The effect of cooking in a steam-convection oven on the quality of selected dishes

The effects of cooking in a steam-convection (combi) oven in comparison with traditional methods of cooking, such as frying, roasting and boiling, on basic chemical composition and contents of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and sulphydryl (SH) groups of pork, fish and chicken meats, potatoes and carrot were studied. The cooking of pork and fish in a combi oven required a longer time than traditional frying; therefore higher cooking losses were observed, whereas cooking losses in chicken cooked in a traditional oven and the combi oven were comparable. Foods cooked in the combi oven contained more protein and less fat than traditionally cooked samples. Lack of water in the combi oven cooking enabled a higher retention of vitamin C in vegetables. The intensity of HMF forming was higher in products cooked in the combi oven. Changes in proteins were smaller in meats cooked in the combi oven (higher content of total SH groups), whereas they were higher in the combi oven-cooked vegetables.