What's the Difference Between an Oven and a Stove? Many people are unaware of the distinctions between the two, so here's a major science普及 mini-classroom to set the record straight. There are always some who get it wrong. For a detailed introduction to ovens and stoves, please refer to previous articles, and thank you for your support! To help everyone understand clearly, we've also provided a brief summary. The steam oven operates on a principle similar to that of an oven, but with a larger surface area for heating, using air. The oven heats food to a paste-like consistency using specific equipment and then evenly heats it with microwave radiation. The steam oven, on the other hand, works by the internal heating element, which creates a negative temperature difference to heat the food.