Buying a Steam Oven

Tray of veg in a steam oven

Everything you need to know before buying a steam oven

Steam ovens are often the overlooked child of the oven family, despite being a great addition to your home. Although they’re not always at the forefront of people’s minds when shopping for an oven, when people do buy one, they never look back.

Steam has been used to cook food as early as the 18th Century. It wasn’t until affordable steam ovens were introduced in the 90s that they started showing up in people’s homes. There are plenty of reasons to have steam ovens on your list of kitchen appliances. In this article, we explore everything you need to know before buying a steam oven.

Is it Worth Buying a Steam Oven?

So the first thing to consider is if a steam oven is worth it for your household.

Steam ovens have become popular for the unique way in which they cook food. Steam cooking comes with many benefits, including:

Enhanced Flavour and Nutritional Value

  • Cooking with steam means your food retains its colour, nutrients, texture and flavour. This is a big advantage over conventional ovens, where food can become soggy or lose nutritional value. A steam oven locks in all that goodness! It’s therefore safe to say that steam ovens are a healthier way of cooking.

Versatility

  • Steam ovens can be used to cook a huge variety of foods! They can be used to cook vegetables, meat, pasta, rice, seafood, and even desserts. With such a wide range of capabilities, you’ll always want to show off your abilities as a chef.

Baking

  • A steam oven is fantastic for baking. And yes, that includes cakes! Baking a cake with a steam oven helps it to retain moisture and flavour. In fact, steam baking means you can reduce the amount of butter or oil used in the recipe!

No Flavour Transfer

  • Flavour transfer is a thing of the past! You can cook as many different food items together as you want in a steam oven, without the flavours transferring over to each other.

Easy to Clean

  • Many people ask us if steam ovens are hard to clean. But all you have to do is wipe away moisture in a steam oven. No more tough, greasy stains as no oils are needed. A simple wipe down will do!

Quicker Cook Times

  • Quicker cook times. For certain dishes, steam cooking is often quicker than conventional ovens. For instance, small cuts of meat will cook quicker in a steam oven, but large cuts won’t. However, this also depends on the type of steam oven you buy. Some can only reach 100°C, meaning it takes a long time to cook. But, some have convection features built into them, allowing them to cook a whole turkey in less than two hours!

Do professional chefs use steam ovens?

Many professional chefs use steam ovens to create flavourful dishes. Often they will use combi ovens that include a steam cooking function so that they also have the option of other cooking methods.

Can steam ovens replace regular ovens?

Yes, a steam oven can replace a regular oven! Because you can use a steam oven to cook all kinds of foods, including meat, vegetables, and pasta, a full steam oven can replace your conventional oven. However, we would recommend either having both or opting for a combi oven with a steam function. This gives you the option to steam whenever you want to, whilst also being able to cook browned and crispy dishes.

2 trays of whole peeled carrots covered in water droplets in a Miele steam oven

Why Buy a Steam Oven – What Are They Used For?

Steam ovens are used for a whole host of different foods. They can help your meat to reach new levels of tenderness, or your vegetables to keep their moisture, colour and nutrients. There are loads of steam oven recipes around! Here are a few ideas for inspiration:

Meat

Steam ovens are perfectly suited for cooking melt-in-your-mouth tender meat. For example, when you slow-cook chicken in a steam oven, it falls off the bone! Other meat that’s great for a steam oven include pork and beef.

Fish

Steam and fish are a match made it heaven. Fish already has a lot of positive health benefits, but cooking it in a steam oven means no loss in health value. It also cooks really quickly, making steamed fish ideal for a quick and easy dinner.

Vegetables

Steam ovens come into their element when it comes to cooking vegetables too. Cooking veggies in a steam oven locks in all those nutrients and textures. Vegetables should be making up a significant portion of your meals every day, so make sure you’re getting the most out of them with a steam oven.

Rice & Pasta

Rice and pasta also cook well in a steam oven. And you won’t have to worry about burning either of them! By using a steam oven, you’re able to get a good consistent cook throughout. And if you like your rice fluffy, you’ll love a steam oven.

Baking

You may be surprised to hear that steam ovens and baking go hand in hand. Because water conducts heat better than thin air, you get a much more thorough cook. Whether you’re baking a loaf of bread, a cake, or small treats, you’ll be thrilled with the results.

Steam Ovens vs Microwaves

Can steam ovens replace microwaves?

Yes! A steam oven has the potential to give your microwave a run for its money. It can reheat your meal to a far higher standard, albeit after a longer cooking time. A meal reheated in a microwave can lead to dry results. As per the nature of steam cooking, it will make your meal moist again (as if you have just cooked it).

However, a microwave can reheat your leftovers much quicker than a steam oven. So, although there are a lot of health benefits and the quality will be better, it does come at the cost of a longer cooking time.

Finally, steam ovens offer more versatility than microwaves. This makes it a worthy investment for your kitchen! Ultimately, the microwave can’t be beaten on speed and convenience, which is its main selling point. However, the steam oven has it beat in every other category. It may be worth considering having both in your kitchen if you can! Betting yet, you can look into buying a steam oven with a microwave function. So whether your dinner needs cooking in a steam oven or a quick blast in the microwave, you’re sorted!

FAQs

  • Can you use foil in a steam oven?

Yes, you can use foil to cover your food in a steam oven. Foil may be used to enhance moisture retention, prevent direct contact with steam, improve cooking consistency, or help with cleanup.

  • Do steam ovens get dirty?

Steam ovens can still become dirty, and will require a clean. However, many steam ovens come with a self-cleaning function, or coating to make cleaning easier.

  • How do steam ovens get water?

Most steam ovens have a container inside the oven cavity that you fill with water. This water is then injected into the cavity and turned into steam from the heat. Some steam ovens can be directly connected to a water supply, so you won’t need to add the water yourself.

  • Can you disinfect a baby bottle in a steam oven?

Yes, it is possible to disinfect your baby’s bottle in a steam oven. Some steam ovens, such as Miele, even have a dedicated setting for this. This can be done in 15 minutes at 100°C.

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