Steam cooking is one of the best cooking methods that preserve the nutrients and vitamins of the food you are preparing. This article will discuss what a steam oven is and the best steaming ovens for home. Keep reading!
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What Is A Steam Oven
A steam oven uses hot steam instead of hot air to cook food. It harnesses hot pressurized steam, unlike the dry heat from an electric oven. But how does this oven generate steam?
A convention steamer oven is fitted with a water reservoir that you can fill manually. Alternatively, you can have it hooked up to your plumbing system, and as science dictates, the water turns into steam when heated.
Getting an upscale model that you can connect directly to your water line saves you from worrying about refilling the reservoir now and then. However, most steam ovens don’t require special hookups. Plug it in, fill the reservoir, and start cooking, just like a regular oven.
It introduces a new level of cooking into our home and can reheat food more effectively than microwaves. Combi steam ovens are increasingly becoming popular and have become an essential appliance in the modern kitchen. They are literally picking up steam in the recent past.
A steam convection oven works by siphoning water from a small reservoir into an in-built boiler. The boiler heats the water to about 212 degrees Fahrenheit and converts it into steam which is released into the oven. The superheated steam effectively cooks food as it circulates and is even faster.
Best Steam Ovens For Home
Types Of Steam Ovens
There are various types of steam ovens. One type of steamer will suit you better than the other, depending on your preferences, kitchen size, and the food you like to cook. Here are the main types of steam ovens.
Combination Steam Oven
A combi-steam oven combines a regular and a steam oven to offer full multifunctional oven capabilities. This oven is perfect for your daily cooking needs, such as roasting and baking. Furthermore, you can use it for cooking delicious steamed dishes.
A combination steam oven is the most flexible and versatile of steam ovens. They offer the benefits of a steamer with convectional functionality wrapped into one attractive package.
Microwave Steam Oven
A microwave steam oven combines the power of steaming with the convenience and power of microwave cooking. It results in tender and moist dishes without compromising on their natural nutrients.
It is easy to place a steam microwave oven wherever you like, and it comfortably sits on a tabletop. Built-in models are available and will fit into your cabinetry seamlessly and resemble regular built-in ovens.
Countertop Steam Oven
Countertop steam ovens are smaller versions of a range of steam ovens found in most kitchens today. A counter steam oven offers the benefits and capabilities of a full-sized steam oven in a convenient compact size that comfortably fits on your countertop.
Built-in Steam Oven
Unlike a countertop steamer oven, a built-in is fixed to cupboard doors or installed into kitchen cabinets. Built-in steam engines are usually wide, just like the standard kitchen units.
What Features To Look For In A Steam Oven
There are several factors to consider before choosing your steam oven. They include:
Cooking Programs
Most steam ovens have multiple automatic cooking programs that save you from having to peer through the oven window frequently. The program allows you to adjust the temperature and cooking time, and the oven will take care of the rest. You can choose an option depending on the food you are cooking.
Size
When deciding between different steam ovens, pay attention to the capacity. You will also have to consider the space available in the kitchen and the size of the family.
Oven Accessories
You may benefit from having steam oven accessories, such as cooking trays, that come with your oven. This will save you from having to purchase them separately.
Budget
The cost of the steam oven is a significant point of consideration. However, cheaper steam ovens may have fewer programs and accessories and be small in size. Therefore, you have to find a perfect balance between your ideal features and the price.
Is A Steam Oven Worth It?
If you want to live a healthy lifestyle, eating the right food is essential. Steaming is one of the best cooking methods that effectively preserves nutrients and vitamins.
Traditionally, people used a food steamer, but today you can use various appliances to perfect your steam cooking. A steam combi oven is an excellent addition to your kitchen. Apart from preserving nutrients and humidity, it prevents the food from drying out.
As a result, you get testier dishes with a juicier and tender texture. In addition, steamed foods are richer in colors and contain the original flavor.
Unlike other cooking methods like frying and boiling, you do not introduce foreign elements into your dishes. A steam oven brings out the best in your food without seasoning.
Steaming also speeds up cooking times by up to 20 percent, a bonus for busy kitchens.
What Can You Make In A Steam Oven
You can basically cook anything, from meats, fish, vegetables, rice, pasta, bread, and desserts to dumplings in a steam oven. Depending on your model, you can use a steam-only mode or switch to a conventional mode without steam.
A steam oven also allows you to pull some food hacks. For example, you can place a bunch of veggies like pumpkins, potatoes, zucchini, and corn on different trays in the oven and cook them once. However, such a hack depends on the size and model of your oven.
Best Steam Ovens For Home
We have rounded the best steam ovens you can purchase for your home. Here are our top picks.
Anova Steam Oven Combination Countertop Oven
This stem combination oven is ideal for any kind of cooking, from steaming, crisping, and air frying to roasting. The controlled steam injection delivers delicious sourdough loaves and bright veggies.
The Anova countertop steamer oven is a perfect fit for any kitchen. It has an easy-fill water reservoir and requires no external plumbing.
FOTILE Chefcubii Convection Steam Combi Oven
This FOTILE 4-in-1 steam oven combo offers versatility with its precise and wide-range temperature control that fulfills any cooking needs. It is a multifunctional oven that allows you to steam, bake, air fry, and dehydrate.
Over 40 reset menus allow you to cook effortlessly with just one touch of a button. A precise moisture control ensures uniform heating and keeps our food tender, juicer, and flavorful.
Whynter 40 Quart Counter-Top Convection Steam Oven
This is a countertop convection steamer oven with an extra-large capacity enough to fit a whole turkey. A large water reservoir allows the longest steaming program. Additionally, it has an adjustable temperature range of 85 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and a preset time of up to 24 hours.
It is a multi-functional oven that allows you to pre-heat, air fry, steam, bake, dehydrate, and roast. A dynamic steaming and heating convection system create optimal oven circulation heat.
Tovala Gen 2 Smart Countertop Steam Oven
If you are looking for a hi-tech countertop steam oven with cutting-edge technology, this Tovala Gen 2 Smart oven is for you. It is a WiFi oven with smartphone-controlled programs. You simply the cooking time and mode from your phone.
Five cooking modes allow you to steam, reheat, broil, bake, and toast. You can scan the barcodes on groceries to cook them perfectly with just a touch of a button.
BALMUDA Steam Oven Toaster
This steam oven toaster comes with five cooking modes to make artisan bread, sandwich bread, pizza, and pastry. A thin layer of steam covers the bread and lightly toasts its surface while preventing its flavor and inner moisture from escaping.
Precise temperature control with three zones creates superb texture and flavor contrasts: savory and crisp on the surface but fluffy and moist inside.
F.BLUMLEIN Countertop Steam Oven 26 Qt
This countertop steam oven allows you to customize your cooking with top and bottom heating elements that can be independently set to different temperatures. You can use this feature for cooking each dish at an even temperature when preparing several dishes.
This oven is large enough to cook a 10-inch pizza, a whole six-pound chicken, two dozens of chicken wings, or six slices of toast.
Cuisinart Convection Steam Oven
This tabletop convection steam engine has a specialized bread proofing technology that bakes bread better and faster. It cooks up to 40 percent quicker than conventional ovens.
It is large enough to cook a 12-inch pizza or a whole 4.5-pound chicken. A sizable removable water reservoir allows up to two hours of steady, uninterrupted steam.
Finding a steam oven is a great idea if you enjoy cooking healthy meals at home. This article will help you find the best steaming oven.
For other ways to make cooking at home easier, check out our recommendations for air fryer recipes that are healthy.
FAQs – Steam Ovens For Home
If you are looking to cook healthier food, are short on time, and love cooking, then yes, steam ovens are absolutely worth it. Along with air fryers and Instant Pots, steam ovens have become the “must-have” kitchen appliance. And there’s a good reason. Steam ovens have made cooking healthier so much easier. They help food retain all the vital nutrients and minerals we need. So if you are looking to cook healthier, then owning a stem oven is worth it.
While stream ovens are a great addition to the kitchen, there are some drawbacks. Steam ovens won’t brown food like chicken or turkey. They are, at least for now, an expensive kitchen appliance to purchase. If you are limited on kitchen space, a countertop steam oven will take up a lot of space.
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