Device and method for steam pressure cooking by means of microwave radiation
The device integrates microwave radiation and steam pressure cooking in a sealed chamber with a shaft stirrer and condensate collection, addressing the challenge of uniform cooking and pressure control.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- AU · AU
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- BACOMBE AG
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-20
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing cooking methods fail to efficiently combine steam pressure and microwave radiation for uniform cooking while maintaining a sealed environment.
A device that integrates microwave radiation generation with steam pressure cooking, using a sealed cooking chamber and a shaft stirrer for uniform distribution of microwaves, along with a condensate collection system and pressure control mechanisms.
Enables efficient and uniform cooking by combining steam pressure and microwave radiation, ensuring even heating and pressure regulation within a sealed environment.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
- in Figure 6, a perspective view of a further device according to the invention. Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a device 1 according to the invention, in which a food item support 8 is arranged in the mounting 7 (not shown). The device 1 according to the invention comprises a first cover 4 having an opening 5 for the introduction of microwave radiation. A second cover 6, which is permeable to microwave radiation, is arranged at a distance from the first cover 4, and the mounting 7 for the food item support (not visible) is arranged at the second cover 6. As can be seen, both covers 4 and 6 are curved toward the same side, with the first cover 4 being more strongly curved than the second cover 6. In this way, a cavity is formed between the first cover 4 and the second cover 6, into which microwave radiation is introduced through the opening 5 in the first cover 4 via a waveguide 15. A shaft stirrer 17, driven by a motor 16, is arranged with its mounting in the opening 5, through which the microwave radiation generated by a means for generating microwave radiation (not shown) is distributed homogeneously. The cooking chamber 9 is formed by arranging the food item support 8 in the mounting 7 between them and is sealed pressure-tight by the seal 10. According to the preferred embodiment, the device 1 has a condensate collection ring 11, which is arranged at the edge of the second cover 6 and has a depression for collecting condensate formed during the cooking process. An end of a pipe 12 is arranged in this depression, through which condensate can be drained from the device 1 and the cooking chamber 9 can be ventilated and air can be exhausted. In Figure 2, subfigures a) and b) each show a perspective view of the device 1 of the invention from Figure 1, which also schematically shows the means for generating microwave radiation 3, which is in particular a magnetron. In subfigure a), the device 1 is shown at a distance from the food item support 8 having food 2 arranged thereon, i.e., in this arrangement there is not yet a defined cooking chamber 9. In subfigure b), however, the food item support 8 contacts the device 1 according to the invention, and a pressure-tight cooking chamber 9 is defined by the second cover (not shown) and the food item support 8. Figure 3 shows a further perspective view of the arrangement shown in Figure 2a of a food item support 8 at a distance to the device 1 according to the invention. Figure 4 shows a further embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention in a sectional view. In this embodiment, in addition to the components of the device 1 shown in Figure 1, the device 1 further comprises a pressure sensor 13 and a magnetic valve 14 as a controllable valve, each of which is arranged in or connected to the pipe 12. The pressure sensor 13 is configured to determine the pressure in the cooking chamber 9, and the magnetic valve 14 is preferably configured to interrupt or allow the passage of fluid from one end of the pipe 12 to the other end of the pipe 12 depending on a pressure determined by the pressure sensor 13 in the cooking chamber 9. In this way, when the magnetic valve 14 is open, either air from the outside can enter the cooking chamber 9, or air, steam, and / or condensate can exit the cooking chamber 9 to the outside. Figure 5 shows another embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention in an exploded view. This differs from the embodiment shown in Figure 3 in that the food item support 8 is multi-part and comprises a serving tray carrying the food item 2, an insulating insertion element 18, and a metallic outer wall facing away from the cooking chamber 9. However, in contrast to the three-part embodiment of the food item support 8 shown, it may also consist of only two parts, wherein the insulating insertion element 18 carries the food item 2 and functions as a serving tray. A corresponding embodiment is shown in Figure 6. The features of the invention disclosed in the preceding description, in the figures, and in the claims may be essential for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments, either individually or in any combination. List of reference numerals: Device for steam-pressure cooking Food item Means for generating microwave radiation First cover Opening in the first cover Second cover Mounting Food item support Cooking chamber Seal Condensate collection ring Pipe Pressure sensor Controllable valve Waveguide Motor Shaft stirrer Insertion element Cooking chamber-reducing element
Claims
1. Device (1) for steam-pressure cooking a food item (2) using microwaveradiation, comprising a means for generating microwave radiation (3), characterized by a first cover (4) having an opening (5) for introducing microwave radiation, a second cover (6) arranged at a distance from the first cover (4) and permeable to microwave radiation, as well as a mounting (7) for a food item support (8) that is impermeable to microwave radiation, wherein the device is configured, when the food item support (8) is arranged in the mounting (7), to form a pressure-tight cooking chamber (9) between the second cover (6) and the food item support (8) and, optionally, a seal (10) arranged between them, wherein the food item support (8) forms part of the cooking chamber (9) and seals it in a pressure-tight manner.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized by a condensate collection ring(11) arranged at or in the immediate vicinity of the edge of the second cover (6) and having a depression for collecting condensate formed during the cooking process.
3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the condensate collectionring (11) is removably arranged on the edge of the second cover (6).
4. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that thesecond cover (6) is curved toward the first cover (4) and / or is made of a material selected from the group comprising or consisting of plastics, glass, ceramics, and glass-ceramics.
5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that thecondensate collection ring (11) has, at the deepest point of the depression, a pipe (12) leading out of the cooking chamber (9) for draining condensate and for ventilating and exhausting the air from the cooking chamber (9), respectively.
6. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by a pressuresensor (13) configured to measure the pressure in the cooking chamber (9).
7. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by acontrollable valve (14) arranged in or on the pipe (12), which is configured to interrupt or allow the passage of fluid from one end of the pipe (12) to the other end of the pipe (12), optionally depending on a pressure determined by the pressure sensor (13) in the cooking chamber (9).
8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe food item support (8) comprises an outer side made of or containing metal, which faces away from the cooking chamber (9) when positioned in the mounting (7), as well as an insulating insertion element (18) facing the cooking chamber (9).
9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the insulating insertionelement (18) is made of plastic and / or porcelain.
10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by one ormore cooking chamber-reducing elements (19) arranged to reduce the size of the cooking chamber (9) by being positioned on the food item support (8) and / or on the second cover (6).
11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the insulating insertionelement (18) is a cooking chamber-reducing element (19).
12. Process for steam-pressure cooking a food item using microwave radiation,comprising the following steps:- Providing a device (1) for steam-pressure cooking a food item (2)using microwave radiation, comprising a means (3) for generating microwave radiation, a first cover (4) having an opening (5) for introducing microwave radiation, a second cover (6) arranged at a distance from the first cover (5) and permeable to microwave radiation, as well as a mounting (7) for a fooditem support (8) that is impermeable to microwave radiation, wherein the device is configured, when the food item support (8) is arranged in the mounting (7), to form a pressure-tight cooking chamber (9) between the second cover (6) and the food item support (8), as well as optionally a seal (10) arranged between them;- Arranging the food item support (8) that is impermeable to microwaveradiation having a food item (2) arranged thereon within the mounting (7), whereby a pressure-tight cooking chamber (9) is formed between the second cover (6) and the food item support (8) as well as, optionally, a seal (10) arranged between them;- Generating microwave radiation by means of the means (3) forgenerating microwave radiation and heating the food item (2) placed on the food item support (8) by means of the generated microwave radiation.
13. Process according to claim 12, characterized in that condensate formedduring the heating of the food item (2) arranged on the food item support (8) collects within a depression of a condensate collection ring (11) that is arranged at or in the immediate vicinity of the edge of the second cover (6).
14. Process according to any one of claims 12 or 13, wherein the provideddevice (1) has, at the lowest point of the depression of the condensate collection ring (11), a pipe (12) leading out of the cooking chamber (9) for draining condensate and for ventilating and exhausting the air from the cooking chamber (9), and in addition has a controllable valve (14) arranged in or at the pipe (12), wherein the controllable valve (14) interrupts or allows the passage of fluid from one end of the pipe (12) to the other end of the pipe (12) depending on a pressure determined by a pressure sensor (13) in the cooking chamber (9).
15. Process according to any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the provideddevice (1) has a control unit, and wherein the control unit controls the intensity of the microwave radiation supplied to the cooking chamber (9) as afunction of the cooking state of the food item (2) and / or as a function of the pressure determined by the pressure sensor (13) in the cooking chamber (9).