What is the Name of a Steam Oven Used in Commercial Kitchens?
If you’ve ever had perfectly cooked veggies at a restaurant or wondered how bakeries make such amazing bread, the secret might be a special kind of oven. Commercial kitchens use steam ovens to cook food that’s moist inside and crispy outside. These aren’t like the ovens we have at home. They’re bigger, stronger, and made just for busy restaurants. These special ovens have different names and types, and each one does something a little different. Let’s learn about the steam ovens that chefs use every day to make the yummy food we love to eat!
Types of Commercial Steam Ovens
When you peek into a restaurant kitchen, you might see several different steam ovens. Each one has its own name and special job to do.
Combi Ovens
The most popular steam oven in commercial kitchens is called a combi oven. “Combi” is short for “combination” because these ovens can cook in many different ways.
A combi oven can:
- Cook with dry heat like a regular oven
- Cook with steam only
- Cook with both heat and steam at the same time
This makes combi ovens super useful in busy kitchens. Chefs can use just one oven to roast meat, steam veggies, and bake bread. Most combi ovens have computer controls that let chefs pick exactly how they want to cook the food.
Famous combi oven brands include Rational, Alto-Shaam, and Convotherm. These are the workhorses of professional kitchens around the world.
Convection Steam Ovens
Convection steam ovens are similar to combi ovens but usually a bit simpler. They use fans to blow the hot air and steam around the food. This helps cook things faster and more evenly.
These ovens are great for:
- Baking lots of bread at once
- Cooking big batches of vegetables
- Reheating food without drying it out
Convection steam ovens might not have all the fancy settings of a combi oven, but they’re still very powerful tools in commercial kitchens.
Pressure Steamers
Another type of steam oven is the pressure steamer. These ovens use steam under pressure to cook food very quickly.
Pressure steamers can cook rice, vegetables, and seafood in less than half the time of other methods. They work by trapping steam inside a sealed container, which raises the pressure and the cooking temperature.
Many restaurant kitchens have pressure steamers just for vegetables and starches like potatoes and rice.
How Commercial Steam Ovens Work
Commercial steam ovens might seem magical, but they work on simple science. Let’s look at how they make and use steam.
Steam Generation Methods
Commercial steam ovens create steam in different ways:
| Steam Method | How It Works | Found In | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiler System | Has a separate water tank that heats up | High-end combi ovens | Consistent, powerful steam |
| Injection System | Sprays water onto hot surfaces | Basic combi ovens | Quick bursts of steam |
| Reservoir System | Heats water in a small tray | Smaller steam ovens | Light steaming needs |
| Atmospheric System | Creates steam at normal pressure | Standard steamers | Gentle cooking |
| Pressurized System | Creates steam under pressure | Pressure steamers | Fast cooking |
The best commercial kitchens often have several of these types to handle different cooking jobs.
Smart Technology in Modern Steam Ovens
Modern commercial steam ovens are really smart. Many have computers that:
- Automatically adjust temperature and humidity
- Store hundreds of cooking programs
- Learn from past cooking cycles
- Connect to the internet for updates
- Allow chefs to control them from phone apps
Some advanced combi ovens, like those made by Rational, even have overnight cooking modes. Chefs can put food in before leaving at night, and it’s perfectly cooked in the morning!
Popular Commercial Steam Oven Brands
If you’re looking to spot steam ovens in professional kitchens, here are the big names to know:
Top Combi Oven Manufacturers
- Rational – The industry leader, known for their SelfCookingCenter and iCombi Pro models
- Alto-Shaam – Famous for their Combitherm series
- Convotherm – Known for reliability and efficiency
- Henny Penny – Popular in fast food restaurants
- UNOX – Italian-made with stylish designs
Specialized Steamer Brands
- Cleveland – Makes excellent steamers for vegetables
- Vulcan – Known for heavy-duty steamers
- Groen – Specializes in pressure steamers
- AccuTemp – Makes energy-efficient steamers
“A kitchen without a proper steam oven is like a car without wheels. You might have all the other parts, but you won’t get very far.” – Famous chef saying
Uses of Commercial Steam Ovens
What makes these ovens so important in professional kitchens? Let’s look at what chefs cook in them.
Common Foods Prepared in Commercial Steam Ovens
Commercial steam ovens can cook almost anything, but they’re especially good for:
- Bread and pastries – Steam creates that perfect crust while keeping the inside soft
- Vegetables – Stay bright colored and keep their nutrients
- Fish and seafood – Cook gently without drying out
- Rice and grains – Cook evenly with perfect texture
- Eggs – From soft-boiled to custards
- Meats – Roast beef stays juicy inside
- Prepared meals – Reheat without losing quality
Many restaurants use their steam ovens all day long for different meals and dishes.
Special Cooking Techniques
Commercial steam ovens allow chefs to use special cooking methods:
- Sous-vide finishing – Food is cooked in vacuum bags in water, then finished in the combi oven
- Overnight roasting – Large cuts of meat cook slowly at low temperatures
- Proofing – Making bread dough rise perfectly
- Rethermalizing – Heating prepared foods without quality loss
- Flash cooking – Very quick cooking that keeps nutrients in vegetables
Benefits of Commercial Steam Ovens
Why do restaurants spend thousands of dollars on these special ovens? Here’s why they’re worth it:
Efficiency and Quality
Commercial steam ovens help kitchens in many ways:
- Cook food up to 40% faster than regular ovens
- Use less energy than multiple cooking devices
- Cook several different foods at once without mixing flavors
- Make food that’s more nutritious and tasty
- Lower food shrinkage (meat stays juicier and bigger)
- Need less staff supervision during cooking
Cost Savings
While these ovens cost a lot up front ($10,000 to $40,000), they save money over time:
- Use less energy
- Need less cooking oil
- Reduce food waste
- Cook food faster
- Last many years (often 10+ years)
- Can replace multiple pieces of equipment
How Home Cooks Can Experience Commercial-Style Steam Cooking
You don’t need to open a restaurant to try steam oven cooking!
Home Steam Oven Options
Several companies now make smaller versions of commercial steam ovens for home use:
- Miele Steam Ovens
- Thermador Professional Steam Ovens
- Wolf Convection Steam Ovens
- Gaggenau Combi-Steam Ovens
- Bosch Steam Convection Ovens
These cost between $2,000-$8,000 and bring restaurant-quality cooking to home kitchens.
DIY Steam Cooking Methods
If you don’t want to buy a special oven, you can:
- Use a pan of water in your regular oven
- Try a countertop steam oven (under $500)
- Use a Dutch oven with some water inside
- Get a pressure cooker with steam settings
Choosing the Right Commercial Steam Oven
For restaurant owners wondering which steam oven to buy, here are some things to think about:
- How big is your kitchen?
- How many meals do you serve each day?
- What kinds of food do you make the most?
- How much money can you spend?
- How much training will your staff need?
- How much space do you have?
- Do you need special features like smoking or grilling?
Most restaurant supply companies can help pick the right model for each kitchen.
FAQ: Commercial Steam Ovens
What’s the difference between a combi oven and a regular convection oven?
A regular convection oven uses dry heat and fans. A combi oven adds steam, which helps food stay moist and cook more evenly.
How much does a commercial steam oven cost?
Small countertop models start around $3,000. Full-size professional combi ovens can cost $20,000 to $40,000 depending on size and features.
Do commercial steam ovens need special installation?
Yes! Most need proper ventilation, water connections, and sometimes special electrical hookups. Some larger models need floor drains too.
How long do commercial steam ovens last?
With proper maintenance, a good combi oven can last 7-15 years in a busy kitchen.
Are steam ovens hard to clean?
Most modern models have self-cleaning cycles that make maintenance easier. The steam itself helps loosen food particles during cleaning.
Do I need special training to use a commercial steam oven?
Basic operation is simple, but to get the most from a professional combi oven, training is recommended. Most manufacturers offer training sessions.
Can a steam oven replace other kitchen equipment?
Yes! A good combi oven can replace conventional ovens, steamers, poaching equipment, and even some stovetop cooking.
Commercial steam ovens, especially combi ovens, are essential tools in modern restaurant kitchens. They help chefs cook better food faster, which makes customers happy and helps restaurants save money. Whether you call them combi ovens, convection steamers, or pressure steamers, these powerful cooking tools are a big reason why restaurant food often tastes so much better than what we make at home!
