RATIONAL iCombi Pro

What it is

The iCombi Pro is a combi steamer, an oven for professional kitchens that can cook with dry heat, steam or a combination of both. RATIONAL, founded in 1973 and based in Landsberg am Lech in Bavaria, invented the combi steamer in 1976. The iCombi Pro was launched in 2020, together with the iVario multifunctional cooking system.

How it works

A combi steamer controls temperature and humidity in the cooking cabinet. Steam keeps food moist and speeds up cooking, while convection heat produces browning and crisp surfaces. The iCombi Pro adds sensors and software: it measures conditions in the cabinet and in the food and adjusts the cooking path to the type of product, size and load. Chefs can choose the result they want, such as the degree of browning or core temperature, and the oven manages the process. It can also run mixed loads, telling staff when to put in and take out different items.

Why it stands out

In a commercial kitchen, a single combi steamer can replace several conventional appliances, such as ovens, steamers and some pans, saving space and energy. RATIONAL's machines also clean themselves automatically, which reduces labour costs. The company built a global business on this one category. According to its own history, it produced its one millionth combi steamer in 2019, delivered to the Hofbräuhaus in Munich.

Where you meet it

Combi steamers are standard equipment in restaurants, hotels, hospitals, canteens, schools and supermarket food counters. If you have eaten in a staff canteen or a hotel buffet, your meal may well have been cooked in a RATIONAL appliance.