Breville | Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro
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One Oven to Rule Them All
I’ve had one of these on my kitchen counter for around seven years now, and it’s been a total workhorse. Originally, I bought it because I lived in a small apartment with no AC and bad ventilation, and heating up the gas oven just to roast some potatoes felt like a crime. It was slow and just wasn’t efficient for energy, cost, or comfort. Enter the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro.
Even now that I live somewhere with a full-sized kitchen, I still almost never use my “proper” oven. Seriously – I can count on one hand how many times I’ve turned it on in the past year. The Breville handles pretty much everything I need… and I like to cook.
It has 13 different cooking modes. You’re going to get most use out of the more standard bake, toast, and roast functions, but there are also the more esoteric options to be explored as well – we’re talking proofing dough, slow cooking, dehydrating, air frying, even a mode specifically for cookies and reheating last night’s leftovers. The oven has a convection fan with two speeds (standard and turbo) that moves hot air evenly, and you really do notice a difference. Food cooks faster and more evenly - and it eliminates the random hot or cold spots that plague full-size ovens.
A note about the air fryer mode: It works exactly like it should. Crispy edges, quick cook times, and none of the countertop clutter of having a standalone air fryer. The basket is a different shape, sure, but the fundamental principles you already know from your standalone unit still apply. If you’re tight on space or just prefer clean, multipurpose gear, this might be the thing that lets you reclaim a square foot or two of your kitchen.
But what if you’re a ‘proper’ kitchen nut? Unlike some of Breville’s smaller countertop ovens, this model is big enough to take on some serious cooking. There’s a clever cutout in the back wall that allows it to accommodate a full-size pizza tray. It can handle a 14 lb turkey, a 9 x 13 inch roasting pan, or even a 12-cup muffin tray. Big capacity, no drama - unless you’re trying to cook thanksgiving dinner with it. I did once, and it was hard, but that’s not what this oven is for. I still give it points for pulling through.
I use this oven literally every single day – normally multiple times – and it has never once let me down. It holds its temperature consistently (thanks to the 5 quartz heating elements and electronic temperature control), and because it’s smaller than a standard oven, it gets to temp quicker and holds it better once it’s there. Things cook faster, they cook more evenly, and the results speak for themselves.
From a build quality perspective, it’s what you’d expect from Breville: Brushed stainless steel, firm, tactile knobs and buttons, and a satisfyingly clear LCD display that shows temperature, cook time, and mode. You get audible reminders when it’s time to rotate food, and there’s even an interior light that kicks on at the end of the cook cycle – or whenever you want it (which is a small detail perhaps, but is very useful.). As far as setting it goes, it’s easy. The dials give you direct control over everything without you needing to fumble through menus. It feels more like a tool and less like a gadget.
Breville includes a solid set of accessories in the box, too: a 13-inch pizza pan, two oven racks, a broiling rack, an enamel roasting pan, and a mesh basket for air frying or dehydrating. So you’re not buying an empty box and then hunting for aftermarket extras. This is a complete setup right out of the gate.
There’s also something to be said for how this thing looks. It feels just as appropriate in a modern kitchen as it did in my old beat-up rental. Clean lines, compact footprint, and nothing flashy. Just understated, brushed stainless steel competence.
Finally, let’s talk about the price. With an MSRP of $399, it’s certainly not the cheapest countertop oven - but it’s so very much more than that. If you value performance, versatility, and daily reliability for your family, it’s hard to imagine a better model - even if you put price aside. Whether you’re roasting a whole chicken, crisping up leftovers, or proofing dough for homemade pizza, the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro shows up and does its job beautifully. I’ve always loved that turning it on doesn’t automatically turn the whole kitchen into a sauna like my old gas oven did – and that efficiency translates into more than just comfort gains: When I first bought it, I did some quick back-of-the-napkin math using rough energy costs and the efficiency gains of heating a smaller oven. Everyone’s situation is different of course, but it’s pretty clear this thing can help cut down on home energy use – and likely your bills too.
Finally, let’s talk about the price. At a price of $399 at writing, it’s not the cheapest countertop oven – but it’s far more than that. If you value performance, versatility, and everyday reliability, it’s hard to imagine a better model, even before you factor in cost. Whether you’re roasting a whole chicken, crisping up leftovers, or proofing dough for homemade pizza, the Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro shows up and does its job beautifully. I’ve always appreciated that turning it on doesn’t transform the entire kitchen into a sauna like my old gas oven did – and that efficiency translates into more than just comfort. When I first bought mine, I did some back-of-the-napkin math on energy costs, comparing it to firing up a full-size oven. Everyone’s situation will vary, but the takeaway was pretty clear: the Breville Smart Oven helps cut energy use, and likely your bills, too.
Check it out on Amazon.
Check it out on Amazon.