Cooking System with Steam Injection to Maintain Moisture in Air Frying

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Solution Overview

Problem

Air fryers lack versatility due to their hot, dry cooking environment, which quickly dries out lean meats, frozen meats, and roasted vegetables, making it difficult to maintain moisture for desirable results.

Innovation Solution

A cooking system with a housing and cooking container that includes a heating element and a fluid source to control humidity, allowing for steam generation and adjustable ventilation to create a customizable cooking environment, enabling both dry and wet cooking modes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a hot, dry cooking environment is used in air fryers, then cooking speed and browning results are improved, but food moisture is lost quickly causing dry food texture

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooking speedVSAvoidfood moisture

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the humidity parameter of the cooking environment by introducing steam through a water reservoir and heating element, allowing transition from dry air frying to humid steam cooking modes, thereby maintaining food moisture while preserving cooking speed benefits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The cooking system integrates multiple cooking functions (air frying, steam cooking, combination modes) within a single device by adding a water reservoir and controllable steam injection system, enabling the same appliance to maintain moisture for lean meats and frozen foods while still providing crispy air frying capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Shape

If traditional air frying is used, then crispy exterior is achieved, but internal texture and moisture retention deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrispy exteriorVSAvoidinternal texture

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different humidity conditions to different aspects of the cooking process: dry heat for exterior crisping and steam injection for interior moisture retention, allowing simultaneous achievement of crispy exterior and tender interior through localized environmental control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system effectively maintains moisture, preventing food from drying out while achieving crispy exteriors and maintaining internal texture, allowing for a wider range of cooking options beyond traditional air frying.

Implementation Method 1

a fluid source is arranged to deliver fluid to the feature... allowing for steam generation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Implementation Method 2

at least one heating element is associated with the feature... The system effectively maintains moisture, preventing food from drying out while achieving crispy exteriors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20240122392A1Cooking system with steam

Publication Date: 2024.04.18 SHARKNINJA OPERATING LLC

AI summary

A cooking system for cooking food including a housing having a hollow interior and a cooking container receivable within said hollow interior. The cooking container has an upper end and a feature formed at the upper end. At least one heating element is associated with the feature and a fluid source is arranged to deliver fluid to said feature.