Steaming Pasta Perfection: Can Your Oven Do It?

Yes, you can cook pasta in a steam oven. This method uses less water than boiling on a stovetop and has no risk of boiling over. The pasta cooks hands-free and, because it's cooked with less water, the starch on the outside of the pasta isn't as diluted as with traditional boiling methods. This helps the pasta hold on to sauce. Different types of pasta require different cooking methods in a steam oven. For example, long pasta like spaghetti and linguine should be cooked in a baking dish, while short pasta like elbows work better in a deep, round cast iron skillet.

Cooking Pasta in a Steam Oven

Combi steam oven settings

Combi steam ovens cook at a temperature range of 30°C to 275°C or 86°F to 527°F, with varying levels of humidity from about 20% to 100%. Some oven models allow users to select the percentage of humidity when using combi settings. If yours doesn't, simply select the temperature you want to cook at and the combination steam setting, and your oven will determine the humidity level for you.

To cook pasta in a combi steam oven, preheat your oven to 212°F (100°C) in steam mode. Place the pasta in a sheet pan or other baking dish just large enough to hold the amount of pasta you want to cook in a single layer. Pour over hot tap water to cover the pasta by about a quarter to half an inch. Season with salt to taste. Transfer the pan to the oven and set the timer. For dried spaghetti, cook for 20 to 22 minutes. For smaller pastas like orzo, start checking at 18 minutes.

Once the pasta is cooked, carefully remove the pan from the oven and drain off any remaining water. Serve with your favourite sauce or coat lightly with olive oil and season with salt. You can also use the combi steam setting to cook other baked pasta dishes such as cannelloni or pasta bakes.

How to assemble the pasta pan

To assemble a pasta pan, you'll need to decide on the type of pasta you want to cook. Long pasta shapes like spaghetti and linguine are better suited for a sheet pan or a baking dish, while short pasta shapes like elbows and bow ties work better in a deep, round cast-iron skillet.

Once you've chosen the right pan for your pasta, place the pasta in the pan. If you're using a sheet pan or baking dish, arrange the pasta in a single layer. For a skillet, you can add more ingredients like tomatoes, onions, garlic, and basil directly to the pan with the pasta.

Next, you'll need to add water to the pan. Pour enough water to cover the pasta by about half an inch, or 1/4 inch if using a sheet pan. If you're using a skillet with additional ingredients, you may need to adjust the amount of water depending on the ingredients. For example, mushrooms will absorb water, while tomatoes or zucchini will release water.

At this point, you can also add salt and any other seasonings you'd like to the pan. Seasoning the pasta before adding the water allows the pasta to absorb the full flavour while cooking.

Finally, place the pan in the oven and cook until the pasta is al dente. The cooking time will vary depending on the type of pasta and the specific oven settings, but it usually takes around 20 minutes.

By assembling the pasta pan properly and following the correct cooking instructions, you can achieve perfectly cooked pasta with minimal cleanup.

The benefits of cooking pasta in a steam oven

Cooking pasta in a steam oven offers several advantages over traditional stovetop boiling. One key benefit is the reduced amount of water required. Steam cooking uses far less water, which means there is no risk of the water boiling over and making a mess. This also means that the starch on the outside of the pasta remains more concentrated, as it is not diluted by excess water. This helps the pasta hold onto the sauce, rather than leaving it behind in the bowl, resulting in a more flavourful dish.

Another advantage of cooking pasta in a steam oven is the hands-free cooking experience. Unlike traditional stovetop boiling, which requires constant monitoring to prevent overcooking or boiling over, steam oven pasta can be left to cook unattended. This frees up time and attention to focus on other aspects of meal preparation or simply to relax.

The precise control of temperature and moisture in a steam oven also contributes to more consistent and even cooking. By creating an environment with full steam and liquid water in a sheet pan, the pasta absorbs water evenly, resulting in perfectly al dente noodles. This method is adaptable to various pasta shapes, including long pasta like spaghetti and linguine, and short pasta like elbows. However, it may not be ideal for large tube pastas like rigatoni.

Additionally, the combi steam oven allows for efficient reheating of pasta. Leftover pasta can be reheated in bulk by steaming at the same temperature of 212° F for just 2 minutes, or it can be tossed into a hot sauce for an individual serving. This convenience makes it easier to enjoy delicious, perfectly cooked pasta even when time is limited.

Reheating pasta

Yes, you can cook pasta in a steam oven. This method uses less water than boiling on a stovetop, and there is no risk of it boiling over. The pasta cooks hands-free, and the starch on the outside of the pasta is not as diluted as in traditional boiling, helping the pasta hold onto sauce.

• Place your leftover pasta in an oven-proof dish. It is best to use a shallow dish if reheating pasta that has already been mixed with sauce.
• Cover the dish with foil.
• Set your steam oven to a low temperature, somewhere between 120°C and 140°C. The exact temperature will depend on how crispy or crunchy you want your pasta to be. For a middle level of crispness, which suits most pasta dishes, choose somewhere in the middle of this temperature range.
• Adjust the steam settings. For reheating pasta, it is best to leave the steam setting at its default level, which is likely somewhere between 40% and 60% steam.
• Reheat the pasta for around 15 minutes. The timing will depend on the density of the pasta dish. For a single serve of pasta leftovers, 10 minutes should be enough. For a layered pasta dish, increase the time to around 15 minutes.
• If you want your pasta to be extra gooey, remove the foil and sprinkle some Parmesan on top for the last 5 minutes of cooking.

Recipes for pasta and sauce cooked in a steam oven

Cooking Pasta in a Steam Oven

Cooking pasta in a steam oven is a convenient method that uses less water than stovetop boiling and has no risk of boiling over. Plus, the pasta cooks hands-free. Here is a basic recipe for cooking pasta in a steam oven:

• Assemble the pasta in a sheet pan or baking dish, ensuring the pasta is in a single layer.
• Pour hot tap water over the pasta to cover it by about a quarter to a half inch.
• Season with salt to taste.
• Preheat your steam oven to 212°F (100°C).
• Transfer the pan of pasta into the oven and cook for 20 to 22 minutes for al dente pasta. Smaller pasta shapes like orzo may cook faster, so begin checking at 18 minutes.
• Remove the pasta from the oven and drain off any remaining water.
• Serve with your favourite sauce.

Beef Ragu Pasta

This recipe for beef ragu pasta is cooked in a dutch oven on the stovetop and in a combi steam oven.

Ingredients:

• 2kg chuck steak on the bone
• 400g tin crushed tomatoes
• 4 vine-ripened tomatoes
• Extra virgin olive oil
• 1 onion
• 2-3 cloves of garlic
• Dried oregano
• Beef stock
• Baking paper
• Pasta of your choice
• Parmesan

Instructions:

• Finely slice the onion and garlic and set aside.
• Place the dutch oven on the stovetop over medium heat. Once the pot is hot, add a splash of olive oil and the onion and saute for 2-3 minutes.
• Add the garlic and saute for a further 2 minutes.
• Add the dried oregano and cook for another minute.
• Roughly chop the vine-ripened tomatoes and add to the pot. Cook for about 3 minutes until they begin to soften.
• Add the crushed tomatoes, beef stock, and a generous pinch of seasoning. Bring the sauce to a boil and remove from the heat.
• Add the beef bones and cover the pot lightly with baking paper.
• Place the pot in a preheated oven combi setting at 170°C for 2.5 hours.
• About 10-15 minutes before the beef is done, cook your pasta.
• Once the beef is done, remove the pot from the oven and scrape away any meat left on the bones into the pot.
• Strain the cooked pasta and toss it through the ragu.
• Pour the pasta into a large serving bowl and grate over some parmesan.

World's Best Pasta Sauce

This sauce can be used for lasagna or as a meat sauce.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, sliced
• ¾ pound lean ground beef
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 2 (6.5-ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 2 (6-ounce) cans tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons dried basil
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon fennel seed
• Salt
• Ground black pepper

Instructions:

• Cook the sausage, beef, onion, and garlic in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat until browned. Drain the fat.
• Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and water.
• Mix in the sugar, basil, Italian seasoning, fennel seed, salt, and pepper.
• Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, about 1 ½ hours.
• Serve with your favourite pasta.

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