A container usable in a microwave environment

Abstract

The application discloses a cooking container which can be used in a microwave environment, comprising a container body, the container body having a food containing cavity and a water storage cavity located at the periphery of the food containing cavity, a water inlet communicating with the water storage cavity being arranged on the outer side wall or the top of the container body, and a vent being arranged on the top or the upper end of the cavity wall of the food containing cavity, the water storage cavity being communicated with the food containing cavity through the vent. The cooking container has simple structure and solves the problems of uneven heating, local high temperature, overcooking and dry taste of the current microwave cooking food.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of cooking containers, in particular to a cooking container that can be used in a microwave environment. BACKGROUND

[0002] Microwave cooking of food is prone to uneven heating, resulting in cold spots and hot spots, which affects the taste of the food. When using a microwave to crisp food, the food is prone to excessive dehydration, resulting in a dry and hard taste when eating the food.

[0003] The microwave steamer on the market cannot reflect microwaves, and microwaves can penetrate the steamer to heat water and food at the same time. After heating is completed, the food loses too much water, resulting in a dry and hard taste, which affects the taste. In addition, the microwave steamer on the market has low temperature resistance and can only be used as a steamer, and cannot be used with a microwave crisping plate, an oven plate, or a grill. SUMMARY

[0004] The present application aims to at least partially solve one of the problems existing in the prior art. To this end, the present application provides a cooking container that can be used in a microwave environment, which has a simple structure and solves the problem of uneven heating, local high temperature, and overcooking of microwave-cooked food, which results in a dry and hard taste.

[0005] According to the above-mentioned cooking container that can be used in a microwave environment, the following technical solutions are implemented:

[0006] A cooking container that can be used in a microwave environment includes a container body having a food holding cavity and a water storage cavity located at the periphery of the food holding cavity. A water inlet is provided on the outer side wall or top of the container body and is connected to the water storage cavity. A vent is provided on the top or upper end of the cavity wall of the food holding cavity, and the water storage cavity is connected to the food holding cavity through the vent.

[0007] In some embodiments, the water inlet is arranged in a staggered manner with the vent, or the water inlet is located directly above the vent, and the vent is composed of a plurality of vent holes.

[0008] In some embodiments, a cover is movably provided on the water inlet to open or close the water inlet.

[0009] In some embodiments, a plurality of exhaust holes are circumferentially spaced apart at the lower end of the outer side wall of the container body, and each exhaust hole is connected to the food holding cavity.

[0010] In some embodiments, an annular boss is provided at the lower end of the cavity wall of the food holding cavity and located inside the food holding cavity. The annular boss is located radially inside all the exhaust holes, and the inlet of each exhaust hole is arranged directly opposite the annular boss.

[0011] In some embodiments, a holding portion is further provided on the outer sidewall or the top of the container body.

[0012] In some embodiments, a baffle is further included, the water storage cavity has oppositely arranged inner cavity wall surface and outer cavity wall surface, the venting port is arranged on the inner cavity wall surface, the baffle is arranged in the water storage cavity and located outside the venting port, a lower gap for fluid passing is left between the baffle and the inner cavity wall surface, and the lower gap is communicated with the venting port.

[0013] In some embodiments, the baffle is fixedly provided with an outer positioning portion extending towards the outer cavity wall surface, and the outer positioning portion is connected to the outer cavity wall surface; and / or, the baffle is fixedly provided with an inner positioning portion extending towards the inner cavity wall surface, and the inner positioning portion is connected to the inner cavity wall surface.

[0014] In some embodiments, an upper gap for fluid passing is left between the baffle and the outer cavity wall surface, and the upper gap is communicated with the water inlet.

[0015] In some embodiments, an upwardly bent flange is integrally formed on the outer edge of the baffle.

[0016] In some embodiments, a ring-shaped sealing member is further included, the ring-shaped sealing member is provided with an upwardly open ring-shaped clamping groove, the bottom of the food holding cavity is open to form a bottom opening, and the lower end of the sidewall of the container body is clamped in the ring-shaped clamping groove and connected to the ring-shaped sealing member.

[0017] In some embodiments, the ring-shaped sealing member is made of high-temperature-resistant silica gel, and the ring-shaped sealing member is integrally injection molded with the container body or detachably connected.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, the present application at least has the following advantages:

[0019] 1. The cooking container of the present application, by arranging a water storage cavity on the periphery of the food holding cavity, and connecting the water storage cavity to the food holding cavity through a venting port, when the cooking container is used in cooperation with existing accessories or a matching container plate, not only can meet the user's demand for rapid steaming and rapid tender roasting, but also can reduce the microwave acting on the food, has a more palatable and tender cooking effect than the current microwave steaming basket, so as to obtain more delicious and tasty food, and solves the problems of uneven heating, local high temperature, overcooking and dry taste of the current microwave steaming food.

[0020] 2. After cooking, the remaining steam or heat in the cooking container can be used to keep the food warm, saving energy. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] Figure 1is an exploded view of the cooking container in Example 1 of the present application;

[0022] Figure 2 is a structural schematic view of the cooking container in Example 1 of the present application;

[0023] Figure 3 is a sectional view of the cooking container in Example 1 of the present application;

[0024] Figure 4 is a sectional view of the container body in Example 1 of the present application;

[0025] Figure 5 is a sectional view of the cooking container in Example 2 of the present application;

[0026] Figure 6 is a sectional view of the cooking container in Example 3 of the present application;

[0027] Figure 7 is a sectional view of another cooking container in Example 3 of the present application;

[0028] Figure 8 is a sectional view of the container body in Example 4 of the present application.

[0029] In the figure: 1 - container body, 101 - water inlet, 102 - air hole, 103 - exhaust hole, 104 - mounting hole, 11 - food holding cavity, 110 - bottom opening, 12 - water storage cavity, 121 - inner cavity wall, 122 - outer cavity wall, 13 - annular boss; 2 - cover, 21 - limiting part, 22 - sealing part; 3 - baffle, 31 - inner positioning part, 32 - flange; 41 - lower gap, 42 - upper gap; 5 - annular sealing member, 51 - annular clamping groove. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The following examples are provided to illustrate the present application, but the present application is not limited to these examples. Modifications to the specific embodiments of the present application or equivalent substitutions of some technical features are possible without departing from the spirit of the present application, and they should be covered in the technical solution range claimed by the present application.

[0031] Example 1

[0032] Reference Figures 1-4 The present embodiment provides a cooking container that can be used in a microwave environment, which can be used with existing accessories (such as any one of a microwave baking tray, a microwave dinner plate, a ceramic or glass dinner plate), to achieve full use of existing accessories while obtaining more delicious and tasty food. The cooking container includes a container body 1, which has a food holding cavity 11 and a water storage cavity 12, the water storage cavity 12 is located at the periphery of the food holding cavity 11, and the water storage cavity 12 at least covers the upper part of the food holding cavity 1.

[0033] A water inlet 101 is arranged on the outer side wall or top of the container body 1 and communicates with the water storage cavity 12. An air vent (not shown in the figure) is arranged on the top or upper end of the cavity wall of the food holding cavity 11, and the water storage cavity 12 communicates with the food holding cavity 11 through the air vent. In this embodiment, the water storage cavity 12 can contain up to 1L of water, and the bottom of the food holding cavity 11 is open to form a bottom opening 110, so the cooking container needs to be used in cooperation with existing accessories (for example, any one of a microwave oven tray, a microwave dinner plate, a ceramic or glass dinner plate). Of course, a matching container tray matched with the container body 1 can also be specially configured to enable the food holding cavity 11 to define a cooking space together with the existing accessories or the matching container tray.

[0034] In use, the food to be cooked is placed in the cooking space, and a certain amount of water is added to the water storage cavity 12 of the cooking container. The cooking container is placed in a cooking device (which can be a microwave oven, or an oven or a steam oven with microwave function), and a microwave heating program or a crisp roasting program is started to realize the functions of rapid steaming or rapid tender roasting.

[0035] During cooking, the microwaves do not directly act on the food to be cooked placed in the food holding cavity 11, but act on the water in the water storage cavity 12 and the existing accessories or the matching container tray, effectively avoiding uneven heating. The existing accessories or the matching container tray transmits the microwave heat absorbed by it to the food to be cooked through heat conduction, while the water in the water storage cavity 12 absorbs a large amount of microwave energy from the outside of the cooking container. The water rapidly boils to generate steam, which flows into the food holding cavity 11 from the air vent to heat and cook the food to be cooked by steam, achieving the effects of steaming or tender roasting.

[0036] It can be seen that the cooking container, by being used in cooperation with the existing accessories or the matching container tray, not only meets the user's cooking demand for rapid steaming and rapid tender roasting, but also reduces the microwaves acting on the food, has a more palatable and tender cooking effect than the current microwave steaming basket, and can obtain more delicious and tasty food, effectively solving the problems of uneven heating, local high temperature, overcooking and dry taste of the current microwave steaming food. After cooking, the remaining steam or heat in the cooking container can be used to keep the food warm, saving energy.

[0037] Reference Figures 1-4 The water storage cavity 12 has oppositely arranged inner and outer cavity wall surfaces 121 and 122, wherein the outer cavity wall surface 122 constitutes the outer side wall and the top of the container body 1, and the inner cavity wall surface 121 constitutes part or all of the cavity wall of the food holding cavity 11. In this embodiment, the water inlet 101 is arranged on the top of the container body 1, i.e. the water inlet 101 is arranged at the highest position of the outer cavity wall surface 122. The water inlet 101 is not only a water adding channel for adding water into the water storage cavity 12, but also a water discharging channel for discharging the remaining water in the water storage cavity 12.

[0038] Optionally, a protrusion (not shown in the figure) extending upward is integrally formed at the highest position of the outer cavity wall surface 122, and the water inlet 101 vertically penetrates the protrusion, so that the peripheral wall of the water inlet 101 can serve as a holding part of the handle, facilitating the user to take the cooking container through the peripheral wall of the water inlet 101. Of course, a holding part of the handle can also be additionally provided on the outer side wall or the top outer side of the container body 1.

[0039] Reference Figures 3-4 The air vent is provided on the inner cavity wall surface 121 and located directly below the water inlet 101, and the air vent is composed of a plurality of air vents 102 uniformly and spacedly arranged, each of which respectively communicates the food containing cavity 11 and the water storage cavity 12 to achieve the air equalization effect, so that after the water in the water storage cavity 12 is heated to boiling to generate steam, the steam uniformly enters the food containing cavity 11. In this embodiment, the highest water level in the water storage cavity 12 is lower than the lowest point of the upper end surface of the air vent, so as to avoid the water in the water storage cavity 12 directly overflowing into the food containing cavity 11 from the air vent 102.

[0040] Reference Figures 1-3 The cooking container further comprises a cover 2 movably provided at the water inlet 101 for opening or closing the water inlet 101. In this way, on the one hand, the water inlet 101 is opened by the cover 2, which facilitates the addition of water into the water storage cavity 12, and on the other hand, the water inlet 101 is closed by the cover 2, which not only prevents the steam in the cooking container from escaping outward, but also allows the excess steam to escape through the cooperation of the cover 2 on the top, the cooking container and the existing accessories or the matching container disc when the steam pressure in the water storage cavity 12 and / or the food containing cavity 11 is relatively large during the cooking process, so as to release the pressure.

[0041] In this embodiment, the cover 2 comprises a limiting part 21 and a sealing part 22 fixedly connected in a T shape, the sealing part 22 is inserted into the water inlet 101 from bottom to top, and the sealing part 22 can be connected with the peripheral wall of the water inlet 101 in interference fit. The limiting part 21 covers the upper end opening of the water inlet 101 and abuts against the upper edge of the water inlet 101.

[0042] In this embodiment, in order to make the cooking container have a special exhaust passage, a plurality of exhaust holes 103 are circumferentially and spacedly arranged at the lower end of the outer side wall of the container body 1, each of which communicates with the food containing cavity 11, so that when the steam pressure in the food containing cavity 11 is relatively large, the excess steam can directly escape out of the cooking container through the exhaust holes 103 to release the pressure of the food containing cavity 11, without escaping through the cooperation of the cover 2 on the top, the cooking container and the existing accessories or the matching container disc, and at this time, the cover 2 can be sealingly connected with the peripheral wall of the water inlet 101.

[0043] In other embodiments, the exhaust hole 103 can be omitted, at this time, the cover 2 can be designed to open the water inlet 101 under excess steam, so as to exhaust and pressure relief through the water inlet 101; or the cover 2 is designed to be sealingly connected to the peripheral wall of the water inlet 101, and the excess steam cannot open the water inlet 101 of the cover 2, and can only escape and pressure relief through the cooperation of the cooking container and the existing accessories or the matched container disc.

[0044] In order to avoid that the water flowing down from the water inlet 101 directly flows into the food containing cavity 11 through the vent, and also to avoid that the microwaves directly enter the food containing cavity 11 through the vent, with reference to Figures 1-3 , the cooking container further comprises a baffle 3, which is arranged in the water storage cavity 12 and located outside the vent, and is used to prevent microwaves and water flowing down from the water inlet 101 from entering the food containing cavity 11 through the vent. A lower gap 41 for fluid to pass through is left between the baffle 3 and the inner cavity wall surface 121, and the lower gap 41 is connected to the vent. In this way, the steam in the water storage cavity 12 can enter the food containing cavity 11 through the lower gap 41 and the vent at one time, and the baffle 3 can reflect the microwaves entering the top of the container body 1, so as to prevent the microwaves from directly entering the food containing cavity 11 through the vent.

[0045] An upper gap 42 for fluid to pass through is left between the baffle 3 and the outer cavity wall surface 122, and the upper gap 42 is connected to the water inlet 101. In this way, when the water flows down from the water inlet 101, it falls on the upper surface of the baffle 3 and spreads around along the upper surface of the baffle 3, and then uniformly flows into the water storage groove 12, so as to prevent the water flowing down from the water inlet 101 from directly entering the food containing cavity 11 through the vent.

[0046] In the embodiment, the container body 1 and the cover 2 are made of high-temperature-resistant plastic or high-temperature-resistant silica gel, and the high-temperature-resistant plastic can be PP; the baffle 3 is made of stainless steel, and other metals can also be used for support. A reflective layer is arranged on the upper surface of the baffle 3, or the upper surface of the baffle 3 is designed as a reflective surface, so as to reflect the microwaves entering the top of the container body 1 through the reflective layer or the reflective surface.

[0047] In order to firmly and reliably install the baffle 3 in the water storage cavity 12, with reference to Figure 3 , an inner positioning portion 31 extending towards the inner cavity wall surface 121 is fixedly arranged on the baffle 3, and the inner positioning portion 31 is connected to the inner cavity wall surface 121. With reference to Figure 4In the embodiment, the inner cavity wall surface 121 is provided with a mounting hole 104 for the inner positioning part 31 to pass through at the position corresponding to the inner positioning part 31, and the inner positioning part 31 is arranged in the mounting hole 104 from top to bottom and is fixedly connected with the inner cavity wall surface 121. In other embodiments, the inner positioning part 31 can be omitted or not omitted, and the baffle 3 is fixedly provided with an outer positioning part extending towards the outer cavity wall surface 122, and the outer positioning part is connected with the outer cavity wall surface 122.

[0048] With reference to Figure 1 and Figure 3 , the vertical sectional line type of the baffle 3 is arc-shaped with the middle high and both ends low, so that the baffle 3 has an umbrella structure. The projection of the baffle 3 on the inner cavity wall surface 121 covers the entire air vent, and the projection of the baffle 3 on the outer cavity wall surface 122 covers the entire water inlet 101. An upwardly bent flange 32 is integrally formed on the outer edge of the baffle 3. The flange 32 can increase the reflection effect of microwaves, and the water flowing down from the upper surface of the baffle 3 flows out of the baffle 3 along the flange 32 to the upper side, so as to facilitate the water flow to the water storage cavity 12.

[0049] With reference to Figures 1-3 , the cooking container further comprises an annular sealing member 5 provided with an annular clamping groove 51 open upwardly, and the bottom of the food containing cavity 11 is open to form a bottom opening 110, and the lower end of the side wall of the container body 1 is clamped in the annular clamping groove 51 and connected with the annular sealing member 5. Thus, the lower end of the side wall of the container body 1 is covered by the annular sealing member 5, which can prevent the lower end of the side wall of the container body 1 from scratching the user and improve the safety in use, and when the cooking container cover is placed on the existing accessories or matched container disc, the air tightness between the cooking container and the existing accessories or matched container disc is improved by the annular sealing member 5.

[0050] In the embodiment, the annular sealing member 5 is made of high-temperature-resistant silica gel, and the annular sealing member 5 is integrally injection molded with the container body 1. Of course, the annular sealing member 5 can be detachably connected with the container body 1, so as to be easily detached and replaced.

[0051] Embodiment 2

[0052] With reference to Figure 5 , the difference between the embodiment and the embodiment 1 is that the annular sealing member 5 is omitted, and the lower end of the side wall of the container body 1 is designed to be a circular arc or an inclined surface to prevent the lower end of the side wall of the container body 1 from scratching the user, while saving cost.

[0053] Embodiment 3

[0054] With reference to Figure 6The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 is that an annular boss 13 is provided circumferentially at the lower end of the cavity wall of the food holding cavity 11, located within the food holding cavity 11. The annular boss 13 is located radially inside all the vent holes 103. A gap (not shown in the figure) is left between the free end of the annular boss 13 and the cavity wall of the food holding cavity 11 for fluid passage. Each vent hole 103 is connected to the food holding cavity 11 through the gap. Each vent hole 103 is arranged directly opposite the annular boss 13. Thus, the annular boss 13 reflects the microwaves entering from the vent holes 103, preventing the microwaves from passing through the vent holes 103 and directly acting on the food in the food holding cavity 11, further avoiding uneven heating.

[0055] refer to Figure 6 The annular boss 13 is fixedly connected to the annular seal 5 at its fixed section. A gap is left between the free end of the annular boss 13 and the cavity wall of the food holding cavity 11. The inlet of each vent hole 103 is lower than the upper surface of the annular boss 13. In this embodiment, the annular boss 13 and the annular seal 5 are integrally formed. The annular boss 13 is formed by the inner groove wall of the annular groove 51 extending upward toward the inside of the food holding cavity 11. In other embodiments, the annular boss 13 can be integrated into the lower end of the cavity wall of the food holding cavity 11. The fixed end of the annular boss 13 can be welded and fixed to the lower end of the cavity wall of the food holding cavity 11, or it can be formed by bending the lower end of the cavity wall of the food holding cavity 11 inward and upward.

[0056] refer to Figure 7 The fixed section of the annular boss 13 is fixedly connected to the inner cavity wall 121. A gap is left between the free end of the annular boss 13 and the cavity wall of the food holding cavity 11. The inlet of each exhaust hole 103 is higher than the lower end face of the annular boss 13.

[0057] Example 4

[0058] refer to Figure 8 The difference between this embodiment and Embodiment 1 lies in the location of the inlet 101. In this embodiment, the inlet 101 is located on the outer wall of the container body 1, and the inlet 101 is offset from the vent. A cover 2 for opening or closing the inlet 101 is provided. This ensures that the water inlet direction of the inlet 101 is offset from the air outlet direction, preventing water flowing from the inlet 101 from directly entering the vent. Because the inlet 101 and the vent are offset, the baffle 3 can be omitted, or it can be retained.

[0059] In order to ensure that the maximum water storage capacity of the water storage cavity 12 is about 1L, the maximum water level line of the water storage cavity 12 is designed to be lower than the lowest point of the upper end surface of the water inlet 101 and lower than the lowest point of the upper end surface of the water passage, and the positional relationship between the lowest point of the upper end surface of the water inlet 101 and the lowest point of the upper end surface of the water passage is not limited, and can be flush or arranged with one high and one low.

[0060] The above only describes some embodiments of the present application. Those skilled in the art can make several modifications and improvements without departing from the inventive concept, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A cooking container usable in a microwave environment, characterized by, The container body (1) has a food containing cavity (11) and a water storage cavity (12) located at the periphery of the food containing cavity (11), a water inlet (101) communicating with the water storage cavity (12) is arranged on the outer side wall or top of the container body (1), and a vent hole is arranged on the top or upper end of the cavity wall of the food containing cavity (11), the water storage cavity (12) is communicated with the food containing cavity (11) through the vent hole; The water storage cavity (12) has oppositely arranged inner cavity wall surface (121) and outer cavity wall surface (122), the vent hole is arranged on the inner cavity wall surface (121), the baffle (3) is arranged in the water storage cavity (12) and located outside the vent hole, and the lower gap (41) for fluid passing between the baffle (3) and the inner cavity wall surface (121) is left, and the lower gap (41) communicates with the vent hole.

2. A cooking vessel for use in a microwave environment according to claim 1, wherein, The water inlet (101) is arranged in a staggered manner with the vent hole, or the water inlet (101) is located directly above the vent hole, and the vent hole is composed of a plurality of vent holes (102).

3. A cooking vessel for use in a microwave environment according to claim 1, wherein, The cover body (2) is movably arranged at the water inlet (101) to open or close the water inlet (101).

4. A cooking vessel for use in a microwave environment according to claim 1, wherein, A plurality of exhaust holes (103) are circumferentially spaced apart at the lower end of the outer side wall of the container body (1), and each exhaust hole (103) is communicated with the food containing cavity (11).

5. A cooking vessel for use in a microwave environment according to claim 4, wherein, An annular boss (13) located in the food containing cavity (11) is arranged at the lower end of the cavity wall of the food containing cavity (11), the annular boss (13) is located radially inside all the exhaust holes (103), and the inlet of each exhaust hole (103) is arranged opposite to the annular boss (13).

6. A cooking vessel for use in a microwave environment according to claim 1, wherein, A gripping portion is further arranged on the outer side wall or top of the container body (1).

7. A cooking vessel for use in a microwave environment according to claim 1, wherein, The baffle (3) is fixedly provided with an outer positioning portion extending towards the outer cavity wall surface (122), and the outer positioning portion is connected with the outer cavity wall surface (122); And / or, the baffle (3) is fixedly provided with an inner positioning portion (31) extending towards the inner cavity wall surface (121), and the inner positioning portion (31) is connected with the inner cavity wall surface (121).

8. A cooking vessel for use in a microwave environment according to claim 1, wherein, An upper gap (42) for fluid passing between the baffle (3) and the outer cavity wall surface (122) is left, and the upper gap (42) communicates with the water inlet (101).

9. A cooking vessel for use in a microwave environment according to claim 1, wherein, An upwardly bent flange (32) is integrally formed on the outer edge of the baffle (3).

10. A cooking vessel for use in a microwave environment according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, An annular sealing member (5) is further provided, the annular sealing member (5) is provided with an upwardly open annular clamping groove (51), the bottom of the food containing cavity (11) is open to form a bottom opening (110), and the lower end of the side wall of the container body (1) is clamped in the annular clamping groove (51) and connected with the annular sealing member (5).

11. A cooking vessel for use in a microwave environment according to claim 10, wherein, The annular sealing member (5) is made of high-temperature-resistant silica gel, and the annular sealing member (5) is integrally injection molded with the container body (1) or detachably connected.

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