So you’ve got yourself one of the latest “fast and easy” cooking ovens on the market, now what? Well, now it’s time to get cooking! The NuWave oven has a layered cooking system that combines infrared, conduction and convection heat. This allows you to save time and you can even cook more than one item at a time. If you are looking for an air fryer from this manufacturer, you may want to check out our NuWave Air Fryer review instead.
With the NuWave oven, you can conveniently cook food that is fresh or frozen. This will cut down on the time it takes to prepare a dinner, which we all seem to need these days. Meals like simple burgers, pork, vegetables, seafood, and whole chicken or turkey can all be prepared in the NuWave oven. Learn more about how the NuWave Oven works.
The following is a cooking guide to get you started, but adjustments can be made:
COOKING TIMES
Different NuWave oven models offer different temperature settings. The following cooking times are based on an oven cooking temperature of 350 degrees fahrenheit. As you get to know your NuWave oven, you’ll learn how to adjust the temperature and times to suit the meal that you are preparing. Check out our NuWave Oven Reviews to compare features of each model.
MEATS
As we all know, meats are a popular main course dinner item but so many of us need to have at least a few nights where dinner doesn’t take an hour to prepare. The following cooking times for beef are determined by the thickness and not weight. Be sure to always use a meat thermometer when cooking. You should also remember to turn the meat halfway through for even browning. So season up your meats and let’s take a look at the cooking times for a few of your favorites.
Hamburgers, fresh: For hamburgers that are about one half inch thick, you should have the rack at the three inch mark and cook them for five to seven minutes per side at 350 degrees.
Hamburgers, frozen: Cook frozen burgers at the same rack level for eight to nine minutes at 350 degrees.
Roasts: Roasts that weigh two to ten pounds should be cooked at the one inch rack level at 350 degrees, with cooking times as follows:
Rare: fresh – 15 to 17 minutes per pound; frozen – 20 to 21 minutes per pound
Med Rare: fresh -17 to 19 minutes per pound; frozen – 21 to 22 minutes per pound
Medium: fresh – 19 to 20 minutes per pound; frozen – 22 to 23 minutes per pound
Well Done: fresh – 21 minutes per pound; frozen – 24 minutes per pound
Steaks: Two inch steaks can be cooked at the three inch rack level at 350 degrees and at the following cooking times:
Rare: fresh – five to six minutes per side; frozen – 10 to 11 minutes per side
Med Rare: fresh – six to seven minutes per side; frozen – 11 to 12 minutes per side
Medium: fresh – seven to eight minutes per side; frozen – 12 to 13 minutes per side
Well Done: fresh – nine minutes per side; frozen – 14 minutes per side
Pork Chops, fresh: Cook pork chops at the three inch rack level at 350 degrees for five to six minutes per side.
Pork Chops, frozen: frozen chops should be cooked at the same rack level at 350 degrees for seven to nine minutes per side.
POULTRY
When it comes to lean proteins, the bird is the word, chicken that is! And it is the go-to protein because of its low fat meat properties. But it’s also popular due to its versatility in recipes. To cook poultry in the NuWave oven, follow these guidelines for cooking times:
Boneless, skinless breasts, fresh: Cook boneless chicken breasts at the three inch rack level for 11-13 minutes per side.
Boneless, skinless breasts, frozen: Cook frozen chicken breasts at the same rack level for 14 – 15 minutes per side.
Chicken, whole: Cook a two to five pound whole chicken at the one inch rack level for 17-21 minutes per pound for fresh chickens and for 22-24 minutes per pound for frozen chicken.
Turkey, whole: Cook an 8 – 10 pound, whole turkey at the one inch rack level at 350 degrees for 10 – 12 minutes for fresh turkeys and for 14 – 16 minutes for frozen turkey.
SEAFOOD
For you seafood lovers, the NuWave oven can cook a variety of seafood- even lobster! Fish is a very versatile and simply dish to prepare and is full healthy proteins and Omega-3 fatty acids. So get your butter melting and get cooking!
Fish, fresh: Half pound steaks and fillets should be cooked at a three inch rack level for five to six minutes per side.
Fish, frozen: Half pound steaks and fillets should be cooked at the same rack level for seven to nine minutes per side.
Shrimp & Scallops, fresh: fresh shrimp and scallops should be cooked at a three inch rack level for three to four minutes per side.
Shrimp & Scallops, frozen: frozen shrimp and scallops should be cooked at the same rack level for four to five minutes per side.
Lobster Tails, four ounce, fresh: fresh lobster tails can be cooked at the three inch rack level for four to five minutes per side.
Lobster Tails, four ounce, frozen: frozen lobster tails can be cooked at the same rack level for six to eight minutes per side.
Crab Legs, fresh: cook fresh crab legs at the three inch rack level for four to six minutes per side.
Crab Legs, frozen: cook frozen crab legs at the same rack level for eight to thirteen minutes per side.
VEGETABLES
Vegetables are a healthy side dish, so much so, that many people make them a main dish! Veggies are full nutrients, antioxidants and fiber. So go hit up your local farmers market or produce section at your local grocery store and get ready to make some delicious dishes.
Potatoes: You can cook a whole, medium sized potato on the three inch rack level for 30 – 40 minutes or fried potatoes for ten minutes per side.
Broccoli/Cauliflower, fresh: If steamed broccoli or cauliflower is your favorite, try cooking them in an oven-safe dish, covered with foil or a glass lid, at the one inch rack level for 10 – 15 minutes.
Broccoli/Cauliflower, frozen: Cook frozen broccoli or cauliflower at the one inch rack level for 17 – 20 minutes.
Squash, fresh: Cook fresh acorn, butternut or spaghetti squash at a one inch rack level for 25 – 35 minutes.
Squash, frozen: Cook frozen squash at the same rack level for 35 – 40 minutes.
FROZEN READY-TO-MAKE:
For those really time-crunched moments when you need an even quicker dinner or snack, throw your favorite ready-to-cook items in the NuWave oven. Based on a temperature of 350 degrees, cook items, such as chicken tenders and nuggets, hot wings, onion rings, and mozzarella sticks at a three inch rack level for six to eight minutes per side:
GENERAL COOKING TIPS
Keep in mind the following tips when using your NuWave oven:
- Times and temperatures are approximate and should only be considered a guideline. For best results always use a meat thermometer.
- Oven-safe dishes, metal cooking pans or aluminum foil are safe to use with your NuWave Oven.
- To prevent over-browning, cover food loosely with aluminum.
- When cooking roasts or dishes with varying thickness, you may need to modify cooking times.
- Check the temperature and cook in two or three minute increments.
- To add dry seasonings to frozen meats lightly brush cold water or oil before cooking.
Vegetable Tips
- Different cooking dishes will affect cooking times. For instance, denser dishes like glass will require longer cooking times. Foods cooked in shallow dishes will likely cook faster and foods cooked in deeper dishes may require longer cooking times.
Poultry Tips
- Turn poultry halfway through the cooking process for even browning.
- For best results with whole poultry, start by cooking turkey breast side down for the first part of the cooking process.
Beef & Pork Tips
- Rub with olive oil to achieve maximum browning.
- Using a meat thermometer is essential for checking the internal temperature of the meat
