Understanding The Steam Oven Modes.
Understanding your steam oven is not rocket science, but we understand it can be intimidating at first. Don’t you worry, we are here to help you understand the basics to get you using your steam oven. Below is a list of the 5 main modes that appear when you press the ‘Quick Start’ button (we like to think of it as the ‘home’ button). While the there are many more options on the steam oven, such as ‘Gourmet Mode’ and the ‘Favorites’ button, understanding these 5 main modes should get you kick started on the steam oven magic.
Convection Steam Oven Modes
Steam Mode: Steam Mode provides the perfect environment for defrosting frozen foods, steaming vegetables, cooking rice, poaching eggs, and much more. This mode uses only steam within the oven cavity at a variety of low temperatures to create the ideal cooking zone. Because water reaches its boiling point at 212° the default temperature for Steam Mode is 210°, but steam can be captured at lower temperatures for more delicate cooking.
210° - This is the default temperature when you select Steam Mode. Think of this temperature as a pot of boiling water on a stove. Anything you would cook with boiling water you can place directly into the steam oven. Rice, hardboiled eggs, steamed vegetables/potatoes, bao buns, bagels (before baking them in the oven), the list of what you can cook is endless.
190° - This lower temperature is perfect for poaching fish, chicken, shrimp, and even fruit (such as pears or tomatoes). Cooking foods delicately on a lower temperature keeps foods soft which normally would toughen up while cooking. Tip: If you can’t remember what foods to cook at 190°, the default temperature of 210° will work JUST fine for just about anything.
95° - Defrosting foods is quick and easy with the Steam Oven. By using the Steam Mode at 95°, you can quickly and evenly defrost frozen foods. Tip: Check foods every 15 minutes to determine when they have fully thawed.
Convection Mode: With the Convection Mode, you can cook just about anything. Convection is a dry cooking method where heat circulates throughout the oven cavity instead of coming through the bottom like a regular oven. With convection you can cook food on multiple racks with even browning. This mode allows you to use your Convection Steam Oven like a regular oven. Instead of heating up your large oven for a batch of cookies, the steam oven will preheat 350° in 3 minutes making it the quickest and most convenient option.
Convection Humid Mode: This mode cooks food on convection but retains the natural moisture given off the food being baked instead of letting it escape. Foods such as lasagna, casseroles, muffins, quick breads (such as banana or zucchini), meatloaf, and more. No need to adjust your recipe, simply select Convection Humid Mode and set the temperature to whatever temperature your recipe calls for. Easy as that.
Convection Steam Mode: Unlike Convection ‘Humid’ Mode, this mode uses steam to provide precise temperature and seal in moisture while still browning and crisping food. This mode is especially ideal for cooking meats, such as ribs, pork shoulder, and our personal favorite, roast chicken.
Reheat Mode: Reheat Mode is a function to get excited about. Instead of reheating leftovers in the microwave, the Steam Oven does the perfect job of bringing sad leftovers back to life. You can simply make an entire plate of food (think rice, chicken, and vegetables all on one plate), and in 7-9 minutes you will never know you are eating leftovers. You can also reheat leftovers with the Auto Reheat Mode. This mode gives you the option for more precise results, whether you want your leftovers reheated moist or crispy. For example, a stale loaf of bread can be brought back to life when reheated with Auto Reheat Mode set to ‘crispy’.
Gourmet Mode: Gourmet Mode takes all the guess work out of cooking. This mode has a number of programmed options for any food, all you have to do is insert the food into the oven. If you haven’t already, take a minute to scroll through all the Gourmet Mode options to familiarize yourself with all the options. Here at Riverwoods we use the ‘Muffin’ option on Gourmet Mode several times a week. We also like to cook fingerling or new potatoes on the ‘Baked Potato’ option.