A Combi Oven, Mulitlpe Cooking Options In A Single Unit.

What exactly is a combi oven? A combination oven has two separate design types. One is the combination of steam and dry heat convection in a single unit. The second is the combination of a microwave and convection oven that have separate ovens in a single unit.

These ovens are referred to as "combi" ovens by the appliance industry.

The Steam And Convection Oven Combination.

A steam/ convection combination oven has the ability to cook the food very fast, with the steam, and then uses dry convection heat to brown and crisp the food. You also have the option of using either steam or convection separately. This is a great feature because some foods will not cook as well with the steam as it will with the dry convection, and vise versa.

For example, poaching fish with the steam oven will cook the fish without drying it out. No need to use aluminum foil to create a pouch for cooking the fish. Vegetables also benefit from the steam oven option. Using steam is also healthier because it helps to retain more nutrients.

These units are more expensive when compared to a single cooking option. But the cooking times with steam are drastically reduced; saving you time and money. Having a combi oven will also eliminate the need to brown foods in a separate oven; if you have the steam oven only option.

These ovens are quite popular in Europe and becoming more popular in the US. In the fast paced world we all live in, the combi oven will help to free up time by reducing your time in the kitchen. Prices start around $2000 and continue on up to $8000. The prices depends on the brand and options available.

The Microwave And Convection Oven Combination

The other type of combination oven is the microwave/ convection oven unit. This oven separates the microwave from the main oven, but both are built into a single unit. This type of oven frees up more space in your kitchen by putting both ovens in a single location and a single unit.

Moving the microwave away from the countertop, or above the range, to a built in cabinet cleans up the look and gives more freedom in the design. I personally do like this option, but it;s a personal choice that does have advantages. Some of the microwaves, with this type, have convection cooking to further lower the cooking times.

What I really like about this combi oven is cooking the food with the microwave, and transferring it to the convection oven to brown the food. The price is also somewhat lower than the other combination oven type; prices start at around $1500 and continue up to $7000.

There are more options in ovens today than in years past, and the technology of ovens is improving. Most of the advancements are in the efficiency; the more efficient the oven, the more money you will save over time. So if you bake often, the higher the efficiency, the quicker the return on your investment.

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