Built-in steam ovens are gradually replacing traditional ovens. However, we could distinguish between a static or ventilated electric oven and a gas oven until recently.
Today we are talking about combined steam or combined steam oven because it uses the traditional cooking techniques of the static and ventilated oven and combines it with steam power.
Moreover, an electric oven offers power and precision in controlling the temperatures that would be unthinkable with a gas oven.
The addition of steam favors foods that maintain the right degree of humidity. Generally, the steam jet is adjustable, allowing, for example: cooking an excellent roast that requires a gradual addition of moisture or simple boiled vegetables that need much more steam.
The combined oven’s advantage is replacing many cooking methods typical of the stove, such as cooking in a bain-marie. In addition, with a steam oven, you reach very high temperatures quickly, allowing the perfect cooking of leavened products such as bread and pizza that are difficult to make in a classic oven—everything without opening the oven to add liquids or turn the dishes.
By buying the best steam oven, you will have a high-end professional tool at home that will allow you to cook hundreds of recipes impeccably. However, unlike professional kitchens, built-in steam ovens are designed specifically for home use.
For this reason, among their best features, we can program recipes and cooking times automatically. In this way, beginners can also use them in the kitchen.
Table of Contents
How to choose a steam oven: Types and Characteristics
We list the most important features to remember to choose the best steam oven.
Cooking mode
Normally, the combined steam oven has at least four cooking modes: traditional with static oven; ventilated oven; grill; vapor. To these, you can add different methods such as thawing or leavening. In addition, it can exclude the steam, and the oven can be used like any other if necessary.
Temperature range
We can set a temperature range between 86 – 122°F and 280 – 527°F with the combined steamer. It is essential that the set temperature is inside and reached instantly.
It is necessary to heat the oven in traditional ovens, especially when cooking sweets. It is not rare that the actual temperature is different from 20-30°C compared to that set. Reaching the temperature quickly means saving energy and obtaining proper cooking.
Cooking program and recipes
We can select preset programs if we are not experts or in a hurry. Some ovens have already integrated hundreds of recipes. If we select cakes or muffins, roasts, or lasagna, the oven can automatically set the temperature, duration, and amount of steam to use.
Thermometer probe
Do you know the thermometer to put in the roast to get perfect cooking? The top-of-the-range steam ovens have a temperature sensor probe to cook meat or other dishes optimally. In this way, we can have a perfectly cooked steak or roast beef on the outside and establish complete internal cooking, medium or blood.
Self-cleaning function
The best steam oven will be equipped with a self-cleaning function, which is also called a pyrolytic oven. Pyrolysis involves the destruction of organic residues by heat. The oven with this function starts a cleaning cycle with the door lock and the walls heating at very high temperatures. Food and fat residues are reduced to ash by detaching from the walls.
Once the oven has cooled down, the door is released and cleaned with a simple cloth. The self-cleaning function is effective and environmentally friendly because it avoids detergents and chemical agents.
Front Office
Steam ovens often have doors with two or three pieces of heat-resistant glass. It means that the oven door remains cold. This device and saving energy due to the lower heat loss are excellent safety systems, especially if children are in the house.
Digital display and commands
In the oven, we can have controls with knobs or touch. In all cases, what distinguishes the steam oven from the oldest built-in ovens is the digital display. This allows us to orient ourselves between the programs to be selected and follow step-by-step cooking, remaining time, temperature, and other parameters.
Timer and alarms
Usually, the preset programs switch the oven on and off automatically. But, of course, we can choose to set the oven freely and then take advantage of the classic timer with a sound alarm to warn us of the time spent.
Capacity and dimensions
Since it is a built-in oven, checking the external dimensions is necessary. Instead, we can verify the oven’s capacity by choosing between steam ovens from 40 to 75 liters.
The Best Steam Oven to Buy
Moreover, the cooking function menu can cook different dishes simultaneously with different sequences and temperatures without transmitting flavors and smells.
#1. Whynter TSO-488GB Multi-Function Intelligent Convection Steam Oven
- Multi-functional: ferment – preheat – yogurt – air fry – dehydrate – steam – roast – bake – diy ((steam+ bake +convection)- descaling; heating modes: steam – top heater – bottom heater – back heater convection; child lock for added safety.
- Extra-large capacity: 40 liter / 1.4 cu.ft. The capacity is big enough to fit a whole turkey; a large water tank capacity of 1.4 liter / 47 oz allows the longest steaming program.
#2. Cuisinart Convection, Stainless Steel Steam
- Accommodates a whole 4.5 lb. chicken or a 12″ pizza.
- Specialized bread proofing technology Bakes & proofs bread better and faster. Increases moisture retention.
- Steam clean technology. Cooks up to 40% quicker than conventional ovens.
- 1800 Watt Rating.
#3. F.BLUMLEIN Countertop Steam Oven
- Healthier Meals – Steam cooking preserves nutrients in food destroyed by frying, boiling, or microwaving. Great helper for weight loss, steam cooking doesn’t require oil or cooking sprays, so you can cut back on calories.
- Customized Cooking – The top and bottom heating elements can be set to different temperatures independently. If you’re cooking several dishes at once, this will help each dish cook at an even temperature.
#4. F.BLUMLEIN Steam Convection Oven Countertop 34 Qt
- Faster Cook Times – The cooking area circulates heat faster than a traditional oven, leading to shorter preheating and cooking times. Set the cooking time from 5 minutes to 3 hours, depending on the selected function.
- User-Friendly – The stainless steel outer panels are safe, while the triple-layer glass oven door gives you a sneak peek at what’s cooking. Activate the child lock to prevent children from opening the door and burning themselves.
#5. Tovala Gen 2 Smart Steam Large Countertop WiFi Oven
- Smartphone controlled: set the cook mode and time from your phone and let Tovala oven’s automated cooking do Its thing. Once set, you can check your food’s progress from the next room and be notified when it’s done.
- 5 Cooking modes: our all-in-one, easy-to-use Oven allows you to choose between 5 separate functions (steam, bake, broil, reheat, and toast), ensuring a perfectly cooked meal every time.
#6. AUG Steam Oven with Convection
- Advanced technology: Recirculation heating by the steam top and bottom heater pipes keeps the foods’ temperature up quickly, making your dishes tender and juicy inside and browned and flavorful.
- Safe use: High temperature-resistant tempered glass and safety door locks allow you to safely observe food’s heating status. Other friendly designs include inner light, touch panel, and front exhaust.
#7. Galanz GLOMJB17S2ASWZ
- Air fry & steam cooking – TotalFry 360 is our Air Fry technology that lets you cook with little or no oil; It includes an Air Fry & steam kit for healthier meal options – Enjoy steamed veggies, baked potatoes, crispy fries, & more!
- True convection with sensor technology – Heated air circulates throughout the oven as food spins 360 degrees, cooking your food faster and evenly, with no more hot spots! Built-in humidity sensor ensures your food is never under or overcooked.
#8. Panasonic FlashXpress
- Six 1-Touch Controls: Six preset cooking functions for the foods you love, reheat, defrost, and more, so making it just right couldn’t be simpler.
- A Compact, Easy-to-Use Oven Toaster: Toast, bake, brown, and reheat to perfection, no preheating required—two infrared oven heating elements are positioned at the front and back for maximum efficiency.
#9. Instant Omni Plus 10-in-1 Air Fryer Toaster Oven
- Golden Quartz Technology – delivers fast and even cooking performance.
- EvenCrisp Technology: provides all the crunch and tenderness of deep-frying with 95% less oil.
- 10-in-1 Kitchen Appliances: air fryer, broiler, mini-oven, rotisserie, dehydrator, reheating oven, roaster, toaster, warmer, convection oven.
#10. BLACK+DECKER Digital Microwave Oven
- 900 Watts with 10 power settings, clock, and kitchen timer, 30 seconds express cooking.
- Large LED digital display, easy-to-read control panel, child safety lock, interior light, removable 10.6” glass turntable.
- Pre-programmed popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetable, beverages, and dinner plate buttons.