The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer takes the classic countertop toaster oven and adds air frying capabilities. Find out what you’ll LOVE about this machine and what you need to know before buying!
My daughter, Jennifer, recently purchased the new Breville air fryer toaster oven. So I’ve invited her to share her complete review. Take it away, Jenn…
Hi everyone! I usually spend my time blogging with Mom on Pressure Cooking Today. (If you can believe it, I use my Instant Pot even more than she does these days.) However, my Breville toaster oven is my other daily-use appliance. I’ll often make a main dish in the Instant Pot and roast veggies or broil garlic bread in the Breville.
Mom and I have taken the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer for a spin, and we’re here to tell you all about what you’ll love and what you should know before buying!
Table of Contents
Thinking of Buying?
- What Is the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer?
- What Size of Smart Oven Should I Buy?
- What You’ll Love
- What You Should Know Before Buying
- How Does the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Compare to the Original Breville Smart Oven?
- How Does the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Compare to the Instant Pot Vortex?
Wondering How to Use It?
- How to Air Fry in the Breville Smart Oven
- How to Bake in the Smart Oven
- Coming Soon: Cook Times for Common Frozen Foods
- How to Clean Your Smart Oven
Bottom Line: The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer is an amazing machine that is absolutely worth the price. It’s packed with high-end features that make cooking a breeze.
✔️ Already own a Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer and looking for pans that fit in the Breville Smart Oven? Click over to read all about them. (Hint: You can fit a 12-cup muffin pan if you use the right one!)
What Is the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer?
The Smart Oven Air Fryer is the latest combination toaster oven / air fryer made by Breville. It is a traditional oven, a convection oven, and an oven-style air fryer all in one device.
Breville is a well-known higher-end appliance brand, and their ovens currently occupy the top four spots as rated by Consumer Reports. (For the record, we’ve had great results from every Breville appliance we’ve tried. We also have their stand mixer and their Fast-Slow Pressure Cooker.)
The Smart Oven Air Fryer comes with an air fryer mesh basket that fits in place of the oven rack, as well as a simple nonstick pizza pan, and quarter-size roasting tray and rack that fits inside.
What Size of Smart Oven Should I Buy?
The Smart Oven Air Fryer is currently available in a 0.8 cubic ft standard model and a 1 cubic ft Pro model.
The size is the main difference between the two: the model we’re reviewing can toast 6 slices of toast. The larger Pro model can toast 9 slices of toast and comfortably fits 9×13 pans and muffin trays. (More on the size in a minute…)
The Pro also offers two more settings: Proof and Dehydrate.
Ultimately, if you intend to use a Smart Oven Air Fryer to replace your traditional oven, I’d go with the larger Pro if you have the extra space. Otherwise, either one will work well in your kitchen.
🛒 The standard-size Smart Oven Air Fryer and the larger Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (formerly called the Smart Oven Air) is available at Amazon, Williams-Sonoma, and other specialty kitchen stores.)
What You’ll Love
There’s SO much I love about my Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer! Almost a decade ago, Barbara won a gift card in a cooking competition and chose a Breville Smart Oven as her prize.
I’d never used a countertop toaster oven before, after one use, I became a superfan. All of my siblings have one and we’ve even gotten my in-laws on board.
Here are some of my favorite things:
Amazing Toast and Bagels
OK, first of all, you can absolutely give away your toaster. The Toast setting makes toast exactly how everyone wants it—barely golden for the pickiest kids to a very dark brown. We use it for sliced bread, English muffins, and reheating waffles.
The Bagel setting works great as well and only browns the top. (We love to butter and sprinkle a little extra sugar and cinnamon on a cinnamon-raisin bagel. It’s kind of dessert, kind of breakfast.)
Both settings deliver consistent, reliable results.
Extra Crispy Air Frying
Compared to other air fryers I’ve tried, the SuperConvection setting gives things an extra crisp. Honestly, it’s perfect for making french fries and chicken nuggets from the freezer section. (Miracle of miracles, it even revives fast-food nuggets that have gone cold while you were helping your kids with all the things. 😂)
Full of Little Well-Designed Details
This toaster oven is full of little features that make life easier. A few examples:
- The middle rack lines up perfectly with a magnetic piece on the door that helps the rack pop out a little ways after cooking. So there’s no need for an oven mitt to get your toast or bagels out of the oven.
- The power cord includes a little finger hole to make it easier to get out of the wall.
- The oven light turns on automatically when it’s preheated.
- When you push the Frozen (snowflake) button, it automatically adds a few minutes to the cook time so that your foods are done correctly when the timer sounds.
Use Your Regular Oven Less
The Smart Oven cooks as quickly and evenly as our regular oven, without heating up the house nearly as much when we turn it on.
The Bake setting allows you to bake on Traditional Bake, Convection Bake, or SuperConvection bake, so…options!
We use it to make cupcakes, lasagnas, and bake cookies from frozen cookie dough when a late-night craving hits. (Among other things.)
While, it hasn’t entirely replaced our regular oven—with growing boys, we’ve started making a double batch of blueberry muffins in these 24-cup standard-size muffin pans (also available from Walmart)—I estimate we choose our Smart Oven over our traditional oven around 90% of the time.
Several Pans Included
The Smart Oven Air Fryer comes with an air fryer wire basket that fits right into the grooves on the side of the oven. It also comes with a 13-inch pizza pan and a roasting pan that’s the size of a quarter-sized baking sheet and raised trivet that fits inside.
Quick Cooking
Breville advertises that cooking with convection can shorten cook times by up to 30%. That’s definitely proven true in the items we’ve air fried so far—frozen chicken nuggets ready in 8 minutes instead of 12.
Now in Color!
For the first time (at least that we’re aware of), the Smart Oven is available in several different colors to coordinate your kitchen! The colors include
- Brushed Stainless Steel
- Black Stainless Steel
- Black Truffle
- Sea Salt (White)
- Damson Blue
- Oyster Shell (Darker Matte Grayish)
- Royal Champagne
- Smoked Hickory (Lighter Matte Grayish)
What You Need to Know Before Buying
Has Big Counter Space Requirements
To work properly, there needs to be at least 4-inches of space on both sides and 6-inches above the Smart Oven. They also do not recommend having it come right to the edge of the countertop.
Plus, you CANNOT set anything on top of the oven unless you use the bamboo tray. I am a HUGE fan of the bamboo tray, but it would be tricky to fit pans on top with low cabinets. (The Breville-branded version is in stock at Williams Sonoma. Here’s a similar version from Amazon.)
Not a Replacement for the Microwave
I definitely use my microwave less often since getting the Smart Oven. It’s great for reheating meals without making them soggy. However, the Smart Oven does not have a microwave function and definitely is not a replacement for a microwave.
Does Not Fit All Standard Pans
Not all pans will fit in the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer—it’s just not quite wide enough for most 9×13 pans with handles and 12-cup muffin trays.
However, it’s not a deal-breaker. Click here to see what pans fit in the Brevile Smart Oven Air Fryer.
No Covering Oven Parts in Foil
It’s a common practice in traditional ovens to cover the bottom with foil to help with clean-up. However, in the Breville, covering the crumb tray with foil will cause the oven to overheat.
Adjust Baking Recipes for Convection
Generally, when baking with convection, recipes need to be adjusted down by 25°F, so a traditional recipe that calls for baking at 350°F should be adjusted to 325°F on convection.
If you choose to bake with SuperConvection, you will need to adjust the cook time and maybe the cooking temperature as well.
How Does the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Compare to the Original Breville Smart Oven?
I loved the Breville Smart Oven from the moment Barbara bought it home. 🤣
The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer has kept the organization and design from the original Smart Oven and has added a few more nice-to-have features!
The Smart Oven Air Fryer still has the same easy-to-read LCD screen.
I really love that the menus are in the same order and the buttons are in the same places. It makes the upgrade that much easier. (Note: the menus are switched around a little bit on the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro.)
The new features for the Smart Oven Air Fryer include
- Two new cook settings: Air Fry and Slow Cook.
- Both a Convection and Super Convection option
- A range of colors that would look amazing in any kitchen
They are also just slightly different sizes:
- Original Smart Oven: 19″W x 13.9″D x 14.1″H
- Smart Oven Air Fryer: 18.5″W x 14.6″D x 11″H
The original models of Smart Oven came with two custom pans: a square broiling pan and a square baking sheet that maximized the usable space inside the oven. The new Smart Oven Air Fry comes with a quarter-sheet-sized roasting pan with a small rack that fits inside, as well as a pizza pan.
How Does the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Compare to the Instant Pot Vortex?
First of all, there are different versions of the Instant Pot Vortex: a 6-quart basket-style air fryer and a 10-quart air fryer oven. In my everyday cooking, I found I preferred the lightweight, easy cleanup, and simple design of the basket-style air fryer.
The Breville Smart Oven is a third type of Air Fryer: a toaster oven–style air fryer. In other words, it’s more than just an air fryer, which helps me justify the countertop space. (I didn’t have room for a toaster oven and an air fryer oven on my countertop.)
When comparing just the Air Fryer functions, the Breville cooks a little hotter. Cookies that took me 10 minutes in my Instant Pot Vortex were done in 8 minutes in the Breville.
📊 To fully compare the Breville Smart Oven to other air fryers, check out my Instant Pot Vortex Review and my Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer Review.
How to Air Fry in the Breville Smart Oven
It’s really easy to air fry in the smart oven! First, find a good recipe for what you’d like to cook. (Garlic Parmesan French Fries, anyone?)
IMPORTANT: If your recipe features foods that may drip (like chicken or cheese, which may release liquid or oil during the air frying process), use the grilling rack nested inside of the roasting pan instead of the air fryer basket.
- Turn the Function dial to Air Fry. (You’ll notice that the superconvection icon is displayed.)
- Use the Temperature dial to select the temperature called for in the recipe.
- Use the Time dial to adjust the time to the time given in the recipe.
- Press the Frozen button to ensure it’s not showing. (Unless you’re air frying foods straight from frozen, of course.)
- Press the Start button and wait for the oven to preheat before you add the food.
- If you are using the air fryer basket that comes with the oven, Breville recommends placing it on the top rack position once food has been added.
How to Bake on Traditional, Convection, and Super Convection
To bake in the Smart Oven, simply turn the Function dial to Bake. Press the Fan button to turn on Convection or Super Convection.
Remember, if you’re baking a traditional recipe on convection, Be sure to adjust your cooking temperature accordingly! (Turn down the oven temperature 25F.) If you’re cooking on Super Convection, you’ll need to reduce the oven temperature and the time as well. (It’s not an exact science, so you’ll want to keep a close eye on things until you get familiar with the timing of the recipes you want to cook.)
How to Clean Your Smart Oven
The Breville Smart Oven is not a self cleaning oven, so you’ll need some soft sponges and gentle cleansers.
When you first get your Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer, the user manual recommends running the oven empty for 20 minutes to burn off a protective coating from the heating elements.
For general cleaning, the basic recommendations are to never use metal and to not spray any cleanser directly on the oven itself. Here’s the specifics:
Outer Body
Use a soft, lightly damp sponge to wipe down the toaster oven. If needed, spray a cloth with a non-abrasive cleaner, then use it to clean the toaster oven. (We’ve had good results with LINK stainless steel cleaner on our stainless steel oven.)
Glass Door
Use a glass cleaner or non-abrasive cleaner and a soft damp sponge. (We often use dish soap.) For stubborn baked-on items, you can use a soft plastic scouring pad, but don’t use metal.
Inside Walls
The walls have a nonstick coating, so treat them gently like you would a nonstick pan. Spray the cleaner on a soft damp sponge to avoid spraying cleaner on the heating elements. Wipe with a damp cloth to finish.
Heating Element
Unplug and cool completely before cleaning. Use a soft, lightly damp cloth along the length of the heating element. No cleansers of any kind are recommended on the heating element. Let everything dry before plugging it back in.
Crumb Tray
Each time you use the oven, slide out the crumb tray and clean it. If there’s baked on grease, you can soak the tray in soapy water and wash with a soft sponge or plastic scrubber. (No metal.) Make sure it’s thoroughly dried before returning it to the oven.
Oven Racks, Baskets & Pans
Wondering whether you can put Breville Smart Oven Racks in the dishwasher? Unfortunately not; Breville recommends hand wash only for these items. And no metal utensils on them either. Be sure to rinse well and dry completely.
Bottom Line: The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer is an amazing machine that is absolutely worth the price. It’s packed with high-end features that make cooking a breeze.
This is NOT a sponsored post. I was not sent a Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer to review or giveaway. As always, my opinion is always my own.
Lindy
Hi I am curious to know how your oven has held up. My Breville BOV800XL which I purchased in 2011, just crapped out. Some sort of electrical issue that caused the plug to melt a bit.
I was going to replace it with a similar model, but I keep coming across reviewers complaining that their ovens are dying shortly after the 1year warranty is up. That has me wondering if something in their production has changed. Are your fan, temperature control and door still functioning properly? Those appear to be the problematic components.
John gasior
Do you guys know how I might get a user manual ,thanks
Melissa Griffiths
I’d try reaching out the the Breville customer service, they might be able to send you a digital pdf of one.
Gail
What model number is the Breville you tested ?
Ayesha
Hi,,,thanks really for the amazing review, I am just worried about one thing, I am not sure about the non stick coating , in general I always prefer stainless steel in my kitchen machines, I wanna know if this coating can produce some kind of bad chemicals that can affect food, this is the only reason that makes me not convinced to buy this oven , I really would like to hear your opinion about this
Dc
Yes I would like to know as well please
Diane
Thank you for such a thorough review. I was contemplating what to buy and rewind your review has helped greatly.
Jennifer Degenhardt
What do the arrows pointing down mean between the 2 levels. Not sure what placement to use for the down arrow.
Jennifer McDaniel
OK, if I’m understanding your question correctly, the arrow is indicating that due to the magnet the oven will automatically pull the tray out for you when you use the door. It’s the center position on the oven.
If you’re talking about something different let me know and I’ll take a look at it! 🙂
Carin
Great article!! I’m definitely thinking this would be an excellent replacement for my old air fryer and my even older toaster oven in my small kitchen. Considering that it’s October, I’m wondering if I should wait a bit for Black Friday specials… anyone know if the Breville goes on sale?
Barbara Schieving
Thanks Carin – occasionally there will be a special for Black Friday, but Breville doesn’t go on sale as often or as much as other brands. Also, I’ve seen lots of new stories about shopping early this year if there’s something you really want.
Barbara Malewska
Hi Barbara and Jennifer,
I own the Breville Smart Air oven – for about 3 yrs. I did lots of research prior to purchasing. I simply love this appliance. I rarely use my big oven anymore as there are just 2 of us. Here are some tips I have found useful –
1. There is a groove depression between the bottom glass door and the plastic border. It will collect melted fats and begin to smell if not attended to. I have found that running a slightly soapy cloth wrapped around my finger and using my fingernail, run it along this groove to remove the fat. I do this every time I air fry anything using the basket and that has any oil or fat that may drip when the door is opened. I have also started laying paper towels onto the glass when opening the door and before pulling the baskets.
2. Do purchase the extra baskets and the bamboo board. This makes an excellent storage space for the baskets and it is a convenient place to put the racks when using the baskets. And the racks are very usable. You will find that after some time, the racks will become discolored, but this does not hinder their function.
3. I place the bottom rack in the lowest position and line it with foil – just covering the rack tines, not the entire surface. This also is a method for collecting dripping fat before it has a chance to drip onto the crumb tray.
4. I ALWAYS wipe out the oven after usage – waiting until it has cooled a bit. It is easier to wipe out and collect spatters while still slightly warm.
5. I purchased a ‘real’ jellyroll pan to use in this oven, 15′ X 10′. You will need to search for this size as so many manufactures have gone to a smaller size that is just a bit larger than a 1/4 sheet pan. It fits with about an inch all around for air circulation. I also use the 1/8 sized pan for small or single items and 1/4 sized pans for many items.
Hope you enjoy you new oven – it is the greatest.
Barbara Schieving
So many great tips – thanks for sharing Barbara!