Wall-mounted steam-oven/microwave-oven combo or separates. Looking for recommendations

[ElsieD]

My microwave died the other day and I need to buy a new one.  My husband suggested we also replace our wall oven with a new one at the same time as it too is over 20 years old and apt to fail sooner rather than later.  Both are/were GE Profile.  I said I'd be in for replacing the wall oven but only if it could be a steam oven.  He said okay so we've been looking around.  I'm wondering if anyone has experience with either a combo or a wall unit they would recommend?  The steam oven would not be plumbed to a water source/drain, it would have a refillable tank inside the oven.  

 

Any and all suggestions appreciated.

[FrogPrincesse]

No recent experience to share, but I will be monitoring responses for ideas.
 

My 20-year old Miele convection oven is about to die, and I am looking for a replacement. I am thinking another Miele convection oven, plus their combi-steam oven (smaller model) to replace / upgrade my warming drawer (I don’t use or need a microwave). Sinilar to @ElsieD, the steam oven will not be plumbed.

[blue_dolphin]

You may find this article from Emily at Steam and Bake useful as an overview of steam oven brands: The Best Steam Oven Brands in 2025

 

If you are on Facebook, Emily's group ( https://m.facebook.com/groups/combisteamcooking/?ref=share ) might be a good place to ask questions about models you are considering.  The group seems fairly quiet but it’s worth a shot.

 

If you plan to replace your wall oven with a combi steam wall oven, keep in mind that the cavity size of steam ovens tend to be a good bit smaller than conventional ovens, particularly for the non-plumbed models as they need to accommodate a water tank. 

 

 

[ElsieD]

11 hours ago, blue_dolphin said:

You may find this article from Emily at Steam and Bake useful as an overview of steam oven brands: The Best Steam Oven Brands in 2025

 

If you are on Facebook, Emily's group ( https://m.facebook.com/groups/combisteamcooking/?ref=share ) might be a good place to ask questions about models you are considering.  The group seems fairly quiet but it’s worth a shot.

 

If you plan to replace your wall oven with a combi steam wall oven, keep in mind that the cavity size of steam ovens tend to be a good bit smaller than conventional ovens, particularly for the non-plumbed models as they need to accommodate a water tank. 

 

 

 

Thank you.  So far, I have found one combo that meets our needs and that is the Dacor.  The microwave has a capacity of 1.9 cubic feet, slightly smaller than the 2.1 cubic feet we currently have, and the oven is slightly larger at 4.8 cubic feet compared to our current 4.1 cubic feet.  We are going to look at it tomorrow.  But, I personally don't care if we end up with say, a Miele oven and a Panasonic microwave, so we will look at what other possible combinations.  I had a cursory look at the article you linked to, I'll give it a better read before we go.  I'll also look at a few other review sites. 

[ElsieD]

Long story short, we decided to not replace the wall oven (already have the APO, the latest CSO and an airfryer) so microwave only.  It has to be a certain size as it is a replacement for a built-in one and it also has to have a trim kit that works with it.  So, at least 2 cu. Ft.  We ended up getting a Panasonic, and stuck it in it 's "home" I.e. hole-in-the-wall until the installer could well, install it.  Plugged it in to try it out.  We'll, Panasonic has deemed a tiny little LED light sufficient for lighting the inside.  You cannot see ANYTHING on the inside when it is running.  When you open the door, the tiny little light comes on and dimly lights up half of the inside.  We have been dealing with the same salesperson for years and he took it back and gave us our money back.  The store now has to sell it as a floor model as Panasonic won't take it back.  Luckily for us, due to being long time customers, they are not charging us a restocking fee.

 

Since there is no longer a market for the larger counter type microwaves other than for those of us with built-in ones that go kaput, the store does not stock them.  They will order one if we find one that suits us but won't take that one back if it doesn't suit us which is fair enough.  We looked at them in a couple of places and one place only had a Sharp model.  Guess what?  Same light.  The salesperson said all microwaves now come with LED "lighting".  

 

Rather than going to various stores, I'm going to do a bit more investigating via Google and the phone.  Wouldn't it be ironic if we ended up buying back the same microwave?