Full steam ahead – the versatility of steam ovens
Steaming is one of the healthiest cooking methods possible and has started to find its niche again.
Steam ovens come in two forms. There are stand alone & combi/combination steam ovens. Combi/combination models combines steam cooking with either hot air or convection cooking. Which ever type you choose, you’ll get an extremely versatile appliances that can cook, defrost, reheat & even sterilise babies bottles.
Pictured below: CDA‘s SV410 45cm steam oven which features a 23 litre capacity & 2 temperature settings
Steam ovens are the healthy way to cook
Not only does steam cooking keep food exceptionally moist, but it’s also one of the healthiest ways to cook. Food that has been steamed will retain up to 25% more vitamin content than food that has been cooked via traditional hot air/convection. Steam cooking is also a cleaner way to cook as there is no oil or smoke to worry about.
Steam ovens aren’t just for vegetables and fish
Many people still believe steam ovens are only good for cooking vegetables & fish. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Steam ovens are actually far more versatile than a traditional hot air/convection oven. Not only can they be used to cook all types of food including bread, cakes, fish, meat & vegetables, but they can also be used for defrosting & reheating. To rejuvenate last night’s left over take away, just pop it in the steam oven & it will come out as good as when it was freshly cooked. If you have any bread that’s several days old & starting to get hard just pop it in the steam oven & it will come out as fresh as the day it was baked.
Combination steam ovens are also becoming very popular. Combination steam ovens combine the benefits of hot air/convection cooking with the benefits of steam cooking. For roasting meats nothing cooks like a combination steam oven. These inject steam into the cavity during the cooking process which means roasts come out juicy & tender on the inside & crispy & brown on the outside. It’s no surprise that the best restaurants only use combination steam ovens to roast the meats they serve.
Steam ovens can be used as a normal hot air/convection oven
It’s also worth remembering that buying a combination steam oven doesn’t mean you always have to cook using steam, They can also be used as a traditional hot air/convection oven as and when required. Also, unlike steam ovens, combination steam ovens offer the added benefit of being available in a standard 60cm oven size. Therefore, for around £200 more than the price of a single multifunction oven, you can buy a combination steam oven instead. This is particularly useful for small kitchens where there is no additional space for a second oven.
Pictured below: Neff’s 60cm ‘Aqua Assist’ ovens feature a simple pop out water reservoir that’s quick & easy to fill
Below: Zanussi’s ZOS37902XD 60cm combination steam oven that benefits from a massive 74 litre capacity
Below: AEG’s KS8400501M 45cm combination steam oven which features a 46 litre capacity & 4 cooking levels
Steam cooking costs less
The other benefit of steam cooking over conventional cooking is it uses far less electricity. This is why steam ovens do not need to have an energy rating. This means that by choosing to buy a steam oven you are making a sound eco & financial choice.
It’s worth pointing out that steam ovens operate in different ways. Many steam ovens are fully plumbed-in. The advantage of fully plumbed-in models are that they produce a continuous flow of fresh steam to the cavity. However, fully plumbed-in models do have their disadvantages. They tend to use a lot of water. They also need to be located close to the plumbing in the kitchen.
The alternative to plumbed-in models are self contained steam ovens. These have removable water reservoirs that can quickly & easily be re-filled by the user under the tap. The advantages of self contained steam ovens is they use much less water than plumbed-in models & they can be located practically anywhere in the kitchen.
Pictured Below: A 45cm steam oven with removable water reservoir
So, whether you choose a stand alone steam oven or a combination steam oven either in a 45cm height or 60cm height, it’s clear that steam cooking really has come into its own in recent years.
How about a steam oven & microwave combined?
If you toiling between buying a compact steam oven or a compact microwave Miele have the answer. The Miele DGM 6800 can be used as a steam oven or a microwave.
Pictured Below: The DGM 6800 from Miele is both a steam oven & microwave
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For more information, check out the following manufacturer websites – Zanussi, AEG, CDA, Neff, Miele
