Cuisinart Combo Steam/Convection Oven (Part 3)

[JoNorvelleWalker]

1 hour ago, curls said:

Still haven't had time to open up my broken CSO but found another one at a great price. Still hoping my original CSO can be repaired and then it will be my spare. This company in Canada has CSO's available at approximately $215 USD / $280 CDN - https://www.homecoffeesolutions.com/products/cuisinart-combo-steam-convection-oven-cso-300n1c?_pos=1&_sid=bb587864b&_ss=r

 

Amazon US currently has the CSO at $255.

 

[curls]

21 minutes ago, JoNorvelleWalker said:

 

Amazon US currently has the CSO at $255.

 

Thank you. I ordered the one that I linked to above for $215. 

[rotuts]

@wibago  

 

I looked into Combi over some time ago.

 

built in models then were a bit small for use , and

 

then there was that added installation expense 

 

as I understand it , the Anova counter top model is a decent sie

 

and no additional expense for instalation

 

you do need dedicated counter top space

 

and it seems the Anova has had several glitches 

 

( possibly now fixed ) over the course of its y0ung life.

 

and the price  as all prices these days

 

had certainly gone up considerably.

 

 

Edited August 19, 2023 by rotuts (log)

[JoNorvelleWalker]

4 hours ago, wibago said:

Are built-in steam ovens (Miele, etc.) far superior to countertop models? DH has decided he is very interested in getting a steam oven for its touted "reheat" superiority but I'm wondering if a countertop model costing <$1000 would suffice as well as models costing thousands

 

Not having a Miele I can't fully address the question.  However after having three Cuisinarts and two Anovas I can say the APO offers more control than the Miele I saw in someone's kitchen.  Neither the APO nor the CSO are perfect, but I'd find it hard to live without one.

 

[maxm]

Has anyone replaced the steam heating element? Mine doesn't have the usual "add water" error, and there is power to the element, but I think it's burnt out.

 

Edit: it's pretty cooked

 

 

Edited December 22, 2023 by maxm (log)

[palo]

Looks like mineral calcification

 

Had you been using distilled water?

 

That's what the APO recommends

 

p

[maxm]

It is essentially a small steam boiler and I'm surprised there is no corrosion protection (anode rod etc). This gives the element a short expected lifespan, so it's equally surprising there seems to be no way to source replacement units. I can get all kinds of spare parts for my $100 kitchenaid blender, but not for this more expensive oven. 

[rotuts]

I  haven't had these two TJ's items in a while , but usually have them in my freezer :

 

TJ Thai shrimp gyoza 

 

 

and TJ's fish sticks

 

 

I used the CSO , conventional bake   400 F 30 minutes , added 10 more # 425 :

 

 

the pot stickers were very crunch on top , but still moist inside.

 

the FS's were very very crunchy , and did not need to be turned.

 

I used conventional bake , as the CSO is a sealed oven, thus plenty of steam escaped when finished and the

 

door was opened

 

I tried this again the next day :

 

just the 400 F for 30 min:

 

 

the potstickers were still crunchy on top , not brned, and moister inside.  better

 

the fish sticks were still crunchy ,did not need to be turned , and moister.

 

both items directly from the freezer.

 

the second cook time is a keeper when I do both of these at the same time

 

if I do the FS's separately , Ill add a few minutes @ the 400 F temp.

 

easy , tasty and a keeper.

 

 

Edited January 16 by rotuts (log)

[KennethT]

@rotuts I'm sure they're very tasty but the thought of Thai gyoza tickles my funny bone...

[Okanagancook]

We used super steam at 350 for 15 minutes for Asian dim sum.

Perfect cook.

[rotuts]

Ive soaked the Thai dumplings from frozen in cold water

 

for a few minutes ,

 

and cooked them on steam bake

 

 they come out just  like a dim sum steamer.

 

the cold water hydrates a thin layer of outer dough 

 

 

Edited January 17 by rotuts (log)

[jedovaty]

Finally birthed a new sourdough starter after I accidentally baked my last one.  Made a ~400g test boule and didn't feel like using the regular oven, so I tried in the CSO with a small kiln shelf I had.  It worked with a ~20 steam bake followed by regular bake.  I did preheat ~45 minutes to get the kiln shelf hot, however, bottom was a little bold so will reduce preheat time.  I would not go past 400g loaf, maybe 450g depending on shape and expected rise.  A small dish of rolls would probably work out very well.

 

That said, this had a very strong oven-hei flavor to it so I would recommend anyone trying to bake break to clean the oven first (I've been roasting fish and veges several times a week in this for a several months now and.. ermm.. yeah.. I need to clean it).

[KennethT]

6 hours ago, jedovaty said:

Finally birthed a new sourdough starter after I accidentally baked my last one.  Made a ~400g test boule and didn't feel like using the regular oven, so I tried in the CSO with a small kiln shelf I had.  It worked with a ~20 steam bake followed by regular bake.  I did preheat ~45 minutes to get the kiln shelf hot, however, bottom was a little bold so will reduce preheat time.  I would not go past 400g loaf, maybe 450g depending on shape and expected rise.  A small dish of rolls would probably work out very well.

 

That said, this had a very strong oven-hei flavor to it so I would recommend anyone trying to bake break to clean the oven first (I've been roasting fish and veges several times a week in this for a several months now and.. ermm.. yeah.. I need to clean it).

Ha! I feel you.  Yesterday I used mine to toast some shrimp paste (350F on convection bake for 15 or so minutes).  I left the oven door open all day and night later.  This morning, my wife made an English muffin (from the freezer) and it (as well as the kitchen) was infused with the shrimp paste smell.  Good thing she likes shrimp paste!

[InFrom]

I found this forum while searching to find out why my Cuisinart CSA isn't steaming as it should. Wow, what a surprise to find this huge repository of info, with a group of dedicated enthusiasts to boot! It's impressive.

 

If anyone has a clue, or wants to speculate on what's going on with my steam oven, I'd love to hear it. I've had the oven a couple of years, and it's become an essential part of my cooking. It's still working, in that the heating elements heat up well and the boiler produces copious steam, but the steam doesn't go into the oven -- it billows out all the exterior vents. The interior remains dry, no sign of steam when I open the door. Food I want to gently warm using Bake Steam ends up crunchy on top. Symptoms started about a week ago.

 

I did the decalc process today, and a very little bit of residue came out when I drained the reservoir at the end. Our water here is not very mineral. I read the post about dismantling the back of the machine and cleaning the tube, but to be honest that doesn't seem to apply to the problem I'm having. There's plenty of steam being generated, it's just not finding its way into the oven compartment, as if a nozzle or hose leading out of the boiler is blocked, or something like that. 

 

Any insights? 

[Shelby]

Hi @InFrom!  Welcome to EG!  

 

I had the same problem and few years ago I decided to take it apart and see if there was gunk in the tubing  and documented the process.  For me this process solved the problem.

 

Click here:   How To Disassemble and Clean CSO Tubing

Edited Thursday at 10:22 PM by Shelby (log)

[InFrom]

8 minutes ago, Shelby said:

Hi @InFrom!  Welcome to EG!  

 

I had the same problem and few years ago I decided to take it apart and see if there was gunk in the tubing  and documented the process.  For me this process solved the problem.

 

Click here:   How To Disassemble and Clean CSO Tubing

 

Hi, and thank you!

 

I read your post this afternoon, and really appreciated your detailed pics and description. So the problem you were having was the same as mine, that the machine was making plenty of steam, but not directing it into the oven? 

[Shelby]

Not exactly the same but it's worth a shot to clean that tube--and also make sure your steam vents aren't gunked up in there too.

[InFrom]

6 minutes ago, Shelby said:

Not exactly the same but it's worth a shot to clean that tube--and also make sure your steam vents aren't gunked up in there too.

 

👍

 

The steam vents sound like a good bet, I wouldn't be surprised to find gunk in them, thanks for that suggestion. Were you able to see the vents, once you had the cover off the unit? Are they those rectangular openings I can see in your picture, or are they elsewhere? 

 

Also, how hard was it to get the clips off the ends of that hose? They look pretty strong.

[Shelby]

The steam vents are on the inside on the right side.  I don't know how often you steam clean your CSO but they could be clogged.  I'd use a small brush like I used to clean the gunk out and poke it in the vents and brush around.

 

As for the clips I used a pair of pliers to squeeze the clamp and it slips right off.  Squeezing it enlarges it so it can come off easily.