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Combi steamer


Combi steamers (also called combi-steamers, hot-air steamers, combination steam-convection ovens, or simply combi ovens) are cooking appliances typically used in professional catering or food service operations. Combi steamers can produce both dry (convection) and moist (steam) heat, and are capable of shifting between them automatically during the cooking process. They can thus simultaneously steam vegetables or potatoes quickly and gently, while also roasting or braising meat and fish, or baking bread. The appliance is fit for many culinary applications, including baking, roasting, grilling, steaming, braising, blanching and poaching. Combi steamers expand upon standard convection ovens in that they also generate steam or a combination of steam and superheated steam. They help gastronomy-industry professionals bridge the gap between economy and menu diversity while also maintaining the desired food quality.

The term convection oven is frequently used in connection with these appliances; however, convection ovens cook using hot air only, without the additional steaming function.

The first combi steamer was invented in the late 1960s by the company Burger Eisenwerke. The company was purchased by Juno in Herborn in 1976 and is now part of the Swedish corporation Electrolux, who developed the appliances further and now markets them under the Electrolux professional brand name. The current market leader,RATIONAL AG, developed their own combi steamer at around the same time, and presented their model at the 1976 Internorga trade fair.

The technology has been under constant development since its invention. Some manufacturers' models now use intelligent cooking processes to prepare food from start to finish with the touch of a button. Combi-steamer technology has fundamentally transformed the industrial-scale food preparation process, as the devices replace around half of conventional cooking appliances.

Numerous other manufacturers have entered this new market segment— today, over fifty companies around the world offer combi steamers, although that number also includes many industrial kitchen suppliers who merely purchase and rebrand the units.

Initially, the price was very high and they were popular for expensive public catering establishments. Later combi steamers became an integral part of kitchen equipment for many kinds of restaurants and for private households.


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