Steam ovens are quickly becoming a must-have in modern kitchens, revolutionising the way we cook and enjoy our meals. Whether you’re a health-conscious home cook, a time-strapped family, or an avid baker, steam ovens provide an innovative approach to cooking that enhances flavour, saves time, and promotes healthier eating.
Wondering if a steam oven is right for you? Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of steam ovens, how they work, and two standout steam ovens that can elevate your cooking experience.
What is Steam Cooking?
Steam cooking harnesses the power of hot water turned into steam to cook food evenly and gently. Unlike traditional cooking methods that may rely on excessive oils or fats, steam cooking preserves the integrity of your ingredients—ensuring vibrant flavours, textures, and nutrients.
Steam ovens combine traditional and steam-based cooking methods, offering versatility that extends to nearly every dish imaginable. From perfecting roast chicken to enhancing baked goods like bread and pastries, steam ovens open up endless possibilities for exploring your culinary creativity.
Five Key Benefits of Steam Ovens
Retains Food’s Nutrients
Health is the top priority for many of us, and steam ovens deliver by preserving vital nutrients like vitamins and minerals in your food. This is especially important when cooking fresh produce, where traditional boiling or frying may result in nutrient loss. Steam cooking ensures your meals are packed with goodness.
Enhances Flavour without Oils or Fats
Because steam cooking uses gentle heat, the food retains its natural colours, flavours, and textures without the need for excess oils or fats. Roast meats like chicken or lamb come out juicy and succulent, while fish and vegetables maintain their bright, fresh profiles. It’s the perfect way to enjoy healthier meals with zero compromise on taste.
Supports Baking Perfection
For baking enthusiasts, steam ovens are a game-changer. Using steam alongside baking helps keep baked goods soft, moist, and with a crisp, golden crust. From fluffy bread to delicate pastries, steam ovens ensure your creations look and taste as good as those from a professional bakery.
Reduces Cooking Time
Steam ovens work faster than traditional boiling methods, saving valuable time and energy. Whether you’re steaming vegetables or preparing a quick fish fillet, a steam oven will have your meal ready in no time.
Versatility in Cooking
A steam oven’s versatility is unmatched. It’s suitable for a wide range of foods like vegetables, meats, fish, dumplings, pasta, bread, cakes, and desserts. Whether you’re steaming chicken, regenerating leftovers, or preparing sous vide dishes, a steam oven has you covered.
Meet Two Revolutionary Steam Ovens
If you’re ready to transform the way they cook, here are two incredible steam ovens that bring cutting-edge technology and design into your kitchen:
The Smeg 60cm Built-In Combi Steam Oven is a masterpiece of innovation and style. Featuring Steam100 Pro technology, this oven combines steam, traditional cooking, and advanced features such as Air-Fry and Sous Vide for perfect results. Its Fill&Hide water re-fill system allows you to add water without interrupting the cooking process, ensuring seamless operation.
With 20 cooking functions, over 150 automatic programs, and precise touch controls, this Smeg Combi Steam Oven makes cooking intuitive and enjoyable. From grilling vegetables to creating artisanal pizzas with its optional stone accessory, this Smeg Oven ensures every dish turns out beautifully. Its stylish Neptune Grey Glass finish completes any modern kitchen aesthetic.
Key Features:
Versatile steam options for healthy, flavourful dishes.
Includes functions such as AirFry, BBQ, and multi-step cooking.
Soft-close door and Vapour Clean system for added safety and convenience.
Whether you’re a casual cook or a culinary enthusiast, this Smeg 60cm Combi Steam Oven elevates every meal, delivering restaurant-quality results.
Sleek, functional, and packed with innovation, this Fisher & Paykel Built-in Combi-Steam Oven offers unparalleled versatility with its 23 cooking functions. With options ranging from steam-only to convection, this oven brings healthy and delicious meals to your table effortlessly. The AeroTech™ and ActiveVent technologies ensure even cooking and optimal moisture levels, ideal for roasts, pastries, and sous vide preparations.
The oven’s 5″ guided touchscreen makes it simple to select cooking methods and recipes, while steam functions allow you to preserve food’s natural juices, nutrients, and flavours. Finished with a minimal Black Glass design, this oven is the perfect addition to contemporary kitchens, blending seamlessly with Fisher & Paykel companion appliances for a cohesive aesthetic.
Key Features:
Steam functions including sous vide for precise cooking.
Guided cooking via touchscreen for step-by-step instructions.
AeroTech™ for consistent temperature and ActiveVent for moisture optimisation.
From everyday meals to special occasions, this Fisher & Paykel Combi-Steam Oven takes the guesswork out of cooking while delivering extraordinary results.
Steam ovens aren’t just appliances—they’re lifestyle upgrades that enhance your cooking experience and your health. Whether you want to cook healthier meals, explore new techniques in baking, or simply save time while preparing delicious dishes, steam ovens are the ultimate kitchen companion.
Steam ovens use steam to cook food, which helps retain moisture, nutrients, and flavours. Traditional ovens, on the other hand, primarily rely on dry heat, which can sometimes result in drier food. Steam ovens also enable unique cooking techniques like sous-vide and are typically faster for certain recipes such as roasting and cooking vegetables.
Yes, steam ovens are excellent for baking. The moisture from the steam ensures bread develops a perfect crust and soft interior, while cakes and pastries come out tender and evenly baked.
Steam ovens are energy-efficient appliances as they often cook food faster and at lower temperatures compared to traditional ovens. Their energy usage is comparable to or even less than standard ovens, depending on the cooking process.
Yes, combi steam ovens are designed with versatility in mind. By combining steaming, baking, and convection in a single appliance, they save space and eliminate the need for multiple kitchen gadgets, making them ideal for compact kitchens.
Not at all. Most modern steam ovens, like the Fisher & Paykel and Smeg Combi Steam Ovens, come with self-cleaning functions or easy-to-wipe surfaces. Since steam cooking doesn’t produce as much grease, maintaining cleanliness is generally easier than with traditional ovens.
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