earthenware pot

Abstract

To provide an earthenware pot capable of simultaneously cooking rice and ingredients in a microwave oven. [Solution] The earthenware pot of the present invention is a rice cooking pot that includes a main body for cooking rice, an inner tray with through holes that is placed over the opening of the main body, and a lid that is placed in the groove of the inner tray to cover the pot. Multiple through holes are formed in the bottom surface of the groove, and the inner tray has an ingredient storage compartment, and steam from the main body passes through the through holes to cook ingredients stored in the ingredient storage compartment of the inner tray.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a clay pot, and more particularly to a clay pot that can be used for cooking in a microwave oven. [Background technology]

[0002] Besides cooking over an open flame, containers and earthenware pots that can be used in a microwave oven are also known. Patent Document 1 (JP 2014-188156 A) discloses an earthenware pot that can be placed in a microwave oven to cook ingredients and that can keep the food warm for a long time even after it is removed from the microwave. Patent Document 2 (JP 2012-217608 A) discloses a microwave rice cooker container that cooks rice in a microwave oven. The microwave rice cooker container of Patent Document 2 has bottom protrusions formed on the bottom surface of the container body that protrude toward the inner surface of the lid member in order to heat the rice contained in the container more evenly throughout and cook high-quality rice. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-188156 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-217608 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional microwaveable containers and earthenware pots are designed to cook food ingredients or rice in the container or earthenware pot. However, there are no containers or earthenware pots that can cook rice and ingredients at the same time. The object of the present invention is to provide an earthenware pot that can cook rice and ingredients at the same time in a microwave oven. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The earthenware pot according to the present invention is a rice cooking earthenware pot comprising: a main body for cooking rice, an inner tray having through holes and placed in the opening of the main body, and a lid placed in the groove of the inner tray to cover the earthenware pot. A plurality of through holes are formed in the bottom surface of the groove, and the inner tray has an ingredient storage section, and steam from the main body passes through the through holes to cook ingredients stored in the ingredient storage section of the inner tray.

[0006] In the earthenware pot according to the present invention, rice can be cooked by placing rice and water in the earthenware pot body and heating it over an open flame or in a microwave oven. Furthermore, at the same time as the rice is cooked, the steam generated in the earthenware pot body reaches the inner tray through the through-holes formed in the bottom surface of the groove in the inner tray, and can cook the ingredients stored in the ingredient storage section.

[0007] In the earthenware pot according to the present invention, the groove may be formed in a ring shape around the outer periphery of the ingredient-accommodating section of the inner tray. This allows the ingredient-accommodating section to be covered with the lid, and steam generated in the earthenware pot body during cooking is supplied evenly from around the ingredient-accommodating section through the through-holes formed in the bottom surface of the groove of the inner tray, allowing the ingredients stored in the ingredient-accommodating section to be cooked evenly.

[0008] In the earthenware pot according to the present invention, the annular upper end opening of the ingredient storage compartment may protrude above the bottom surface of the groove, thereby preventing water droplets remaining in the groove of the inner tray from entering the ingredient storage compartment.

[0009] In addition, in the earthenware pot according to the present invention, the ingredient storage section may be characterized by having a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above and being formed in the center of the inner tray section.

[0010] Furthermore, in the earthenware pot according to the present invention, the through-holes may include a first through-hole for ensuring the flow rate of steam and a second through-hole for controlling the convection of steam, the second through-hole being positioned closer to the outer periphery of the groove than the first through-hole and being partially blocked by the lid. This ensures the steam and temperature necessary to cook the ingredients stored in the ingredient storage section. Additionally, steam flows along the inner surface of the lid, facilitating the convection of steam. As a result, the ingredients stored in the ingredient storage section can be cooked evenly.

[0011] In the earthenware pot according to the present invention, the second through-holes may be formed at a higher position than the first through-holes, so that some of the water droplets that accumulate in the grooves during cooking can move along the bottom of the grooves from the area where the second through-holes are provided toward the area where the first through-holes are provided, and return to the inside of the earthenware pot body through the first through-holes.

[0012] In addition, the earthenware pot according to the present invention may be characterized in that the wall surface of the through-hole opposite the ingredient storage section is inclined upward and outward. This allows steam that passes through the through-hole to move along the inner surface of the lid, creating a flow of steam. This flow of steam creates convection, allowing the ingredients stored in the ingredient storage section to be cooked evenly.

[0013] The earthenware pot according to the present invention may further include an opening adjustment member for adjusting the size of the through-hole, the opening adjustment member being placed in the groove of the inner tray. By adjusting the size of the through-hole, the amount, pressure, and speed of steam passing through the through-hole can be controlled. As a result, the temperature in the ingredient storage compartment can be controlled to an appropriate temperature, allowing the ingredients placed in the ingredient storage compartment to be cooked appropriately.

[0014] The earthenware pot according to the present invention may further include an opening adjustment member for adjusting the size of the through-hole opening, wherein the ingredient storage section has a generally circular shape in top view and is formed in the center of the inner tray, and the opening adjustment member is rotatably placed in a groove in the inner tray. This allows the size of the through-hole opening to be freely adjusted. This allows the amount, pressure, and speed of steam passing through the through-hole to be freely controlled. As a result, the temperature inside the ingredient storage section is controlled to an appropriate temperature, allowing ingredients placed in the ingredient storage section to be cooked optimally. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] The earthenware pot according to the present invention comprises a clay pot body for cooking rice, an inner tray with a through-hole that is placed in the opening of the clay pot body, and a lid that is placed in the groove of the inner tray to cover the clay pot. Rice can be cooked by placing rice and water in the clay pot body and heating it over an open flame or in a microwave oven. Furthermore, at the same time as cooking the rice, steam generated in the clay pot body during cooking reaches the inner tray through the through-hole formed in the bottom surface of the groove of the inner tray, allowing ingredients stored in the ingredient storage compartment provided in the inner tray to be cooked. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a perspective view of an earthenware pot according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the earthenware pot taken along line II-II in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the earthenware pot taken along line III-III in FIG. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a diagram showing a schematic view of the inner tray. Figure 4(a) shows a top view of the inner tray as viewed from above, and Figure 4(b) shows a bottom view of the inner tray as viewed from the bottom. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4(a). [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 4(a). [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing a first opening adjustment member for adjusting the size of the opening of the through-hole provided in the inner tray portion. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing the inner tray part according to the second embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing a second opening adjustment member for adjusting the size of the opening of the through-hole provided in the inner tray portion according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the rice cooking process for cooking rice using the earthenware pot according to this embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The earthenware pot according to some embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted. In the description, terms indicating directions such as "upper" and "lower" are used for convenience based on the state shown in the drawings.

[0018] (First embodiment) Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a clay pot 1 according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the clay pot 1 taken along line II-II in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the clay pot 1 taken along line III-III in Fig. 1.

[0019] As shown in Figure 1, earthenware pot 1 can have earthenware pot body 2 and lid 4 that covers earthenware pot opening 3 provided at the top of earthenware pot body 2. It also has inner tray 10 that is placed on the periphery of earthenware pot opening 3 of earthenware pot body 2. The tip of lid 4 is placed in groove 11 provided near the outer edge of inner tray 4, and is configured to cover earthenware pot 1 via inner tray 10. In addition, lid 4 is provided with steam escape holes 5 that allow steam generated inside earthenware pot 1 to escape to the outside.

[0020] Furthermore, through holes 12 are formed in the grooves 11 of the inner tray 4. When cooking rice, steam generated in the earthenware pot body 2 passes through the through holes 12, hits the inner surface of the lid 4, and is guided to the inner tray 10, where it is possible to cook ingredients placed in the ingredient storage section 13 of the inner tray 10.

[0021] The earthenware pot 1 is configured so that, for example, rice and a predetermined amount of water are placed in the earthenware pot main body 2, the inner tray 10 is placed on the earthenware pot opening 3 of the earthenware pot main body 2, and the tip of the lid 4 is placed in the groove 11 of the inner tray 10, thereby covering the earthenware pot 1. After covering the earthenware pot 1, it is possible to place the pot directly in a microwave oven (electronic cooker) and cook rice. Furthermore, ingredients such as vegetables, fish, and meat can be placed in the ingredient storage section 13 of the inner tray 10, and these ingredients can be cooked using the steam generated when cooking the rice.

[0022] Next, the structure of the earthenware pot 1 will be described in detail with reference to Figures 2 and 3. As shown in Figure 1, two types of through holes 12 (first through holes 12a and second through holes 12b) are formed in the groove portion 11 of the inner tray portion 10. In order to cook ingredients such as vegetables, fish, and meat stored in the ingredient storage portion 13 of the inner tray portion 10, it is necessary to maintain the temperature inside the ingredient storage portion 13 at a predetermined temperature or higher for a certain period of time. For this reason, the number of the two types of through holes 12 and the size of the opening of the through holes 12 are designed so that steam generated in the earthenware pot body 2 passes through the through holes 12 and is supplied to the ingredient storage portion 13 of the inner tray portion 10 in an amount sufficient to cook the ingredients, thereby maintaining the temperature inside the ingredient storage portion 13 at a predetermined temperature or higher.

[0023] The first through hole 12a is provided near the peripheral edge of the ingredient storage section 13 of the substantially rectangular inner tray 10. On the other hand, the second through hole 12b is provided near the top (vertex) of the ingredient storage section 13 of the substantially rectangular inner tray 10. Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II passing through the first through hole 12a. Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III passing through the second through hole 12b.

[0024] 2 and 3, the earthenware pot 1 can have an earthenware pot body 2, an inner dish 10 placed on the periphery of the opening 3 at the top of the earthenware pot body 2, and a lid 4 placed in a groove 11 provided near the outer edge of the inner dish 4 to cover the earthenware pot 1 via the inner dish 10. The inner dish 10 is placed so that it can be freely attached to and detached from the earthenware pot 1, with a flange 14 provided on the outer periphery of the groove 11 supported by the periphery of the opening 3 at the top of the earthenware pot body 2.

[0025] The earthenware pot body 2 is also formed with a constricted portion, and is designed so that the lid 4 can be placed directly on the stepped portion of this constricted portion to cover it. In this case, rice can be cooked by placing the lid 4 directly on the stepped portion of the constricted portion of the earthenware pot body 2 without placing the inner tray 10 on the periphery of the earthenware pot opening 3 of the earthenware pot body 2.

[0026] Furthermore, the outer periphery of groove 11 of inner plate 10 can be made substantially circular to correspond to the shape of the opening of lid 4. Meanwhile, ingredient storage section 13 of inner plate 10 has a substantially rectangular shape, so the width of the groove near the peripheral edge of ingredient storage section 13 of inner plate 10 is greater than the width near the top (apex) of ingredient storage section 13 of inner plate 10. First through hole 12a provided near the peripheral edge of ingredient storage section 13 of inner plate 10 is formed biased toward ingredient storage section 13 of groove 11. Therefore, when lid 4 is placed in groove 11 of inner plate 10, first through hole 12a is positioned inside the tip of lid 4, and the tip of lid 4 is configured not to block first through hole 12a. In other words, even when the lid portion 4 is placed in the groove portion 11 of the inner tray portion 10, the first through hole 12a is not blocked by the lid portion 4, and the inner surface of the lid portion 4 placed above can be reached through the first through hole 12a.

[0027] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the second through-hole 12b is located near the top (vertex) of the ingredient storage section 13 and in the relatively narrow groove 11. Therefore, when the lid 4 is placed in the groove 11 of the inner tray 10, the tip of the lid 4 rests on a part of the second through-hole 12b, and the tip of the lid 4 can be partially blocked by the lid 4. In other words, when the lid 4 is placed in the groove 11 of the inner tray 10, a part of the second through-hole 12b is blocked by the lid 4, reducing the size of the opening of the second through-hole 12b. Therefore, when steam generated in the earthenware pot body 2 passes through the second through-hole 12b, the pressure of the steam is higher and the speed of the steam is higher than when passing through the first through-hole 12a, allowing the steam to reach the inner surface of the upper lid 4. As a result, a sufficient amount of steam necessary to cook the ingredients can be supplied to the ingredient storage section 13 of the inner tray 10, further maintaining the temperature inside the ingredient storage section 13 at a predetermined temperature or higher. Furthermore, steam that passes through the second through-holes 12b moves along the inner surface of the lid, creating a flow of steam. This flow of steam can create convection. As a result, the ingredients stored in the ingredient storage section can be cooked uniformly. Thus, by controlling the position, number, and opening size of the through-holes 12 provided in the groove section 11 of the inner tray 10, the amount, pressure, and speed of steam generated in the earthenware pot body 2 that passes through the through-holes 12 can be controlled. As a result, the temperature inside the ingredient storage section 13 heated by steam can be maintained at a predetermined temperature or higher, allowing ingredients such as vegetables, fish, and meat stored in the ingredient storage section 13 of the inner tray 10 to be cooked appropriately and uniformly.

[0028] Referring again to Figures 2 and 3, the side of the ingredient storage section 13 of the inner tray 10 has an inclined surface that slopes outward as it goes upward. Furthermore, the top of the side (periphery) of the ingredient storage section 13 of the inner tray 10 extends to a position higher than the bottom surface of the groove 11, forming a storage protrusion 15. In other words, the annular upper opening of the ingredient storage section protrudes above the bottom surface of the groove 11. Steam that passes through the first through-hole 12a or the second through-hole 12b and reaches the inner surface of the lid 4 is cooled and turns into water droplets, which fall along the inner surface of the lid 4 and can again accumulate in the groove 11 of the inner tray 10. Because the storage protrusion 15 extends to a position higher than the bottom surface of the groove 11, water droplets that have accumulated in the groove 11 of the inner tray 10 can be prevented from entering the ingredient storage section 13 of the inner tray 10. As a result, it is possible to prevent water droplets remaining in the groove portion 11 from entering the ingredient storage portion 13 of the inner tray portion 10 and affecting the taste of the cooked ingredients in the ingredient storage portion.

[0029] Meanwhile, some of the water droplets that have accumulated in the grooves 11 of the inner tray 10 are configured to pass through the through holes 12 (first through hole 12a, second through hole 12b) formed in the grooves 11 and return to the inside of the earthenware pot body 2. The water droplets on the inner surface of the lid 4 and in the grooves of the inner tray 10 can prevent the rice from drying out after cooking.

[0030] 2 and 3, arrows indicate the path of steam generated in the earthenware pot body 2. The steam generated in the earthenware pot body 2 passes through the gap between the earthenware pot body 2 and the inner tray 10, and then passes through the first through-hole 12a and / or the second through-hole 12b to reach the inner surface of the lid 4 disposed above. This steam then travels to the ingredient storage section 13 of the inner tray 10, and the ingredients stored in the ingredient storage section 13 are cooked by this steam.

[0031] In this embodiment, the earthenware pot body 2 and lid 4 can be made of clay (pottery) containing, for example, petalite. By including petalite in the clay, the clay can be made dense. For example, when using the earthenware pot 1 to cook rice on an induction cooker, the far-infrared effect allows heat to penetrate to the core of the rice, resulting in fluffy cooked rice. In addition, since the earthenware pot 1 has excellent heat retention, delicious rice can be preserved as is after cooking. Furthermore, since it has excellent heat resistance, fire resistance, and durability, it can be used suitably for cooking on an induction cooker as well as cooking over an open flame.

[0032] On the other hand, the inner tray 10 can be made of porcelain, for example. When the inner tray 10 is made of porcelain, it has excellent heat retention and high thermal conductivity, which allows for shorter cooking times. Porcelain is generally harder and more durable than earthenware, and is less susceptible to stains and odors that may occur when cooking vegetables and meat in the ingredient storage section 13. Porcelain is also suitable as a material for the inner tray 10 because it is easy to remove stains and odors from ingredients.

[0033] Furthermore, the cross-sectional shape of the top of the earthenware pot opening 3 of the earthenware pot body 2, on which the inner tray 10 is placed and which supports the inner tray 10, is convex, curved at a predetermined curvature. This ensures that when the inner tray 10 is placed on the earthenware pot body 2, the entire top of the earthenware pot opening 3 of the earthenware pot body 2 comes into uniform contact with the flange of the inner tray 10, preventing uneven contact, making it easier for the inner tray 10 to seal the earthenware pot body 2. Similarly, the cross-sectional shape of the tip of the lid 4 is convex, curved at a predetermined curvature. This ensures that when the lid 4 is placed in the groove 11 of the inner tray 10, the entire tip of the lid 4 comes into uniform contact with the bottom surface of the groove 11 of the inner tray 10, preventing uneven contact, making it possible for the lid 4 to seal the inner tray 10 and prevent steam from leaking to the outside.

[0034] Next, the structure of the inner tray 10 will be described in detail. FIG. 4(a) is a schematic top view of the inner tray 10, as viewed from above. FIG. 4(b) is a schematic bottom view of the inner tray 10, as viewed from below. The inner tray 10 is substantially circular and may have a flange 14 on its outer periphery for placing the earthenware pot body 2 thereon. A groove 11 having a recess for placing the lid 4 thereon is provided inside the flange. A substantially rectangular ingredient storage section 13 is provided inside the groove 11. The outer periphery of the groove 11 is substantially circular to match the shape of the lid 4. Meanwhile, the inner periphery of the groove 11 is substantially rectangular because it is connected to the ingredient storage section 13. Therefore, the width of the groove near the periphery of the ingredient storage section 13 of the inner tray 10 is different from the width near the top (vertex) of the ingredient storage section 13 of the inner tray 10. The width of the groove near the peripheral edge of ingredient storage section 13 of inner plate section 10 is larger than the width near the top (vertex) of ingredient storage section 13 of inner plate section 10.

[0035] Furthermore, the through holes 12 (first through holes 12a, second through holes 12b) provided in the groove portion 11 of the inner tray portion 10 are formed near the outer periphery of the ingredient storage portion 13. In this embodiment, the through holes 12 may include two types of first through holes 12a and second through holes 12b. Furthermore, the through holes 12 (first through holes 12a, second through holes 12b) may have a substantially oval opening. In this embodiment, the two types of first through holes 12a and second through holes 12b have different sizes, and the size of the first through holes 12a is larger than the size of the second through holes 12b. Furthermore, the first through holes 12a are provided near each of the four sides of the periphery of the ingredient storage portion 13. Meanwhile, the second through holes 12b are provided near three of the four vertices (apexes) of the ingredient storage portion 13. By controlling the type, position, number, and opening size of the through holes 12 provided in the groove portion 11 of the inner tray portion 10, the amount, pressure, and speed of steam generated in the earthenware pot body 2 that passes through the through holes 12 can be controlled.

[0036] Furthermore, no through-hole is provided near the remaining one of the four tops (vertices) of ingredient storage section 13. By utilizing this area near the top of ingredient storage section 13 where no through-hole is provided, juices and the like that have accumulated in the ingredient storage section after cooking can be easily removed from the ingredient storage section to the outside.

[0037] 4(a) and 4(b), the hole size of the through holes 12 (first through holes 12a, second through holes 12b) is larger when viewed from above than when viewed from below. In other words, the through holes 12 (first through holes 12a, second through holes 12b) are formed so that the inner surface 16 of the through holes is inclined so that the cross-sectional area increases upward.

[0038] Next, the hole shapes of the through holes 12 (first through hole 12a, second through hole 12b) will be described in detail using Figure 5. Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in Figure 4(a). Figure 5 also shows a reference line A that passes through the center of the lower opening of the through hole 12 and extends in the vertical direction. In Figure 5, the first through hole inner surface 16a on the ingredient storage section 13 side of the through hole 12 extends in approximately the same direction (vertical direction) as the reference line A. On the other hand, the second through hole inner surface 16b opposite the inner surface on the ingredient storage section 13 side is an inclined surface that slopes outward from the center of the hole as it goes upward.

[0039] The first through-hole inner surface 16a extends in substantially the same direction (vertical direction) as the reference line A, while the second through-hole inner surface 16b is inclined outward as it extends upward. In other words, the cross-sectional area of ​​the through-holes 12 (first through-hole 12a, second through-hole 12b) is small at the bottom and increases toward the top, with the entire through-hole extending with a gradual outward slope relative to the reference line A. When passing through the through-holes 12, steam generated in the earthenware pot body 2 is guided in the direction of extension of the through-holes 12 and ejected toward the inner surface of the lid 4. As a result, steam passing through the through-holes 12 (first through-hole 12a, second through-hole 12b) moves along the inner surface of the lid, creating a steam flow. This steam flow creates steam convection. As a result, ingredients stored in the ingredient storage compartment can be cooked uniformly.

[0040] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 4(a), which passes through the first through-hole 12a and the second through-hole 12b. A reference line L indicating the horizontal level is also shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIG. 6, the height of the bottom surface of the groove portion 11 of the inner tray portion 10 is low near the peripheral edge of the ingredient storage portion 13 of the inner tray portion 10, where the first through-hole 12a is provided, and is relatively high near the top (vertex) of the ingredient storage portion 13, where the second through-hole 12b is provided. The bottom surface of the groove portion 11 of the inner tray portion 10 is gently sloped from the area where the second through-hole 12b is provided toward the area where the first through-hole 12a is provided. Some of the water droplets remaining in the groove portion 11 move along the bottom surface of the groove portion 11 from the area where the second through-hole 12b is provided toward the area where the first through-hole 12a is provided, and are returned to the inside of the earthenware pot body 2 through the first through-hole 12a.

[0041] Furthermore, a first opening adjustment member 20 for adjusting the size of the through holes 12 (first through hole 12a, second through hole 12b) provided in the groove 11 of the inner tray 10 may be placed in the groove 11 of the inner tray 10. FIG. 7 shows a schematic diagram of the first opening adjustment member 20. The first opening adjustment member 20 may have a ring-like shape corresponding to the shape of the groove 11 so as to be placed in the groove 11 of the inner tray 10. The ring portion in the center of the first opening adjustment member 20 can be passed through the ingredient storage section 13 and placed in the groove 11 of the inner tray 10 for use. The first opening adjustment member 20 has first adjustment member openings 21 formed at positions corresponding to the through holes 12 (first through hole 12a, second through hole 12b) formed in the inner tray 10. In this embodiment, two types of first adjustment member openings 21a and 21b are formed corresponding to the first through hole 12a and the second through hole 12b. The first adjustment member openings 21 (21a, 21b) can be through holes opened in the thickness direction of the first opening adjustment member 20. In this embodiment, the size of each of the first adjustment member openings 21a, 21b is approximately half the size of the first through hole 12a and the second through hole 12b formed in the inner tray portion 10. However, the size of the first adjustment member openings 21 (21a, 21b) is not limited to this and can be, for example, approximately 1 / 3 or 2 / 3 the size of the first through hole 12a and the second through hole 12b. Furthermore, a plurality of first adjustment member openings 21 having different opening sizes may be prepared, and an appropriate one may be selected and used depending on the type and amount of ingredients to be cooked. The first opening adjustment member 20 is placed in the groove 11 of the inner tray 10 by aligning the first adjustment member openings 21 (21a, 21b) with the corresponding through-holes 12 (first through-hole 12a, second through-hole 12b) provided in the groove 11 of the inner tray 10. During cooking, the lid 4 is placed on the surface of the opening adjustment member 20 to cover it. The first opening adjustment member 20 can control the amount, pressure, and speed of steam generated in the earthenware pot body 2 that passes through the through-holes 12 (first through-hole 12a, second through-hole 12b). As a result, the temperature in the ingredient storage section 13 is controlled to an appropriate temperature, allowing the ingredients placed in the ingredient storage section 13 to be cooked appropriately.The first opening adjustment member 20 can be made of, for example, a flexible plastic material such as silicone resin.

[0042] (Second embodiment) In the first embodiment, the ingredient storage section 13 of the inner tray 10 can have a substantially rectangular shape, but in the second embodiment, the outer periphery of the ingredient storage section 113 of the inner tray 110 can have a substantially circular shape. FIG. 8 schematically shows the inner tray according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the inner tray 10 and the earthenware pot 1 have the same structure as those of the first embodiment, except that the outer periphery of the ingredient storage section 113 of the inner tray 110 is substantially circular. Therefore, explanations other than the shape of the ingredient storage section 113 of the inner tray 110 will be omitted except where necessary.

[0043] 8, the groove 111 of the inner tray 110 has two types of through holes 112 (first through holes 112a and second through holes 112b), similar to the inner tray 10 of the first embodiment. By controlling the type, position, number, and opening size of the through holes 112 provided in the groove 111 of the inner tray 110, the amount, pressure, and speed of steam generated in the earthenware pot body 2 that passes through the through holes 112 can be controlled.

[0044] The first through-hole 112a is provided near the peripheral edge of the ingredient storage section 113 of the substantially circular inner tray 110. Therefore, when the lid 4 is placed in the groove 111 of the inner tray 110, the first through-hole 112a is positioned inside the tip of the lid 4, and the tip of the lid 4 is configured not to block the first through-hole 112a.

[0045] On the other hand, the second through-hole 112b is formed on the outer periphery of the groove 111 (or on the outer periphery of the first through-hole 112a). Therefore, when the lid 4 is placed in the groove 111 of the inner tray 110, the tip of the lid 4 rests on part of the second through-hole 112b, and the tip of the lid 4 can be used to block part of the second through-hole 112b.

[0046] Similarly to the inner tray 10 of the first embodiment, the side surface of the ingredient storage section 113 of the inner tray 110 has an inclined surface that slopes outward as it goes upward. Furthermore, the top of the side surface (periphery) of the ingredient storage section 113 of the inner tray 110 extends to a position higher than the bottom surface of the groove section 111, forming a storage protrusion 115 (not shown). In other words, the annular upper opening of the ingredient storage section protrudes above the bottom surface of the groove section 111.

[0047] Furthermore, the hole shape of the through holes 112 (first through hole 112a, second through hole 112b) is similar to that of the through holes 12 (first through hole 12a, second through hole 12b) of the inner tray portion 10 of the first embodiment, in that the inner surface of the through hole 112 on the ingredient storage section 113 side extends in an approximately vertical direction, and the inner surface opposite the inner surface on the ingredient storage section 113 side is an inclined surface that slopes outward from the center of the hole as it goes upward.

[0048] Furthermore, the height of the bottom surface of the groove portion 111 of the middle plate portion 110 is low near the area where the first through hole 112a is provided, and relatively high near the area where the second through hole 112b is provided, similar to the groove portion 11 of the middle plate portion 10 of the first embodiment, and the bottom surface of the groove portion 111 of the middle plate portion 110 is gently inclined from the area where the second through hole 112b is provided toward the area where the first through hole 112a is provided.

[0049] In addition, a second opening adjustment member 120 for adjusting the size of the through holes 112 (first through hole 112a, second through hole 112b) provided in the groove 111 of the inner tray 110 can be placed in the groove 111 of the inner tray 110. FIG. 9 shows a schematic diagram of the second opening adjustment member 120. FIG. 9(a) shows a bottom view of the second opening adjustment member 120 as seen from the back. FIG. 9(b) shows a side view of the second opening adjustment member 120. The second opening adjustment member 120 can have a ring-like shape so that it can be placed in the groove 111 of the inner tray 110. The ring portion in the center of the second opening adjustment member 120 can be passed through the ingredient storage section 113 and placed in the groove 111 of the inner tray 110 for use. The second opening adjustment member 120 has second adjustment member openings 121 formed at positions corresponding to the through holes 112 (first through hole 112a, second through hole 112b) formed in the inner plate portion 110. In this embodiment, two types of second adjustment member openings 121a, 121b are formed corresponding to the first through hole 112a and the second through hole 112b. The second adjustment member openings 121 (121a, 121b) can be through holes opened in the thickness direction of the second opening adjustment member 120. In this embodiment, the shape and size of the second adjustment member openings 121 (121a, 121b) are formed to approximately match the shape and size of the first through hole 112a and the second through hole 112b formed in the inner plate portion 110. The second opening adjustment member 120 is placed in the groove 111 of the inner tray 110 by aligning the second adjustment member openings 121 (121a, 121b) with the corresponding through holes 112 (first through hole 112a, second through hole 112b) provided in the groove 111 of the inner tray 110. During cooking, the second opening adjustment member 120 can be used by placing the lid 4 on the surface of the second opening adjustment member 120 to cover it. The opening sizes of the first through hole 112a and the second through hole 112b can be changed by moving the second opening adjustment member 120 along the groove 111 of the inner tray 110 while it is placed in the groove 111. For example, the second opening adjustment member 120 can be used to adjust the opening sizes of the first through hole 112a and the second through hole 112b to match the type and amount of ingredients placed in the ingredient storage section 113.As a result, the amount, pressure, and speed of steam generated in the earthenware pot body 2 passing through the through-holes 112 (first through-hole 112a, second through-hole 112b) are controlled, the temperature inside the ingredient storage section 113 is controlled to an appropriate temperature, and the ingredients placed in the ingredient storage section 113 can be cooked appropriately. Referring to FIG. 9, a convex stopper 122 is formed on the back surface of the second opening adjustment member 120 at the end of the through-hole of the second adjustment member opening 121 (121a). When the second opening adjustment member 120 is placed in the groove portion 111 of the inner tray portion 110 and moved along the groove portion 111, the stopper 122 comes into contact with the through-hole 112 (first through-hole 112a in this embodiment) and restricts the movement when the through-hole 112 (first through-hole 112a, second through-hole 112b) is fully opened or fully closed. The second opening adjustment member 120 can be made of, for example, a plastic material such as a flexible silicone resin.

[0050] Next, the rice cooking process for cooking rice using the earthenware pot 1 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 10. In FIG. 10, arrows are used to schematically show the convection of water and steam when cooking rice using the earthenware pot 1. First, a predetermined amount of rice and water is placed in the earthenware pot body 2 of the earthenware pot 1, and the inner tray 10 is placed in the earthenware pot opening 3 of the earthenware pot body 2. Ingredients such as meat and vegetables are placed in the ingredient storage section 13 of the inner tray 10. If it is desired to adjust the size of the first through-hole 12a and the second through-hole 12b according to the type and amount of ingredients to be cooked, the first opening adjustment member 20 (or the second opening adjustment member 120) is placed in the groove 11 of the inner tray 10 to adjust the size of the opening of the first through-hole 12a and the second through-hole 12b. Next, the lid 4 is placed in the groove 11 of the inner tray 10 and the lid is closed. When the first opening adjustment member 20 (or the second opening adjustment member 120) is placed in the groove 11 of the inner tray 10, the lid 4 is placed on the first opening adjustment member 20 (or the second opening adjustment member 120) and the lid is closed. Next, the earthenware pot 1 containing rice and water is placed in a microwave oven, the microwave oven is turned on, and the rice is heated for a predetermined period of time. At this time, the rice and water in the earthenware pot body 2 are heated and the rice cooking process is carried out. At this time, steam is generated inside the earthenware pot body 2. An appropriate amount of space is formed between the area of ​​the earthenware pot body 2 containing the rice and water and the inner tray 10, and this space causes convection in the water placed in the earthenware pot body 2, allowing the rice to be cooked deliciously. Furthermore, steam generated within the earthenware pot body 2 passes through the through-holes 12 (first through-hole 12a, second through-hole 12b) in the inner tray, hits the inner surface of the lid 4, moves upward along the inner surface of the lid 4, and then generates a convection current that flows downward from the top of the lid (see FIG. 10). The steam that passes through the through-holes 12 (first through-hole 12a, second through-hole 12b) in the inner tray and reaches the inside of the lid 4 cooks ingredients such as meat and vegetables placed in the ingredient storage section 13 of the inner tray 10. By adjusting the cooking time of the ingredients placed in the ingredient storage section 13 of the inner tray 10 to match the cooking time of the rice, it is possible to cook both the rice and the ingredients in one cooking session.In order to adjust the cooking time of the ingredients, the first opening adjustment member 20 (or the second opening adjustment member) is placed in the groove portion 11 of the inner tray portion 10, and the first opening adjustment member 20 (or the second opening adjustment member) adjusts the size of the opening of the first through hole 12a and the second through hole 12b, thereby controlling the amount, pressure, and speed of steam supplied to the ingredient storage portion 13.

[0051] After the rice cooking process is complete, the earthenware pot 1 is removed from the microwave oven with the lid 4 still on and left for a predetermined time. This causes the steam and residual heat in the earthenware pot body 2 to carry out a steaming process, completing the rice cooking.

[0052] After the rice is cooked, remove the inner dish 10 from the earthenware pot 1. The earthenware pot body 2 can be used as a bowl (tableware) as it is. The inner dish 10 can also be used as a dish, so you can enjoy your meal as is without transferring the rice to other dishes.

[0053] While the principles of the present invention have been illustrated and described in preferred embodiments, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. The present invention is not limited to the particular constructions disclosed herein. We therefore claim all modifications and variations that come within the scope and spirit of the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1 earthenware pot 2 Earthenware pot body 3 Earthenware pot opening 4 Lid 5 Steam escape vent 10, 100 Middle plate 11, 111 Groove 12, 112 through holes 12a, 112a 1st through hole 12b, 112b 2nd through hole 13, 113 Ingredient storage section 14 Tsuba 15, 115 Storage protrusion 16 Inner surface of through hole 16a Inner surface of 1st through hole 16b 2nd through hole inner surface 20 First opening adjustment member 21, 21a, 21b First adjustment member opening 120 second opening adjustment member 121, 121a, 121b Second adjustment member opening 122 Stopper

Claims

1. A clay pot for cooking rice, A clay pot body for cooking rice; An inner plate portion having a through hole and placed on the opening of the earthenware pot body portion; A lid portion is placed in the groove portion of the inner dish portion and used to cover the earthenware pot. a plurality of through holes are formed in the bottom surface of the groove portion; The earthenware pot is characterized in that the inner dish has an ingredient storage section, and steam from the earthenware pot main body passes through the through holes to cook ingredients stored in the ingredient storage section of the inner dish.

2. The earthenware pot according to claim 1, wherein the groove is formed in a ring shape on the outer periphery of the ingredient storage portion of the inner tray.

3. 3. The earthenware pot according to claim 2, wherein the annular upper end opening of the ingredient storage portion protrudes above the bottom surface of the groove portion.

4. The earthenware pot according to claim 1, wherein the ingredient storage section has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above and is formed in the center of the inner tray.

5. the through-holes include a first through-hole for ensuring a flow rate of water vapor and a second through-hole for controlling convection of water vapor; The earthenware pot according to claim 1, characterized in that the second through-hole is positioned closer to the outer periphery of the groove than the first through-hole, and is configured to be partially blocked by the lid.

6. The earthenware pot according to claim 5, wherein the second through-hole is formed at a position higher than the position of the first through-hole.

7. The earthenware pot according to claim 1, wherein a wall surface of the through-hole opposite the ingredient storage section is inclined upward and outward.

8. Further provided is an opening adjustment member for adjusting the size of the opening of the through hole, The earthenware pot according to claim 1, wherein the opening adjustment member is placed in a groove in the inner tray.

9. Further provided is an opening adjustment member for adjusting the size of the opening of the through hole, The ingredient storage section has a substantially circular shape when viewed from above and is formed in the center of the inner tray section, 2. The earthenware pot according to claim 1, wherein the opening adjustment member is rotatably placed in the groove of the inner tray.

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