Steam Oven: Anyone got one?

[PaulHogan]

What's the gen on steam ovens? Are they just a gadget or are they a great tool?

[21TonyK]

I've got a commercial one. Great bit of kit for cooking large volumes quickly, ie, 50 portions of salmon for a wedding etc etc.

In the home I'm not sure I'd have a use for one. The big advantage for me is speed but thats probably not a major issue in the home. Are you talking about one of the table top ones or a proper pressure oven?

[PaulHogan]

Looking at a new kitchen and so trawling the shops. A couple of the display layouts featured steam ovens. I had no idea these were a domestic item and simply wondered what, if any, benefits there are and should I consider one for a refit or is it a culinary equivalent of snake oil?

[Use Psychology]

good for baking bread?

[21TonyK]

PaulHogan said:

Looking at a new kitchen and so trawling the shops. A couple of the display layouts featured steam ovens. I had no idea these were a domestic item and simply wondered what, if any, benefits there are and should I consider one for a refit or is it a culinary equivalent of snake oil?

Not snake oil but I suspect limited use in the home. A combi fan/steam oven might be an idea but if it's steam only I would find too many uses myself.

[uncinqsix]

Use Psychology said:

good for baking bread?

This. I want one quite badly. The steam is the key to a good crust.

[Use Psychology]

yeah, if i remember right it gives you a decent shiny crust. I don't think a tray of boiling water in the oven is quite the same.

[freecar]

Use Psychology said:

yeah, if i remember right it gives you a decent shiny crust. I don't think a tray of boiling water in the oven is quite the same.

I've seen people use a water sprayer as well as a tray of boiling water, spray as you open the door and put the bread in.

I suck at bread so haven't tried it myself.

[uncinqsix]

freecar said:

Use Psychology said:

yeah, if i remember right it gives you a decent shiny crust. I don't think a tray of boiling water in the oven is quite the same.

I've seen people use a water sprayer as well as a tray of boiling water, spray as you open the door and put the bread in.

I suck at bread so haven't tried it myself.

I squirt a heap of water onto the bottom of the oven when I do my sourdough. It kind of works, but not nearly as well as I'd like.

[Du1point8]

My folks have one in their kitchen at home.

If I remember correctly they have 2 conventional, 1 combi and 1 steam oven.

They use it a bit, but for what I do not know.

[Pferdestarke]

No. The capacity is greatly reduced due to the steam chamber. I've just gone for two of these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fg8gwMY9ZQ

Excuse the dramatic music but they are extrmely good and have a 5 year warranty as standard. I have a pyrolitic version with a rotisserie and meat probe and an aqua-clean version with telescopic rails.

Well worth it and the brand is top two in Germany yet little known over here. Slovenian company employing over 11500 people.

[Use Psychology]

Pferdestarke said:

Well worth it and the brand is top two in Germany

must be good then

[Pferdestarke]

Use Psychology said:

Pferdestarke said:

Well worth it and the brand is top two in Germany

must be good then

You sarcastic tt.

Just pointing out that it's so well known there compared to being relatively unheard of in the UK.

[Use Psychology]

sorry, wasn't trying to be a knob, in my experience germans are very keen on good quality 'stuff', in fact so keen that it amuses me slightly. there is no mid-range that I can find - dirt cheap and crap or super expensive but good - for kitchen stuff. somehow i was trying to convey that with a smiley. foolish maybe.

[Pferdestarke]

Use Psychology said:

sorry, wasn't trying to be a knob, in my experience germans are very keen on good quality 'stuff', in fact so keen that it amuses me slightly. there is no mid-range that I can find - dirt cheap and crap or super expensive but good - for kitchen stuff. somehow i was trying to convey that with a smiley. foolish maybe.

No bother. I like being an unpaid and unknown brand ambassador for these companies. Maybe one of them will thank me one day.

Carron Phoenix tap anyone?

[Use Psychology]

you could get an oven in the post this weekend, who knows?

[21TonyK]

freecar said:

I've seen people use a water sprayer as well as a tray of boiling water, spray as you open the door and put the bread in.

I suck at bread so haven't tried it myself.

Put a roasting tin in the bottom when the bread first goes in then pour in boiling water fresh from the kettle half way through the baking time. Works a treat for a "crusty" crust.

[Fast Eddie]

Combi ovens are so called because they can cook with straightforward steam, dry forced convection or a combination of both.
Commercially,they cook faster and at generally lower temperatures than "conventional" ovens.
They are also incredibly versatile.
If you use one domestically make sure you weigh up all the pros and cons eg it will need power (obviously) but also water and drainage + consider how it evacuates the steam in the chamber when you open the door.
The water inlet may need to be treated also to remove chlorides etc.