Graphical Cooking Profile System for Consistent Energy Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cooking appliances lack the ability to consistently and repeatably control cooking energy, leading to issues such as uneven cooking, particularly in thicker foods and sensitive dishes like soufflés, due to reliance on manual expertise and susceptibility to distractions.
Innovation Solution
A graphical cooking profile system that allows users to create and display a time-energy graph on a touch-sensitive display, enabling precise control of cooking energy over a cooking cycle, with options for overlaying sensed temperature and storing profiles for future use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cooking is performed manually by a cook, then flexibility in adjusting cooking techniques is improved, but consistency and repeatability of cooking results deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows users to pre-program cooking profiles with specific temperature, humidity, and time parameters before cooking begins. This preliminary setup ensures that the cooking process follows a consistent, predetermined sequence, eliminating variability introduced by manual intervention while maintaining the ability to adjust parameters for different cooking requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables users to save and reuse cooking profiles across multiple cooking sessions. Once an optimal cooking profile is established, it can be copied and applied repeatedly to ensure consistent results. The system also allows copying profiles between different appliances within the network, facilitating repeatability across multiple devices.
2Power
If cooking energy is increased to achieve Maillard reaction, then flavor and taste are improved, but risk of uneven cooking and burning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts cooking energy levels throughout the cooking process based on predefined profiles. It automatically transitions between different power levels, humidity settings, and cooking modes (e.g., from high heat for Maillard reaction to lower heat for even cooking) without manual intervention, optimizing both flavor development and cooking uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous monitoring and adjustment of cooking parameters throughout the entire cooking cycle. Multiple heating zones and adjustable humidity levels operate simultaneously and continuously, ensuring that high energy input for flavor development does not compromise even cooking, as the system constantly balances temperature distribution.
3Stability of the object's composition
If cooking duration is extended at lower temperature for even cooking, then cooking uniformity is improved, but cooking time and energy consumption deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic cycles of high and low temperature phases within the cooking profile. Brief high-temperature intervals promote the Maillard reaction for flavor, while subsequent lower-temperature phases ensure even cooking throughout. This periodic alternation achieves both cooking uniformity and reasonable cooking time by optimizing the sequence rather than maintaining constant low temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes multiple cooking parameters simultaneously (temperature, humidity, air circulation) according to the predefined profile. By coordinating these parameter changes, the system achieves even cooking without requiring excessively long durations, as the combined effect of optimized parameters accelerates the cooking process while maintaining uniformity.
4Productivity
If a cook is distracted during critical cooking moments, then multitasking capability is improved, but cooking quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cooking system operates autonomously according to pre-programmed profiles, automatically adjusting temperature, humidity, and timing without requiring continuous cook intervention. This self-service capability allows the cook to be distracted or engaged in other tasks while the system maintains cooking quality through automated monitoring and adjustment of all critical parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors cooking progress and automatically adjusts parameters based on sensor feedback from multiple zones within the cooking chamber. This closed-loop control ensures that cooking quality is maintained even when the cook is unavailable, as the system self-corrects based on real-time temperature and humidity measurements.
Data Source
AI summary
Graphical cooking profiles may be used to control a cooking appliance such as an oven, stovetop, range, grill or the like by varying applied cooking energy in the cooking appliance over the course of a cooking cycle.