The best steam ovens for juicy roasts, fluffy veggies and a whole lot more

Best for: The ultimate “forever” oven for the serious home cook

If there’s a benchmark for steam ovens, this is it. Yes, it’s expensive, but it functions as a traditional oven, a high-performance steamer and a combination unit that uses both at once.

But what sets it apart is its consistency. Miele’s DualSteam system delivers fast, even steam from two inlets, so that food cooks evenly regardless of where it’s placed. You can prepare a full meal – salmon, vegetables and potatoes – all at once, without flavours transferring or textures suffering.

Key features:

• Fully automatic HydroClean self-cleaning
• Steam, oven and combination cooking in one appliance
• Automatic menu cooking for multi-dish meals
• Keep Warm function for stress-free serving
• Smart connectivity via Miele@home

Also available at:

• $12,999 from Winnings

Best for: Tech-savvy cooks who want to “set and forget”

Bosch has truly outdone itself with the Series 8. If you’ve ever worried about a cake being too dry or a roast being underdone, this oven has got your back. It features PerfectBake Plus and PerfectRoast Plus, which use artificial intelligence to monitor moisture and oxygen levels. It essentially “whispers” to you via the app when your food is perfect.

We also love the inclusion of a dedicated Air Fry mode. Pairing air frying with a touch of steam means your home-cooked chips will be crunchy on the outside but stay fluffy and “potato-y” on the inside.

“This oven has completely changed the way I cook,” shared a five-star reviewer on the Appliances Online website. “The steam function is a game-changer: meats stay moist and juicy, and the built-in thermometer means no more guesswork or overcooking. But my absolute favourite feature? The self-cleaning function. No more scrubbing, no more harsh chemicals.”

Key features:

• Steam cooking up to 120°C
• PerfectBake Plus and PerfectRoast Plus sensors
• Air fry function with included tray
• Home Connect app control
• EcoClean Direct assisted cleaning

Also available at:

• $4699 from The Good Guys
• $4999 from Bing Lee
• $5313 (usually $5899) from Winnings

Best for: Minimalist design lovers who need plenty of space

Fisher & Paykel is the darling of Australian interior designers, and this Series 11 model is a masterclass in “less is more.” The black glass finish is sleek, but don’t let the quiet exterior fool you. With a 72L capacity, it is one of the roomiest combi-steam ovens available, making it the perfect choice for the big family Christmas or a weekend dinner party.

It boasts 23 functions, including sous vide (for that butter-soft steak) and steam proofing (the secret to the perfect bread rise). The ActiveVent system is a clever addition, letting you manage moisture levels precisely so you get a moist interior and a crisp exterior every time.

Key features:

• 23 cooking functions including steam, sous vide and air fry
• ActiveVent and AeroTech systems for even results
• Whisper-quiet operation
• Guided cooking with touchscreen controls
• Wi-Fi connectivity

Also available at:

• $6499 (usually $7299) from Winnings
• $6499 (usually $7299) from Appliances Online
• $6499 (usually $7299) from Bing Lee
• $6499 (usually $7299) from Designer Appliances

Best for: Those who want Swiss-made precision

Favoured by architects and serious food lovers, this steam oven is designed for people who enjoy mastering technique, but still want technology to make things easier.

Functions like Vacuisine (professional-style sous vide) and BakeOmatic remove the complexity from advanced cooking, automatically adjusting humidity and temperature. The regeneration mode is brilliant for leftovers, restoring food without drying it out – something microwave reheating can’t touch.

Key features:

• Elegantly etched, intuitive glass interface
• Precision steam and humidity control
• Vacuisine and BakeOmatic programs
• Regeneration mode for reheating so they don’t get that “microwaved” texture
• Premium touch and dial interface
• 10-year warranty

Also available at:

• $10,900 (usually $12,100) from Winnings

Best for: Big families who value durability and style

This built-in combination oven brings a touch of Scandi-chic to the kitchen. With a massive 73L usable volume, it is a “workhorse” disguised as a luxury appliance.

The Pure Steam System is a standout; it uses a separate generator to ensure that only pure, dry steam enters the cavity. This means no water droplets fall onto your food, so your veggies stay vibrant and crisp, rather than soggy.

One reviewer on Bazaarvoice celebrated a “Christmas dinner success,” cooking roast chicken, turkey roll and roast potatoes using the steam function, while another called it a “Great Oven… very easy to use” and recommended it without hesitation.

Other shoppers appreciated the range of features, though a few did note that the instruction manual should have been more detailed.

Key features:

• Large 73L capacity
• Combination steam and sous vide
• Five airflow baking system
• Durable stainless steel build
• Quadruple glazed door keeps the heat inside (and outside cool to touch)
• Five-year warranty

Also available at:

• $3839 (usually $4799) from Appliances Online
• $3839 (usually $4799) from Bing Lee
• $4799 from Betta
• $4799 from Billy Guyatts
• $4799 from Designer Appliances

Best for: Small kitchens that don’t want to sacrifice professional features

This 45cm compact model from Smeg is perfect for smaller apartments or as a secondary oven in a “dream kitchen” setup. Despite its smaller footprint, it offers Steam100 technology, allowing you to set steam levels anywhere between 20% and 100% for total precision.

The EvoScreen LCD is bright and easy to read, and we love the optional accessories like the Refractory Stone, which can cook a perfect pizza in just four minutes. It’s a beautiful blend of Italian style and professional performance.

Key features:

• Continuous steam control up to 100%
• A hidden 800ml tank that allows for up to six hours of steaming
• Compact 45cm size
• Meat probe for precision cooking
• Soft open and close door
• Energy-efficient A++ rating

Also available at:

• $3316 from Billy Guyatts
• $3490 from Betta
• $3490 from Designer Appliances
• $3890 from Bing Lee
• $4076 (usually $4490) from Winnings

Best for: Modern families who love a “smart” home

LG has brought its InstaView technology from the fridge to the oven – just knock twice on the glass and the interior lights up, so you can check your food without letting steam escape. It’s a clever, practical feature that’s as fun as it is useful.

In fact, our Test Kitchen put this steam oven to the test and were very impressed. With 23 functions – from air frying and steaming to sous vide and Healthy Fry – it delivered reliable, precise results.

Pizzas had perfectly crisp bases, roast duck was tender and juicy, and cakes baked evenly. Easy to clean and smart-app enabled, we found it to be a versatile multitasker that replaced several appliances at once.

Key features:

• InstaView knock-to-see window
• Full steam and combination cooking
• 76L capacity
• Steam-assisted EasyClean
• Wi-Fi connectivity

Also available at:

• $2699 (usually $3699) from The Good Guys
• $3274 (usually $4439) from Winnings

Best for: Apartment dwellers and speedy cooking

Cuisinart’s benchtop model is a cult favourite for a reason. It is a genuine “True Steam” unit, meaning it can steam a whole fish or a tray of dumplings just like a built-in. It claims to cook up to 40% faster than a conventional oven, and according to reviews, it really delivers – especially on things like roasted vegetables and chicken.

It’s also great for bread lovers. The specialised bread proofing technology creates the warm, humid environment that dough loves, leading to a much better rise and a professional-looking crust.

“This is an extraordinary oven,” wrote a happy Big W reviewer. “Simple to use – the oven steam/bake is extraordinary – makes roast chicken succulent. Have baked cakes, slice, roasting and even toast.”

Another shared: “I have had my multi steam oven since 2017. I use it almost daily. As a singe person I ceased using my large oven since I purchased this fantastic multi oven. I absolutely love all of its functionality.”

Key features:

• A large 1.4L reservoir allows for long, uninterrupted steaming
• 9 cooking functions including steam, poach, broil and bake
• Steam-reheating prevents food from drying out
• Compact benchtop design
• Large removable water tank
• Bread proofing function
• Three-year warranty

Best for: The ultimate space-saver that does everything

If you only have room for one appliance on your bench, make it this one. Panasonic has combined a 1000W inverter microwave with a powerful 1300W steam generator. Unlike cheaper “steam microwaves,” this uses two steam outlets to fill the cavity quickly and evenly.

The flatbed design (no turntable!) means you can fit large, rectangular baking dishes inside. It’s a legitimate four-in-one tool: you can steam, bake, grill and microwave. You can even combine functions – like using steam and convection together – to get a roast chicken that’s juicy inside and golden-brown outside in record time.

This convection oven is a real crowd-pleaser, with a 4.8-star rating on Myer from over 190 reviews. One recent shopper said: “This is a real game changer. The multiple functions are great and I find I can use this instead of my big oven, saving time and power and it’s so much easier to clear too.”

“I use it for air frying veggies and steaming rice. It does things that far more expensive appliances can’t. So versatile and powerful too. Highly recommended. I use it every day and keep finding more uses for it.”

Key features:

• 4-in-1 cooking: steam, bake, grill, microwave
• Automatically calculates time needed to reheat food to the perfect temperature
• Flatbed design for larger dishes
• Powerful 1300W steam system
• 36 auto programs
• Easy-clean stainless interior

Also available at:

• $1171 (usually $1649) from Appliances Online
• $1230 (usually $1649) from Winnings
• $1493 from Bing Lee
• $1499 from The Good Guys
• $1649 from Panasonic

Best for: Small kitchens that want a “statement” piece

Smeg brings its iconic design to the benchtop with this 30L combi oven. It’s essentially a miniature version of their high-end built-in ovens. It features 10 functions, including three steam-assisted modes that are fantastic for baking.

The Vapour Clean function is a lifesaver for a benchtop unit, using steam to soften grease so you can just wipe it away. If you want the Smeg aesthetic without the $4000 built-in price tag, this is a brilliant entry point.

Key features:

• Steam, air fry and conventional cooking
• Compact 30L capacity
• Auto recipes
• Colour LCD Display
• Vapour clean function
• Two-year warranty

Also available at:

• $1523 (usually $1899) from Winnings
• $1699 from Billy Guyatts
• $1750 (usually $1899) from Appliances Online
• $1889 from Bing Lee

Best for: The culinary lover who wants total control

The Anova is a bit different from the rest. It was born out of the world of professional sous-vide cooking. The 2.0 version features a built-in camera that can actually identify what you’ve put in the oven and suggest the best way to cook it.

It allows you to control the Relative Humidity from 0% to 100% with pinpoint accuracy. This is the oven for the person who wants to bake the perfect sourdough with a specific “steam schedule” or cook a steak to the exact degree.

The built-in camera and smart features get the seal of approval from many Anova reviewers, though some note the app subscription and occasional WiFi hiccups are slightly inconvenient. Overall, users say it’s fast, reliable and feels like a professional kitchen in one compact oven.

Key features:

• Precise steam control from 0-100%
• A large 2.4L tank for long, precise cooks
• App-guided cooking and food recognition
• Large benchtop capacity
• Built-in camera and probes
• Advanced convection system