I've had a Gagg combi for about 18 months and absolutely love it. I had a Gagg convection oven in my old house which is what got me to look at this, since I loved the way that cooked. This one has the added benefit of being able to add moisture to roasting or baking, so it isn't an either/or set up. I often cook a quick dinner with only the combi steam, and don't even use the burners on my range. I've written about this before, but to sum up, you control both the moisture level - 0%, 30%, 60%, 80% and 100% - as well as the temperature. There's a cookbook and a "wheel" which helps teach you what to do. I use the 100% steam setting at 220 degrees for things like veggies, fish, poached chicken breasts and I like that fact that it begins steaming almost immediately. It's wonderful for boiled eggs. I've used it to cook meatloaf or ribs at 400 degrees and 100% steam - you get crispy, browned top but very moist interior. I recently did a braised oxtail dish on my stove top for the first step (since I was browning them) and then, the next day, finished it by slow cooking in the Gagg, I just measured one of my largest baking pans- it measures 17" by 12" and fits into the oven - it's tight by it glides in and there's enough room for air to circulate (because of the rack supports on the sides). I think that because it's a smaller size it's more energy efficient in terms of heating up and coming up to steam and maintaining the moisture level. But, I have no proof - just my gut feeling. I like reheating things in the Gagg much better than in an microwave - especially things like beef or chicken - they taste fresh cooked. I've done mundane things, like reheat pizza - 375 with 30% moisture - or refresh a stale baguette. I've roasted chicken - haven't done a turkey but based on the size of my roaster, I bet a turkey up to 15 pounds would fit. What do I use my microwave for? Reheating my coffee, popcorn, warming maple syrup. Not much else. I could probably do everything but the popcorn in the Gagg- maybe I'll experiment! LOL. In short, I use it instead of my stovetop, I use it for baking (pie crusts are great), I use it for roasting (with moisture to keep the meat moist and tender.) I've been surprised by the versatility and how often I turn to the Gagg instead of my range/burners/ovens/microwave. Last night, I roasted some cauliflower which comes out nutty and caramelized. I love to do meat - ham & cheese, sliced chicken & monterey jack, etc. - on an egg twist roll and bake it at 400 with 30% moisture. Yummy! Right now I'm reheating some roast chicken and stuffing from Sunday.

That's a great price on the Gag. I have a Gaggenau combi steam oven (going on 7 years now), and I love it. I mostly use it for steaming vegetables, steaming then browning vegetables such as potatoes and Brussels Sprouts, reheating food, and sterilizing jars for canning/yogurt making. Occasionally, I'll make a beef tenderloin in it, but my temperature probe doesn't work anymore (doesn't really matter to me, as I know when it's done). I don't have a Miele combi steam (though I've got many other Miele appliances), so I can't comment on that. I was really impressed when I was learning about steam ovens that you can cook rice, pasta, and sous vide in them. However, in actually using my steam oven, I have never use it for those applications (there are much more efficient and less energy-intensive ways to do those things). One thing to be very careful about if you do get the Gagg (and it's probably the same with Miele) is how it's installed. The Gagg needs to stick out from the face of the cabinets, because the steam vents a LOT and will destroy your cabinets if you don't set it up right. My installer put mine in flush, and after a destroyed cabinet, we learned our lesson. Good luck!

We're building a new house and the placement of the appliances is pretty much fixed at this point. We didn't have any idea of how tricky this would be. Speed oven, Steam oven plus 30" convection oven and induction cooktop. Where to put them all? And how to decide which manufacturer so that they all match, without breaking the bank? We're thinking that the 30" Convection oven will be the one we use least. The Miele Steam seems better than the Bosch, but that means we have to make everything Miele to match. Miele 30 " convection is a lot more expensive than the Bosch. And how many of you have a Speed oven and what do you use it for? Currently, we use a Microwave to heat a bowl of soup, or warm up coffee, or reheat leftovers. We roast a lot of chicken and use a Convection oven..same with fish. We're a retired couple so it's mostly the 2 of us, and wonder how often we'll have a crowd and use everything at once. Plus, we're moving to FL and will have a good grill with a rotisserie, so will have that option too. Also wondering about a plain Microwave +Combi Steam+ Convection set up. But we're thinking that for resale value, we should have a Speed Oven. Can any of you tell me which appliances you use the most and do you have any experience with Bosch cooking appliances? And has anyone out there ever installed a wall oven under a cooktop, rather than buying a slide in or built in stove?

Another parent of an 8 years old; and a 6 years old. Please note that there is a difference between steam assist and a true combination steam oven (*). One of the the nice things about our Miele CSOs is the fact that you can select between 0% and 100% humidity across the entire temperature range. Steam-assist ovens usually can't do that. Also, our CSO has very precise temperature control at the low end. This makes it possible to be used as a sous-vide cooker. And that opens up a whole lot of other possibilities. You can slow cook first and then in the same appliance roast to finish the dish. Also, temperature and humidity control is great when baking bread. The short preheat times are great too. Bigger ovens frequently take a lot longer to change temperature. For some dishes that's ok; for others, it's a nuisance and requires careful meal planning. @dorianday, no way would I let you sit and watch. I'll find a task for you. Do you like peeling potatoes, or do you want to pit a half gallon of olives? *) Edit: It does look as if Thermador makes a real combination steam oven and not just a steam-assist oven. But the manual (like most of these manufacturers) is woefully inadequate. I can't quite tell in which modes I can enable steam and what temperature and humidity ranges I am restricted too. Also, I can't tell whether temperature control is sufficiently precise to allow sous-vide cooking. That only works, if temperature swings are really minimal. Finally, while Thermador boasts to have the largest oven cavity of any steam oven, I can't quite tell how that compares to Miele. I know that my Miele can, in a pinch, hold a regular half-size cookie sheet. It won't quite fit with the railings, but it's close. According to Thermador's spec sheet, the oven cavity is much too small for an 18x13" half pan. On the other hand, their oven seems taller. Yes, no? Hard to tell. The Miele XXL is also quite tall, but I can't find precise numbers for its size. Arrgh, these manufacturers don't really make it easy.