Many years ago, bakers discovered the advantages of baking bread by introducing moisture into the oven. They used to spray water into brick ovens to generate steam. Today, we have steam ovens with different heat and humidity settings to achieve the ideal crispy crust when baking bread.
Proofing Dough in the Steam Oven
Of course, proofing is the first step when baking bread with yeast, and most convection and steam ovens have a proof mode. In a convection oven, the circulating air is set to a low temperature of 100 F or less, maintaining an even temperature that does not dry. The advantage of the steam oven is moisture, which provides an ideal environment for the yeast to grow in abundance.
When you proof in a steam oven, you do not have to cover the bowl; just put it in the oven for the specified time. Poke the dough when the time has elapsed or doubled in size. If it leaves an indent, it has been successfully proofed, so you can continue the recipe as directed. Just keep an eye on the timing to avoid overproofing the dough.
Once proofed, the dough can be formed and placed in the baking pan. In this video, I am baking petite baguettes using a perforated form that holds three loaves. The perforations allow the heated air to circulate evenly around the dough, creating that wonderful crisp crust.
Now, the formed loaves go back into the oven for the second rise. Once they are ready, I will increase the oven temperature and change the cooking mode to the combination convection steam mode. Some ovens, like mine, feature different steam levels that I can choose for baking bread, and others feature specific modes for bread baking, so it's always a good idea to follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
When you change the oven mode, you can remove the loaves, slash the tops, and then return them to the oven as it heats. My oven heats so quickly, once they are slashed I put the loaves back in the oven but you can also let the bread rest outside of the oven until it is heated.
Baking with Steam
In terms of temperature, remember you are baking in convection, so if the recipe temperature is 400 degrees, I recommend you reduce the temperature to 380 - 375 and also watch the timing. Recipes are developed for full-size ovens, and the cavity size of a steam oven is generally much smaller, so baking time may be shorter. Remember to check the underneath of the loaves of bread before you remove them from the oven to ensure they are properly baked.
Baking with a Cast Iron Pan
A popular method for baking crusty loaves of bread is to bake them in a cast iron pan with a lid and then remove the lid towards the end of the baking time. Baking with the lid ensures the steam emitted during baking stays in the pan, while removing the lid ensures the bread achieves that perfectly crisp crust.
This method will achieve the best results by changing the mode to convection (no steam) and increasing the oven temperature by 25 degrees for the final 10 minutes of baking. However, there is an option you can use that will also give great results without having to use a cast iron pan.
Baking with a Baking Stone or Steel
You can bake bread directly on a baking stone or steel when baking bread in a steam oven instead of a cast iron pan. With the added humidity of the oven, you can achieve a wonderful crust without using a pan. A baking stone or steel can also be used when baking pizza or free-form tarts in either a convection or steam oven. However, you must heat the stone or steel for at least 15 - 20 minutes at 400 - 425 F to get it to the perfect temperature.
When baking with a stone or steel, line a pizza peel with a sheet of parchment and place the formed bread directly onto the parchment. When you place the bread in the oven, slide the parchment onto the hot stone or steel. This way, the bread won't stick it. It's much easier to handle.
If your oven has variable humidity settings, you can use higher humidity during the first part of the baking process, eliminate or lower the humidity, and increase the temperature by 25 degrees for the final ten minutes of baking. These steps replicate the technique used with a cast iron pan and should provide the same great results.
Baking bread is a really rewarding experience. You can experiment with many types of bread, and your steam oven is an amazing tool for achieving baking perfection.
Larissa, Your Convection Enthusiast
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