Steam ovens are a great choice for people looking to prepare quick and healthy meals
and side dishes.
Besides offering time saving benefits, today's steam ovens are also a great alternative to
microwave cooking.
In this video we'll talk about the benefits of cooking with steam and give you our tops
brands to consider in 2019.
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What is a steam oven and how does it work
A steam oven looks like a typical oven you'll see in many homes.
However, instead of using a heating element for cooking, a steam oven brings water to
a boiling hot 212 degrees (the point at which water turns to steam), injecting a moist heat
into the oven cavity.
While 212 degrees might not seem that hot (especially when you are used to cooking at
400 degrees using a traditional style oven) water is a much better conductor of heat than
air.
As an example, i'm sure you've reached your hand into a 400 degree oven to pull out a
baking sheet without injury.
However I highly recommend you don't stick your hand in a 212 degree pot of boiling water
even for half a second.
Where does the water come from?
There are two different ways to provide water to the steam oven, either with a refillable
water reservoir, like a Keurig coffee machine, or a plumbed water line directly to the unit.
If you are designing a new kitchen we highly recommend the plumbed option as this will
help you avoid the hassle of having to refill the water tank.
Customer's often ask us, will my food come out soggy?
One of the drawbacks of steam cooking is you will not be able to get crispy, browned results.
Browning typically happens at temperatures over 300 degrees and steam ovens only heat
up to 212.
While this may be fine for some dishes, like vegetables or delicate fish, items like chicken
may be lacking in flavor and texture.
To combat this, many manufacturers now offer combination convection steam ovens.
These ovens combine a traditional heating element and steam oven into one unit.
The end result is the best of both worlds, quickly cooked moist foods with a crispy exterior.
These ovens have programs that automatically switch from steam to convection heat, or you
can cook exclusively with steam or exclusively with convection.
What are the benefits of cooking with steam
There are many reasons you may want to consider a steam oven, here are a few.
Healthier, more nutrient dense food - Cooking with high temperatures in a traditional oven
can destroy heat sensitive nutrients, such as vitamin c and folate.
Steam helps retain these valuable nutrients.
No need to use fatty oils - Since steam provides a naturally moist cooking environment, you
won't need to incorporate oils into your cooking, keeping calorie count lower.
Better reheating results than microwaves - Steam can reheat your leftovers evenly and without
drying out your food and ruining the texture Save time on preheating and cooking - Since
the oven cavity is smaller than a traditional oven, preheat time is much quicker.
Also, as we mentioned, steam is a much better conductor of temperature than air and therefore
cooks much faster.
For example, a serving of Salmon that would typically take 20 minutes to cook in an oven
at 400 only takes 5-8 minutes using steam.
Here are our top steam oven picks for 2019
For most customers, we recommend Miele Steam ovens as our top pick
Miele is a leader in many different kitchen appliance categories, not the least of which
is steam ovens.
Miele pioneered the transition of steam ovens into residential use back in the 1980's.
Now Miele offers the largest line-up of steam ovens in terms of sizes, finishes and functionality.
While they have a modern appearance, Miele appliances look great and timeless in all
kitchen types, from contemporary to traditional.
The main reason we love Miele's steam ovens is their ease of use.
Steam cooking may feel intimidating at first, however Miele makes it easy to incorporate
steam into your everyday cooking.
With Miele's MasterChef system, you'll get over 100 pre-programmed recipes, so you don’t
need to worry about setting the time or temperature before cooking.
With the intuitive M-Touch touch screen display, simply select the food type, portion size
and temperature without any guesswork.
Our go to Miele steam oven is the DGC 6705-1 XL Combi-Steam Oven.
This oven features both steam and convection cooking and features the M-Touch display and
MasterChef programs we mentioned before.
This is one of the few ovens on the market that allows you to choose between either a
water reservoir or a plumbed water line connection for added convenience.
With it's XL cavaity it also has one of the largest ovens on the market to feature steam.
Looking for even more capacity?
Check out Miele's XXL Combi-Steam Ovens.
These ovens offer the most flexibility for larger dishes.
All XXL models also have a broiler giving you 3 ways to cook (steam, convection or broil).
Even at XXL however, Miele is still only 24" wide which may be smaller than most pre-existing
oven cavities.
If don't have the flexibility to design your kitchen around a steam check out Thermador.
Thermador is a great option for customers looking to fill an existing 30 inch cavity
or want an upgrade when it comes to capacity.
From evenly defrosting and baking to proofing and reheating, there’s no underestimating
what Thermador Steam Convection Ovens can help you achieve.
With its impressive extra-large 2.8 cu ft, 30 inch wide cavity space, you’ll have the
ability to cook a 14 pound turkey in just 90 minutes while achieving the most impressive
taste, texture, and quality seen in competitors.
Its true convection, steam convection and broil element give you some of the widest
culinary possibilities.
It also includes 17 specialized heating modes including roast, defrost and reheat, and with
If you’re looking for easy installation, you won’t need specialized plumbing for
these models since they use a water reservoir versus other steam ovens.
Design wise, you can install them fully flush with your cabinets giving you a seamless kitchen
design.
This was a main sticking point for many designers as the previous version of the product was
not meant for flush installations.
Thermador also incorporated steam ovens in their double convection oven configurations
to address the needs of customers who would like to maintain healthy cooking habits.
These thermador steam ovens are available in stainless steel and in two styles, the
professional which has a more commercial look with sleek control knobs, digital control
panel and 3 telescopic racks.
And the Masterpiece which has a tubular handle and minimalistic control panel.
If the automated cooking modes of Miele were of interest to you, then Wolf steam ovens
should also be on your radar
Wolf is synonymous for their iconic lineup of ranges featuring red knobs.
Their distinctively designed appliances are a staple in high-end kitchens around the world.
In addition to ranges, Wolf also manufacturers some of the best wall ovens and cooktops.
Their convection steam oven lineup was recently redesigned in 2018 and features their exclusive
Gourmet Chef mode.
Simply select the food type, and the oven will automatically detect the volume, shape,
and consistency of your food with a climate sensor that adjusts time, temperature, and
humidity for guesswork-free delicious results, every time.
Wolf realizing that you aren't buying just an appliance... you are buying into a lifestyle,
and they continually publish new recipes to help you make the most of your appliance.
We hope this video has given you a starting point when it comes to selecting the best
steam oven for your home.
For more information, a visit to our store is well worth your time.
We'll walk you through all of the available steam oven options while giving you exclusive
money saving deals.
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