What is a steam oven?

Steam Ovens are an increasingly popular kitchen appliance. Not only do they include all the same features as a standard oven, but they also allow you to use the power of steam to cook food. It’s a method that can result in more flavourful and nutritious meals, whether you’re cooking, baking or reheating food.

But how exactly do steam ovens work? What can you cook in them? And are they easy to maintain? Our guide explains everything you need to know about steam ovens and their role in your kitchen while also

How do steam ovens work?

Steam ovens operate by transforming water from a built-in reservoir into steam. This steam is pushed into the oven cavity and circulates around your food, cooking it using moist heat. Unlike conventional ovens that rely on dry heat, steam ovens provide a gentler and more precise cooking method.

Why should you opt for a steam oven?

Investing in a steam oven offers many advantages, including quicker cooking times, high nutritional value and top-quality results.

 

  • Quicker cooking times

    Because steam ovens use a combination of heat and moisture to cook, they can prepare food faster than conventional ovens. Expect cooking times up to 50% faster with these appliances.

  • Cooks food more evenly

    AEG steam ovens include a feature known as SurroundCook. This technology circulates steam equally around the oven cavity, ensuring that your food cooks evenly. Thanks to the gentle, moist heat, the steaming process not only maintains juiciness and tenderness but also significantly reduces the risk of burning.

  • Locks in nutrients

    A major reason for the rise in popularity of steam ovens is their ability to preserve food’s nutritional value. When cooking with steam ovens, nutrients like vitamins C and B in vegetables remain intact because steaming uses gentle heat and minimal water. In contrast, boiling, baking or roasting at high temperatures can cause these nutrients to dissolve or be burnt away.

    Additionally, steaming helps retain cancer-fighting compounds known as glucosinolates and up to 90% of vegetables’ natural antioxidants.

What are steam ovens used for?

A steam oven is a versatile addition to any kitchen, allowing you to prepare a wide variety of foods. Here are some examples of what you can cook or bake:

  • Meat – Steam ovens are a meat lover’s dream. The gentle, moist heat ensures that meats retain their juiciness and flavour. There’s no need to add extra fat, and a lot of the fat is removed during steaming, making it a healthier cooking method.
  • Fish – Just like with meat, cooking fish in a steam oven preserves its tenderness and flavour. The result? Soft and succulent fish that’s bursting with taste.
  • Vegetables – When it comes to veggies, steam ovens shine. They keep vegetables flavourful while preserving essential minerals and vitamins better than the traditional boiling method.
  • Bread – Craving freshly baked bread? Steam ovens can be your secret weapon. The slow crust formation allows the dough to expand fully, resulting in a delightful, springy texture.
  • Pastries – Steam ovens are perfect for creating flaky, layered pastries. The moisture helps separate the layers, while high temperatures ensure a golden finish.

Learn more about how to fully utilise yoursteam oven in our comprehensive guide.

What are the best things to make with a steam oven?  

Looking for some steam cooker recipe inspiration? Look no further! Many recipes are perfect for a steam oven, including:

  • Roast chicken dinner

    Sunday dinners are only complete with a delicious roast chicken. Preparing this classic dish is simple using steam ovens. The gentle, moist heat ensures that the chicken is tender and juicy, while the vegetables retain their nutrients and flavour.

  • Cake

    Take your cake-making to the next level with a steam oven. The infusion of steam ensures even cooking, resulting in a soft and moist centre while also preserving all the flavours, colours and nutrients. Whether you’re baking a chocolate cake, a cheesecake or a classic Victoria sponge, steam ovens work perfectly.

    Read more about how you can use AEG Steam Ovens for baking in our guide.

  • Fresh filled pasta

    Steam ovens are ideal for preparing fresh-filled pasta dishes like ravioli, tortellini, or gnocchi. We’ve all experienced it: carefully crafting and filling our pasta, only to have it split apart when boiled. With steam ovens, that frustration is a thing of the past. Simply place your pasta on oven trays, and it’ll cook perfectly without falling apart.

What to consider before buying a steam oven

  There are three key things to consider before buying a steam oven, including:  

  • Committing to a new way of cooking

    When considering the purchase of a steam oven, it’s essential to recognise how it will change your cooking habits. Unlike traditional methods such as boiling and roasting, steam ovens use the correct combination of heat and steam (or full steam if necessary) to cook your food. Adjusting to this new technique may take some time, but the results can be both healthy and delicious.

     

  • Keeping on top of your steam oven maintenance

      The presence of a water reservoir can make steam ovens slightly more high-maintenance than conventional ovens. Limescale can build up in the steam system over time and prevent your steam oven from working efficiently. So, it’s essential that you descale the appliance regularly to ensure your steam oven works at its maximum.  

Are steam ovens hard to clean?

Steam ovens are straightforward to clean. Because their interior is coated with stainless steel, which is non-stick, wiping away grime and debris after use is a breeze.

Many of our steam ovens include a pyrolytic cleaning feature, which makes the cleaning process even easier by converting food residue into ash so that it’s ready to wipe away. Others have a steam cleaning function, which loosens stubborn grease inside the oven using steam, helping you achieve an effortless clean.

How often should you clean your steam oven?

There is no specific answer to this question; it depends on how often you use your steam oven. If you cook more regularly on your hob and only steam the occasional vegetable, your oven will need cleaning less frequently than if you use it every day.

However, it’s always a good idea to clean your steam oven regularly, getting rid of the leftover moisture to prevent bad smells and grime buildup. Adopting a proactive approach and wiping down the appliance after every use reduces the need for extensive oven cleaning, which can be more difficult and time-consuming.

Investing in your new steam oven

When you invest in a new steam oven, it’s important to choose one that aligns with your specific needs. At AEG, we offer a range of options, each equipped with distinct features.

Our 6000 series models come with a convenient PlusSteam button, which introduces steam at the beginning of any bake and results in crispy crusts and spongy centres.

On top of the PlusSteam and SteamCrisp features, these ovens allow you to recreate the sous-vide cooking style thanks to restaurant-quality technology you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home.

Whichever oven you select, rest assured that all AEG models are energy-efficient, boasting a rating between A and A++.