The NuWave oven is a counter top oven that combines the principles of convection (moving air) and infrared (heat waves) to cook food more efficiently than a traditional oven, taking 50% less time and 85% less energy.

It has many uses including baking, steaming and frying. The small size and versatility of the NuWave oven make it sound appealing for cooks who want to make the most of their time and kitchen space. It also promises healthier cooking because it does not require the use of added fats and oils. The question is, does it live up to the hype?

Peruse several sites with reviews of the NuWave oven and you will see many satisfied customers raving about the device. It seems to work especially well for meats, although depending on what model of the NuWave you buy, it may not be big enough for a large ham, turkey or roast.

“The tenderness is like KFC without all of the extra oil that has,” raves Gricycle, an Amazon.com reviewer. “The flavor is wonderful. Compared to a conventional oven this is much more tender meat.” These comments are typical of the product reviews you will find for the NuWave. Whether cooking beef, fish, chicken or pork, meat-lovers appreciate the NuWave’s ability to cook without causing the food to lose moisture.

However, the NuWave does have its weaknesses. Cooking meats and vegetables at the same time does not work as well in the NuWave as it does in a traditional oven. Baking cakes, cookies, and breads in the NuWave is generally more difficult than baking them in a standard oven, and the results are mixed. If you use your oven primarily for baking things other than meat, the NuWave is probably not a good choice for you.

Even for cooks who enjoy preparing meat in their NuWave, durability is a serious issue. One glowing, four-star review on Amazon begins with the words, “This is my second NuWave…” Many other NuWave enthusiasts report that their device failed within a year of purchase. The warranty is very limited and replacement parts are so expensive that most users opt to replace instead of repairing. Considering that a NuWave oven costs between $99 and $170, the short life expectancy of the oven seems quite daunting.

Another concern with the NuWave is the instruction manual. Many reviewers felt it was confusing and poorly worded. Also, recipe instructions and times often had to be modified in order to produce good results.

The NuWave is by no means the only choice for those wanting a counter top convection oven. With similar claims and equally enthusiastic reviewers, the Aroma Housewares AST-900E AeroMatic Convection Oven ($89.99), the Sunpentown Super Turbo Oven ($68), and the Deni Glass Convection Oven ($79) all offer efficient, healthy cooking at a reasonable price.