A quick guide to Steam Ovens
Most people know that cooking with steam is great for vegetables but Steam Ovens are actually far more versatile with pretty much the only thing you can’t cook being popcorn.
With all the big manufacturers producing Steam Ovens in their ranges you would be wise to consider one when you choose your new fitted kitchen as they are increcibly versatile and are one of those gadgets that once you have tried them you will be converted !
You can buy integrated, plumbed in Steam Ovens through to counter-top ovens similiar to a microwave which hold the water in a resovoir which you top up before use. Temperatures of steam ovens vary. Different systems can cook food at temperatures of 212 to more than 572 degrees Fahrenheit (100 to more than 300 degrees Celsius). Cooking a chicken in a steam oven set to 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius) would take about 20 minutes to cook rather than the two hours it’d take in a traditional oven.
Steam oven manufacturers claim that their ovens not only reduce cooking time, but also lower the fat content of food. Dry heat cooking tends to rely on added fat to keep meats from drying out. With steam, meat needs no supplementary fat, and will definitely not be dry because of the constant injections of steam. Steam cooking also retains more vitamins than other cooking methods and is therefore touted as a far healthier way of preparing foods.
Steam ovens are also praised for preserving the flavor of baked foods. This is due largely to the very quick time in which food can be prepared. Consumers who have used a steam oven support this claim.
A steam oven cannot brown items, and this may be one drawback for people considering the purchase of one. Most meat needs to be grilled or browned prior to cooking in the oven, or the result is a rather pallid-appearing meat, much like meat cooked in the microwave. Breads or pies cooked by steam will also appear quite pale, and may need to be browned in a conventional oven. This drawback results in an extra step and extra time added to the cooking process.
Some oven suppliers have combined steam with convection. The convection process employs a fan to circulate the steam around items being cooked. This increases the speed of cooking time but does not aid in browning foods.
Though the term “oven” suggests that one can only bake with a steam oven, manufacturers also recommend using the steam oven for quickly preparing pasta or soup, or even for sterilizing baby bottles. A new product based on an ancient theme in cooking, the steam oven may well be poised to become the next great kitchen appliance.
