How to Choose the Right Commercial Combi Oven for Your Kitchen
If you’re running a café, restaurant, bakery, or catering business in Australia, chances are you’ve heard of a combi oven — the all-in-one powerhouse that can steam, roast, grill, bake and regenerate food with unbeatable precision.
But with so many brands, sizes and features out there, how do you choose the right one for your commercial kitchen?
Let’s break it down in this easy-to-follow buying guide for commercial combi ovens in Australia.
What Is a Combi Oven?
A combi oven, short for combination steam oven, combines steam, convection, and combi (both) cooking methods in one unit. That means it can bake various kinds of breads like a pro, roast meats quickly and evenly withouth drying them out, steam vegetables to perfection and reheat pre cooked foods without making them soggy. It is a powerful piece of cooking equipment, perfect for busy commercial kitchens that need versatility and consistency.
Why Use a Combi Oven in Your Kitchen?
Combination steam ovens save you space as they can do multiple jobs of several appliances in one unit, while improving consistency and efficiency thanks to programmable settings. You can totally control the results of your menus without overcooking, drying out.
Who Should Use a Combi Oven?
A combi oven is a versatile cooking appliance that any food service businesses in Austrlia should employ in their kithcen. Restaurants, cafes, hotels, aged care facililties and canteens all take a great advantage from using combi oven.
Key Things to Consider Before You Buy
1. Size & Capacity
Are you serving 50 meals or 500? Combi ovens come in various tray sizes like:
6-tray for small cafés and food trucks
10-tray for mid-size restaurants
20-tray or more for hotels or bulk production
Pro Tip: Choose based on how many meals you cook at once, not just how big your kitchen is.
2. Electric or Gas?
Electric combi ovens are easier to install and great for smaller setups or locations without a gas line.
Gas combi ovens heat up faster and are often more cost-efficient long-term for high-volume cooking.
Pro Tip: If unsure, go for electric — it’s more flexible for most Australian venues.
3. Boiler or Boilerless System?
Boiler (steam generator) models are better for high-volume steaming but require more maintenance.
Boilerless (injection) models are easier to maintain and ideal for general use.
If you’re running a bakery or doing a lot of steaming, a boiler model might suit you better.
Must-Have Features for Aussie Kitchens
When you’re investing in a commercial combi oven, you’re not just buying an appliance, but you’re upgrading the heart of your kitchen. A bakery in Sydney uses the steam mode for fluffy bread rolls, convection for pastries, and combi mode to roast chickens evenly without drying them out.
When buying a combi oven, make sure your unit will have below features to enhance efficiency and ease of use.
Programmable Touchscreen controls
Modern combi ovens have smart, touchscreen controls where chefs can save recipes, adjust humidity, set multiple cooking stages, and monitor cooking progress in real time. A café in Melbourne programs their oven to bake croissants at 180°C for 12 mins with 40% humidity in the morning rush, so no guesswork needed
Multi-Point Core Temperature Probe
This sensor checks the internal temperature of meat or other foods to avoid undercooking or overcooking. A hotel in Brisbane uses the core probe to cook roast lamb to 62°C for perfect medium-rare every time. This allows the hotel to serve consistent menus at all times.
Automatic Cleaning System
Combi ovens with auto-clean save time, reduce water use, and extend the life of your machine. A busy restaurant in Adelaide sets the oven to clean overnight after service, saving staff hours of manual scrubbing.
Adjustable Humidity Control
Being able to precisely manage the moisture inside the oven helps with everything from crisping pizza bases to gently steaming fish. A seafood restaurant in Perth uses 100% humidity to steam delicate coral trout, and 30% for crispy-skin pork belly. With a combi oven in place, you can automate control without humans constantly checking the status of cooked meals.
Boiler vs. Boilerless System
Boiler combi ovens produce high-volume steam, which is great for bulk cooking, while Boilerless models are easier to maintain, ideal for cafés or smaller operations.
Ventless Hood Option
If your kitchen doesn’t have traditional ducting, a ventless combi oven can be a game-changer. For example, A small café in a Brisbane shopping centre installed a Giorik combi oven with a ventless hood to meet council requirements.
Trusted Combi Oven Brands in Australia
Giorik (Italy) 
Why Choose Giorik?
Great value-for-money. Giorik offers high-end features — like touchscreen control and ventless hoods — at a much more affordable price than premium brands. Main features of Giorik models are Touchscreen controls, Boiler or boilerless options, Humidity control, Ventless hood compatible, Compact & stackable designs
Rational (Germany)
Why Choose Rational?
This is the Ferrari of combi ovens. Known for its ultra-intelligent features like iCookingSuite, precise moisture control, and effortless self-cleaning. Rational combi ovens are especially best for kitchens with high volume and demand consistency. Saves labour, reduces waste, and automates your workflow. Rational’s competitive edge is Top-tier innovation, precise automation & premium build. Most advanced system on the market.
Fagor (Spain)
Why Choose Fagor?
Reliable, no-fuss performance with lower energy use. Fagor models are often simpler but still powerful, great for operators who prefer manual or semi-digital control. Fagor is a smart pick if you’re after function over flash, and value durability and ease of use. Fagor combi models feature direct steam injection, Manual & digital models, Built-in recipes, EasyClean system, Lower energy use. Their competitive edges over others are Cost-effective reliability from a respected European brand. Simple and efficient.
HOUNÖ (Denmark)
Why Choose HOUNÖ?
A Scandinavian-designed oven that combines smart tech with sustainability. Great for businesses focused on efficiency, aesthetics, and ease of use. Houno combi ovens are perfect for corporate caterers, multi-location cafés or kitchens that need performance and design appeal.
A commercial combi oven is a serious investment, but it can completely transform your kitchen operations. Whether you’re cooking for a small café or a large-scale catering business, the right combi oven will help you save time, improve consistency, and expand your menu effortlessly.
Where to Buy Combi Ovens in Australia?
At BENDGS Catering Kitchen Equipment, we stock and supply a wide range of commercial kitchen equipment online, including electric and gas models, with delivery available Australia-wide. Browse our collection of combi ovens and commercial cooking equipment
Need help choosing? Give us a call on 1300 434 125 or email info@bendgs.com.au – our team is here to help you find the perfect fit for your kitchen.
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