The humble microwave has held a permanent place in our kitchens for decades—and although they provide a quick and convenient way to reheat food, microwaves also tend to leave leftovers dried-out.

So if you’re a foodie looking for a heating method that preserves moisture, texture, and flavor, allow us—and our experts—to introduce you to steam ovens: the underrated kitchen appliance that just might end up replacing your microwave.

What Is a Steam Oven?

When it comes to keeping your kitchen countertop clutter-free—and streamlining your cooking experience—multifunctional appliances are a must.

Enter: the steam oven, which, just like the name suggests, combines the function of a steamer with a traditional oven to create a device that can be used for both cooking and reheating.

They work by creating steam from a water tank you fill up and empty with each use, and typically heat and circulate that steam with the help of fans similar to the ones found in your kitchen’s full-sized oven.

“Steam ovens combine externally generated steam with a convection system of fans and heating elements,” says Joel Chesebro, executive chef at Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove. “The heated steam circulates inside the oven, enhancing heat transfer to create wonderful flavors and textures.”

When it comes to the best foods for preparing and reheating in a steam oven, both Chesebro and SMEG USA’s product manager, Mattia Sala, say leftovers are a great go-to, because they will retain more of their original moisture and flavor than they would in a microwave.

They also agree that lean proteins which tend to dry out in a regular oven, such as fish and chicken, will stay tender as they fully cook through when prepped in a steam oven.

“Cooking vegetables with steam is a crowd favorite, and helps maintain their nutrients,” Sala says. “Steam ovens also work well for desserts, especially softer-textured desserts like a custard or cheesecake,”

“They are excellent for baking some breads and pastries, as the steam helps create a crispy crust while keeping the inside soft and fluffy,” Chesebro adds. “Additionally, steam ovens cook rice and grains evenly, resulting in a perfect texture without the risk of burning or sticking.”

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Steam Oven vs. Microwave

Instead of just reheating your food like a microwave would, a steam oven uses its moisture to preserve flavor and texture—and according to Chesebro, the difference between a steam oven and a microwave that impacts food quality comes down to the heating techniques being used by each appliance.

“Steam ovens use steam to cook food, while microwaves use electromagnetic radiation to heat food quickly by causing water molecules in the food to vibrate, generating heat,” Chesebro explains. “Microwaves are convenient for fast cooking and reheating, but can sometimes result in uneven heating or drying out food.”

Aside from well-cooked foods, evenly-heated leftovers, and preserved quality, vitamins, and nutrients, one of the main benefits of using a steam oven is its versatility.

You’ll be able to use this appliance to reheat food in the same way your microwave can, plus all the functions of your regular oven, air fryer, and steamer.

Switching to a steam oven comes with plenty of perks, but there are also a couple of drawbacks to ditching your microwave: steam ovens tend to be more expensive, and they also may not be the best choice for a busy household that generally needs to cook in a hurry.

Steam ovens are an appliance that needs much more frequent cleaning and maintenance than a microwave does, and a refreshed water reservoir after each use. You’ll also see longer heating times that are more similar to a traditional oven’s than the quick few minutes meals take to warm up in a microwave.