Abstract: A steam oven includes a chamber for receiving food, a water tank having a discharge valve, and a reservoir in communication with the water tank and the chamber. A barrier divides the reservoir in a receiving compartment and a separate boiling compartment. A passage in the barrier allows the receiving compartment and the boiling compartment to fluidly communicate with each other. In use, water flows from the water tank into the receiving compartment, and then from the receiving compartment into the boiling compartment to be converted into steam. The barrier retards heat transfer from the water in the boiling compartment to the water in the receiving compartment to prevent the water in the receiving compartment from becoming agitated to an extent where air would be allowed to flow through the discharge valve into the water tank, thereby causing an untimely release of water from the water tank into the reservoir.