What Is a Steam Oven?
A steam oven (also called a combi-steam oven or steam-assist oven) uses water vapour alongside conventional heat to cook food. Depending on the model and mode, it can cook with pure steam, conventional heat only, or a combination of both simultaneously. Here’s a complete guide to steam ovens, what they do well and whether they’re worth the investment.
Types of Steam Ovens
Full Steam Ovens
Cook using 100% steam at temperatures from 40°C to 100°C. Best for: steaming fish, vegetables, dumplings, warming food without drying it out, proving bread dough, yoghurt making and food preparation tasks. These are specialist appliances, not all-purpose ovens.
Combi-Steam Ovens
Combine steam with conventional heat modes (fan-forced, conventional, grill). Cook at temperatures from 40°C to 230°C+ using steam only, dry heat only, or both simultaneously. This is the most versatile type and what most buyers are looking for. A combi-steam oven can do everything a conventional oven does, plus steam cooking.
Steam-Assist Ovens
A conventional oven with a steam injection feature. Can add a burst of steam during baking for specific results (crispy bread crust, moist cakes). Less versatile than a full combi-steam oven but significantly cheaper. Examples include the AEG SteamBake and Bosch SteamAssist features found on some standard ovens.
What Does a Combi-Steam Oven Do Better?
| Cooking Task | Advantage of Steam |
|---|---|
| Bread baking | Steam in first 10 min creates a crispy crust |
| Roast meats | Retains moisture, prevents drying out |
| Fish | Cooks gently without drying |
| Vegetables | Retains nutrients and colour vs boiling |
| Reheating leftovers | Restores moisture without rubbery texture |
| Pastry | Puff pastry rises better with initial steam |
| Rice and grains | Perfectly cooked without monitoring |
| Desserts (eg crème brülée) | Gentle steam bath cooking |
Who Should Buy a Combi-Steam Oven?
Serious home cooks who: bake bread regularly, want better roast results, care about the nutritional quality of their cooking, and appreciate having more precise control over cooking environments. It is NOT for buyers who primarily reheat frozen meals or cook simple, quick dinners.
What Does a Combi-Steam Oven Cost?
Entry-level combi-steam ovens: $1,500–$2,500. Mid-tier (Bosch, AEG, Electrolux): $2,500–$4,000. Premium (Miele, V-ZUG, Wolf): $5,000–8,000+.
Top Combi-Steam Oven Brands
- Miele: widely considered the benchmark for combi-steam oven performance
- V-ZUG: Swiss brand, premium specification, beautiful design
- AEG ProCombi: excellent value at the mid-to-premium tier
- Bosch: strong reliability, good performance at the mid tier
- Electrolux: good entry point to combi-steam cooking
Shop Combi-Steam Ovens at Oceania Appliances
We carry combi-steam ovens from Miele, AEG, Electrolux and Bosch at our Wetherill Park showroom. Free delivery across Sydney. Visit 2/14 Centre Place, Wetherill Park, call or WhatsApp 0422 489 492, or email support@oceaniaappliances.com.au. Open 7 days, 10am–8pm.