Nuwave Brio Plus 8 Quart Air Fryer Review PFAS Free Design and 5 Degree Heat Control
Why This Product Is Worth a Look
Large air fryers are useful when a standard four or six-quart model requires too many batches. The Nuwave Brio Plus 8 Qt Air Fryer combines an eight-quart basket with precise temperature adjustment, selectable power levels, a PFAS-free ceramic cooking surface, and extensive digital programming. It is particularly noteworthy for households that want family-sized capacity or need to manage electrical demand in an RV or on a shared circuit.
Product Overview
The Nuwave Brio Plus 8 Qt is a single-zone countertop air fryer designed for air frying, baking, roasting, dehydrating, toasting, reheating, and preheating. Its basket is rated at eight quarts, with listed capacity for up to four pounds of French fries or five pounds of chicken wings. The usable amount may vary with food size and the space needed for airflow.
Temperature can be set from 50 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit in five-degree increments. This range supports both low-temperature tasks, such as dehydrating and proofing dough, and higher-temperature cooking for browning and crisping.
The appliance operates on 120-volt power and offers selectable 700, 1500, and 1800-watt modes. It also includes five primary cooking modes, 100 presets, 50 memory slots, a shake reminder, and digital touch controls. Because it has one basket and one cooking zone, it cannot prepare two foods at different temperatures simultaneously.
Design, Build, and Everyday Feel
The Brio Plus has an upright, rounded rectangular body measuring approximately 11.94 inches deep, 12.5 inches wide, and 12.69 inches high. It weighs about 15.77 pounds. It is not especially lightweight, but its vertical design keeps the countertop footprint reasonable for an eight-quart appliance. Buyers should still leave adequate space around and above the unit for ventilation rather than operating it tightly beneath a cabinet.
The front control area uses capacitive touch controls and a cool-white digital display. Large illuminated characters should be easier to read than small printed markings, and there are no physical dial labels that can fade from repeated cleaning. The interface provides direct access to the five cooking modes, time and temperature settings, wattage selection, presets, and other functions.
The cooking drawer contains a removable air circulation riser with perimeter grips intended to hold it securely when food is poured out. Both the basket and riser use Nuwave's Duralon Blue ceramic nonstick coating. The manufacturer describes the food-contact coating as free from PFAS, PFOA, and PTFE.
Available finishes include black, gray, cream, deep blue, and cozy blue. Color availability may depend on the exact listing and model configuration.
Product information for model 37401 is inconsistent about the viewing window. One specification lists a transparent window, while other Brio Plus documentation describes a version without one. Anyone who considers a window essential should verify the model number, current product photographs, and package description before ordering.
Key Features
First, the eight-quart single-zone basket provides enough volume for larger portions. Nuwave lists capacity for four pounds of fries or five pounds of wings, making it possible to reduce the number of batches needed for family meals. The limitation is that capacity alone does not guarantee even browning. Dense foods should not be packed so tightly that air cannot move between pieces.
Second, Linear T temperature regulation is designed to monitor chamber temperature every second and continuously adjust heating output. Conventional thermostatic systems often alternate between full heating and no heating, which can create wider temperature swings. Linear T is intended to hold the selected temperature more consistently. It cannot compensate for an overloaded basket, however, and cooking results will still depend on food arrangement, moisture, and whether items are shaken or turned.
Third, the temperature range extends from 50 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit with five-degree adjustments. The low end adds versatility for dehydrating produce, making jerky, or proofing dough, while the upper end supports roasting and crisping. Five-degree control is more precise than the larger adjustment intervals found on many basic air fryers, although not every recipe requires that level of accuracy.
Fourth, selectable 700, 1500, and 1800-watt operation provides unusual electrical flexibility. The 1800-watt setting is intended for faster heating and stronger cooking performance in a typical home kitchen with a suitable circuit. The lower settings may help when the unit shares a circuit or is used with limited RV power. The tradeoff is longer cooking time, especially at 700 watts with a full basket. The selected wattage is also designed to remain in memory after the appliance is unplugged.
Fifth, the control system includes five main cooking modes, additional preheat and reheat functions, 100 preset programs, and 50 slots for custom settings. Saved programs can be useful for frequently repeated meals. However, the number of options creates a more involved interface than a simple air fryer with two mechanical dials. Some owners may use only a small portion of the available presets.
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What It May Be Like to Use
Based on the available product information, initial setup should include washing the removable food-contact parts and reviewing the operating instructions. Reports summarized in the research material mention a temporary manufacturing or heated mechanical odor during the first few cycles. Running an empty 15-minute cycle at 400 degrees Fahrenheit in a well-ventilated location may help clear that odor, provided this procedure is consistent with the current owner's manual.
In typical daily use, food is placed on the removable riser inside the basket, and the cooking mode, temperature, time, and wattage are selected from the touch panel. Time and temperature can be adjusted while a cycle is running, so small changes do not require canceling the program.
The top-mounted heating assembly and nine-blade fan circulate hot air around the basket. This should support browning from multiple directions, but fries, wings, and other tightly arranged foods may still need to be shaken or flipped. The integrated shake reminder provides a useful prompt.
Pulling out the drawer activates a safety interlock that pauses the fan and heating system. Cooking resumes when the drawer is correctly reinserted without discarding the remaining time. Available user reports indicate that the heated drawer can occasionally require careful, centered alignment when it is pushed back into the chassis.
The fan and alert tones are described as relatively subdued. Noise perceptions vary, but the appliance may be less intrusive than models with sharper alarm tones or high-pitched fan noise.
Cleanup should be relatively straightforward if the ceramic surface is maintained correctly. Food residue can generally be removed with warm water, mild detergent, and a soft, nonabrasive pad after the basket has cooled. Metal utensils, abrasive scrubbers, and aerosol propellant sprays may shorten the life of a ceramic nonstick coating.
What Works Well
Temperature flexibility is a major strength. The 50 to 400-degree range covers more than conventional high-heat air frying, while five-degree increments allow fine adjustments.
Selectable wattage makes the unit adaptable to different electrical environments. Most competing air fryers operate only at their maximum rated power.
The eight-quart basket is practical for larger households and volume-heavy foods. It can reduce batch cooking when compared with smaller models.
The PFAS-free ceramic coating addresses concerns about PTFE and related compounds while also supporting easier food release and cleanup.
The automatic drawer interlock improves safety and convenience by pausing heat and airflow whenever the basket is removed.
The digital display is large and illuminated, making settings easier to read in bright or dim kitchens.
The combination of presets and custom memory slots is useful for people who repeatedly cook the same foods with consistent settings.
Things to Consider
This is a single-zone appliance. Although the basket is large, it cannot independently cook two foods at different temperatures or for different durations.
The digital control system has more layers than a basic time-and-temperature interface. Users who prefer simple mechanical dials may find the preset library and memory controls unnecessarily complex.
Cooking performance is reduced at the 700-watt setting. That mode is best viewed as an electrical compatibility option rather than the fastest way to prepare a meal.
A temporary break-in odor has been reported during early heating cycles. Proper initial conditioning and ventilation may be necessary.
The drawer may feel stiff when hot and can require deliberate alignment to engage the safety switch correctly.
The viewing-window specification is unclear across available descriptions. The exact version should be confirmed before purchase.
An eight-quart rating does not mean the basket should always be filled to its maximum level. Overcrowding restricts airflow and can produce uneven or less crisp results.
The warranty period is not clearly stated in the supplied information. Warranty terms should be requested from Nuwave before purchase if coverage is an important factor.
Who Is This Product For?
The Nuwave Brio Plus is well suited to families, meal preppers, and households that regularly cook larger portions. It may also be useful for RV owners or anyone working with limited electrical capacity because the wattage can be reduced when necessary.
It is a reasonable option for users who want more than basic air frying. The low minimum temperature, dehydration mode, memory slots, and precise temperature adjustment allow it to cover several countertop cooking tasks.
It may be less suitable for people who need two independent cooking zones, want an especially compact appliance, or prefer simple manual controls. Buyers who expect consistently fast cooking should also plan to use the 1500 or 1800-watt setting rather than the 700-watt mode.
Helpful Tips Before You Buy
Measure the intended countertop area and allow ventilation space around the appliance. Do not rely only on the chassis dimensions when planning placement beneath upper cabinets.
Confirm that the kitchen circuit can support an 1800-watt appliance, especially if a microwave, toaster, coffee maker, or other high-draw equipment shares the same circuit.
Verify whether the exact model being sold has a viewing window. Model 37401 is associated with conflicting descriptions.
Use the lower wattage settings only when electrical capacity requires them. Expect longer cooking times at 700 watts.
For crisp results, arrange food in a relatively even layer and leave room for air circulation. Shake fries and turn larger pieces when prompted.
Allow the basket to cool before washing it. Use soft cleaning tools and avoid metal utensils or harsh abrasives on the ceramic coating.
If the new appliance produces an initial odor, follow the owner's manual for conditioning and operate it only in a well-ventilated location.
Common Questions
Does the Nuwave Brio Plus contain PFAS?
Nuwave describes the Duralon Blue ceramic food-contact coating as free from PFAS, PFOA, and PTFE.
What is its maximum power draw?
The highest setting is 1800 watts. It can also be configured for 1500 or 700 watts.
Can it dehydrate food?
Yes. Its 50-degree minimum temperature and dehydration mode support low-temperature drying, although drying time depends on food thickness and moisture content.
Does it stop when the basket is removed?
Yes. The safety interlock pauses the heating element and fan when the drawer is pulled out and resumes cooking after it is correctly reinserted.
Can it cook two foods at different temperatures?
No. It has one basket and one cooking zone, so all food inside is cooked under the same active settings.
Does every version have a viewing window?
That is not clear from the available documentation. Some specifications list a transparent window, while other descriptions do not. Verify the exact model and listing photographs before buying.
Final Thoughts
The Nuwave Brio Plus 8 Qt Air Fryer offers a technically strong combination of large capacity, precise temperature adjustment, selectable wattage, and a PFAS-free ceramic cooking surface. Linear T regulation, automatic drawer pausing, a shake reminder, and extensive program memory add meaningful functionality rather than focusing only on basket size.
Its main compromises are the single cooking zone, a more complicated control system, slower performance at 700 watts, and occasional drawer-alignment concerns. The conflicting information about the viewing window also deserves attention before purchase.
Overall, this model is a practical candidate for households that will use its eight-quart capacity and advanced temperature controls. Its adjustable power system is especially relevant for shared circuits and RV environments. Buyers who want dual-zone cooking or the simplicity of two manual dials may be better served by a different design.
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