Italian appliance brand Smeg has unveiled a countertop oven with retro appeal But while its style is '50s-inspired, its smart technology is the most advanced we've seen The new Smeg countertop air fry oven with steam offers all the benefits of multifunction cooking, with enough features to put toaster ovens, air fryers, and even actual ovens out of work

The 10 cooking functions allow you to kick other bulky cooking appliances off your countertop, while coming with a premium price of $999 This is certainly not a product to purchase without serious consideration We are in the process of testing the Smeg Countertop Air Fry Oven with Steam and will report on its overall performance, functionality, and ease of use

But first impressions are that this is a well-designed countertop oven that eliminates gimmicks and employs really useful cooking settings that expand your kitchen repertoire Some of our favorite features include the three steam cooking settings and the My Smeg Assistant, a digital platform that allows users to unlock exclusive recipes and many tips through QR codes

The launch of Smeg's countertop ovens with steam is part of a growing trend to offer multi-function appliances These products are not necessarily intended for use only in small spaces; similar products, such as the Perfect Power Pot from Our Place, are ideal for small apartments and dorm rooms

Unlike the Perfect Power Pot, however, what makes the Smeg countertop oven superior is its 307-liter capacity, which gives it enough space to cook for a small group of family and friends It also has 10 different cooking functions, making it quite capable

However, despite its space-saving design, the Smeg Countertop Air Fry Oven is not a cheap buy This tabletop oven costs $999 at Crate & Barrel, while Our Place's Wonder Oven (a 6-in-1 air fryer and tabletop oven with steam injection) costs $195 at Amazon

This is an investment, but the release comes with the credit of Smeg's Italian design In other words, you get all the advantages of the best air fryers, plus added features, and your kitchen will be adorned with the iconic retro design associated with Smeg Instead of making unattractive appliances stand out on countertops, make this a central feature

Accessories The oven comes with an enamel tray for traditional cooking, a perforated baking tray for steaming and emptying, and a grill rack to support the oven vessel

What makes this product stand out is that three of the ten cooking functions available are dedicated to steam cooking While it is not uncommon for countertop ovens to have a steam function, the three modes allow a variety of foods to be steamed in an optimal manner Bake, Convection, Bottom Bake, Grill, Air Fry, Warm, and Defrost, as well as an additional steam function to lock in nutrients and moisture during cooking Three modes to choose from make it ideal for any type of cooking

Pure Steam cooks rice, vegetables, curries, and casseroles with 100% steam for healthy, nutritious results Convection steam is ideal for roasting meats with a caramelized exterior Grill steam is ideal for cooking pork chops and sausages, caramelizing the outside while keeping the meat juicy and tender

The steam tank has a capacity of 085 liters (08 liters) and has a descaling feature to ensure that the appliance is not disturbed by scale

I don't know what to cook There are 33 built-in recipes for meat, fish, vegetables, desserts, bread, pizza, and more Simply enter the weight of what you want to put in the oven, and the time and temperature are automatically set Since you don't have to repeatedly check the progress of your dish, you can spend your time on other things

The My Smeg assistant allows you to disable the preset mode; scanning the QR code will bring up a collection of recipes, as well as tips on how to get more out of your cookware and how to best care for it