Can Breville Smart Oven Pro Be Used As An Air Fryer

Breville Smart Oven Pro: Air Frying Capabilities Explored

Many people wonder if their versatile kitchen appliances can perform multiple tasks. A common question arises about the Breville Smart Oven Pro: Can it truly function as an air fryer? This powerful countertop oven is known for its precise temperature control and diverse cooking modes. We will explore how its features align with air frying principles. This article helps you understand the Breville Smart Oven Pro’s “air frying” capabilities. It offers practical tips to achieve crispy, delicious results at home.

Takeaway

The Breville Smart Oven Pro uses powerful convection technology to mimic air frying.
It circulates hot air rapidly, cooking food evenly and creating crispy textures.
You can achieve excellent “air fried” results for many foods.
Adjust cooking settings and use proper accessories for best performance.

Can Breville Smart Oven Pro Be Used As An Air Fryer?

Yes, the Breville Smart Oven Pro can be used effectively to “air fry” foods. It achieves air fryer-like results by utilizing its powerful convection fan and precise temperature control. This oven cooks food by circulating very hot air around it, creating a crispy exterior similar to a dedicated air fryer.

Understanding the Breville Smart Oven Pro’s Core Features

The Breville Smart Oven Pro (BOV845BSS) is more than just a toaster oven. It is a sophisticated countertop appliance designed for various cooking needs. This oven offers multiple cooking functions, including toast, bagel, bake, roast, broil, pizza, cookies, reheat, and warm. Its “Smart Oven” designation comes from its Element IQ system. This system directs power to heating elements as needed.

The oven has five independent quartz heating elements. These elements automatically adjust power for precise and stable cooking. This ensures your food cooks evenly from all sides. The key feature for air frying, however, is its powerful convection fan. This fan plays a central role in circulating hot air inside the oven.

The fan circulates heat around the food. This process cooks food faster and more evenly. It also helps create a crispy texture on the surface. This is the exact principle that air fryers use.

The Convection Fan: Key to Air Frying Mimicry

Air frying works by circulating extremely hot air around food at high speed. This process cooks the food and creates a crispy, golden-brown exterior. The Breville Smart Oven Pro uses a powerful, two-speed convection fan for this purpose. When you select a cooking function like “Roast” or “Bake,” the convection fan often engages. This fan pushes hot air all around your food.

This rapid air movement is crucial for “air frying” success. It removes moisture from the food’s surface, promoting crispness. The Breville fan is strong enough to achieve significant browning and crisping. This feature allows the oven to simulate a dedicated air fryer’s action. You get similar results without needing a separate appliance.

Think of it as a small, powerful convection oven. Most standalone air fryers are essentially compact convection ovens. The Breville Smart Oven Pro offers this capability on a larger scale.

Achieving Air Fryer-Like Results with Your Breville Smart Oven Pro

Getting crispy “air fried” results from your Breville Smart Oven Pro requires a few specific techniques. First, use the “Roast” setting or a high “Bake” setting with the convection fan on. Temperatures typically range from 375°F to 425°F (190°C to 220°C). Always preheat the oven fully before adding food. This ensures immediate exposure to high, circulating heat.

Second, use the right accessories. The Breville Smart Oven Pro often comes with a wire rack and a baking pan. For best “air frying,” place food directly on the wire rack. Put the baking pan underneath to catch drips. This setup allows air to circulate around all sides of the food. Avoid overcrowding the rack. Cook food in a single layer to ensure even crisping. Overlapping food will steam instead of fry.

Third, consider using a light coating of oil. A thin spray or toss with a teaspoon of oil helps achieve a golden, crispy finish. Flip or shake your food halfway through the cooking time. This ensures all sides get equal exposure to the hot air. By following these steps, you can achieve impressive crispiness for various foods.

Optimal Foods for “Air Frying” in the Smart Oven Pro

The Breville Smart Oven Pro excels at “air frying” a wide range of foods. Frozen items like french fries, tater tots, chicken nuggets, and fish sticks cook beautifully. They come out golden and crunchy. Homemade items also do very well. Try chicken wings, Brussels sprouts, broccoli, or sweet potato fries. These foods benefit greatly from the circulating hot air.

For vegetables, a light toss with oil and seasonings before cooking yields fantastic results. The high heat creates a slightly charred, tender-crisp texture. Chicken pieces, especially wings and drumettes, become incredibly crispy on the outside while staying juicy inside. Even small batches of spring rolls or mozzarella sticks can be “air fried” to perfection.

Consider foods that benefit from high, dry heat. This cooking method helps achieve a desirable crispness. It reduces the need for excessive oil, making dishes healthier. The large capacity of the Breville Smart Oven Pro allows you to cook larger batches compared to many basket-style air fryers. This is great for family meals.

Comparing Breville Smart Oven Pro to Dedicated Air Fryers

The Breville Smart Oven Pro offers significant advantages over many dedicated basket-style air fryers, but also has some differences. Its main benefit is versatility. It bakes, roasts, toasts, and “air fries,” eliminating the need for multiple appliances. Its larger internal capacity often allows you to cook more food at once. This is perfect for families or entertaining. Dedicated air fryers often have smaller baskets, limiting batch sizes.

However, a dedicated air fryer might preheat faster due to its smaller cavity. It might also have specialized air frying programs. The Breville’s convection fan is powerful, but a small, focused air fryer might achieve slightly faster crisping for certain items. Cleaning can also differ. For the Breville, you clean the interior and racks. For a basket air fryer, you often clean the basket and drawer. Learning how to properly clean an air fryer oven will help maintain your Breville’s performance.

Ultimately, the Breville Smart Oven Pro is an excellent multi-functional appliance. It provides very similar “air frying” capabilities. If you value counter space and versatility, the Breville is a superior choice. If your only goal is rapid air frying of small batches, a dedicated unit might offer a slight edge in speed.

Maximizing Performance and Care of Your Breville Smart Oven Pro

To get the most out of your Breville Smart Oven Pro’s “air frying” capabilities, proper maintenance is key. Regularly clean the interior, especially after cooking greasy foods. Grease buildup can affect heating efficiency and even cause odors. Wipe down the internal walls and the heating elements when cool. The crumb tray should be emptied frequently.

The wire rack and baking pan are critical for air circulation. Clean them thoroughly after each use. You can wash these by hand with warm, soapy water. For stubborn grease on the racks, consider soaking them first. Cleaning the oven’s interior elements, especially the fan area, is important. For instance, knowing how to clean an air fryer toaster oven provides good general guidance applicable here.

Always ensure good ventilation around your oven. This helps dissipate heat and moisture during cooking. Avoid blocking the fan vents. Proper care extends the life of your appliance. It also ensures consistent cooking performance, including its excellent “air frying” function. A well-maintained oven will always perform at its best.

Recipes and Cooking Ideas for Crispy Delights

Let’s explore some delicious recipes you can “air fry” in your Breville Smart Oven Pro. These ideas highlight the oven’s ability to deliver crispy results.

Crispy French Fries:

Cut potatoes into uniform fries.
Soak them in cold water for 30 minutes, then pat completely dry. This step removes excess starch.
Toss with 1 teaspoon of olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Spread in a single layer on the wire rack. Place a baking pan below.
Roast at 400°F (200°C) with convection for 20-30 minutes, flipping halfway. Cook until golden and crisp.

Spicy Chicken Wings:

Pat chicken wings very dry with paper towels.
Toss with a small amount of oil and your favorite dry rub (paprika, garlic powder, chili powder).
Arrange in a single layer on the wire rack.
Roast at 425°F (220°C) with convection for 25-35 minutes. Flip halfway through. The skin will become beautifully crispy.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts:

Trim Brussels sprouts and cut larger ones in half.
Toss with a little olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Spread in a single layer on the wire rack.
Roast at 375°F (190°C) with convection for 15-20 minutes. Shake the rack once or twice. They should be tender inside with crispy, charred edges.

These recipes show how versatile the Breville Smart Oven Pro is. You can achieve fantastic crispy textures. Experiment with your favorite foods and find new favorites.

FAQ Section

Is the Breville Smart Oven Pro a dedicated air fryer?

No, the Breville Smart Oven Pro is not a dedicated air fryer. It is a versatile countertop oven with a powerful convection fan. This fan allows it to achieve very similar “air frying” results. It serves multiple functions, including baking, roasting, and toasting, in addition to crisping food like an air fryer.

What is the best temperature for “air frying” in the Breville Smart Oven Pro?

For most “air frying” tasks, setting the Breville Smart Oven Pro between 375°F (190°C) and 425°F (220°C) is ideal. The exact temperature depends on the food. Foods like frozen fries often benefit from higher temperatures, while vegetables might prefer slightly lower heat for even cooking and crisping. Always use the convection fan.

Can I use parchment paper when “air frying” in the Breville Smart Oven Pro?

It is generally not recommended to use parchment paper when “air frying” in the Breville Smart Oven Pro. Parchment paper can block the crucial airflow necessary for crisping. Instead, place food directly on the wire rack. This allows hot air to circulate around all sides of the food, achieving optimal crispiness.

How do I clean my Breville Smart Oven Pro after “air frying”?

To clean your Breville Smart Oven Pro after “air frying,” ensure the oven is cool. Remove the wire rack and baking pan and wash them with warm, soapy water. Wipe the interior walls and glass door with a damp cloth and mild dish soap. For stubborn grease, use a non-abrasive cleaner. Regularly empty the crumb tray. This keeps the oven ready for your next meal. You can find more specific cleaning tips for similar appliances by learning how to clean an air fryer.

Does it preheat fast like an air fryer?

The Breville Smart Oven Pro preheats relatively quickly for an oven of its size. While not as instant as some very compact, dedicated basket air fryers, it heats up much faster than a full-sized oven. Its efficient heating elements and convection fan contribute to its quick readiness. This allows you to start “air frying” without long waits.

Conclusion

The Breville Smart Oven Pro stands out as an incredibly versatile kitchen appliance. It can indeed be used effectively to “air fry” your favorite foods. While not a dedicated air fryer, its powerful convection fan and precise temperature control mimic the air frying process very well. You can achieve crispy, golden-brown results on anything from french fries and chicken wings to roasted vegetables. This multi-functional oven saves counter space and offers a wide range of cooking capabilities.

By understanding its features, using the right accessories, and following simple cooking tips, you unlock its full potential. The Breville Smart Oven Pro truly brings convenience and culinary excellence to your kitchen. If you own this appliance, start experimenting with its “air frying” mode today. Discover new crispy delights for your meals. Enjoy delicious, healthier versions of your favorite fried foods.