The Anova Precision Oven and the Breville Smart Oven Air are two of the best countertop ovens available, but they cater to very different cooks. The Anova is a specialized combi-oven that brings professional-level steam injection and sous vide functions to home kitchens, while the Breville is a powerful, all-in-one appliance that excels at traditional convection cooking and air frying.
Here's everything you need to know to decide which high-performance oven from Anova or Breville is the right choice for your counter.
Anova Precision Oven
The Anova Precision Oven is a smart "combi-oven" that combines convection heat with variable steam control. This technology, popular in professional kitchens, allows for incredibly precise cooking, from flawlessly crusty bread and juicy roasts to "bagless sous vide," where you can perfectly cook proteins without a sealed bag or water bath. It’s a tech-forward appliance for serious food enthusiasts.
- What it is: A countertop combination steam-convection oven with app-based controls.
- Key features: Wet Bulb Sensor for precise sous vide cooking without a bag, precise steam injection from 0-100%, connected cooking app with recipes, multiple rack positions, and a core temperature probe.
- Price: Around $1,399
- Style: Sleek and modern with a stainless steel finish, minimalist look, and a digital touchscreen interface that relies heavily on its connected app.
- Materials/Construction: High-quality stainless steel build designed for temperature stability and durability.
- Pros: Unmatched temperature precision for sous vide and baking. Steam injection creates perfect bread crusts and keeps meat exceptionally moist. Connected app simplifies complex cooking processes. Acts as a pro-grade tool for food geeks.
- Cons: Carries a significant price premium. Steeper learning curve compared to traditional ovens. App is essential for advanced features. Physical controls are minimal.
The Anova Precision Oven is built for the tech-savvy home chef who values precision-based cooking methods like sous vide and steam injection above all else.
Shop this product: anovaculinary.com/products/anova-precision-oven
Breville Smart Oven Air
The Breville Smart Oven Air is a versatile workhorse of a countertop oven that packs multiple appliances into one sleek unit. Known for its powerful convection fan and Element IQ technology, which intelligently distributes heat, it excels at traditional tasks like baking, roasting, and toasting, but its killer feature is its high-performance air frying capability. It replaces the need for several separate appliances without compromising on results.
- What it is: A high-performance, multi-function countertop convection oven with an air fryer setting.
- Key features: 13 preset cooking functions including air fry and dehydrate, Element IQ technology with 6 independent quartz heating elements for precise heat, 2-speed convection fan for fast and even cooking, and a large 1 cu. ft. interior.
- Price: $399 - $499
- Style: Classic yet contemporary brushed stainless steel design with intuitive control dials and a clear LCD screen. Fits well in most kitchen aesthetics.
- Materials/Construction: Durable stainless steel exterior with quality components and a reputation for long-term reliability.
- Pros: Extremely versatile with 13 functions in one machine. Excellent air frying performance. Large interior capacity can roast a 14-lb turkey. Intuitive, user-friendly controls. Provides exceptional value for its performance.
- Cons: Takes up significant counter space. Super convection fan can be loud. Exterior gets very hot during operation. Lacks the specialized steam and sous vide functions of the Anova.
This is the oven for home cooks who need a reliable, do-it-all countertop appliance that excels at everyday tasks and offers fantastic air frying capabilities.
Shop this product: breville.com/us/en/products/ovens/bov900.html
Anova Precision Oven vs. Breville Smart Oven Air Comparison
Key Cooking Functions
This is the biggest point of difference. The Anova Precision Oven is built around steam. Its ability to control steam from 0-100% and maintain exact temperatures allows for pro-level techniques like "bagless sous vide," steam-baking artisan bread, and gently reheating leftovers without drying them out. It’s for a very specific type of cooking that prioritizes moisture and precision.
The Breville Smart Oven Air, on the other hand, is a master of dry heat. Its primary superpower is its 2-speed convection fan that delivers powerful, even air circulation, making it a spectacular air fryer for crispy fries, wings, and roasted vegetables. While the Anova has a convection fan, it can't match the dedicated air frying performance of the Breville. The Breville's focus is on versatility across more traditional cooking methods: roasting, baking, broiling, and toasting.
Dimensions & Scale
Both ovens demand a serious amount of counter space, but the Breville is slightly wider and taller. The Breville Smart Oven Air measures approximately 21.5" x 17.5" x 12.7", with a large 1 cu. ft. interior that can accommodate a 9x13-inch pan or a 14-lb turkey. The Anova Precision Oven is a bit more compact at 22.4" x 17.7" x 14.1" but feels visually substantial. Its interior capacity is slightly smaller but is designed to effectively steam and circulate air in a precise environment.
Materials & Construction
Both ovens are well-built with stainless steel exteriors and feel like premium appliances. Breville has a long-standing reputation for quality construction, and its Element IQ heating technology is proven to be reliable and effective for even heat management. The Anova features a robust, modern build specifically designed to handle the moisture and sealed environment required for steam-based cooking, including a large water tank and precise sensors that are more complex than the Breville's.
Price & Value
There is a stark price difference here. At around $1,399, the Anova Precision Oven is a major investment aimed at cooking enthusiasts who will take full advantage of its specialized sous vide and steam features. For them, the value is in accessing professional techniques at home.
The Breville Smart Oven Air, typically priced at $399-$499, offers incredible value for its price. It can legitimately replace a toaster, an air fryer, a convection oven, and even a food dehydrator, performing all functions at a very high level. For most home cooks, the Breville provides far more practical day-to-day functionality and a better overall return on investment.
Style & Aesthetic
The Anova has a high-tech, minimalist aesthetic with a clean digital touchscreen that relies heavily on its app for full control. It looks like a piece of lab equipment, perfectly suiting a modern, tech-forward kitchen. The Breville adopts a more classic but still sophisticated look with physical control knobs, buttons, and a clear LCD display. It’s more traditionally user-friendly and blends seamlessly into a wider range of kitchen designs.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both are top-tier countertop ovens, but they are designed for completely different users and cooking styles.
Choose the Anova Precision Oven if:
- You are a serious food enthusiast who wants to experiment with advanced cooking techniques.
- Sous vide is a primary method of cooking for you, and "bagless" sous vide sounds appealing.
- You bake artisan bread and want the perfect steamed crust that only a combi-oven can create.
- Your budget is not a limiting factor, and you prioritize precision and new technology.
Choose the Breville Smart Oven Air if:
- You want one countertop appliance that does almost everything - especially air frying.
- Your main priorities are roasting, baking, toasting, and getting food crispy.
- You prefer intuitive, tactile controls over a smartphone app.
- You want the best possible all-around performance and versatility for under $500.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between the Anova and Breville ovens?
The primary difference is steam. The Anova Precision Oven is a combi-oven that allows for precise steam injection, making it ideal for sous vide, steam-baking, and gentle reheating. The Breville Smart Oven Air is a powerful convection oven focused on dry heat, with market-leading performance in air frying and roasting.
Is the Anova Precision Oven worth the high price?
For the right person, yes. If you are passionate about sous vide cooking or baking artisan-style bread, the Anova provides capabilities that are simply not available in other consumer countertop ovens. If you don't use those specific functions, it's not worth the premium.
Does the Anova Precision Oven air fry well?
The Anova has a convection setting that circulates hot air, so it can make food crispy. However, it does not have the powerful, dedicated "Super Convection" fan of the Breville, which is specifically designed for air frying. For genuinely deep-fried-like results, the Breville's air frying function is superior.
Which oven is better for baking?
It depends on what you're baking. For bread with a thick, crackly crust or for cheesecakes that need a gentle, moist environment to prevent cracking, the Anova's steam injection is a game-changer. For general-purpose baking and cookies, the Breville's Element IQ provides incredibly even, reliable heat.
Is the Breville Smart Oven Air popular?
Yes, the Breville Smart Oven Air is one of the most popular and highly-rated countertop ovens on the market. It's often praised for its versatility, performance, and durability, making it a common sight in many kitchens.
Can I sous vide in the Breville Smart Oven Air?
No. Sous vide cooking requires precise, low-temperature control in a water or steam environment, which is the specific technology built into the Anova oven. You cannot perform true sous vide in the Breville.
Which oven is easier for a beginner to use?
The Breville Smart Oven Air is significantly easier for a beginner. Its clear presets, intuitive knobs, and LCD screen make it very simple to start cooking right out of the box. The Anova relies heavily on its connected app and has a learning curve to master its advanced features.
Which oven is better as an everyday appliance?
For most people's everyday needs - reheating pizza, air frying fries, roasting vegetables, and toasting - the Breville Smart Oven Air is the more practical and versatile choice. It handles a wider range of daily tasks at a high level of performance.
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