Nowadays, technology keeps getting better and better with each passing day. As an end result, even the most simple kitchen appliances get re-designed as multi-functional cooking devices that are then thoroughly improved each and every year. Thanks to that, cooking appliances that would battle for counter space such as conventional electric ovens are now a thing of the past. Therefore, their modern replacement are multi-function ovens, which boast a multitude of different cooking functionalities that allows them to be used for a wider variety of cooking methods as well as to achieve better results with baking, roasting, grilling, defrosting and more. In other words, multi-function ovens are a cooking-boon in many different ways. From air-frying to sourdough-baking to slow-cooking, many of us have gotten creative with newly released multi-function ovens, especially since the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic originally started. This brings us to the Panasonic HomeCHEF 7-in-1 Compact Oven.
The Panasonic HomeCHEF 7-in-1 Compact Oven is a smart convection steam oven that boasts multiple cooking functions, including steaming, convection baking, stewing, fermenting, air frying, and more.
Not only that, but this all-in-one convection steam oven also features 18 Preset Menu Options with pre-configured temperatures for different dishes, as well as 6 Preset Sanitizing Functions for automatically cleaning and deodorizing dishware, tableware and baby bottles.
Now, let’s have a more detailed look at the Panasonic HomeCHEF 7-in-1 Compact Oven and check out everything that this smart convection steam oven has to offer you.
DESIGN & SPECS
Starting with the device’s size, the Panasonic HomeCHEF 7-in-1 Compact Oven comes at a fairly compact size, as it designed as an all-in-one smart convection steam oven, with the unit measuring just 15.90 inches long by 15.90 inches wide by 14.80 inches tall (404 x 404 x 376 mm), which consequently saves you a lot of space within your kitchen countertop. In addition, the oven weighs 27.11 lbs. (12.3 kg).
Moreover, this all-in-one smart convection steam oven also features a simply, stylish, and ultra-modern design that allows it to easily blend in with the rest of your kitchen’s countertop and any surrounding kitchenware. Not only that, but it also features a high-quality and extremely sturdy construction.
At the front-side of the unit, we have a Pull Down Door for the oven’s Release System, which integrates a large and sturdy handle that makes it both safe and easy to open and close this convection steam oven, even while you’re cooking with it.
Now, despite its compact design, the Panasonic HomeCHEF 7-in-1 Compact Oven features a large inner capacity of 0.7 cubic feet (equates to 20 L), which basically makes it big enough to fit a rotisserie chicken or multiple small kitchens comfortably, thus enabling any home cook to fit and prepare either larger items or more food inside it.
Furthermore, it also comes equipped with two metal trays and two wire racks for 2-Level Cooking, ultimately allowing you to cook multiple foods or meals at once.
On top of that, this next-generation convection steam oven also comes equipped with a bigger and larger fan that’s 140mm wide, and the structure of its fan has also been improved to circulate hot air more evenly, effectively, and powerfully throughout the oven’s interior and across its two levels.
As all passionate cooks know, steam cooking is one of the healthiest ways to prepare food, as this cooking method retains more of the nutrients found in food when compared to other methods such as boiling or frying.
On that note, know that the HomeCHEF 7-in-1 Compact Oven also boasts a newly increased 800ml Water Tank and a powerful Boiler that together create a Powerful Steam to help ensure that the nutrients, moisture and flavor of your food are retained. The oven’s 800ml Water Tank is easy to remove, and this can done by simply holding both of its sides and gently pulling it out.
Last but not least, the Panasonic HomeCHEF 7-in-1 Compact Oven also integrates a bright LED Lamp that keeps its interior perfectly illuminated at all times.
INTERFACE / CONTROL PANEL
Moving on to the oven’s interface. Right at the bottom-side of the unit, we also have a built-in Digital Display that’s easy to read, as it neatly displays the oven’s various cooking programs.
And located just to the right of the oven’s Digital Display, we also have a simple Control Panel with an intuitive layout that makes it simple enough for anyone to use this smart convection steam oven. The oven’s Control Panel is used to conveniently navigate between the oven’s different cooking functionalities, as well as to configure them more thoroughly if necessary.
The Panasonic HomeCHEF 7-in-1 Compact Oven’s Control Panel consists of four simple buttons: a Stop/Reset Button, two Cooking Function Selection Buttons (Previous and Next), and a Start/Set Button.
DIFFERENT COOKING METHODS
Steaming
First and foremost, know that this smart convection steam oven is capable of steaming your food, and this is probably the oven’s best cooking method. Once again, the oven’s big 800ml Water Tank and its powerful Boiler work together to ultimately create a long and perfect steam cooking, which keeps food soft and moist, all while maintaining all the nutrients in your food.
There are two (x2) Steam Modes that you can choose from for optimal cooking results, and these will basically depend on the type of dish that you’re looking to prepare. Those are “Steam-High” for meat, root vegetables and sea food for a maximum of 30 minutes, and “Steam-Medium” for buns, shrimp, chicken breast, etc., for a maximum of one hour.
Convection Cooking / Baking
Additionally, the Panasonic HomeCHEF 7-in-1 Compact Oven is also capable of convection cooking / convection baking. Whether you’re planning on baking a rotisserie chicken, a large amount of bread, or even one or two big cakes, you can save a lot of time by cooking or baking on two levels simultaneously thanks to the oven’s 2-Level Convection Cooking, for which hot air will still circulate well-distributed throughout the oven to cook your food evenly.
Note that this is actually a great functionality to have for times when you need to prepare large quantities of food for larger groups of people.
To ensure a uniform cooking experience whenever you’re cooking any sort of baked dishes – even when cooking on the oven’s two levels – users can finely adjust the temperature within a wide range of temperature-settings, starting from 215°F (100°C) all the way up to 445°F (230°C).
Stewing (Slow Cooking)
Another awesome cooking mode that this multi-function convection steam oven boasts is its Stew Mode, which makes simmering food easy and convenient.
For the oven’s Stew Mode, the oven’s steaming and convection functions are combined, which basically has the oven itself spraying your food with steam during the stewing process to produce juicier meats, fluffier cakes, or even extra-moist desserts.
This ultimately helps you to easily make dishes that need simmering for a long time (which would otherwise be troublesome to prepare), such as stews, medicinal soups, and other slow-cook recipes, all with just the press of a button.
Fermenting
The HomeCHEF 7-in-1’s cooking functions don’t end with Steaming, Convection Baking, and Stewing. In fact, this smart convection steam oven is capable of yet another awesome unique cooking mode, and that’s Fermentation.
There are two fermentation temperature settings available: 85°F and 100°F. The new 85°F setting is ideal for making hard crust breads that have difficult-to-control dough temperature and for secondary fermentation of croissants, whereas the 100°F setting is great for pizza dough.
Air-Frying
Lastly, if a user is craving fries or chicken tenders, the oven also boasts a Air Fry mode that can be used to cook these delicious and crispy foods by using a smaller amount of oil than you’d normally would when cooking them with a frying pan, thus making them much healthier.
OTHER NOTABLE FEATURES
18 Preset Menu Options
On top of all of its already-mentioned cooking functionalities, the Panasonic HomeCHEF 7-in-1 Compact Oven also features 18 Preset Menu Options for pre-configured dishes – such as Steamed Fish, Teriyaki Chicken Wings, Cheesecake, and more – which basically take care of a dish’s cooking-time and temperature settings for you.
6 Preset Sanitizing Functions
There are also six (x6) Preset Sanitizing Functions for automatically cleaning and deodorizing items such as dishware and/or tableware as well as more personal items like baby bottles.
This is a really nice feature to have, as it can be a huge help when it comes to post-dinner clean-up.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Panasonic HomeCHEF 7-in-1 Compact Oven is a smart convection steam oven that boasts multiple cooking functions, including steaming, convection baking, stewing, fermenting, air frying, and more.
Not only that, but this all-in-one convection steam oven also features 18 Preset Menu Options with pre-configured temperatures for different dishes, as well as 6 Preset Sanitizing Functions for automatically cleaning and deodorizing dishware, tableware and baby bottles.
All in all, the Panasonic HomeCHEF 7-in-1 Compact Oven simplifies almost any cooking method for home cooks with the simple press of a button, along with its huge potential to support cooking of all ages, levels and lifestyles.
With it, families can greatly save time in preparing a wide range of delicious and healthy meals, and that’s especially thanks to the combination of its new and improved steam and convection functions.
If you’re interested in buying it, know that the Panasonic HomeCHEF 7-in-1 Compact Oven will retail for just $499.99, and will soon be available for purchasing starting in April 2022 via retailers like Amazon and Costco.
