Steam Ovens w/ Microwave

A steam oven with a microwave combines three cooking methods in one built-in appliance: steam, microwave and convection oven. This gives you a remarkable amount of versatility for a single appliance. You can reheat food quickly with the microwave, steam vegetables to retain their nutrients, or bake and roast with full convection heat. At Bing Lee we stock steam-microwave ovens from leading brands in built-in wall oven formats.

FAQs

1. What is a steam oven with a microwave?

A steam oven with a microwave (sometimes called a steam-combi-microwave) is a built-in wall appliance that integrates a microwave, a steam function and a convection oven into one cavity. You can use these modes independently or in combination. For example, you might use the steam and microwave together to reheat food quickly while keeping it moist, or steam and convection simultaneously to bake bread with a crispy crust and a soft interior.

2. What can I cook in a steam oven with a microwave?

This type of oven handles a very wide range of cooking tasks. In microwave mode it reheats and defrosts food quickly. In steam mode it cooks fish, vegetables, dumplings and rice beautifully without drying them out. In convection mode it bakes cakes, roasts meat and cooks anything a standard oven handles. In combination modes you can do things like proof bread dough with steam warmth, bake a loaf with steam injection for a better crust, or reheat a full meal with steam to restore moisture without overcooking.

3. How do I choose the best steam oven with a microwave for my kitchen?

Consider how you plan to use it most often. If it is replacing a standard microwave in your kitchen lineup, make sure the cavity size is large enough for the plates and containers you regularly use. If it is being added as a second cooking zone alongside a main wall oven, a smaller model may be sufficient. Check whether the model needs a plumbed water connection or uses a removable water tank. Tanks are more flexible but need to be refilled. Built-in models integrate neatly into cabinetry but need a specific cabinet cavity size.

4. Does a steam-microwave oven replace a conventional oven?

For a small household or compact kitchen, a good steam-microwave oven can cover most cooking needs. However, the cavity is typically smaller than a full-sized wall oven, and some cooking tasks like cooking multiple large dishes simultaneously are better suited to a bigger oven. Most households who invest in a steam-microwave oven use it alongside a conventional wall oven: the steam-microwave for everyday reheating and light cooking, the wall oven for larger meals and baking.

5. How does steam reheating compare to microwave reheating?

Microwave reheating is faster, but it can make some foods go soggy or rubbery, especially bread, pastry and crispy items. Steam reheating is gentler and much better at restoring moisture to foods without making them dry on the outside or overcooked on the edges. It is particularly good for rice, pasta, vegetables and fish. Using steam-microwave combination mode gives you the speed of a microwave with the moisture retention of steam, the best of both for many types of food.