Modern kitchen with a built-in oven roasting a whole chicken using steam. Fresh vegetables are on a chopping board, and a tray of cooked chicken wings sits on the bench.

Steam, Sizzle, Air Fry: The Modern Oven That Does It All

Today’s ovens are smarter, faster, and more versatile than ever — helping Kiwi homeowners cook better, save space, and simplify everyday life.

Steam, Sizzle, Air Fry: The Modern Oven That Does It All

Today’s ovens are smarter, faster, and more versatile than ever — helping Kiwi homeowners cook better, save space, and simplify everyday life.

DESKTOP

MOBILE

Rachel has been with Kitchen Things for more than two decades, and she’s seen kitchen appliances evolve from humble workhorses to high-performance multitaskers. Today, ovens do far more than just bake or roast. They’re faster, smarter, and packed with features you might not even realise you need.

Steam. Roast. Reheat. Air fry. Modern ovens can now do it all, and do it better than ever. Whether you’re renovating, building new, or just upgrading one appliance at a time, it’s worth taking a second look at what’s out there.

Steam ovens aren’t just for healthy eaters

If you think steam ovens are only for broccoli and salmon, think again.

“You put your roast into a steam oven… the longer you cook it in the steam the more moist it becomes and it starts falling off the bone. If you overcook your meat in the oven, it comes dry and it’s horrible and you might end up throwing it away.”

Steam helps food retain moisture and flavour. That means juicy meats, tender veggies, and more forgiving results (even when you’re distracted). It’s not just about health; it’s about taste and texture.

One oven, many jobs

Modern ovens now include built-in functions like air fry, combination steam, and even microwave capabilities. You’re no longer stuck choosing between a crisp roast or a fast reheat, you can have both.

Most brands are now including an air fry function in their latest ovens, offering the same crisp results, but at a much larger scale. Instead of cooking in small batches like a benchtop air fryer, you can knock out a tray of 40 chicken nibbles in one go, all in around 12 minutes.

For busy households, it’s a game changer. Less time juggling gadgets. Fewer appliances cluttering the bench. And better consistency when you’re cooking for a crowd.

Know your oven before you buy

It’s easy to get swept up in the features list; air fry, steam, reheat, but the real test of any oven is how well it fits into your daily life. As Rachel puts it, “You want to know how am I going to put beautiful food on the table for my family?”.

That’s why it pays to look beyond the spec sheet. Kitchen Things, for example, offer appliance demos and cooking technology sessions to help people see how different models work in real life. Watching an oven in action, or trying it yourself, can shift your priorities completely.

Whether you’re just starting to plan your kitchen or narrowing down your appliance list, a bit of hands-on time can help you make a confident, informed choice.

Technology has changed. Have you?

“If you did your oven or your kitchen 10 years ago, some of this technology didn’t exist”. And that’s the biggest surprise for most people. Combination ovens. Built-in air fry. Steam-assisted reheat. What used to be specialist equipment is now becoming standard in many New Zealand homes.

If you haven’t looked into ovens lately, now’s the time. Not just because they’re more powerful or efficient, but because they can genuinely make everyday cooking easier, faster, and more enjoyable.

You don’t need to be a chef. You just need the right tools, and the confidence to use them.

Planning to renovate your kitchen?

If you’re planning to renovate your kitchen, our Renovating Your Kitchen Guides will walk you through the process. They cover everything from layout and storage to finishes and functionality, so you can make confident, future-proof decisions that truly fit your home. Whether you’re staying put in your home or selling, Join MyTrends to unlock a full library of guides designed to support you at each stage of your property journey.

The evolution of the oven

Not long ago, ovens were simple workhorses built to bake, roast, or grill, and not much else. Today, they’ve become high-performance multitaskers.

Modern ovens can steam, air fry, reheat, and even combine functions to deliver better results with less effort. Whether you’re building new, renovating, or upgrading one appliance at a time, it’s worth taking a fresh look at how far oven technology has come.

Steam ovens: beyond healthy eating

Steam ovens are no longer just for vegetables or light meals. The way they work, circulating moisture throughout the cooking process helps lock in flavour, tenderness, and nutrients.

By keeping food moist, steam prevents dishes from drying out, even when cooked for longer periods. Roasts stay juicy, vegetables remain crisp-tender, and leftovers taste freshly made.

It’s not only about healthy cooking, it’s about achieving consistently delicious results, every time.

One oven, many jobs

The new generation of ovens now includes built-in air fry, steam, and microwave functions. That means you no longer need a bench full of gadgets to achieve different cooking styles.

Air fry modes deliver the same golden, crispy finish as a benchtop air fryer, but with much greater capacity. You can cook an entire tray of food in minutes instead of juggling multiple small batches.

For busy households, multifunction ovens are a genuine game changer fewer appliances cluttering the bench, faster cooking times, and better results for family meals or entertaining.

Choosing the right oven for your lifestyle

It’s easy to get caught up in new features, but the most important question is how well an oven fits your cooking habits. Think about what you actually use most: fast reheating, family roasts, or healthy weeknight meals.

Before buying, try to see the oven in action. Live demonstrations can help you understand the difference between models, compare results, and make confident decisions. Seeing how technology works in real life often changes what matters most.

Has technology changed your kitchen?

If your kitchen hasn’t been updated in the last decade, you might be surprised by what’s now available. Steam-assisted reheating, built-in air fryers, and combination ovens have become standard in many New Zealand homes.

These advances aren’t about complexity; they’re about convenience. Smart features make cooking easier, faster, and more reliable, even if you’re not an experienced cook.

You don’t need to be a professional to enjoy great results. You just need the right tools and the confidence to use them.

Final takeaway

Today’s ovens are more than appliances, they’re the centrepiece of modern kitchen design. Combining multiple functions in one unit, they save time, reduce clutter, and make everyday cooking effortless.

If you’re renovating, upgrading, or designing from scratch, choosing a multifunction oven is one of the simplest ways to future-proof your kitchen.

Disclaimer: This article is based on a podcast featuring insights from experienced professionals and is intended for general information and inspiration only. While we aim to share valuable guidance, please seek personalised advice from qualified professionals before making decisions about your property, finances, or renovation plans.

Curious to see more practical advice from industry experts? Visit our Top Tips hub for quick, valuable insights shared by people who’ve been there, helping you plan smarter and avoid common mistakes.

Visit Top Tips Hub

Our Renovating Your Kitchen Guides take the guesswork out of your project. From budgeting and layout to appliances and cabinetry, you’ll learn how to make confident, future-proof choices – whether you’re renovating to sell or stay. Join MyTrends for access to this and a full library of guides to support your property journey.

View GuidesJoin MyTrends

Curious to see more practical advice from industry experts? Visit our Top Tips hub for quick, valuable insights shared by people who’ve been there, helping you plan smarter and avoid common mistakes.

Visit Top Tips Hub

Our Renovating Your Kitchen Guides take the guesswork out of your project. From budgeting and layout to appliances and cabinetry, you’ll learn how to make confident, future-proof choices – whether you’re renovating to sell or stay. Join MyTrends for access to this and a full library of guides to support your property journey.

View GuidesJoin MyTrends

Rachel has been with Kitchen Things for more than two decades, and she’s seen kitchen appliances evolve from humble workhorses to high-performance multitaskers. Today, ovens do far more than just bake or roast. They’re faster, smarter, and packed with features you might not even realise you need.

Steam. Roast. Reheat. Air fry. Modern ovens can now do it all, and do it better than ever. Whether you’re renovating, building new, or just upgrading one appliance at a time, it’s worth taking a second look at what’s out there.

Steam ovens aren’t just for healthy eaters

If you think steam ovens are only for broccoli and salmon, think again.

“You put your roast into a steam oven… the longer you cook it in the steam the more moist it becomes and it starts falling off the bone. If you overcook your meat in the oven, it comes dry and it’s horrible and you might end up throwing it away.”

Steam helps food retain moisture and flavour. That means juicy meats, tender veggies, and more forgiving results (even when you’re distracted). It’s not just about health; it’s about taste and texture.

One oven, many jobs

Modern ovens now include built-in functions like air fry, combination steam, and even microwave capabilities. You’re no longer stuck choosing between a crisp roast or a fast reheat, you can have both.

Most brands are now including an air fry function in their latest ovens, offering the same crisp results, but at a much larger scale. Instead of cooking in small batches like a benchtop air fryer, you can knock out a tray of 40 chicken nibbles in one go, all in around 12 minutes.

For busy households, it’s a game changer. Less time juggling gadgets. Fewer appliances cluttering the bench. And better consistency when you’re cooking for a crowd.

Know your oven before you buy

It’s easy to get swept up in the features list; air fry, steam, reheat, but the real test of any oven is how well it fits into your daily life. As Rachel puts it, “You want to know how am I going to put beautiful food on the table for my family?”.

That’s why it pays to look beyond the spec sheet. Kitchen Things, for example, offer appliance demos and cooking technology sessions to help people see how different models work in real life. Watching an oven in action, or trying it yourself, can shift your priorities completely.

Whether you’re just starting to plan your kitchen or narrowing down your appliance list, a bit of hands-on time can help you make a confident, informed choice.

Technology has changed. Have you?

“If you did your oven or your kitchen 10 years ago, some of this technology didn’t exist”. And that’s the biggest surprise for most people. Combination ovens. Built-in air fry. Steam-assisted reheat. What used to be specialist equipment is now becoming standard in many New Zealand homes.

If you haven’t looked into ovens lately, now’s the time. Not just because they’re more powerful or efficient, but because they can genuinely make everyday cooking easier, faster, and more enjoyable.

You don’t need to be a chef. You just need the right tools, and the confidence to use them.

Planning to renovate your kitchen?

If you’re planning to renovate your kitchen, our Renovating Your Kitchen Guides will walk you through the process. They cover everything from layout and storage to finishes and functionality, so you can make confident, future-proof decisions that truly fit your home. Whether you’re staying put in your home or selling, Join MyTrends to unlock a full library of guides designed to support you at each stage of your property journey.

The evolution of the oven

Not long ago, ovens were simple workhorses built to bake, roast, or grill, and not much else. Today, they’ve become high-performance multitaskers.

Modern ovens can steam, air fry, reheat, and even combine functions to deliver better results with less effort. Whether you’re building new, renovating, or upgrading one appliance at a time, it’s worth taking a fresh look at how far oven technology has come.

Steam ovens: beyond healthy eating

Steam ovens are no longer just for vegetables or light meals. The way they work, circulating moisture throughout the cooking process helps lock in flavour, tenderness, and nutrients.

By keeping food moist, steam prevents dishes from drying out, even when cooked for longer periods. Roasts stay juicy, vegetables remain crisp-tender, and leftovers taste freshly made.

It’s not only about healthy cooking, it’s about achieving consistently delicious results, every time.

One oven, many jobs

The new generation of ovens now includes built-in air fry, steam, and microwave functions. That means you no longer need a bench full of gadgets to achieve different cooking styles.

Air fry modes deliver the same golden, crispy finish as a benchtop air fryer, but with much greater capacity. You can cook an entire tray of food in minutes instead of juggling multiple small batches.

For busy households, multifunction ovens are a genuine game changer fewer appliances cluttering the bench, faster cooking times, and better results for family meals or entertaining.

Choosing the right oven for your lifestyle

It’s easy to get caught up in new features, but the most important question is how well an oven fits your cooking habits. Think about what you actually use most: fast reheating, family roasts, or healthy weeknight meals.

Before buying, try to see the oven in action. Live demonstrations can help you understand the difference between models, compare results, and make confident decisions. Seeing how technology works in real life often changes what matters most.

Has technology changed your kitchen?

If your kitchen hasn’t been updated in the last decade, you might be surprised by what’s now available. Steam-assisted reheating, built-in air fryers, and combination ovens have become standard in many New Zealand homes.

These advances aren’t about complexity; they’re about convenience. Smart features make cooking easier, faster, and more reliable, even if you’re not an experienced cook.

You don’t need to be a professional to enjoy great results. You just need the right tools and the confidence to use them.

Final takeaway

Today’s ovens are more than appliances, they’re the centrepiece of modern kitchen design. Combining multiple functions in one unit, they save time, reduce clutter, and make everyday cooking effortless.

If you’re renovating, upgrading, or designing from scratch, choosing a multifunction oven is one of the simplest ways to future-proof your kitchen.

Disclaimer: This article is based on a podcast featuring insights from experienced professionals and is intended for general information and inspiration only. While we aim to share valuable guidance, please seek personalised advice from qualified professionals before making decisions about your property, finances, or renovation plans.

Curious to see more practical advice from industry experts? Visit our Top Tips hub for quick, valuable insights shared by people who’ve been there, helping you plan smarter and avoid common mistakes.

Visit Top Tips Hub

Our Renovating Your Kitchen Guides take the guesswork out of your project. From budgeting and layout to appliances and cabinetry, you’ll learn how to make confident, future-proof choices – whether you’re renovating to sell or stay. Join MyTrends for access to this and a full library of guides to support your property journey.

View GuidesJoin MyTrends

Curious to see more practical advice from industry experts? Visit our Top Tips hub for quick, valuable insights shared by people who’ve been there, helping you plan smarter and avoid common mistakes.

Visit Top Tips Hub

Our Renovating Your Kitchen Guides take the guesswork out of your project. From budgeting and layout to appliances and cabinetry, you’ll learn how to make confident, future-proof choices – whether you’re renovating to sell or stay. Join MyTrends for access to this and a full library of guides to support your property journey.

View GuidesJoin MyTrends

[clean_tags]

Related Articles

The Sophisticate

Botanica Kitchen

The original kitchen felt dated and enclosed. The curved island and overhead bulkhead contributed to a sense of heaviness in the space, and the bulky fridge obstructed the main walkway.

Close-up of custom cabinetry combining metal, oak, and birdseye maple, topped with Fusion Blue quartzite and rose-gold-toned plumbing fixtures.

Air of refinement

Thoughtful and varied surfaces combine to give this kitchen visual presence – while its advanced functionality is downplayed to the eye

The completed kitchen is both functional and stylish, seamlessly integrating modern finishes with warm, natural textures – teh wood dining table alongside included.

Modern and cohesive

Simplifying the initial design concept and a close attention to material connections give this kitchen a flowing, expansive feel – the result is a heart-of-the-home workspace that's both functional and stylish

Portfolios

View Industry Specialists

Portfolios

View Industry Specialists