Is This Oven Flying Blind? | Breville Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro REVIEW (Ep#1)

Ep #4 (finale): Smart Oven Showdown

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
1:07 About me
2:35 Why I think smart appliances have value?
3:00 Dimensions
4:00 Element iQ
6:21 The Joule mobile app and Autopilot
10:42 What do we mean by smart? (Conclusion)

[CameronFiederer]

Sounds like an awesome series. Would be super interested in a review of the Anova Precision Oven (using a wet bulb thermo to more accurately cook) too.

[ShadowDragon]

Saw this video pop up today in my subscriber feed and couldn't remember who you were. So gave er a go. It took about 30 seconds of the clean, well polished, entertaining, and informative format to remember exactly why I subscribed after watching one video froom you. Keep it coming!

[mattrivera]

This is the kind of food/cooking content I’ve been wanting for years!! Love this. Keep ‘em coming.

[Paelorian]

At the start of this video, I couldn't imagine ever wanting to take out my phone to use my toaster oven instead of just using the countertop controls. I'm still not sold on the general utility of a simple automatic program, as demonstrated. I can see that they would have some uses. I also now see the potential of integrating new sensors to automate baking.

Using a sophisticated probe thermometer like yours with multiple sensors measuring temperature at the coldest point in the food, at the food surface, and in the air of the oven means the oven can turn off when it's ready without human intervention. The idea of a camera sensor is just as exciting: automatic broiling that turns off when done, before food is overcooked. Perfect for browning, including toasting bread and putting a little char on roast tomatoes.

The ideal of these smart ovens is that they could liberate the cook from having to pay attention to the food as it bakes, or from being right on the spot to turn off the oven when cooking is done. Perhaps the door can even pop open a bit automatically, to release the heat so the residual heat doesn't overcook food if the oven finishes it's cycle when the cook can't immediately remove the food from the oven. The length of cooking may be unpredictable, but if the oven can sense when the food is ready and end cooking, then cooks can put their attention elsewhere. Even walk away and take a break to use the restroom without fear of the food overcooking or burning, whenever it's done.

I'm satisfied with my "dumb" toaster oven right now, but it does requires much observation and intervention on my part to cook food as desired. It often also requires creative thinking to direct heat to different parts of the food. Individually adjustable heating elements would be useful, although they are a feature of some higher-end countertop ovens without "smart" features, like the Breville Pizzaiolo where temperature can be adjusted to direct more heat to the floor or to the edges of the oven (intended for cooking pizza crust).

An oven that reduces the burden of monitoring and adjusting the oven during cooking and delivers desired results more consistently would clearly be an improvement. I'll continue to watch this series and learn about the latest developments in countertop ovens. I'll will want to upgrade if I become convinced that it will improve my cooking. I'll watch to learn if the improved performance available is of enough value for me to justify the expense. The engineering and technology is also impressive in itself.

I applaud the great execution of this video. I appreciated that you immediately addressed your connection to the products, because I was already wondering about it by that point. The presentation was excellent, very clear in communicating complex ideas using quality photography and readily understood graphics. I especially liked that animated chart of temperature data from the thermometer over time from three points. That kind of data is an excellent feature of the thermometer.

These videos on "smart" ovens are a brilliant way to indirectly advertise your thermometer by demonstrating it's utility in actual cooking using new products the same audience would also be interested in. You show that it's only due to the sophistication of your unique thermometer that you are able to inform us so well of the performance of these ovens.

Naturally, I expect this series of videos to progress to a countertop oven integrating the technology of your probe thermometer to measure multiple temperatures inside and outside of the food as it cooks. I look forward to seeing it. I believe that a camera would still be useful, although much more difficult to engineer to work perfectly. But utilizing the full potential of a connected multi-sensor probe thermometer would be a great achievement, even without other sensors checking whether the food is done. An oven that responds to real-time temperature data from points in, on, and outside of the food is a great improvement over the traditional countertop oven that responds to nothing but user input. Other oven technologies like individually adjusted heating elements and heating programs will be much more useful with connected thermometer control.

I do hope that probe thermometer is safe to use at all temperatures the oven is capable of. Otherwise the cook may still need to be present to remove it for a high-temperature baking phase. I also won't be the only one wondering about longevity and concerned about the potential for off-gassing into the food. But temperature limitations are something most dishes and cooks can reasonably accommodate.

The potential of electronic "smart" ovens is obvious to me now. Thank you for teaching me that with this video.

[ozjef]

Hi @chris young, as an owner of several Breville smart oven air fryer pros I can attest to this oven and the convection fan motor having a serious design flaw causing the fan to fail after a certain amount of use. There is a washer that isn’t secured properly that will after a heavy use come loose and start making horrible interference whenever the convection spins on. Breville does not acknowledge this flaw in their warranty or support for this premium priced product marketed for its longevity. I hope you consider doing actual tear down inspections for future reviews as just looking at exterior build doesn’t tell the full story of a product.

[Memosne]

This is so helpful! I can’t wait to see the reviews for the other two ovens. In the hexclad video you mentioned you mostly cooked with induction - I’m currently renovating my kitchen and want a good induction stove, but I’ve had a hard time finding accurate/non biased reviews. Would you mind sharing your thoughts? Thanks again Chris and team!

[xipalips]

Smart(tm) has become shorthand for remote app control, but the only way I'd buy a countertop oven is if it was smart, as in able to cook for me. Excited to see the following reviews, fingers crossed!

[Main.Account]

I have the Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (similar, but less “smarts”) which I ❤. Don’t find it’s too small for most of our cooking needs—can always use my full-sized oven for the holidays. Cooking/proofing performance is superb.

Love the review. Looking forward to the series.

[joelfine]

I've had your sous vide for several years and it never fails me. I even used it outside w temps in the mid 30s and it held temp fine. Love it

[hjewkes]

Whoever does your motion graphics is amazing.

[carolmelancon]

Thank you for this review. BTW, I love my Predictive Thermometer! My 3-5 day "air-dried in the fridge" and roasted in a convection oven chicken with your thermometer is phenomenaly good every time and with the prediction, I know when to have my sides ready.

[krana]

Very useful! I know you've planned to review the June and Ninja ovens but was wondering if you'd consider adding the Anova Precision Oven. That seems like a clear/natural option, given that it not only has app control and temperature probe control but also can incorporate steam (even at variable levels throughout the cook). To be clear, the UI on the oven itself is a hot mess! But fortunately, everything can be set and adjusted through the app, which is much easier.

[tanyaharris]

I was searching for an oven review and man!!! This is good!!! Thank you for an amazing review.

[grovefalls]

Great idea. Informing and teaching people what is really going on when using various appliances is very helpful for those wanting to improve their results and enjoy better cooked food. Most appliances have too little information including the smart ovens whether counter-top or in-wall. It's important to not only have sufficient data but the data that actually matters. I am another happy Combustion Inc customer. The thermometer has allowed me more time with my family and guests by reducing the stress of the unknown and the worry about getting the cook just right. I am waiting excitedly for the updates to account for resting time and some of the other upcoming features. I've used them on steaks, racks of lamb, chicken, pork, and fish with great success.

[beesoffury]

Great video, thanks! I’ve had a June oven for a few years and love it. Am curious to see how they would compare. Would be even more pumped if they could figure out how to integrate your thermometer.

Speaking of… Bravo! I can’t describe how much I love my predictive thermometer. I’ve tried so many wireless thermometers and they’ve all been “meh” at best and downright frustrating at worst. Yours just works and that’s the highest complement I think I can pay.

[TheRPlazas]

Great video! Looking forward to the rest of the series!

[codster]

Love the review. Very in depth and lots of technical explanations which I enjoy. With so many advanced ovens out now, it's nice to do a comparison on the benefits each offer. I think you should throw the Anova Precision Oven (APO) in the series as well... even though it doesn't offer the same type of "smart" as say the June... it does allow you to cook multi-stage recipes (where it can roast and sear and such) with probe feedback, similar to how this Breville Joule did. So it is a type of smart. Be interesting to see how the Roast Chicken 101 recipe (or some other simpler hands-off Anova Recipe), compares to the Breville Joule.

[theSnowpup]

Hi Chris, . Really interesting video, thanks.
I'm curious why you're not intending to include the Anova Precision Oven? It feels like it would be right at home.

[GH-lqfg]

very good and thorough review ! I wonder why these smart ovens don't integrate with a smart thermometer

[krazmokramer]

Nice to see product reviews based in science, instead of conjecture. SUBSCRIBED