Steaming Ahead: Cooking With The Aeg Oven

Cooking with an AEG steam oven is a great way to elevate your culinary creations to the next level. Steam ovens are a popular choice for those seeking to improve their cooking, with the addition of steam enhancing the flavour, texture and colour of dishes, while also preserving crispiness. AEG steam ovens offer a range of functions, such as Steamify®, SteamCrisp and SteamBoost, which make it easy to prepare a variety of dishes, from bread and cakes to meat, fish and vegetables. Steam cooking is also a healthier option, as it preserves nutrients and vitamins, while requiring less oil. With an AEG steam oven, you can achieve professional-level results in the comfort of your own home.

How to use the Steamify® function

The Steamify® function on your AEG oven will guide you to cook wholesome and mouth-watering meals at home with ease. Steamify® is available on selected AEG oven models.

Steam cooking offers multiple benefits. It preserves nutrients, vitamins, colours, and flavours. Meals will contain less fat as you use less oil, and juices are retained. You can look forward to healthier and more succulent meals.

Steamify® makes steam cooking easier. There is no need to change the way you cook or figure out how and when to add steam. Your oven adds the right amount of steam at the right time and combines it with dry heat if needed.

• Press the Steamify® icon on the display.
• Set the temperature by clicking on the temperature on the display. Slide it to the right temperature.
• Press START to begin cooking.
• Follow the instructions on the screen to fill the water tank if necessary.
• Press OK.

Steamify® will recommend a temperature based on the results you want to achieve. As you move the temperature slider, the oven will indicate expected results at different temperatures:

50-100°C – Steam for steaming

105-130°C – Steam for stewing

135-150°C – Steam for gentle crisping

155-230°C – Steam for baking and roasting

When cooking dishes requiring 135°C and above, set your desired cooking time so you can fully utilise the multi-step cooking process of Steamify®.

How to bake bread with the Steam setting

Baking bread with an AEG steam oven is simple. The steam setting is one of the best ways to bake bread, as it ensures the dough rises evenly and results in a moist interior and a crispy crust.

Step 1: Prepare the dough

First, prepare your dough. The basic ingredients for bread are flour, yeast, and water. You can add salt, sugar, and oil or butter for flavour and texture. Mix and knead the dough, then leave it to rise in a warm place for at least an hour or until it has doubled in size.

Step 2: Prove the dough

AEG steam ovens have a dough proving function that provides the optimal environment for proving dough. Place the dough in a dish on the level one shelf and select the Dough Proving function. The temperature is automatically set at 35°C, which is the ideal temperature for dough proving.

Step 3: Prepare the oven

Before baking, preheat your oven to the desired temperature. AEG ovens have a Steamify® function that automatically sets the steam level based on the temperature selected. If your oven doesn't have this function, you can manually set the desired steam level. For baking bread, select the Humidity Medium setting.

Step 4: Bake the bread

Place the dough in the oven and let it bake until a light golden crust forms. Then, switch off the steam and complete the baking in a dry oven. This will give your bread a chewy, golden, and slightly glossy crust.

Step 5: Cool the bread

Once the bread is baked to your liking, remove it from the oven and turn it out of the pan onto a wire rack to cool. Enjoy your freshly baked bread!

How to steam vegetables

Steaming vegetables in an AEG steam oven is a simple and effective way to cook healthy and tasty food. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to steam vegetables using the AEG steam oven:

Firstly, it is recommended to start with a cold oven to get the most out of steam cooking. The oven should be preheated to the Full Steam function at 96°C, and a perforated steam tray should be added. This function is ideal for gently cooking vegetables while retaining their flavour, colour, and nutrients.

Next, prepare the vegetables by cutting them into uniform sizes. This ensures even cooking. You can use any combination of vegetables, such as leeks, Chinese cabbage, broccolini, asparagus, snow peas, green beans, bok choy, and broad beans.

Now, it's time to add the vegetables to the steam tray. Each type of vegetable has a specific cooking time, so refer to the steam tables or your recipe for guidance. For example, start with leeks and steam for 2 minutes, then add cabbage and steam for an additional 4 minutes, and so on.

After all the vegetables are steamed, remove them from the oven and arrange them on a serving platter or individual plates.

To enhance the flavour of the steamed vegetables, consider making a simple dressing. Heat a tablespoon of sesame oil in a pan, add a thinly sliced clove of garlic and chilli, and sauté for 2 minutes over medium heat. Then, add a tablespoon of rice wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, and a tablespoon of water. Simmer this mixture for 30 seconds, and then drizzle it over the steamed vegetables.

Finally, remember to empty the water drawer after cooking and dry the cavity with a soft cloth to maintain your AEG steam oven.

How to roast or grill meat

Roasting or grilling meat with an AEG steam oven is a simple and effective way to cook juicy and tender meat with a super crispy crust.

Firstly, it is recommended that your oven is cold when you start cooking to get the most out of steam cooking. If your oven is hot, the steam that is generated will not be visible.

AEG steam ovens provide a combination of steam and dry heat, which can be combined manually or automatically with the Steamify® function. The Steamify® function will add the right amount of steam at the right time and combine it with dry heat if needed. To use Steamify®, simply select the function, set the temperature, and press start. The oven will then automatically set the steam level for you.

If you would like to set the steam level manually, follow these steps:

• Fill up the water drawer to the maximum level.
• Push the water drawer back into position.
• Scroll through the menu to find the manual steam functions.
• Select the desired manual steam function.
• Set the temperature.
• Press start.

When roasting or grilling meat, the ideal steam setting is Humidity Low, which combines hot air with steam to create juicy and crispy food. This setting is perfect for meat, poultry, and fish.

With a little steam, you can achieve a super crispy crust on your meat, while the inside remains deliciously creamy and tender.

How to steam fish

Steaming fish in your AEG oven is a great way to cook a large amount of fish at once, and it's easy to do. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to steam fish:

Preparing the Fish

Firstly, decide on the type of fish you want to steam. You can use whole fish such as black sea bass or salmon, or fillets like sole, cod, salmon, mackerel or grouper. You will need to clean, scale, gut and score the fish. For fillets, you can use skinless varieties.

Setting Up the Oven

Preheat your oven to 400-450°F. Place a long piece of aluminum foil on a large, shallow baking sheet, ensuring the foil is longer than the sheet itself. Repeat this with another baking sheet and place one whole fish or fillet on each sheet. If using a whole fish, season both sides with salt and pepper. For fillets, you can season before or after steaming.

Adding Flavour

Steaming fish is a great way to retain moisture and flavour. To add extra flavour to your dish, you can whisk together some sesame oil, scallions and ginger, and spoon this mixture over the fish before steaming. Alternatively, you can simply sprinkle the fish with a little water.

Steaming

Carefully pour a small amount of boiling water around the fish, about 1/2 a cup or a few inches of water in a wok. Wrap the sheet pan tightly with aluminum foil. Steam the fish in the oven until it is cooked through and flakes easily. This should take about 15 minutes for thin fillets and up to 20-25 minutes for thicker fillets or whole fish.

Serving

Once the fish is cooked, remove the foil and serve with the juices from the baking sheet. You can also garnish with an easy sauce like red chile oil, soy sauce, green onions, and shallow-fried garlic slices.

Tips for Using Your AEG Steam Oven

When using your AEG steam oven, remember that it provides a combination of steam and dry heat, so you can manually adjust the settings or use the Steamify® function if your model has it. It is recommended to start with a cold oven when steam cooking, and always use cold tap water in the water drawer, not filtered or distilled water.

Frequently asked questions