A cooking device comprising: a cooking chamber; a condenser located outside of the cooking chamber having a water level therein; a drain pipe having one end disposed in communication with the cooking chamber and a second end disposed in communication with the condenser; and a humidity and steam control system for controlling the humidity and steam content in the cooking chamber, wherein the humidity and steam control system comprises: a controller, a steam generator in communication with the cooking chamber and the controller; and a temperature sensor in communication with the controller; characterized in that the temperature sensor is disposed in an air space above the water level in the condenser and proximal the drain pipe for measuring the temperature in said air space, wherein the end of the drain pipe disposed in communication with the condenser is below the water level to form a water barrier so that heated and/or humid air in the cooking chamber only exits the cooking chamber by passing through the water barrier during a cooking cycle, wherein the temperature sensor detects predetermined upper and lower temperatures in the air space, wherein during a cooking cycle requiring steam, the upper temperature in the air space indicates a higher pressure in the cooking chamber and wherein the lower temperature in the air space indicates a lower pressure in the cooking chamber, wherein, when the temperature sensor detects the pre-determined lower temperature in the air space, the temperature sensor activates the steam generator via the controller to produce and provide steam to the cooking chamber, wherein, when the temperature sensor detects the predetermined upper temperature in the air space, the temperature sensor deactivates the steam generator via the controller to cease producing and providing steam to the cooking chamber, and wherein heated and/or humid air in the cooking chamber only exits the cooking chamber by passing through the water barrier until the cooking cycle is complete. a cooking chamber; a condenser located outside of the cooking chamber having a water level therein; a drain pipe having one end disposed in communication with the cooking chamber and a second end disposed in communication with the condenser; and a humidity and steam control system for controlling the humidity and steam content in the cooking chamber, wherein the humidity and steam control system comprises: a controller, a steam generator in communication with the cooking chamber and the controller; and a temperature sensor in communication with the controller; a controller, a steam generator in communication with the cooking chamber and the controller; and a temperature sensor in communication with the controller; the temperature sensor is disposed in an air space above the water level in the condenser and proximal the drain pipe for measuring the temperature in said air space, wherein the end of the drain pipe disposed in communication with the condenser is below the water level to form a water barrier so that heated and/or humid air in the cooking chamber only exits the cooking chamber by passing through the water barrier during a cooking cycle, wherein the temperature sensor detects predetermined upper and lower temperatures in the air space, wherein during a cooking cycle requiring steam, the upper temperature in the air space indicates a higher pressure in the cooking chamber and wherein the lower temperature in the air space indicates a lower pressure in the cooking chamber, wherein, when the temperature sensor detects the pre-determined lower temperature in the air space, the temperature sensor activates the steam generator via the controller to produce and provide steam to the cooking chamber, wherein, when the temperature sensor detects the predetermined upper temperature in the air space, the temperature sensor deactivates the steam generator via the controller to cease producing and providing steam to the cooking chamber, and wherein heated and/or humid air in the cooking chamber only exits the cooking chamber by passing through the water barrier until the cooking cycle is complete.