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The Savvy Shopper Issue #2: Gettin' Steamy in the Kitchen - Steam & Convection Steam Ovens 



Steam Ovens 101: What are steam ovens and how do they work?

Cooking with steam is hardly a new technique. Steamers were being used as far back as 5000BC and their modern-day cousins have been used in commercial kitchens by high-profile chefs for decades. In recent years steam ovens have started catching the eye of home cooks, too, especially those keen to make healthy and convenient everyday recipes.

What are the benefits of cooking with steam?

There are many reasons you may want to consider a steam oven, here are a few.

1) 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.

2) 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.

3) Better reheating results than microwaves - Steam can reheat your leftovers evenly and without drying out your food and ruining the texture

4) 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. Parents can even disinfect baby bottles very quickly in a steam oven.

OUR PICK: Miele PureLine SensorTronic Series 24" Single Electric Steam Wall Oven
1.3 cu. ft. Capacity, MultiSteam Technology, MasterChef Automatic Programs, LED Lighting and Stainless Steel Accessories: PureLine Handle. LEARN MORE HERE: https://www.mountainhighappliance.com/cooking/ovens/electric-single-ovens/DG6600CLEANTOUCHSTEEL/


How does a steam oven 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, but water is a much better conductor of heat than air.

You may be thinking, will my food come out soggy cooking with steam? 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. Enter, Combination Convection Steam Ovens

Convection Steam Ovens: How do they work?

Thankfully, a convection steam oven, which uses both steam and dry heat, provides the same health benefits but with a little extra heat. 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. 


OUR PICK: Miele PureLine SensorTronic Series 24" Single Electric Steam Oven with European Convection
European Convection, MultiSteam, Convection Broil, Browning and Top Bake, Temperature Probe, XL Cavity. LEARN MORE HERE: https://www.mountainhighappliance.com/cooking/ovens/electric-single-ovens/DGC65001CLEANTOUCHSTEEL/

How does a convection steam oven work?

Steam ovens are popular among cooks who have a special interest in preparing healthy meals,” according to Emily Bencic, at Austrailia’s GoodFood. “Heat from the oven turns the water into steam, and food tends to retain more vitamins and minerals than food that is boiled.” 

A true convection oven uses a cal-rod heating element that is wrapped around a fan,” says Michael Bizzaco of Digital Trends. “The heating element heats up, and the fan pushes the hot air around the oven cavity, basically to prevent hot spots. The reason why convection is more effective is because the forced hot air feels more intense. At higher temperatures, you can get a better oven sear in less time, as the fan helps excess moisture evaporate.”

A convection steam oven uses both of these methods. Steam gives you a healthy cooking option, while the convection mode allows you to hit higher temperatures and brown meats. Some ovens, such as the Miele Convection Steam Oven highlighted below, use digital sensors to determine how much steam or dry heat is needed, then seamlessly switches between these two methods to give you a perfect cook.

Final thoughts: A convection steam oven gives you the best of both worlds. Cooking with steam ensures that your meals are juicy and vitamin-rich, while the circulating heat speeds up the oven time and provides an evenly cooked meal.

BONUS! SEE OUR FAVORITE STEAM COOKING RECIPES HERE. ENJOY!
https://www.pinterest.com/mtnhighapp/the-best-steam-and-combi-steam-oven-recipes-ever/

Have questions about steam and combination steam ovens? Ask us! 
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Sources: digitaltrends.com, mieleusa.com, goodfood.com, designerappliances.com