Power Air Fryer vs NuWave According to 9 Differences

The air fryer brand is one of the first choices you must make when choosing an air fryer. It is also one of the most important ones as it determines the cooking functions and features you get. But you cannot go wrong with top brands like Power and NuWave.

Both Power and NuWave have several air fryer types and models in the market. Plus, they are famous for making some of the best-performing appliances.

If you are still trying to figure out which brand will work best for you, this article is for you. We asked 40 air fryer enthusiasts to share their views on the two brands. Plus we also did our independent research. We have used this data to give you a comprehensive comparison of the two air fryer brands.

Let’s start with an overview of the two brands. And make sure you read to the end, as we also give some recommendations.

Overview of the Power Air Fryer Brand

The Power air fryer brand is famous for making some of the best-performing air fryers in the market. The company always tries to cater to all kinds of consumers with various air fryer types such as baskets and grills type. Plus, most of their air fryers are multifunctional to suit the needs of any user.

You can get Power air fryers with a capacity of as little as 2 quarts. They also have larger air fryer oven models that can easily hold over 20 quarts. And so whether you cook for a small family or a large crowd, they will have something for you.

The Power air fryers are made by Tristar Products. Tristar is one of the world’s most famous small kitchen appliance manufacturers. Besides air fryers, the company makes everything from blenders to coffee makers. Most Tristar products, including the Power air fryers, are made in China.

The Power brand has the following air fryer types:

• Basket-Style Air Fryers – These are the smallest Power air fryers. They are usually meant for individuals and small families. Their capacity starts at around 2 quarts.
• Air Fryer Toaster Ovens – These are multifunctional and highly efficient cooking appliances. They hold more food and will be perfect for a large family or cooking for guests.
• Air Fryer Grills – These are also multifunctional appliances with a grill function. They make it possible to grill indoors. And you can do it without filling up your home with smoke.

Overview of the NuWave Air Fryer Brand

NuWave is a popular American kitchen appliance brand. The company has been around for quite some time. It is based in Vernon Hills, IL. Like all their other products, the air fryers are made to meet the highest American standards.

Most of their air fryers are made in China. This is typical of most air fryers in the market today. Still, the NuWave air fryers are designed and developed in the USA. You can be sure they adhere to strict quality standards. And they are made with the American user in mind.

Like Power, NuWave has dozens of air fryer models in the market. They make their air fryers in the following types:

• Regular Basket-Style Air Fryers – NuWave basket air fryers tend to have a larger capacity. They are larger than what most other brands offer. Even the smallest ones can hold at least 4 quarts of food.
• Air Fryer Ovens – I love the NuWave air fryer toaster ovens. For starters, they all have a sleek, modern look. Also, they hold more food as you can get models with up to 30-quart capacity.
• Air Fryer Grill Combos – The NuWave air fryer grills allow you to grill your favorite dishes indoors. They can also do everything a regular air fryer does, from air frying to baking.
• Air Fryer Pressure Cooker – Perfect choice if you want the speed of a pressure cooker and crisping on an air fryer. The pressure cooker combo comes with air frying and pressure cooking lids.

Power vs NuWave Air Fryers: 9 Key Differences

The choice between Power and NuWave air fryers is highly subjective. We all have our specific preferences. Still, if you are trying to pick between these two, here are key points to remember.

1. Cooking Functions

Almost any air fryer you buy will be multifunctional. When choosing between the two, get the model supporting your desired cooking function.

The cooing functions you get with both brands vary from one model to the other. For instance, if you buy the Nuwave 4.5-Qt Brio Air Fryer, you get at least 9 cooking functions. This explains why it is one of the most popular Power models.

• Air fry
• Roast
• Toast
• Grill
• Reheat
• Warm 
• Broil
• Dehydrate
• Bake

Few other 4-quart air fryers can give you as many cooking functions. The Power brand does not have a 4.5-quart air fryer. The best model to compare with the NuWave air fryer is their 4-quart PowerXL Air Fryer Maxx Classic.

The 4-quart Power air fryer is also versatile enough. This air fryer will support the following cooking functions:

• Air Fry
• Roast
• Bake
• Broil

It is clear that NuWave air fryers often support more cooking functions than Power. Still consider the model you want to buy before deciding.

2. Key Technologies

I must admit that I paid little attention to technology when buying air fryers. But, I have realized it is one of the most important factors to consider. Cooking technology affects everything from the cooking speed to cooking outcomes.

Both Power and NuWave understand this better than most other brands. They equip all their air fryers with some of the most advanced cooking technologies.

The Power air fryers mostly rely on Maxx Crisp and Rapid Air technologies. The Maxx Crisp technology allows the air fryer to get hotter and make foods crispier. This technology is why your fries and chicken wings will get that extra crunch. It also ensures you get the golden brown color you love. Rapid Air ensures food cooks more evenly by heating it from all directions.

NuWave air fryers also use rapid air technology to ensure fast and even cooking. The manufacturer also equips its products with Linear Thermal technology. The technology ensures you get consistent results. 

3. Capacity and Size

I love air fryers and use them every other day. As a regular user, having a few size options in the house is better. If you are an occasional user who can only buy one, you must choose the capacity and size keenly.

The Power brand has an edge when it comes to size options. The brand has more size options. You can get Power basket-style air fryers with as little as a 2-quart capacity. This smaller capacity is perfect for individuals, couples or small families. Power also has larger air fryers, as some of their air fryer ovens can easily hold over 20 quarts.

NuWave air fryers are large and typically take up more counter space than Power models. They are hence better than Power models for large families. Even their smallest models in the market will still hold at least 4 quarts. Their air fryer ovens have a capacity of up to 30 quarts.

4. Power and Cooking Speed

The more powerful the air fryer, the better. Also, a more powerful air fryer will cook food faster, reducing cooking time. Still, you need to consider the power draw. You must ensure it will not be very expensive to operate by drawing too much power. You need to strike a balance between cooking power and energy consumption.

Overall, NuWave air fryers tend to be more powerful compared to similar size Power air fryers. For instance, the 4.5-quart NuWave Brio air fryer has a 1500-watt rating. The 4-quart PowerXL Air fryer max has a 1200-watt rating.

NuWave air fryers will hence cook relatively faster. But the actual cooking time depends on what you are cooking. You can cook most air-fried snacks, like finger foods, in under 15 minutes. The 1200-watt air fryer would take around 20 minutes to cook the same foods.

Note: The actual power and cooking time still depend on the specific model and what you are cooking.

5. Cooking Temperature

There is not much difference between the two brands regarding cooking temperature. Most of their air fryers can reach up to 400°F. This allows the air fryer to support several cooking functions. You can use them for everything from air frying to broiling.

And so when deciding between these, you should consider other factors. The key one is whether they maintain a consistent temperature or not. An air fryer that maintains a consistent temperature is the best. It ensures you always get better cooking outcomes.

NuWave does a better job here. Powerful heating elements and efficient cooking technology allow it to get hotter. They also help maintain the high temperature when cooking.

6. Ease of Usage

The ease of using an air fryer is highly subjective. While many of us prefer something with a digital interface, some find knobs much easier to use.

Power and NuWave use digital interfaces for most of their air fryers. But, NuWave has a more intuitive interface. For instance, the interface on their Brio air fryers has clear button markings. Also, the interface is mounted at the top for easy access. All this makes their air fryers hassle-free to use

Power air fryers have a minimalist interface. The digital interface is well-lit and has presets for all the cooking functions. The only thing that I do not like is that the buttons mostly have just symbols. It can be hard for a newbie to figure them out without referring to the manual.

7. Ease of Cleaning

The ease of cleaning your air fryer will depend on what you are cooking. If you cook juicy chicken or foods with wet batter, cleanup will be more hectic. Cooking things like fries and other dry foods will give you an easier time.

Like most modern air fryer brands, NuWave and Power try to make their appliances easy to clean.  Both brands will give you nonstick accessories like baskets and racks. Also, most of their accessories are dishwasher-safe. And so cleanup should be a breeze.

Still, I do find Power air fryers much easier to clean. Most of the models have cool touch handles. This makes handling the baskets easy, even when hot. Also, the basket and rack are dishwasher-safe. Plus, the air fryer has no hard-to-reach places. Or tiny nooks and crannies where food particles can hide.

8. Accessories and Racks

The accessories you get depend on what model you buy. The good news is that Power and NuWave provide everything you need to use their appliances.

For example, when you buy the NuWave Brio air fryer, you get an all-metal basket and air fry rack. This air fryer does not come with a reversible rack like others. The PowerXL 4-quart from our example will come with a basket and a crisper tray insert.

You can always buy any extra accessories you need, like liners and baking pans, separately. Both brands stock various aftermarket accessories.

9. Price

Like most things we have covered above, the price largely depends on where you buy your air fryer. It also depends on the size and the model.

That said, if you use the NuWave Brio and PowerXL Maxx for comparison, NuWave is the cheaper option. Despite their air fryer being larger (4.5-quart), it is at least $10 cheaper than the 4-quart Power air fryer.

Wrap-Up: Which Brand Should You Choose?

From my experience using both NuWave and Power air fryers, both are fantastic brands. You can be sure of ending up with a top-quality air fryer regardless of what you choose.

That said, you may still need to choose one. Using our comparison above, NuWave will work best for most people. The brand seems to outperform Power in most aspects.

Still, you should choose NuWave if you want a cheaper air fryer with a larger capacity. It is also the better brand if you want something with an easy-to-use interface. Choose Power if you want something easier to clean and more capacity options.

So what if your favorite brand and why? Please share your views in the comments section below!