The steam ovens might be new to the market, but they have already become one of the most popular choices among homeowners. This is primarily because of the healthier food and fresher texture without asking to redo the groceries. However, just like other appliances, it has its shortcomings, which is why we are talking about steam oven pros and cons with you!
What Is A Steam Oven?
The steam ovens are designed to cook food with the help of steam (nope, it doesn’t use hot air). In addition, it’s an apt option for reheating food more efficiently as compared to convection ovens and microwaves, which makes it a great two-in-one option. While it’s perfect for a kitchen on its own, many people connect it with other already installed ovens to increase the cooking power and range. So, if this oven has caught your interest, let’s check out the ins and outs!
Steam Ovens Pros And Cons
Pros
When it comes down to the pros, the steam ovens are loaded with them, and that’s the ultimate reason behind the popularity. To begin with, the steam ovens are designed to work with the cooking mechanism similar to the pressure cooker, as it cooks food with heat and moisture. As a result, the steam oven is likely to cook food quicker than regular ovens. To illustrate, it can cook food 30x quicker, which is a great amount of time actually.
The second advantage is the healthy food, which makes it a suitable choice for people who are trying to eat healthily but don’t want extensive cooking processes. For instance, it uses steam to cook food, which means the nutrients will be saved and won’t be killed due to higher temperatures. Moreover, it doesn’t need oil or butter for cooking the food. Even more, it makes all the healthy food without drying it out.
The third advantage of using a steam oven is the better food flavor. Honestly, it might sound subjective, but it actually locks in the nutrients. Similarly, it has the capacity of locking in the flavors, and the presence of nutrients also improves the overall flavor and taste of the food. Another benefit of using steam ovens is that they can cook various food items, including different types of meat, fruits, vegetables, and seafood, without ruining the texture.
In fact, if you have a straight steam oven, it can be used to make rice, curries, pasta, casseroles, porridge, scrambled eggs, fish, soups, and more. On the other hand, when you combine it with other ovens in the kitchen, you will be able to make pastries, bread, cakes, and pasta bakes. On top of everything, if you are someone who likes to food different dishes at once, the steam oven will ensure that the dishes are evenly cooked, and there won’t be any transfer of flavor and taste.
Furthermore, for those who aren’t aware, a steam oven can be utilized for reheating food in addition to cooking food from scratch. Even more, it reheats the food without drying it out or killing the nutrients.
Cons
While there are tons of benefits of a steam oven, there are some cons that must be considered while investing in these advanced ovens. First of all, the steam ovens are expensive, and it’s a sticking point for many of us. Honestly, a separate steam oven won’t cost too much, but if you want to create a combination system, expect to pay a larger sum for it. On the other hand, if you already have a convection oven and it can be connected to the steam oven, it will be affordable.
Secondly, you must consider the size because the steam ovens are huge (yes, even the smallest sizes might be too big for your apartment). Also, these ovens require regular cleaning because it creates steam, and the ingredients often leave their extracts within the oven. For this reason, you will have to invest time in cleaning the oven, but if you have money to invest in high-end ovens, they might come with self-cleaning features.
Last but not least, the steam ovens aren’t very straightforward as our regular ovens. While the features are the same, you will have to experiment with timing and temperature to get the right results.