Brava Smart Oven Review Versatile 10-in-1 Kitchen Appliance with Touchscreen

Description

A Versatile Appliance for the Modern Kitchen

I’ve been testing the Brava Oven Starter Set (Model: BRAVA), and honestly, this smart oven has a lot going for it. It’s marketed as a 10-in-1 countertop smart oven, boasting features like air frying, slow cooking, toasting, and even dehydrating. As someone who enjoys cooking but isn’t always thrilled about juggling multiple appliances, this seemed like the perfect solution to streamline my kitchen routine. Here’s my take on how it performs in real-world use.

Design and Build Quality

The sleek stainless steel finish immediately caught my eye. It has a compact yet sturdy design that doesn’t feel flimsy despite being a countertop appliance. At 55 pounds, it’s not exactly lightweight, but it feels robust and durable. The dropdown door style is smooth to operate, and the touchscreen control panel is intuitive, making it easy for anyone to select settings without fumbling around. I tested the screen’s responsiveness and found it to work seamlessly, even when my hands were slightly wet from cooking.

While I appreciated the cool-to-the-touch exterior, which is a huge plus when you’ve got curious kids running around, I did find that cleaning the stainless steel exterior required regular wiping to avoid smudges.

Key Benefits

The Brava’s versatility is its biggest selling point. I mean, who wouldn’t love an appliance that can air-fry, roast, bake, and even slow cook? Here are some of the positives I discovered:

• The multi-zone cooking feature is brilliant. You can cook protein and veggies simultaneously without worrying about uneven cooking.
• With over 8000 customizable cooking programs, there’s literally a recipe for everyone, from pizza enthusiasts to those who love perfectly roasted chicken wings.
• The screen-reader compatibility ensures accessibility for the visually impaired, which is a thoughtful touch.
• It includes a variety of cookware, like a TempSensor probe thermometer, metal trays, glass trays, and even a muffin pan.
• Recipes are guided, making it super easy for beginners or anyone trying something new.

Downsides

While the Brava is packed with features, it’s not without its flaws. Here are a few areas where I think improvements could be made:

• At 17.3 x 16.4 x 11.3 inches, it’s not the smallest appliance, so it might be challenging to fit into kitchens with limited counter space.
• The app-based control is handy, but I noticed occasional connectivity issues when trying to operate the oven remotely.
• Although the auto shut-off feature is great for safety, it can sometimes trigger prematurely if the door isn’t closed perfectly.
• The touchscreen, while sleek, smudges easily and requires frequent cleaning.

Performance in Daily Use

Cooking with this smart oven was honestly an enjoyable experience. The 1800-watt power ensures quick preheating, and I loved how I could make a whole meal—protein, veggies, and even dessert—without needing to shuffle things around. For instance, I tried its broil feature to sear salmon, and the results were restaurant-quality. The air fryer mode? Crisped up fries better than my standalone air fryer.

However, I did notice that the dehydrating function, while functional, took quite a bit of time compared to standalone dehydrators. This might not be a dealbreaker if you’re only an occasional dehydrator like me, but it’s something to consider if you rely heavily on that feature.

Product Competitors

Comparing this to other smart ovens like the Breville Smart Oven Air or the Cuisinart TOA-65, the Brava stands out for its multi-zone cooking and guided recipes. The Breville has excellent air-frying capabilities but doesn’t offer as many cooking modes as the Brava. On the other hand, the Cuisinart TOA-65 is more budget-friendly but lacks the same level of customization and app control.

Where the Brava wins is in its accessibility features and the sheer number of preset recipes available. However, it does fall short in terms of price competitiveness, as some of its rivals deliver similar performance at a lower cost.

Value for Money

This smart oven isn’t cheap, but its price-to-quality ratio justifies the investment if you’re looking for a multi-functional appliance to replace several gadgets. When I compared the cost of buying a high-quality air fryer, toaster, slow cooker, and dehydrator separately, the Brava seemed like a cost-effective solution. However, if you only need one or two of those functionalities, it might feel a bit overkill.

In the end, the Brava Oven Starter Set offers a unique combination of versatility and innovation, making it a valuable addition to any modern kitchen. While it’s not perfect and has some quirks, the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks for someone like me who values convenience and efficiency in the kitchen.

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