This screen is the ‘nerve-centre’ of the entire appliance – touch the graphics to take you instantly to pre-set recipes, temperatures, cooking functions, pyrolytic cleaning functions, power saving options and timing modes. Importantly all recipes – for meats, fish, poultry, vegetables, cakes and desserts etc – are specific to Australian culinary tastes.

Fish recipes for example relate to our local fish species and meat results are geared to the Australian understanding of ‘rare’, medium etc.

And while the S-Logic technology takes the worry and doubt out of cooking a meal, more confident cooks can of set the oven to their own preferences or over-ride any aspect of a pre-set menu.

Further innovations of the SFPA140 are a larger oven capacity, at a generous 79 litres gross, and Thermoseal technology whereby the oven interior is fully controlled via a Venturi humidity control system. This latter ensures a perfectly controlled cooking environment with minimal temperature fluctuations, where cooking times and temperatures are kept to a minimum and natural juices and flavours are retained.

The SFPA140 also enables the user to programme10 personal recipes; has both a regular and eco pyrolytic self-cleaning process; food warming and dough proving functions; and a quadruple-glazed oven door to ensure its exterior is cool to the touch during all oven functions.

Some of the cooking functions worth mentioning are the low temperature options, perfect for lovers of slow cooking; rotisserie; and eco baking. On a conservation note, this oven is rated as exceeding the highest European A class energy rating by 20 per cent.

The SFPA140 is part of a range of five new Linear design ovens, each with varying specifications, that offer a choice of pyrolytic and vapour clean cleaning systems and S-Logic functions.

The flagship SFPA140 retails for $3990 and is available nationally from department stores, electrical retailers and appliance specialists. Go to www.smeg.com.au for more details.