Steam ovens cook food using hot steam rather than hot air, and demand for them has increased quickly.
Nevertheless, since its innovation, the old fast microwave has been a great and handy kitchen appliance. Now the question begs, Can a steam oven replace a microwave?
Well, numbers don’t lie. While steam oven sales are increasing for several brands, microwave sales have significantly fallen over the past ten years.
Thermadore, one of the leading companies in the design and making of steam ovens, has shown an over 100% increase in the demand for steam ovens in the past few years.
For this reason, saying that the steam oven, a relatively new addition to domestic kitchens, could be able to replace the efficiency and convenience of this indispensable microwave is a bold claim.
Read on to get more evidence and why a steam oven will eventually replace a microwave.
Health Advantages
The topic of the nutrients in food being destroyed by microwave heating has received much attention over the years.
It’s crucial to keep in mind that, contrary to popular belief, microwave heating doesn’t destroy nutrients. Your food will likely be overcooked, which somehow a microwave is quite good at.
The same is valid for microwave “steaming,” which involves placing veggies in a dish with an inch of water.
This causes the food to lose a lot of nutrients, ending in the water. Steam ovens are among the healthiest cooking methods because it’s challenging to overcook food in them.
The likelihood of overcooking your food, damaging nutrients, and removing any constructive ingredients from your meal is much higher when utilizing standard ovens and microwaves.
Additionally, using steam reduces the need for extra oils and fats by helping trap moisture into the food being cooked or reheated.
Reheating
The king of rapid warming is still the microwave. However, even if reheating leftovers in the microwave takes less time, some people choose the food’s quality and flavor when done in a steam oven.
Steam ovens work by heating water in within-range water storage; the water is heated to very high temperatures, forming steam to cook or heat items placed inside.
Food can be heated thanks to the moisture’s equal distribution, unlike a microwave which warms food irregularly. Moreover, a steam oven can reheat many foods at once compared to a microwave.
Ease of Cleaning
Cleaning a steam oven is easier than cleaning a microwave. All you need to do is to empty the water tank and wipe it with a damp cloth.
The inside of the oven will be clean as well since the steam coming from within will have loosened any stuck-on dirt or food.
On the other hand, microwaves require more elbow grease to clean. The high temperatures inside the appliance make it difficult to remove any hardened food or dirt.
You would need to use a strong cleaning agent, which might not be ideal for your health, to break down and remove these stubborn stains.
Foods’ Taste and Fragrance
Compared to a microwave, a steam oven produces better-tasting food. Food cooked in a steam oven keeps more of its flavor, texture, and nutrients.
A steam oven continuously supplies moisture, which is terrific for retaining the texture and flavor. Still, microwaved food tends to dry out rapidly when the humidity within the food is heated and evaporates.
While microwaves frequently overheat and dry out food, steam cooking helps improve and bring out the taste of many of your favorite foods, especially delicate ones.
Many cooks prioritize flavor and quality over speed, and a steam oven may deliver the finest of both worlds.
Some Foods Cook More Efficiently in a Steam Oven Than in a Microwave
In contrast to microwaves, steam ovens can be used to cook nearly anything. Not if you intend to prepare it properly, that is.
Here are a few instances of foods that, while they might be microwaved, would be better prepared using steam.
Eggs preparation
Numerous tools are available to swiftly boil, poach, and scramble eggs in the microwave. I contend that a steam oven requires only a pan or a rack instead of such devices.
Eggs can be “boiled” by steaming them on the oven rack, “poached” at a low temperature either in their shells or cracked into a tiny dish, and scrambled in just 3 to 4 minutes without stirring more than once.
Your steam oven will be pretty valuable if you enjoy hard-boiled eggs. Put an egg pan in the oven, set the temperature appropriately, and wait for a batch of flawless boiled eggs to appear.
Rice Cooking
You won’t just be able to discard your rice cooker when preparing rice, but also your microwave! That increases the amount of kitchen space you can get for your money.
Microwave rice has only ever seemed a little mushy and clumpy to me. Rice is the ideal fluffy side dish for any dinner when adequately prepared.
Using your steam oven will make it quite simple to cook your rice perfectly without worrying about scorching it.
Fish
Fish is incredibly rich in nutrients that your body needs. You can keep these nutrients in your fish by steaming them moist and tasty.
The steam oven does a perfect job of evenly steaming the white meat, ensuring a more delicious flavor than when cooked dry in a microwave. Most people dislike eating dry fish, after all.
Vegetables
Vegetables are the ideal food to cook in your steam oven due to the vitamin retention discussed above. Regarding vegetables, there is a significant danger of overcooking and nutrient loss.
Broccoli and various green vegetables can be dipped in water and cooked in a microwave. Still, it won’t be as healthy (or delicious) as broccoli cooked in a steam oven until it is as tender as you like.
By steaming your vegetables, you can ensure that every bite contains the maximum nutrients for you and your household.
Defrosting
Thawing frozen foods isn’t a glamorous kitchen task like reheating. However, since most people occasionally need to perform it, it is essential to know how to do it correctly.
While slower than microwave defrosting, steam oven defrosting is more even.
Since it is gentle on your meat or any frozen edibles, you won’t get a foodstuff that is only partially cooked when fully defrosted.
A microwave can also be used for defrosting, but with a steam oven, you have more control over the cooking environment and equal heating.
To Conclude
While a microwave is an excellent addition to any kitchen, a steam oven can do everything a microwave can do.
A steam oven can also do things that a microwave cannot, such as cook rice, fish, and vegetables perfectly.
If you’re looking for an appliance that will help you cook healthier meals quickly, go with a steam oven.