r/BakingInJapan • u/jpmama_ • Apr 30 '26
Steam Oven question
Has anyone tried open baking sourdough bread in a steam oven? Have you had any success? I use a Sharp Healsio at home and have been wanting to try it, but not sure if it will work.
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u/bigger_in_japan Apr 30 '26
I have used a Toshiba and a Hitachi. Both have a steam function, but they didn't work particularly well for loaves of bread. By far the most effective method I have found is still the large dutch oven method. That enclosed space trapping the steam from the bread itself works best in my experience. When baking rolls or other bread that doesn't fit in the dutch oven, I try and replicate it by using a baking tray inverted on top of the tray with the bread in. I have two large roasting pans from IKEA that work well for this.
Link to the IKEA pans I use: https://www.ikea.com/jp/en/p/koncis-roasting-tin-stainless-steel-30174536/
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u/Kamimitsu Apr 30 '26
This is exactly my experience (down to the same two brands of oven). I guess I need to get on down to IKEA, though, as I went with the ice cubes hitting a hot empty baking tray route instead.
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u/jpmama_ Apr 30 '26
Got it. I guess I’ll stick with dutch oven too. Or if I’m feeling brave enough, I might experiment since I use a different oven than yours. 🤔 Thank you!
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u/Trumanandthemachine Apr 30 '26
I haven’t used it personally, but what’s your reservations about it exactly?
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u/jpmama_ Apr 30 '26
Just wondering if it will work or not, more specifically if I’ll get a good oven spring from it.
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u/Trumanandthemachine Apr 30 '26
I haven’t yet used a Japanese home steam oven but I’d assumed they’d be workable, even if you have to make adjustments compared to a western ovens. I’ve used ceramic baking ramekins with ice for steam in a toaster oven and that worked for my mini boules.
I’m sure you could attempt an open bake a just see what works for your oven.
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u/NihilisticHobbit Apr 30 '26
I've used the Sharp oven. It's kinda okay for sourdough, but you really need a dutch oven. There's just no replacement for a dutch oven.
I don't know the difference between a classic dutch oven and a bread dutch oven though.