If there is no water in an oven, it generally doesn't have a significant impact on the functioning of the oven itself, as ovens are not designed to use or require water for their basic operation. Ovens are primarily used for baking, roasting, and other cooking tasks, and they rely on dry heat to cook food.
However, there are some specific situations where water might be added to an oven:
Steam cooking: Some recipes call for adding water to the oven during cooking to create steam. Steam can help keep the food moist, prevent drying out, and improve the texture of certain dishes. In this case, if you omit the water, the food might not turn out as intended, potentially becoming drier than desired.
Water bath: In baking certain delicate desserts, like custards or cheesecakes, a water bath may be used. The baking dish with the dessert is placed in a larger pan containing water. The water bath helps to create a gentle and even heat around the dessert, preventing it from curdling or cracking. Without the water bath, the dessert might not set properly or could develop undesirable cracks.
Cleaning: Some ovens have a steam-cleaning feature that utilizes water to help loosen and remove stubborn stains and grease from the oven's interior. If you don't use water during the steam-cleaning cycle, the cleaning process might not be as effective.
For standard baking and roasting, the lack of water in the oven won't impact the cooking process itself. The oven will continue to generate dry heat and cook the food accordingly. However, for recipes that explicitly require water, it's essential to follow the instructions to achieve the best results. Always consult the specific recipe you are using to determine if water or steam is necessary for the cooking process.