Nuwave Pro Plus 2 Infra-Red Oven Review: Worth Buying?

So you’re tired of preheating your big oven for one small meal, and you’re wondering if a countertop machine can actually replace it. I felt the same way.

I kept forgetting to defrost dinner, and my kitchen turned into a sauna every time I roasted something. That’s the exact problem the Nuwave Pro Plus 2 promises to fix.

This oven claims to cook food straight from frozen, skip preheating, and use less energy. Big promises. I put it through weeks of real cooking to see if it holds up. Below is my honest take, the good and the messy, so you can decide before you spend the money.

In a Nutshell

• Cooks frozen food directly — No defrosting needed. I tossed frozen salmon and chicken straight in, and it worked.
• Triple cooking technology — It uses conduction, convection, and infrared heat at once for even results.
• 1500 watts and 100 presets — Strong power with plenty of programmed settings for baking, roasting, grilling, and air frying.
• Best for small households — The 10-pound capacity fits a small turkey, but it suits singles and couples most.
• No non-stick coating — Cleanup takes effort, especially with sticky foods like wings.
• Energy saver — It uses up to 85% less energy than a full-size oven, so your kitchen stays cool.

What Is the Nuwave Pro Plus 2 Infra-Red Oven

The Nuwave Pro Plus 2 is a countertop oven that combines three heat sources in one dome. It uses infrared, convection, and conduction to cook food from the inside and outside at the same time.

It measures about 14.5 by 15.5 by 12.88 inches and weighs just over 11 pounds. The clear Power Dome lets you watch your food cook, which I actually loved.

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Nuwave has made these ovens since 1993, and they say over 10 million units have sold. This second version adjusts temperature from 50 to 350 degrees and holds up to 10 pounds of food. It’s built for people who want fast, lower-fat cooking without heating a whole kitchen.

Who Should Buy This Oven

This oven fits busy people who forget to defrost. That was me. You can cook straight from the freezer, which saves the mad dinner-time scramble.

It also suits health-conscious cooks. The design lets fat drip away, so your food comes out lighter. I noticed less grease pooling under my chicken.

Singles and couples will get the most value here. The 10-pound capacity handles small meals well but struggles with large family portions.

It’s a strong choice if your kitchen is tight and you don’t want a bulky full oven running all day. But if you cook for five or more people nightly, you may find it small.

Top 3 Alternatives for Nuwave Pro Plus 2

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Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Air Fry Oven

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Ninja SP101 8-in-1 Digital Air Fry Oven

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Ninja DT251 Foodi 10-in-1 Smart XL Air Fry Oven

Unboxing and First Impressions

The box arrives heavier than I expected. Inside you get the power head, base tray, dome, reversible rack, liner pan, and dome holder. Everything felt sturdy, not flimsy.

Assembly is simple. You stack the base, add the rack, place your food, then set the dome on top. It took me under two minutes to figure out.

The clear dome was my favorite surprise. You watch your food brown in real time, so no guessing. The controls sit on the power head and are clearly labeled.

My one gripe on day one was the look. It’s functional but not sleek. It won’t win beauty awards next to a shiny toaster oven. Still, it feels tough enough to last years.

The Cooking Performance

This is where the oven earned my respect. I threw frozen salmon straight in, and minutes later it came out flaky and tender. No defrosting, no fuss.

The 360-degree surround cooking heats every side evenly. My chicken browned all around without me flipping it constantly.

I also cooked steak, and it came out juicy inside with a nice crust. Baked potatoes were fantastic too, soft and fluffy without heating my whole kitchen.

The infrared heat cooks fast. More than once I had to lower the temp mid-cook because it moved quicker than I planned. The on-the-fly adjustment saved my dinner several times. Performance is genuinely the strongest part of this machine.

Presets and Ease of Use

The Pro Plus 2 comes with 100 pre-programmed presets and 50 memory slots for your own settings. That’s a lot of built-in help.

Honestly, the presets are handy but overwhelming at first. You’ll spend a few sessions learning which one matches your meal. There’s a mild learning curve here.

I liked that I could adjust temperature mid-cook without restarting. If you eyeball recipes like I do, that flexibility is a real safety net.

The touch controls respond well and stay easy to read. Once you memorize your go-to settings, cooking becomes quick and almost mindless. After a week, I stopped reaching for the manual entirely.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Here’s where I have to be honest. The oven has no non-stick coating. Sticky foods like glazed wings left residue that needed scrubbing.

The parts are dishwasher safe, which helps a lot. I ran the rack, pan, and dome through and they came out clean without hand washing.

For everyday meals, cleanup is easy. Fat drips into the liner pan, so you just wipe and rinse. The mess only builds up with sugary or sticky sauces.

My tip: use parchment or a light spray under sticky foods. It saves you real scrubbing time. Cleaning isn’t a dealbreaker, but it’s not effortless either. Plan for a little elbow grease now and then.

Health Claims Examined

Nuwave markets this as a healthier way to cook, and there’s truth here. The design lets fat drain away from your food as it cooks.

The company points to a trial claiming 75% of participants lowered cholesterol using the oven. I’d treat that number with caution. One brand-run study isn’t the same as medical proof.

What I can confirm is that my meals came out with less grease. Fried textures happened with little to no added oil, up to 95% less by their claim.

So is it magic for your heart? No. But it does support lighter cooking with less oil. Pair it with good ingredients and it fits a healthier routine. Just don’t expect the oven alone to change your bloodwork.

The Downsides You Should Know

No product is perfect, and this one has real flaws. First, the missing non-stick coating makes sticky cleanup a chore, as I mentioned.

Second, it’s bulky for tiny counters. It’s bigger than a standard air fryer, so measure your space before buying.

Third, the design looks dated. If aesthetics matter in your kitchen, this won’t impress guests.

Fourth, the 350-degree max temperature is lower than some competitors that hit 450. You won’t get the same hard sear on certain dishes.

Finally, the preset menu takes patience to master. None of these are dealbreakers for me, but they’re worth knowing. This oven is about function over flash, and you should buy it with that mindset.

How It Compares to Competitors

Stacked against the Ninja Foodi Air Fry Oven, the Nuwave holds its own on versatility but loses on temperature range. Ninja hits higher heat for crispier results.

Compared to Philips or Cosori air fryers, Nuwave offers more open cooking space thanks to the dome. But those rivals often look sleeker on a counter.

Where Nuwave stands out is the frozen-to-table cooking and its PFAS-free surface. Not every competitor guarantees that, and it matters for health-focused buyers.

Price-wise, it sits in a fair range around the mid-100s. For the feature set, that’s reasonable value. If you want the crispiest fries, a Ninja may edge ahead. If you want energy savings and frozen cooking, Nuwave wins.

Is the Nuwave Pro Plus 2 Worth It

After weeks of daily use, my answer is yes, for the right person. It genuinely cooks frozen food fast and keeps my kitchen cool.

The even cooking, energy savings, and speed impressed me most. I reach for it more than my full oven now, especially for quick weeknight meals.

But it’s not for everyone. If you cook big family dinners, hate scrubbing, or want a showpiece appliance, look elsewhere.

For singles, couples, and forgetful defrosters like me, it’s a smart buy. It does the core job well and lasts, based on owners who’ve used theirs for over five years. Weigh the flaws against your needs, and you’ll know if it belongs on your counter.

Expert FAQs

Do I need to preheat the Nuwave Pro Plus 2?

No. One of its best features is skipping preheating entirely. You place your food in, set your preset or temperature, and start. This saves time and energy compared to a traditional oven that needs 10 minutes to warm up first.

Can it really cook frozen food without defrosting?

Yes, and it does this well. I cooked frozen salmon and chicken straight from the freezer with great results. The triple cooking technology thaws and cooks at the same time, so you skip the defrosting step completely.

Is the Nuwave Pro Plus 2 dishwasher safe?

The removable parts are dishwasher safe, including the rack, liner pan, and dome. This makes cleanup easier. The main downside is the lack of non-stick coating, so sticky foods may still need a scrub before washing.

How much food can it hold?

It holds up to 10 pounds, enough for a small turkey or a few portions. It works best for singles and couples. Large families may find the capacity too limited for a full meal in one go.

Does it use a lot of electricity?

No. It runs at 1500 watts but uses up to 85% less energy than a conventional oven. Because it cooks faster and needs no preheating, your overall energy use drops. This is a real perk for lowering kitchen power costs.

What’s the temperature range?

The oven adjusts from 50 to 350 degrees. That covers most cooking needs like baking, roasting, and grilling. However, it maxes lower than some rivals that reach 450, so extreme searing isn’t its strength.

Is it PFAS-free?

Yes, Nuwave highlights a PFAS-free cooking surface. This appeals to health-focused buyers who want to avoid certain chemicals. It’s one area where this oven stands out against several competing air fryers on the market.

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