Steam oven options, please help!

14 years ago

We are finally ready to order the wall ovens, and I have been surprised by a new choice that is throwing me a curve-ball...the Sharp steam oven/micro combo... Please help!

My original plan was to order a Viking combi steam oven to be built-in above a Viking convection oven. (They are Viking because we have a family friend with a huge discount, and I am OK with the reviews.) But, I have just learned of the Sharp steam oven that could take the place of the microwave (yet to be purchased). Here are the tradeoffs as I see them.

Opinions VERY welcome!

Background:

- Young couple building first "real" house, plan to live here for 15+ years, have one 2 year old and would love more, I cook every day and love it, DH doesn't cook at all but enjoys the fact that I do :)

- Cost is an issue, we are on tight budget, but I have bought ALL other appliances at discount scratch & dent so I could afford a really nice set of ovens

Choices:

1. Viking steam oven and second convection oven (built in wall) + regular microwave (under counter)

2. Viking double convection ovens (in wall) + Sharp steam oven/microwave (under counter)

Trade-offs:

Choice 1:

- I would only have one full-size oven with this set-up. I do a lot of cooking and have never had two ovens but always wanted them. Will I miss having a second full-size oven? The steam oven interior seems so much smaller, but I'm not sure that actually matters if it fits most of what I'd be cooking. I won't, for example, be roasting two huge turkeys at one time, I don't think.

- If I buy the Viking steam oven, I have to do stainless. I wanted white ovens (I know that is passe, but I like that they would blend in with the cabinets and be less "showy"). Viking doesn't make the steam oven in anything but stainless

Choice 2:

- I would have to have our cabinets re-built slightly to allow the extra height required for the Sharp unit. The boxes have been built, so this would be an extra cost, but it doesn't look like a huge adjustment. (Needs another 2.5 inches)

- I have read that to use the regular microwave feature of the Sharp takes several steps in the interface, which will be annoying with all of the quick microwaving I do all day long (15 secs here, 30 sec there, etc.)

- BUT this appliance combination would be $1,000 LESS than Choice #1

- If I do the two regular ovens, I would want to order them in white, but I just learned that they take 4-6 weeks to manufacture so we would be living without ovens for a few weeks. If we do the other, I am forced into stainless, and everything would be available in 3 days.

Okay, what am I missing? Any opinions out there? Please weigh in! I need help!

Comments (5)

antss
14 years ago
I'd get the single oven and the Sharp combo and save even more $$$.

How can you miss something you've never had?

Viking prob. doesn't make their steam oven anyway.

Be sure to check the spes on either if you are putting them undercounter. They take a lot of room with their trim kits and 30" is not a typical base size in most kitchens.
scrappy25
14 years ago
Doesn't the Sharp also operate in convection oven mode only, without steam? Seems that you can put it over your Viking as a 2nd oven. It's not a huge cavity but certainly large enough for what you'd usually use a 2nd oven for. You could have a small mw elsewhere under counter for the kids in a cavity, one of those $100 ones and still come out ahead. Honestly, I think I've needed two microwaves more than I have needed two ovens on a day to day basis. This way you'd have two of both.

I wouldn't put the Sharp under counter. When you open the door in steam mode, you'd get a face full of steam. It has to be wiped out at the end of the day and there is a good handtowel or more of water to sop up. (I used my mother's for a few days). I didn't use the mw mode since she has another mw so can't speak to that. It looks like a great multifunction machine.The Sharp is 24 inches wide but the trim for building it in makes it 30 inches wide, to allow for necessary clearances on the sides.

Good luck!
Related Discussions
Need quick help deciding Thermador ovens/steam oven combos
Q
Comments (3)
I decided to change and go with option 2. I wound up looking at the user manuals at the different pre set cooking differences on the steam ovens and the main ones are still there on the pro grand steam.
...See More
Please help- strip roast using a combi steam oven
Q
Comments (3)
MJ, Let me first say this, glass is an interesting material, there are many different materials in the "recipe" of making glass and the process of making glass involves many steps also. In general, if a glass cookware is rated for oven use, you should be OK to cook with it. Just don't "shock" it with sudden high heat or cool it too drastically. That said, it is possible that in unusual situations, cracking can happen, but not very frequently. Ceramic cookware is less likely to crack. In a steam/convection oven, heating is more even, you should be OK with what you are doing. dcarch
...See More
Please help_-miele 30 inch trim kit for dg 4080 steam oven
Q
Comments (0)
any ideas to find a 30 trim kit for a discontinued model dg 4080 miele steam oven? Miele has none available nor ebay or craigslist in new york city? thanks so much
...See More
Combi-Steam Oven options? Can you get any of them paneled?
Q
Comments (7)
Generally you can't get ovens panelled. The closest I've ever seen is warming drawers, which don't get very hot. There are some ultra high end installations that have ovens behind cabinet doors. I don't know how well that works, however. A combi-steam oven is generally a convection oven with a steam function. The heat comes from the convection element only. Some of the newest models also have a broiler behind glass, which is an attempt by the makers to make it into an oven you can choose for a small kitchen where you only have room for one small oven. These broilers bring the top heat, but don't have the fire power of the regular broilers in the best ovens nowadays. There is no bottom heat element. You can make just about anything in the convection, except for some very delicate, mostly eggy, kinds of baking. I haven't tried souffles in my combi-steam It's possible that the steam helps support the eggs with the convection in a way that isn't there in my big oven. I also think that the convection on my combi- (Gaggenau) is gentler than in the big oven. I don't think you need a combi-steam for your bread baking. You should be able to do that fine in your gas oven by the usual methods. There isn't anything that you can make in a combi-steam that can't be achieved in a regular oven, with some ingenuity, though the heating of leftovers, because convenience is a big factor, has a real edge in the combi. I love mine, and use it a lot, but I also HATE blanching and steaming vegetables, and that's a trick it does beautifully in a way that doesn't annoy me. Think about it as a steamer first and about everything that you'd rather steam in an oven than in a steamer insert/basket/bamboo on the stove, in the microwave, or in a countertop steaming appliance. If doing it in an oven shouts, "Better!!" to you, then it's worth the money. It's not magic, however, and if you can cook, you don't need gizmos. The combi- is more for pleasure than any kind of kitchen necessity. Thinking further about bread, where the combi-steam has an edge is in misting. If yours has a misting function, or a shot of steam, or something, that's a way you can control additional moisture, as your bread is baking, without opening the door. You can also turn the steam on and off at whatever times during baking you'd like, and possibly program the timing as well. This doesn't mean that your results would be better, but it's another way the combi- might be easier and/or more pleasurable to use.
...See More
drjoann
14 years ago
Per the specs, the Sharp Super Steam must be installed counter height or higher.

I'd be interested in the responses you get because I'm looking for some combination of range or rangetop with a least two ovens. I'm really intrigued by the Sharp because it seems to do so much at a great price point.

Jo Ann (longtime lurker & 1st time poster to this forum)
vpierce
14 years ago
We are in the middle of a kitchen remodel and were thinking of putting the Sharp steam oven in our new kitchen. We bought it a couple of months ago and have been using it in our temporary kitchen. I haven't used the steam oven part of it yet, but the microwave oven is very underpowered (I believe it is 700 watts). In fact, we are considering not putting it in our remodel and going back to a higher powered microwave. You might check out the Consumer Reports on microwaves--they noted the same thing about the Sharp steam oven. As far as the functionality, yes, you do have to push the "Microwave" button, then turn the dial to make a selection of manual, sensor, etc., then push "Enter", then enter the time, then push "Start", so there are definitely more steps to getting the microwave going than with a microwave only oven. I find it slightly annoying, but I could live with it if the microwave were more powerful.
katrinavhh
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks, all, for your advice. Antss you have given great advice in the past to me and I appreciate your perspective. My mom also reminds me of what is really necessary (not much!) and that highlights that much of these decisions are irrational anyway. :)

The info you all are providing on the Sharp is making it clear it is not the best choice for us. I need a high powered micro and it needs to go in the spot allowed. (Oven area is totally separate work zone, so the micro over there won;t make sense for me.) I'm going with the $$ Viking combo and I'll shop for a stand-alone microwave to put in the niche under the counter. I'll post updates when this is all said and done. Thanks again!!

Steam oven options, please help!

Comments (5)

antss

scrappy25

Related Discussions

drjoann

vpierce

katrinavhh
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Steam oven options, please help!

Comments (5)

antss

scrappy25

Related Discussions

drjoann

vpierce

katrinavhhOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

katrinavhh
Original Author