Smart slow cooker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional slow cookers struggle to meet FDA regulations by heating food to 50° C within two hours without overcooking or drying it out, as increasing heating power results in undesirable food texture.
Innovation Solution
A slow cooker system comprising a vessel, heating component, and control component that heats food to at least 50° C within two hours and then adjusts power to a lower setting using mechanical or digital controls, incorporating features like parallel heating circuits, mechanical timers, and digital temperature controllers to maintain safe temperature without overcooking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the heating power of the slow cooker is increased to meet FDA regulations requiring food to reach 50°C within two hours, then the food safety requirement is satisfied, but the food becomes overcooked resulting in tough, dry, and undesirable texture
Solution Approach 1:
The slow cooker employs dynamic power adjustment with multiple heating stages. The controller automatically switches between high power (600W) and low power (100W) settings based on temperature thresholds, enabling the system to adapt its heating intensity to different cooking phases and prevent overcooking while ensuring food safety
Solution Approach 2:
The heating process uses periodic cycling between high and low power modes. The controller alternates between 600W heating bursts to reach target temperatures and 100W maintenance phases to preserve food quality, creating a rhythmic heating pattern that balances safety requirements with culinary outcomes
2Speed
If the heating power is increased to reach 50°C within two hours, then the heating speed is improved, but energy consumption increases and food quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts power consumption by switching between 600W and 100W settings based on real-time temperature feedback. This dynamic control enables rapid initial heating when needed while minimizing energy consumption during maintenance phases, optimizing the balance between heating speed and energy efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The controller changes the power parameter from 600W to 100W based on temperature thresholds. This parameter switching strategy allows the system to achieve fast heating when temperature gaps are large while consuming minimal energy when the target temperature is approached, thereby reducing overall energy consumption
3Device complexity
If a single high-power heating setting is used to meet the two-hour temperature requirement, then the device complexity is reduced, but the cooking precision and food quality control worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The controller provides dynamic temperature control by automatically switching between heating power levels based on temperature sensor feedback. This dynamic regulation maintains precise temperature control throughout the cooking process without requiring complex manual intervention or overly sophisticated control systems
Solution Approach 2:
The slow cooker features automatic temperature monitoring and self-regulating power adjustment. The controller continuously reads temperature sensor data and autonomously switches between 600W and 100W heating modes, enabling precise temperature control without requiring user expertise or complex external control systems
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
Effectively prevents bacterial growth while ensuring food remains tender and moist by achieving the required temperature quickly and reducing power after reaching 50° C, thus meeting safety standards without overcooking.
Implementation Method 1
a heating component (120)
Implementation Method 2
a temperature sensor component (180)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention disclosed herein is directed to a smart slow cooker, system, and related methods for heating food to at least 50 degrees centigrade within at most two hours, then adjusting the power to a lower setting for the remainder of the desired cooking time.