You should absolutely invest in a convection steam oven, also known as a combi-steam oven if you can. Combi steam ovens have been a top choice addition to upscale kitchens. They provide a wide range of benefits including healthier cooking, better flavor, elevated food color, nutrients, and texture, and they’re easy to keep clean. This article will take a deeper dive into the benefits of combi-steam ovens. You will also learn about steam-assisted cooking ovens, steam cleaning, and other industry terms related to steam. 

What is a Convection Steam Oven? 

A convection steam oven is an oven that can operate as a convection oven, steamer, or both. Convection steam ovens afford home cooks a ton of versatility, healthy cooking, as well as high-quality reheating. Use your combi-steam oven as a steamer, a regular dry-heat convection oven, or a combination of the two.

Steam cooking is the healthiest cooking method as it allows you to add moisture without adding oils and fats. Additionally, steam cooking helps you preserve most of the nutrients and color in your fresh foods without sautéing, roasting, or boiling. Finally, steam convection ovens are the best appliance for reheating food to its original flavor and quality. So if you went out to a fancy dinner, for example, and brought home leftover steak, you can restore it to its original flavor, texture, and quality. Steam ovens are also fantastic for reheating everyday leftovers as well.

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Benefits of Combi-Steam Ovens

Healthier Cooking and Fewer Calories

Combi steam ovens add moisture to your food without oil or fat. Cooking with steam is a healthier alternative to sautéing, roasting, or frying. Eating steamed food means less calorie intake, lower cholesterol levels, and lighter meals. If you’re looking for great tasting food with less guilt, you should consider a combi-steam oven for your kitchen. 

Best Flavor and Nutrients

When you cook, you alter the composition of your ingredients. Any cooking method will result in some nutrient loss. However, cooking with steam is the best way to preserve the nutrients, color, and flavor of fresh foods. It’s important to think beyond vegetables. Meats, seafood, grains, casseroles, and baked goods come out fabulous in a convection steam oven as well. 

Best Reheating Appliance

It’s fair to assume that most homes have a microwave oven for popcorn, zapping coffee, and on-the-go reheating. However, your combi steam oven will be the best appliance for bringing leftovers back to their original quality. Combi steam ovens take a little longer than a microwave to reheat your leftovers, but far less time to preheat than your big capacity wall oven or stove. You will also love that your leftovers come out delicious - so for your next dinner party, do your prep work early and reheat instead of cook for a stress-free party.

Reduced Flavor Transfer

If you love to cook multiple meals at the same time, you will love combi-steam ovens are designed to prevent flavor transfer. In theory, you could cook dessert and seafood at the same time. This bodes well for cooking around the holidays. You will be able to get everything done faster for easy entertaining. 

Easy to Keep Clean

Combi steam ovens are naturally steam-cleaning. When you run a cycle with steam any residual spills or splatters will loosen from the oven interior. Most combi-steam ovens are made with an easy-to-clean interior so a simple wipe down after the oven cools is sufficient to keep your oven looking brand new. 

Are Convection Steam Ovens Worth It?

Convection steam ovens are a top choice item for many cooking enthusiasts. As you read above, there are many benefits. Steam ovens are typically more expensive than adding another wall oven. Your decision will likely come down to how much you value the versatility and high quality reheating capabilities that steam ovens provide. If you're unsure, it is beneficial to see a cooking demo or attend a steam cooking class. Ask your appliance expert for details about events near you.

Combi Steam Ovens vs. Steam Cleaning Ovens

Many residential stoves and ovens come with a steam cleaning mode. This mode is a gentler alternative to traditional self-cleaning. Although traditional self-cleaning is effective, running a high heat cycle too often can hurt your oven's electronic parts over time. Steam cleaning runs at a much lower temperature and relies on steam to loosen lite spills and drips. It's best to run a steam-cleaning cycle soon after you spill for the best cleaning results. Every steam cleaning oven is different. Most brands offer a reservoir or carve out at the bottom of the oven where you are supposed to add water before running the cycle. Always reference the manual for best practices before trying any self-cleaning cycle. You are not supposed to cook food during a stove’s steam cleaning cycle. Steam cleaning ovens are not combi-steam ovens. 

Combi steam ovens are a type of specialty cooking oven typically sold as a wall oven, part of a combo oven, or in some cases part of a luxury pro range.

Steam Assist Ovens vs. Combi-Steam Ovens

The biggest difference between combi-steam ovens and steam assist ovens is the size of the oven capacity. Larger capacity ovens are called steam-assisted ovens while smaller capacity ovens are combi-steam ovens.  

In recent years, several full-size ovens and pro ranges are now offering a steam cooking feature. Many of these larger ovens are called steam-assist ovens. Many steam assist ovens come equipped with guided cooking to take the guesswork out of cooking great meals with the addition of steam. 

If you’re exploring both steam assist ovens and combi-steam ovens you will want to consider your kitchen layout, brand preferences, and cooking style. You will get better steam saturation inside a smaller oven than a larger one. The larger steam assist ovens are being valued for bread baking and casseroles while the smaller steam convection ovens are sought out for veggies, grains, and reheating. 

 

Plumbed Steam Ovens vs. Reservoir Steam Ovens

Steam ovens need water to activate the steam function. There are two designs, plumbed and reservoir. Plumbed steam ovens require a home plumbing connection. They get water from a water line behind the appliance. Most brands have a reservoir that you fill with water. Whether you get plumbed or reservoir, some brands offer a second reservoir to collect leftover water at the end of the cycle. 

Both plumbed and reservoir steam ovens have different advantages. Manufacturers of plumbed steam ovens claim that having a plumbed model is more convenient as you don’t need to interrupt a cooking cycle to refill a reservoir. However, this is only an issue if you’re slow-roasting a meal for more than 3 hours. Most reservoir models will hold enough water for 3 hours of cooking. The great thing about reservoir models is you can install them in parts of your home that do not have access to home plumbing. 

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Top Steam Cooking Ovens

Wolf 30-inch Built-in Steam Oven with Convection Technology (CSO30CM/S)

Gourmet Mode: Simply tell it the type of food you are putting in the oven – anything from a soufflé to a crown roast to a few sweet potatoes. The climate sensor detects the volume, shape, and consistency and adjusts time, temperature, and humidity for guesswork-free delicious results, every time.

Unlike steam assist, the Wolf convection steam oven precisely controls heat, steam, and airflow for the best results with any dish, from roast chicken to chocolate brownies to garlic-roasted asparagus. Even bake bread like a pro and bring leftovers back to life. Ten modes are Steam, Auto Steam Bake, Convection, Convection Humid, Convection Steam, Gourmet, Slow Roast, Reheat, Recipes, and Keep Warm.

Take your cooking to the next level with steam. The 1° increments of temperature control are essential for precision-based cooking techniques like sous vide. Steam is also the key ingredient for bakery-quality breads and crispy chicken.

Thermador 30-inch, 7.3 cu.ft. Built-in Double Wall Oven with Home Connect (PODS302W)

This Thermador 30-inch, built-in double wall oven features Home Connect (Wi-Fi Enabled), steam and convection technology, and a self-clean oven.

Steam and Convection Cooking provides unrivaled food taste and quality. Food stays moist on the inside and is perfectly finished on the outside.

The thoughtfully engineered and perfectly executed True Convection baffle system allows hot air to flow precisely and evenly around food for perfect results and no flavor transfer.

Signature Kitchen Suite 36-inch Freestanding Dual-Fuel Range with Steam-Assist Oven (SKSDR360GS)

Signature Kitchen Suite 36" dual-fuel range features Steam-Assist oven and griddle, WiFi-enabled for SmartThinQ™ control with iPhone / android app, and convection oven.

SPEED CLEAN™: Grease stains or baked-on drippings are no match for Speed Clean™*. Just spray the stain with water, activate Speed Clean™, and in ten minutes you can simply wipe the residue away. No matter how much you use your oven, it will always be moments away from looking brand new. *Cleans a lightly soiled oven automatically. Heavier stains may require engaging full self-cleaning feature.

The Chromium Griddle delivers consistent and even heating across the entire surface for professional level results and the durable, polished finish resists scratches.

Miele 24-inch, 2.51 cu. ft. Single Wall Oven with Steam Combination Cooking

This Miele steam oven with full-fledged oven function and XXL cavity features a mains water connection for discerning cooks. It offers MultiSteam for fast and even distribution of steam in the cabinet and around cooking containers, a motorized control panel that opens at the touch of a button to reveal the water container and the roast probe, and an XXL cavity that gives you space for complete menus for up to 10 people, as well as whole fish and poultry.

Operates as both a steam oven and a wall oven. Many functions in one appliance: Perfect cooking, roasting & baking results with unlimited combinations.

All the important parts of your Miele oven - cavity, PerfectClean baking tray, universal tray, shelf runners, and combi rack - benefit from a high-quality anti-stick surface coating. Even the most resistant soiling can easily be wiped away with a little soapy water and a sponge. High quality patented surface coating, Excellent anti-stick properties & easy cleaning.

Thermador 60-inch Freestanding Dual-Fuel Range with ExtraLow® Burners

This Thermador Pro Grand® Professional Series, dual-fuel range with grill and griddle features Steam and Convection technology, a self-cleaning large oven, an ExtraHigh Star® burner, and is equipped with 6 burners.

Steam and Convection Cooking provides unrivaled taste and quality. Food stays moist on the inside and is perfect on the outside.

Thermador Professional® Ranges are Star-K certified making it possible to use them on the Sabbath or the Holidays.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a convection steam oven?

A: A convection steam oven combines the benefits of a traditional convection oven and the moisture from a steam oven into one appliance. The convection cycle circulates hot air around food to cook it quickly and evenly, while the steam cycle adds moisture to help keep foods tender and juicy.

Q: What are the advantages of using a steam oven

A: Steam cooking provides a number of advantages including quicker cooking times, more even heating, less shrinkage of food due to heat and moisture loss, and more flavor retention due to the circulating steam. Plus, it's healthier than other cooking methods as it preserves essential vitamins and minerals.

Q: Is it worth getting a steam oven?

A: When you cook with a steam oven you get a healthier and more savory result compared to sauteing, roasting, or frying. If you are looking for great tasting food then you should really consider a steam oven.

Q: Do you need ventilation for a steam oven?

A: Steam ovens and convection steam ovens do not need ventilation.