Steam ovens used to belong in restaurant kitchens. Now they're one of the most-asked-about upgrades in a new kitchen. They promise juicier roasts, crustier bread and healthier vegetables. But "steam oven" covers several quite different appliances, at very different prices.
This guide explains the three main types, what each one is actually good for, how they're installed, and the honest downsides.
What does a steam oven actually do?
A normal oven cooks with dry heat. A steam oven adds water vapour to the cavity. That does three useful things:
- Keeps food moist. Meat and fish lose less moisture, so they come out juicier.
- Improves baking. A burst of steam early on helps bread and pastry rise and form a crisp, shiny crust. This is how bakeries do it.
- Steams gently. At full steam you can cook vegetables, fish and puddings without oil and without boiling away flavour.
Most modern steam ovens are combination ovens. They work as a normal fan oven too, and you choose how much steam to add. So one appliance can replace your regular oven rather than sitting beside it.
The three types, using Smeg's Galileo range as the example
Smeg's Galileo ovens are a good way to understand the options. They span all three types, and they come in the Classic, Linea, Victoria and Dolce Stil Novo designs.
1. Steam-assisted: SteamOne
This is a normal oven that can add a controlled amount of steam: up to 40% humidity. It's ideal for bread, pizza, pastry and roasts. The water goes into an 800ml tank, which Smeg says gives up to six hours of cooking.
- Best for: keen bakers and anyone who wants better roasts without changing how they cook
- Price: from £1,405.99 (Linea SteamOne). Classic SteamOne with pyrolytic cleaning is £1,479. Victoria SteamOne is £1,489.99.
2. Full steam combi: Steam100
This goes all the way to 100% steam, so it can do proper steaming as well as steam-assisted roasting and baking. It's ideal for fish, vegetables, puddings and low-temperature cooking. Smeg's Steam100 models have four steam functions, and you fill them using Smeg's Fill & Hide system.
- Best for: healthy cooking, fish and veg, people who already use a hob steamer a lot
- Price: Linea 45cm compact Steam100, £1,599.99
3. Three-in-one: Omnichef
Omnichef is Smeg's flagship. It combines traditional heat, steam and microwave in one oven, and they can work separately or at the same time. Smeg says that using all three together can cut cooking times by up to 70%. It has a 2-litre tank that you can top up through Fill & Hide without opening the door. Smeg lists 150 automatic recipes on the Linea model.
- Best for: busy households who want speed and quality, and kitchens short on space for a separate microwave
- Price: Linea 45cm compact Omnichef, £2,540. Linea 60cm, £3,000.99. Dolce Stil Novo 60cm, £3,500.99.
Not a steam oven: Speedwave
You'll also see Galileo Speedwave ovens. These combine microwave with conventional fan and grill heat, but no steam. They're a great second oven for fast cooking, but don't buy one expecting steam.
Do steam ovens need plumbing in?
No, not these ones. It's one of the most common worries, and it's often wrong. Smeg's Galileo steam ovens use a built-in water tank that you fill by hand, so there's no water pipe or drain to install. Fit one in the same housing as a normal built-in oven. It does need the correct electrical connection, so check the installation sheet for each model before your electrician comes.
Some brands do make plumbed-in steam ovens. If you're comparing across brands, check the installation sheet for each one.
Full-size or compact?
- 60cm-high (full-size) steam ovens can be your main oven.
- 45cm-high (compact) steam ovens fit a smaller space. They're usually stacked above or below a full-size oven in a tall housing unit.
A popular setup is a full-size pyrolytic oven for everyday roasting, with a 45cm compact steam or combi oven above it. You get two ovens at a comfortable height, and you don't need a separate microwave. Our Compact Ovens Explained guide goes into more detail.
The honest downsides
- Price. A steam oven costs noticeably more than a standard oven with the same finish.
- Upkeep. Tanks need emptying and descaling, especially in hard-water areas. Use filtered water if your water is hard.
- A learning curve. You'll get the most from it if you use the automatic programmes or experiment a little. If you only ever do oven chips and pizza, a standard or pyrolytic oven is the better buy.
So, is a steam oven worth it?
It's worth it if you bake bread or pastry, roast a lot, cook fish and vegetables often, or want one appliance that replaces both oven and microwave. It probably isn't if your oven mostly reheats and crisps.
| You want… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Better bread and roasts, simplest to use | SteamOne |
| Proper steaming and healthy cooking | Steam100 |
| Speed, steam and microwave in one | Omnichef |
| A fast second oven, no steam needed | Speedwave |
Planning a tall housing?
Our Smeg Dolce Stil Novo Tall Housing Bundle pairs a 60cm pyrolytic oven with a 45cm Speedwave compact combi. It's £2,749, saving £150.98 on buying them separately.
You might also like: Built-In Ovens Explained, Built-In Microwaves Explained and Smeg Built-In Appliances Explained.
Want help choosing between SteamOne, Steam100 and Omnichef for your kitchen? Message us on WhatsApp and we'll talk you through it.
