9 Benefits of Cooking with a Steam Oven

Steam ovens are a hot trend for people that want to cook a healthy meal.  They have really grown in popularity in the last 10 years and keep getting more affordable as time goes on. There are many benefits of cooking with steam ovens versus regular ovens.  Here are some of the reasons why you will want a steam oven when you are redoing your kitchen.  

• Time Saving: Smaller cavity, faster preheat
• Better tasting: Moisture is not lost
• Healthier: steam helps retain vitamins, minerals and nutrients of food
• Better quality: Steam preserves color, texture and flavor of produce
• Reheat quality: Can warm up food without drying it out- saves money on food!
• Multipurpose: Can be used as a traditional wall oven and installed in several different applications.
• Steam enables easy clean up instead of a spill over in a traditional oven.
• Cooking can be done using glass, metal dishes & cutlery.
• There is no flavor transfer when cooking multiple items in the oven.

A steam oven has a reservoir that needs to be filled with water before you start cooking. On some ovens, this reservoir needs to be filled manually, while others can be hooked up to your home’s plumbing so that you always have water ready for steaming.   Convection steam ovens give you the ability to roast and brown foods and still keep it nice and moist.  Steam ovens are pricey, but have gone down in pricing. They start at about $3000, but are worth it if you want the best results for the healthy food you are preparing for your friends and family.

Check out all of the steam oven options that we have available online, but we recommend seeing them in-person at one of our stores.

How to purchase the perfect appliance – from start to finish.

Have you ever purchased (what you thought was) the perfect appliance only to find it doesn’t fit or isn’t what you expected? Maybe you’ve walked into an appliance store only to feel overwhelmed purchasing for a new home or as a first time appliance buyer - whatever your situation, we know it can be challenging to get it just right. We’ve all been there, we’ve been asked the questions, we’ve seen the potential challenges you might face throughout your buying experience and we are here to help!

The team at Appliance Factory & Mattress Kingdom is here to guide you in how to select, purchase, and walk away satisfied with your new appliances. Over the next few weeks we will blog about different appliances and help direct you towards a seamless buying experience. Stay tuned as we teach you what you need to know before, during and in the completion steps of purchasing your appliances!

SELECTING & BUYING YOUR NEW REFRIGERATOR

Step 1: Prepare yourself for entering the appliance store.

You would be surprised how much time a few minutes of preparing can save you in the long run, or how simple the process can be when you provide us with a few details. (Plus we know buying an appliance can be a big decision and a little nerve racking as you go)

*MEASURING THE SPACE:

Before you arrive at the store to choose your new refrigerator, it’s important to know your space requirements. If you’re unsure of your measurements, you will probably be going home to measure or guessing and potentially receiving a refrigerator that’s too high, wide or doesn’t look right for your space. Refrigerators come in a variety of sizes, as do homes, and it’s important you take 3 very important measurements: 1. HEIGHT, 2. DEPTH, & 3. Width 

*KNOW WHERE YOUR WATER SOURCE IS:

Finding your water source makes it easy to figure out which refrigerator will fit your space and if getting one with an ice maker is an option. It’s a common buying mistake to not check to see if there is water access. Before you purchase, do a simple check behind where you plan to place your new refrigerator- is there an on/off valve or a small hose? If you are still unsure, don’t worry we can help- just snap a few photos of what it looks like back there and we can guide you to the accessories and/or any adjustments you may need to insure your new fridge runs just the way you want it to!

*KNOW YOUR CLEARANCE OPTIONS: … (And no that doesn’t mean your best sales prices, though we will guarantee you the best price for 30 days after your refrigerator purchase!)

When you hear the word clearance when it comes to a refrigerator we’re referring to any potential space you would need to clear. Is it going to be next to a wall or in a narrow space? Will you be able to open up doors that swing to the left and the right? Will pull out drawers be able to open successfully without hitting cabinets or other appliances?

…Congratulations, you are prepared to enter the appliance store!  You have eliminated many potential mistakes that can happen when you don’t do some simple homework. And now it’s time for you to enter the store and choose what exactly to buy.

Step 2: Choose the features that make sense.

If you have an idea of what features you may like in your refrigerator that’s great and if not we will give you an overview of things to potentially consider:

• Is LED lighting important?
• Do you need or want spill proof shelving?
• What type of finish are you looking for? (Finishes vary by brand in their availability and are black/white, slate, stainless steel, smudge proof stainless steel, or black stainless).
• Do you want a hot water dispenser? (Yes, they have a refrigerator with a built in Keurig!)
• Do you have a lot of fresh fruits and veggies? (You might want a dual compressor as it keeps items at a temperature that is more consistent than your basic refrigerator).
• Do you need a refrigerator that is counter depth? (You will have a built in look though you will lose storage space).
• Do you want a door-in-door option? (Energy efficient and provides quick access).
• Do you want true crisp drawers? (vacuum-seal drawers that help items last longer).
• Do you need child locks?
• Are you often frustrated by how long it takes to thaw items you want to immediately enjoy? (If so then you might want to consider a refrigerator with a Quick Chill feature).

Step 3: Choosing the best Refrigerator capacity.

Most people have heard that the more capacity you have in a refrigerator the more space but what exactly does that mean for you in your real life grocery buying scenario?

• 1 bag of groceries = 1cu. Ft (appx); larger families need over 20 cu.ft (4-6cu.ft per adult)

Step 4: Choose the Refrigerator Style that fits your needs.

Step 5: Set up Delivery & Enjoy your new Refrigerator!

We hope you have found this blog helpful and remember we are here to help you.

Stop by today and let’s get you your new refrigerator! We have the lowest prices guaranteed and sales associates who are looking forward to assisting you through your appliance buying experience.

Be sure to stay tuned to our blog as we will also explore how to buy a new: Range, Dishwasher, Washer & Dryer, and Mattress.

Stop by one of our 16 locations to help you purchase the best refrigerator for you.