Is the Nuwave Combi just an air fryer, or does it do more?
It's a genuine multi-cooker, not just an air fryer with a steam feature bolted on. Beyond straightforward air frying, it runs standalone Steam, Sous Vide, Toast, Roast, and Bake programs, plus a COMBO mode that runs steam and air fry simultaneously so food gets a moist interior and a crisp exterior in the same cycle. The touch display gives you 120 built-in presets covering common dishes, and the temperature range spans 50°F to 450°F, wide enough for gentle reheating through aggressive roasting. Its toast and its steam reheating are the standout results, and they are the best reason to choose it over a plain air fryer.
How does the sous vide mode work without a water bath?
Nuwave calls it Air Sous Vide: instead of sealing food in a bag and submerging it in circulating heated water, the oven holds a precise dry-heat temperature -- adjustable in 1°F increments -- directly around the food. That mimics the core benefit of traditional sous vide, gently rendering fat and breaking down connective tissue at a controlled temperature over time without the surface overcooking before the center is done, but without a vacuum sealer, bags, or a water tub to fill, heat, and clean up afterward.
How much food can it actually cook at once?
It's built for family-sized batches. The 16-quart interior is specced to toast four slices of bread simultaneously, roast a 5-pound chicken, air fry 3 pounds of fries, or handle a full 5-pound roast in one load. The unit itself measures 14.75 by 13.88 by 14.88 inches and weighs 21.4 pounds, so it needs a dedicated stretch of counter space, but that footprint is reasonable given it replaces a toaster oven, air fryer, sous vide setup, and steamer combined.
Is it easy to use, and are the presets actually reliable?
This is the area to go in with realistic expectations. Some people find the touch controls and preset menu straightforward from day one; others get inconsistent results from the presets or need several cooks to get settings right. Staged presets can ask you to add or remove food between stages so the oven can preheat, which is the step most likely to confuse at first. If plug-and-play simplicity matters most to you, weigh that against how well it actually cooks once you know it, especially for steaming and toasting.
What's included, and how hard is it to clean?
The Combi ships with an air fry basket, a stainless steel tray, a heavy-duty cooking rack, and a built-in oven light so you can monitor cooking without opening the door. All of the removable accessories are dishwasher-safe. The interior cavity is stainless steel throughout, which resists staining and odor retention better than coated interiors -- a real advantage given how much humidity the steam function introduces during normal use. Nuwave backs the unit with a 1-year warranty.
Is it worth the money?
That depends on how much you will use the steam. It pays off for people who lean on the steam and combination modes, and it can replace a toaster oven outright, but if you mostly want what a plain air fryer does, its operation and presets are more hassle for no gain. It is a premium-priced appliance, and it looks much better value bought on sale than at full price. If you mainly want crisp fries, a simpler air fryer will do. If you want moist reheating, steamed vegetables and proper toast from one box, this is where the Combi earns its keep.
