Why the best bakers are obsessed with infrared steam ovens
Here is the problem with standard convection or steam ovens: they rely on air to move heat. And let’s be honest, air is pretty terrible at that. It’s slow. That’s why we put infrared (IR) heating elements right into the steam ovens. Instead of waiting for the air to warm up and slowly wrap around the dough, IR lamps send energy straight to the surface. It’s direct. It’s immediate.
Getting that perfect crust
We’ve all been there. You use steam to keep the crust supple, but you end up with a loaf that looks pale and feels soft. It’s frustrating. By mounting short-wave or medium-wave IR lamps at the top of the chamber, we can hit the top of the bread with a massive burst of heat. This kicks the Maillard reaction and caramelization into high gear. The result? You get that gorgeous, deep mahogany crust we all want, but the inside stays light and moist because the steam is still doing its job.
The nitty-gritty on the hardware
We use quartz-halogen tubes for this. Why? Because quartz can handle crazy high temperatures without breaking down. Plus, they’re fast. Like, “hit full power in a few seconds” fast. But you have to get the wattage right for the size of your oven. If the tube is too powerful, you’ll torch the tips of your bread before the middle is even cooked. Too weak, and the heat just bounces off the steam. To fix this, we use PID controls. It’s a fancy way of saying the heat is modulated precisely, so you don’t get those annoying “on/off” swings that cheap thermostats have.
A few things to keep in mind
Now, IR is fast, but it only hits what it can “see.” It’s directional. You can’t rely on it to cook the center of your loaf—that’s still the job of the steam and convection. Also, these lamps are a bit delicate. If your oven vibrates too much or the temperature swings wildly during a steam injection, the quartz can crack. That’s why we use reinforced mounts. It keeps the tubes safe so they don’t take a beating when you’re in the middle of a heavy production rush.