Will steam generated inside an oven not break it?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility and safety of using an electric oven to generate steam for cooking rice cakes, a process typically done in a specialized steamer. Participants explore concerns regarding pressure buildup, steam management, and the structural integrity of the oven.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express concern that generating steam in an oven could create high pressure, likening it to a pressure cooker, and question how ovens handle such pressure.
  • Others argue that most ovens are not airtight and will allow steam to escape, preventing significant pressure buildup.
  • There is a discussion about the difference between using an oven and other methods of steaming, such as stovetop bamboo steamers, with some participants unsure about the specifics of oven design.
  • Some participants mention that condensation from steam may not be an issue if steam is generated slowly and the oven is not sealed.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential for radiation heat affecting the cooking process, with some suggesting that this might not be ideal for the dough.
  • A few participants clarify that typical ovens are ventilated and not designed to hold pressure, comparing them to pressure cookers which are sealed.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the safety and effectiveness of using an oven for steaming, with multiple competing views on whether pressure will build up and how steam will be managed within the oven.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the discussion is limited by assumptions about oven design and functionality, particularly regarding airtightness and steam management. There are also unresolved questions about the specifics of different oven types and their ventilation systems.

  • #31
russ_watters said:
Quick clarification: for insulation and fire safety i would hope a typical oven is an airtight, steel chamber -- except for the softly-closing, hinged door.
With such a design heating the oven (reducing the amount of air inside) and then letting it cool would create an under-pressure in the oven, which would either break the glass or make it impossible to open the door. Even natural variations in the air pressure would make the oven unusable on days with a higher atmospheric pressure. You need some opening that can keep the pressure inside at atmospheric pressure independent of the direction of the pressure difference.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #32
DrClaude said:
I have a convection oven and it is ventilated, not as in the picture above, but through a dedicated vent near the back of the top, the black thing you can see in this picture of a similar model
The fan in a convection oven typically recirculates the air. Turbulent airflow conducts heat much more quickly than laminar flow at the surface of, say, a turkey (or anything). That is why convection ovens cook much faster.
Yes all ovens are vented (I'm sure old ones more so than new). I think making steamed buns in an oven should work but be sure there is a pan of water intercepting any radiant heat and keep the oven only marginally above boiling (maybe 250F). Preheat it with the water in place . I always use a bamboo steamer.
 
  • #33
mfb said:
With such a design heating the oven (reducing the amount of air inside) and then letting it cool would create an under-pressure in the oven, which would either break the glass or make it impossible to open the door. Even natural variations in the air pressure would make the oven unusable on days with a higher atmospheric pressure. You need some opening that can keep the pressure inside at atmospheric pressure independent of the direction of the pressure difference.
The door. The door is not sealed. So even the rest of the oven were airtight, it could not hold positive or negative pressure. On mine, the "gasket" is a woven wire "fabric".

Also on closer inspection it has a 4"gap at the bottom.

I do wonder how much energy could be saved if an electric oven were unventilated and just used a fan for convection.
 
Last edited:
  • #34
k.udhay said:
Honestly, I am pretty sure this won't be an interesting taste to the people other than the south part of India
Are you talking about idli? If yes, I am from Kolkata and I find them tasty too.

If your electric oven is a microwave oven (I haven't read thoroughly through the whole thread), then it is not airtight. Many years back, I put in some food in our microwave for warming, and I did not remove the paper container that it came in. After some time, I found smoke rushing out of the microwave -- a part of the container had caught fire from the heating element on top of the microwave cavity.

Our microwave came with Idli plates. There is a large bowl, within which one can put water, and then put the idli plates filled with batter inside the bowl, above the water. The construction of the plates and the bowl is such that if the proper amount of water is poured in the bowl, they will not touch the idli plates. We tried it out once and the idlis were quite good, and were not burnt.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
6K
Replies
8
Views
5K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
  • · Replies 25 ·
Replies
25
Views
8K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
10K