The 9 Best Steam Ovens

Editor's Notes

April 07, 2021:

There are numerous benefits to cooking food with steam. Meat remains tender and moist, vegetables retain their nutrients and flavor, and it's a healthier alternative than baking or frying in oil or fat. In addition, steaming cooks food quicker and makes less mess as there is no grease or smoke produced. These steam ovens usually combine several cooking methods in one appliance, so they can also be used to bake, roast, broil, and grill. During this update, we removed a number of outdated appliances and replaced them with models that have a variety of useful functions, from quickly reheating bread and pastries, to preparing a family meal.

The most important consideration when choosing a suitable steam oven is its capacity. Some models, such as the Balmuda K01M-KG and the Iris Ohyama Horizontal are relatively small and are more suited to cooking or reheating individual dishes or baked goods. Whereas, others such as Vestaware Convection 32QT and the F.Blumlein JU-3200 have much larger capacities for up to eight servings. The additional functions and ease of use are other factors that may influence your decision. The Cuisinart CSO-300N1 has very simple to use controls and has a special mode for proofing bread, making it a good choice for baking. Its compact size and stainless steel finish mean it won't look unsightly on your countertop either. The Tovala Gen 2 has a handy feature that allows bar codes and recipes to be scanned from a smartphone, this allows you to check on your food's progress from the next room and receive a notification when it's done. Finally, we included the Elite Gourmet Rotisserie, which is a multifunction oven that includes an oven-top, nonstick grill and griddle, and a steamer with a dome lid.

January 25, 2020:

Steam cooking technology has long been used in fine restaurants. As people sought to cook healthier meals from home, manufacturers found ways to meet their demands. The first steam cooker was perfect for a few health fanatics who had grown accustomed to bland foods, but it did little to satisfy the yearnings of those transitioning into a healthy lifestyle.

Traditional steam ovens only reach 212 degrees. Unfortunately, this temperature is not enough to brown foods. The models presented here use a combination of steam and convection heat to ensure foods remain moist on the inside and crisp on the outside.

The Emerson Deluxe and Cuisinart CSO-300N1 do a great job of keeping all the nutrients in foods without the need for oil and butter to give them color, texture, or flavor.

Most units can fit a medium-size pizza, but not all can ferment dough like the F.Blumlein JU-3200, or gently thaw foods like the AUG Convection Steam Grill.

Also, the F.Blumlein JU-3200 holds a 37.2-ounce water reservoir, which extends the maximum steam time to three hours as opposed to two hours with the other models on this list.

For those pressed for time, the Tovala Gen 2 Smart Oven often saves the day. With Tovala's scan to cook technology and smartphone compatibility, you can prepare meals in as little as 20 minutes.