back of the device, there should have had brackets
- If only it came with an internal probe thermometer
- No other colors are available
Key specifications
- Brand: Nuwave
- Capacity: 7.25 Quarts
- Color: Black
- Item Weight: 15 lbs
- Product Dimensions: 11 inches x 14.5 inches x 13.5 inches
- Cooking Capacity: 1 (6lb) Chicken, 3lb French Fries
- Wattage: 1800 watts
- Features: Preheat, Warm, Sear, Stage Cooking
- Program and Save up to 100 Recipes: Yes
- Reversible Rack: Yes
- PFOA-Free Non-Stick Coating: Yes
- Smart Auto Pause for Safety: Yes
- Rotisserie Function: No
What is in the box?
This Nuwave airfryer is super simple when I unpack it. The brand puts most of the included equipment within the fryer itself. There is a basket divider, an inner basket with a grill insert, an outer basket, the fryer controller, and a manual packet.
There are two manuals. One is a quick start guide, and the other is the recipe guide/ manual. Likewise, the brand provides the Nuwave Cooking Club mobile app (Google Store and Apple Store). With it, you can refer to a lot of cooking techniques and recipes all in an intuitive mobile interface.
Being remarkably minimalist, the packaging does not come with a branded display box. And aside from a few foam protective bumpers that aid in the device protection, it is genuinely sparse, This is A-OK to me since I like not having to throw away plenty of packaging material wherever possible.
Nuwave airfryer review
1. Design and features
This basket-style fryer looks pretty much like a rounded cube and stuff when being put on your counter. It has a polished black finish and appears relatively striking on my granite countertop.
Speaking of the size, you can see it is a bit large and may occupy plenty of space in your cabinet. It indeed dominates my countertop corner in a breeze. But on the other hand, the machine just stays there as it is helpful and effective. I like it to the point that I let my coffee maker give up on its spot for this Nuwave airfryer.
While storage is okay, I recommend not storing it following each use but leaving it on your countertop. In case you determine that your best option is storing it, this device is more lightweight than it looks and super simple to move around.
The model features a desirable wide base and its sturdiness is undeniable. The basket gets into the defined position with an easy click and feels excellently constructed. You may also like the digital controls. Reading the display is effortless even from a couple of feet away.
The top of the machine is angled. That is why even when you place it underneath your overhead cabinet, you do not need to pull the fryer out to use the controls. They are easy to operate.
There is a temperature/ time guide for various types of recipes on top of the display. Thanks to it, you will realize tips and tricks for a variety of foods. Better yet, the recipe guide offered in the manual boasts many recipes and cooking techniques intended for air fryers.
What is more? The capacity of air fryers is usually four quarts, but this Nuwave airfryer provides a 7.25-quart capacity. It is more than enough to accommodate bigger quantities, for example, more than two pounds of wings, three pounds of fries, four chicken breasts, to name a few.
The powerful performance is worth mentioning as well. The NuWave Brio technology works to control temperature over 100 times a second and manages to push out airflow from every direction. That is why wherever the basket is put, even frying is the outcome.
Also, unlike some other air fryers, this device does not dry out the chicken and takes only about twenty minutes to cook meat. Because it is multi-functional, it fits any cooking style. Apart from fried dishes, the options for reheating, roasting, broiling, grilling, baking, and dehydrating enable further versatility to make anything you love. I have cooked a sirloin steak and Cajan shrimp yesterday. And they were yum yum!
2. The set-up
It is quick and simple to set up the Nuwave airfryer. Maneuvering it onto a kitchen countertop is genuinely easy. One thing to note is the machine needs about two inches of clearance between its back and walls or any other gadget you may put it close to.
There is a piece of cardboard between the frying chamber and the basket. You should move it out. Other than that, this air fryer is ready for use the time you unpack it.
Am I the only one but I prefer rinsing my cooking tools and equipment quickly in hot water before using it for the first time. I encountered a sole set-up issue here. I did not immediately recognize the way of releasing the frying basket from the detachable cooking chamber. There is a spring release attached to it on the handle. The second I realized how to release the basket appropriately, it became easy. Yet I spend around one minute ‘playing’ with the release to have it engaged on the first occasion.
Furthermore, the Nuwave airfryer works at 1800 watts. But on the other hand, not every household can offer that power level, so this model is outfitted with settings for wattage control. These enable you to decrease the device’s power draw. That way, you can adjust the temperature and time recommendations for foods.
We suggest doing some experimentation and making sure about the cooked stuff’s right doneness with a thermometer. Since my place can deliver that amount of power, I have not tried with reduced wattages. With that being said, the option for altering various power requirements is a plus!
3. Is it easy to clean?
It is quite a breeze to clean this Nuwave airfryer. Move out the frying chamber. Also, separate the detachable baking rack and basket. The separatable baking rack gets into the position and comes apart with ease.
While you can handwash all the pieces, the baking rack and frying chamber are both safe for use in your dishwasher. It is a genuinely great attribute. Nevertheless, as the manual suggests washing everything, including the sizable chamber and basket on the dishwasher’s top rack, doing so often is not practicable, particularly in case the top rack of your dishwasher does not have much clearance.
The coating of the inside of the frying chamber is the non-stick type. That is why you may want to ensure you use a non-abrasive sponge and cleaner to wash it. As far as I know, soaking the chamber in lukewarm soapy water and using the sponge to clean it are all you need to do for the desired cleaning result.
Stainless steel is the material that the cooking rack and food basket are constructed from. So, you can count on the sponge’s scouring side to deal with them somewhat more heavily. Similarly, just soak these pieces into lukewarm water and use that side of your sponge to get rid of even the most stubborn things.
Generally speaking, cleaning the machine is simple. Just one thing to note: The parts’ bulky nature may urge you to handwash them, even when they can go in the dishwasher.
4. The warranty of the Nuwave airfryer
This product unit has a one-year limited warranty. The warranty gives protection against any failure or defect related to the device’s normal use. Please note that its validity is only in America. To start to proceed with any warranty, you can reach the brand through their customer support email or phone number.
5. Room for improvement
It is safe to say that the model is a fantastic device. Its design is sleek and user-friendly. You will appreciate the easy-to-use controls and digital control, wattage settings, and a precise digital timer. With them, your cooking process becomes streamlined.
While nothing can hinder the Nuwave airfryer’s overall remarkable function, I hope it can improve a bit in some way.
On the back of the device, there should have had brackets
This design helps separate this model from other cooking gadgets and walls appropriately. As simple as it sounds, it is not hard to find the product unit pushes completely to the back of a kitchen countertop or the wall. This is not best for optimal safety and functionality.
A couple of air fryers I have seen come with brackets and stuff that maintains a favorable distance with walls and other appliances. Where featuring this thing would be good to guarantee optimum operation, pulling it out several inches whenever you choose to use it is not difficult.
If only it came with an internal probe thermometer
On the one hand, it is a welcome option. The probe would improve the device’s temperature control and further assist in fine-tuning your cooking process. However, on the other hand, value-priced models like the Nuwave airfryer do not usually have that feature.
Best alternatives to the Nuwave airfryer
1. Instant Vortex Plus 6 Quart Air Fryer – by Instant Pot
Should you opt for the Nuwave or the Instant Vortex Plus? Both are pretty the same in features, function, and form such as square basket, non-stick pot coating, the max temperature of 400F, digital control panel, and ease of use and clean.
Assuming you want to select a model that delivers the best value, consider the Nuwave product unit. On the other hand, opt for the Instant Vortex Plus should you be into using the low-temp modes (say slow cook) and more accessories. Please note that if a recipe book for your device is an appealing feature to you, it does not come in the box of the Instant Vortex. Instead, the brand boasts the inclusion of a big online recipe collection.
Whatever your selection is, you can have peace of mind that either product unit will deliver great results every time.
2. Ninja AF161 Max XL Air Fryer – by Ninja
These models are quite similar. For example, both have a polished black finish, a bright, intuitive digital display, and a recipe guide. They are a fantastic pick for those intending to give air frying a try without spending a large sum of money on the machine.
It is worth mentioning that assuming you desire to broil some of the recipes at the end, the Ninja air fryer features a broiler stand that lets you elevate food nearer to the heating element.
We also recommend you consider the Ninja AF101. It is less expensive than the AF16, only giving up some quarts of space, yet ensuring most of the power is retained. It is an alternative worth checking should speed is what you genuinely care about instead of the space.
In a nutshell
I like this Nuwave airfryer. Thanks to it, I am even fonder of air frying. The cooking results are remarkable. I have made the best of it for many things and it works quietly, easily, and fast. The temperature control and precision are great owing to the incremental controls and digital display.
Better yet, the 7.25-quart size implies I can cook a fair amount of food for my whole family without needing to run it many times. Accordingly, food for everybody comes out simultaneously.
Beyond its functionality, the Nuwave is an appealing gadget with a sleek black finish. It will not have much problem finding a home on a kitchen countertop. You can likewise put it away in a large cabinet and stuff. Cleaning this appliance is rather simple, and I am confident to state that it will last for years to come.
In general, it is a godsend and I would suggest those planning to use an air fryer while wanting to adhere to a budget consider this choice. It delivers great value!
