The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Brava Oven

loaflove's picture
loaflove

Brava Oven

Hi all

Has anyone heard of the Brava oven or had any experience making sourdough in one?

Thanks

LL

tpassin's picture
tpassin

No experience but I'd be doubtful about it because it cooks using intense light sources, and the food is so close to them that it's hard to see how one could get uniform cooking. It doesn't sound like steaming a loaf would be feasible, either.

Here's a review that wants to be favorable but found a lot of problems -

https://www.foodandwine.com/lifestyle/kitchen/brava-oven-review-pros-cons

 

loaflove's picture
loaflove

Thanks for the link! OK how about an affordable countertop steam oven.  Would that work?  I'm trying to find something compact.  My dutch oven doesn't fit in my wolf countertop oven and it doesn't get quite hot enough.  Now with a countertop steam oven I wouldn't need a DO would I?

 

 

tpassin's picture
tpassin

Cook's Illustrated likes this one a lot: Anova Precision Oven. WHen my oven's heating element died, I got interested even though I don't have the space for one. At $600 (US) it's not too pricy as these things go if it's as good as it seems -

https://anovaculinary.com/products/anova-precision-oven

(I was able to get a replacement element so I never followed up and actually tried the Anova).

It does do steam and has a 5L steam container. They were never able to get the Bluetooth connection to their phone app to work but you don't need it.  Here's a picture from Anova's home page of a loaf of bread that presumably was baked in the oven:

https://anovaculinary.com/cdn/shop/files/anova-precision-oven-steam-makes-bread-better-than-ever.webp?v=1666764281&width=360

 

Precaud's picture
Precaud

I ended up getting one of these and apart from getting accustomed to convection baking, am getting good results and liking it so far.

https://shop.panasonic.com/kitchen-and-home/microwaves-and-multi-ovens/multi-ovens/nu-sc180b

If you're willing to be a little patient (up to a couple weeks), they can be had for less than half price brand new. Panasonic has an online store where they sell refurbs and customer returns.

https://panasonic.factoryoutletstore.com/details/1107478/panasonic-nu-sc180b.html?category_id=104197&catalogitemid=1017938