What is a Steam Oven?
Cooking with steam is not a new process, it’s been around for years, but cooking in a steam oven has become more popular in recent times. The name explains it all, a steam oven is the process of cooking your food utilising steam. There are three main types of steam ovens including pure steam ovens, a combination (combi) steam and convection oven and an oven that offers steam assist.
Some steam ovens contain a water reservoir. Water is injected from the reservoir into the boiler through a pump which heats the water, creating steam. Some steam ovens can hook up to your plumbing water line, which will take the hassle out of having to refill the reservoir each time you cook.
What are the Advantages?
Cooking with steam allows you to use lower temperatures, and maintain taste, texture and nutrients.
Steam cooking retains more of the vitamins and minerals of your food, making it the healthier alternative to cooking in a normal oven or frying with oils and seasoning. When you use steam to cook instead of dry heat, your food is also less likely to dry out. Plus, the benefit of crusty breads and crisp pastries.
If you don’t like spending too much time in the kitchen, a steam oven could be for you as it certainly speeds up cooking time.
What Can you Cook in a Steam Oven?
You can practically cook anything in a steam oven! However, dishes that cook with the most superb results are fish, vegetables, bread and roasts. The steam helps to keep the meat tender and juicy whilst breads are baked fluffy and light with crispier crusts.
The table below gives you a brief overview of how each steam oven works and which technology will achieve the best cooking result based on steam oven type.
| Combi-steam Ovens | Steam Only Ovens | Steam Assist Ovens | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functionality | Have the best of both ovens, a combination of steam and normal oven cooking techniques | Purely cooking with steam | Offers additional bursts of steam throughout the normal conventional oven cooking process. |
| Cooking Results | Cook roasts and cakes that are moist on the inside and crisp on the outside | Perfectly steamed results (best for fish, veggies and desserts that don’t require browning) | Retain moisture in bakes and roasts. |
What Type of Steam Ovens Do We Sell?
Designer Appliances sell an extensive range of Steam only, combination (combi-ovens) and steam assist ovens from top brands such as SMEG, AEG and Miele. Click here to view the range and start cooking deliciously succulent meals with your new steam oven.
