Steam Ovens vs. Convection Ovens

February 17, 2023

Purchasing a new oven or range can be a fun, but often confusing process. There are so many cooking options available in today’s models that it can be hard to determine what the difference between each is and which options are best for your household.

Steam cooking features and convection ovens are both excellent features to look for in an oven and can level up your cooking game. What exactly are the differences between steam and convection ovens and what are the benefits of each? We’ve outlined all of the details below to help you decide which is best.

What Is The Difference Between Steam & Convection Ovens?

The difference between these two types of ovens is how they heat the food in them. Convection ovens use heat and a large fan to cook the food in the oven cavity while steam ovens use hot steam.

Which Type is Better?

To determine which type of oven is “better” you need to consider the types of foods you generally good and the desired results. Each type of cooking method has its own benefits. Let’s dive into the pros and cons of each.

Convection Oven Highlights

Since convection ovens use fans to circulate the heat within the oven evenly, food cooks more quickly than it does in conventional ovens. Since they cook more rapidly than conventional ovens, your food will also remain moist throughout the cooking process making them great for baking and roasting.

Pros

Convection ovens offer several benefits including:

• More rapid cooking than conventional ovens leaving food more moist in comparison.
• Ideal for browning and crisping of foods.
• Evenly circulates air throughout the oven removing the need to rotate items.

Cons

As with any choice, there can be drawbacks associated with convection ovens as well.

• May be louder than other oven types.
• May blow permanent paper or foil causing issues for recipes that require these.
• Can more easily burn food if not monitored closely.

Foods Convection Ovens Are Great For

Convection ovens cook foods quickly and are great for roasting or crisping foods including:

• Roasted Veggies
• Roasting Meats
• Roasted Potatoes
• Pizzas
• Fried Chicken

Steam Ovens Highlights

Although steam ovens are not new, steam cooking has recently increased in popularity. These ovens heat water that is pulled from a tank with a built-in boiler. Once the water has reached the appropriate temperature, it is released as steam into the oven.

Pros

Steam ovens offer the following benefits.

• Steam-assisted cooking is quicker than convection cooking.
• Reduce the risk of burning food.
• Using steam to cook naturally keeps your food moist and works well for most recipes.
• Steam cooking prevents nutrient loss.

Cons

There are a few drawbacks of steam ovens to take into consideration.

• It can be difficult to brown or crisp food with a steam oven.
• They may require you to fill the water reservoir regularly.
• They need to be cleaned more frequently.

Foods Steam Ovens Are Great For

Using steam to cook naturally keeps your food moist and works well for most recipes including:

• Meats
• Veggies
• Cakes
• Pasta
• Bread

Howard’s Convection Oven Recommendations

If you are ready to purchase a new oven, we have a few suggestions for you.

GE Profile Combination Convection Microwave/Convection Wall Oven

This Built-In Combination Convection Microwave/Convection Wall Oven by GE Profile is one of our top recommendations. This oven features a convection microwave in the upper oven, True European Convection in the lower oven, and steam cleaning options to make maintenance simple.

KitchenAid Double Wall Oven with Even-Heat™ True Convection

KitchenAid’s Double Wall Oven with Even-Heat™ True Convection is another one of our favorite models. This oven features a temperature probe in both ovens to help you accurately measure your food’s temperature without opening the oven door, Even-Heat™ True Convection in both ovens, and SatinGlide™ Roll-Out Extension Rack making it easy to remove heavy dishes.

Howard’s Favorite Combination Steam & Convection Oven

If you are unsure if you would prefer a convection oven or steam oven, you can purchase combination steam ovens that include the ability to use convection. These oven models give you the best of both worlds.

Samsung Smart Double Wall Oven with Steam Cook

Samsung offers a great combination wall oven with their Samsung 30" Smart Double Wall Oven with Steam Cook. This oven features an easy-to-fill water reservoir for steam cooking, two powerful dual fans for convection cooking, gliding racks, and comes equipped with the SmartThings App allowing you to control your oven via your smart device.

Shop at Howard’s Appliance in Southern California

If you’re in the Southern California area and ready to purchase a new convection oven or a steam-combi oven, the experts at Howard’s Appliance are here to help. We have over 75 years of experience providing personalized service and guidance to our customers as they explore Howard’s outstanding selection of appliances.

Shop our selection of refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, washers and dryers, and more at a location near you today. We have several appliance store locations and experience centers located conveniently in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Huntington Beach, and throughout Southern California. Locate a Howard’s Appliance store location near you today.