Steaming is one of the most effective ways to prepare hearty, scrumptious meals at home. If you are keen on creating delicious, healthy, and convenient recipes, steaming is one of your best cooking methods.
What is the difference between a steam oven and an oven?A steam oven cooks food using steam heat, preserving moisture, vitamins, and minerals, offering a healthier cooking method that prevents drying out. On the other hand, a conventional oven uses dry heat, ideal for baking and roasting, creating crispy textures and browning. Furthermore, steam ovens excel in gentle cooking, while traditional ovens are versatile for various dishes. |
Are steam ovens worth it?
Over the years, we've discovered a number of exciting recipes to prepare with a steam oven. Thus, we can confidently say that this excellent appliance is worth investing in to achieve your best cooking experience despite your hectic lifestyle.
We will walk you through the basics of a steam oven and give you some tips on spotting the best steam oven for your kitchen.
Let’s begin.
What is a Steam Oven?
A steam oven looks like a convectional oven at a glance. As its name suggests, this kitchen appliance uses steam to cook. This is different from other oven types that use heat to bake, grill, and cook food.
How Does a Steam Oven Work?
Generally, steam ovens contain a water reservoir syphoned into a boiler to produce highly heated steam for cooking. A steam oven is a very handy appliance that you can automatically use after filling up the tank. Some bigger steam ovens can even be connected to the water line, removing the need to refill the container before use.
What Makes a Steam Oven Different?
Like a traditional oven, a steam oven can also accomplish different recipes. But here’s the catch: Steam ovens offer a healthier way to cook meals without the use of excess oils and fats. With the help of steam, this type of oven helps lock in the moisture from your food, including its natural flavours, texture, and colour. This eliminates the need to use oil, preventing the food from drying out while cooking. This also locks in the vitamins and minerals to give you the best nutritional value for every serving.
Ideally, a steam oven can cook various types of meat, vegetables, pasta, baked goods, our favourite rice, and more recipes than a standard oven can do. It can also reheat leftover foods without the risk of dehydration.
Steam ovens generally work faster than many other oven types, which makes them a good solution for people with fast-paced lifestyles. The downside is that they can only reach a certain level of heat to produce steam. This means that foods that require higher levels of heating may cook slower in a steam oven. If you cook at higher temperatures, we recommend buying a combination steam oven with convection functions.
What is a Combination Steam Oven [Combi Steam Oven]?
A combi steam oven offers the functions of a steam and a convection oven in a single kitchen appliance. This allows you to steam meals while achieving recipes that require a higher temperature. This means that you can enjoy your perfectly roasted recipes with the ideal amount of juiciness and moisture. This wholesome combination is great for all cooking ventures, with promising quick-cooking functions that are generally four times faster than traditional cooking.
In addition to their innovative cooking and baking functions, combi steam ovens are also easy to clean with their automatic steam cleaning system, which not only gets rid of residual spills and oils but also tackles bacteria and other contaminants. Premium combination steam and convection ovens are made with an easy-to-clean exterior that you can easily wipe clean after every use.
What is a Built In Steam Oven?
A built-in steam oven is an integrated appliance that cooks food using steam, seamlessly fitting into kitchen cabinetry for a sleek, space-saving design.
What to Look for When Buying a Steam Oven
Size
Steam ovens and combination ovens come in a variety of sizes. The best steam oven depends on your cooking and baking needs and kitchen size. You may choose a compact steam oven or a built-in oven with a larger capacity. Answer these questions to get your best steam oven size:
- Do you cook for a small or larger family?
- How often do you cook in your oven?
- Do you entertain guests often?
- Is your kitchen spacious enough for a built-in steam oven?
- What is your budget?
Water Container Volume
A steam oven with a larger water reservoir is ideal, especially when cooking in large batches, as it requires less frequent filling. When buying an oven, make sure that the water tank is accessible and can be refilled or replaced without opening the oven door.
Oven Features
When shopping for a steam oven, it’s worth looking for some special features like safety heating suspension when the door is opened, child-lock features, self-cleaning features, preheat and self-timer settings, descaling programmes, and various cooking functions.
Price
With all the quick and healthy cooking benefits of a steam oven, the appliance can generally be pricier than standard oven types. However, this cost is worthwhile if you opt for a fast-cooking solution that yields healthier results with a lower risk of overcooking. Having a steam oven at home also means that you don’t need to buy a separate microwave oven, as it can do many functions with its compact look. Considering their price, the decision highly depends on how much you value the versatility and functionality of your appliance in line with your cooking and entertaining demands.
Are Steam Ovens Only for Professionals?
Steam Oven Singapore [Quick Steam Oven Reviews]Toshiba Steam Oven: The Toshiba steam oven impresses with its technological sophistication and consistent cooking results. It offers a range of settings for various dishes, ensuring that food retains moisture, flavor, and nutrients. Its user-friendly interface and efficient energy consumption make it a top choice for health-conscious cooks looking for convenience and quality. Toyomi Steam Oven: Toyomi's steam oven stands out for its affordability and compact design, making it ideal for smaller kitchens or those on a budget. While it may lack some of the advanced features of higher-end models, it performs reliably for basic steam cooking tasks. It's a great entry-level option that doesn't compromise on the benefits of steam cooking. |
With all of the promises made about a steam oven, you might think that this appliance is only for professional chefs. The truth is that a steam oven is for everyone! Whether you are your household’s home chef or just starting to explore the kitchen, a steam oven is a helpful and handy appliance that can help you achieve various meals in a quick span of time. Enjoy flavorful meals without burnt bottoms and mushy textures!
Ready to buy a new steam oven? Complete your lovely kitchen with innovative ovens online at Megafurniture! Explore our online collection to find the best oven in Singapore for the best price and discover your new-found love for cooking.