CA2075913A1 - Cooking kit for microwave oven - Google Patents

Abstract

A microwave-oven cooking-kit includes an invertible, a microwave absorptive, first cooking member (10), having a first cooking surface (20) adapted to cook a food thereon; a second cooking member (12), having a second cooking surface adapted to cook a food thereon. The first and second cooking members (10, 12) are engageable to form, when engaged, a steam confining cooking chamber (40).
In some applications, the first member (10) is a bottom member;
in other applications, the first member (10) is a top member. The weight of the first and second cooking members (10, 12) can be chosen to duplicate low-pressure, pressure-cooker results. The second cooking member (12) may be microwave-transmissive or microwave-reflective. Two optional microwave-reflective, invertible, accessory pan members (44, 46) one perforated (46) and one imperforated (44), may be employed with the first and second members (10, 12) in various combinations.

Description

w~ 91/13529 PCI/llS90101152 5~

Cookine ~it ~or Microwave Oven BAC~GRO~D OF THE IN~F~TIO~' Field ol the In-~ention - The present invention concerns a cooking kit tor use in a microwave oven. The kit has invertible cool{ing members and optional in~ertible accessory pan members.
The members may be employed in a variety o~ combinations. The invention ior cooking various ioodstuiis via microwave energy, e.g., baking, boiling, broiling, crusting, irying, pressure cooking, searing, steamin~ and toasting.
Descri~tion o~ the Prior Art - U.S. Patents ~,701,~7~ and :~,777,0~ describe preheating metal plates by means o~ a microwave-absorptive heating member ~or use in microwave ~cQoking. U.S. Patents 3,731,037 and 3,3~'1,0~7 describe cooking t~od in a container which is in a preheated, heat insulated microwa~e chamber. ~'.S. Patent 3,~`~5,~ 0 describes the use ot a microwH~e shielded ch~mber, pertorated on its ~ood recei~ing sur~ac~, to permit reco~ery ol by-products o~ cDoking and to u\ilize the later1t heat ~t ~aporization which is normally disxipa~ed in microwa~e cooking techniques. U.S. Patents 3,~5~,0'~ and ~ 5,'~.1 describe methods and apparatus ior mic1~wa~ cooking in metal containers. ~'.S. Patent 4,0~7,13 ~escribes micro~a~e cool{ing a ~rozen pizza pie. U.S. Patent 4,3U-j,133 describes microwa~e cooking a truit pie ha~ing a WO 91113529 Pl~/lJS90/0115 2~ ~ 39~ 3 ~ ~
double crust. U.S. Patent 4,'~ ' describes microwave sot't cooking eggs. U.S. Patent ~,~Y~,5~ describes meltine and det'rosting ~'ood. U.S. Patent ~,~]~ describes ~icrowave heating grill constructior1x. U.S. Patent '~ 7 describes a microwa~e o~en pre~sure cooker.

~icrowa~e Goolcin~
~icrowa~e cooking is conducted in microwave ovens that have appropriate boundarv walls to cont'ine microwaves therein. In a microwa~e oven most ~'oods and certain microwave absorptive materials beco~e healed when exposed to microwave enerOy. Many col)king utensils are avaiJable that are specially designed ~'or u~e in a microwave oven cooking chamber. There are steak makers, steamers, browning di~hes, egg cookers, pizza pie cookers, bacon cookers, et cetera. Each ot' these special p~lrpose de~ice~ employs its own unique operatinOa se~uence to ~ook a particular ~'ood proauct.
~ ~rincipal object ot' tnis invention is to pro~ide a kit oi' multi-pur~oxe members that can be employed ~'or practically all oi' the t'amiliar cooking requirements ~uch as baking, boiling, broiling, crusting, t'rying, pressure cooking, searing steaming, toa~ting.
It is anothel object ot' this invention to provide a kit which can be used in a microwave oven t'or cooking materials such as so~'t cook~ ggs and ~'ried eggs; nleats and ~egetables; ~'rozen t'oods including TV dinners, sout'i'les, pizza pies, meat pies and ~'ru;t pieq, both one-crust and two-crust; bakinO~ cakes, cookies, rolls, ~'ruit turnovers, biscuits, breads; heating and pop~)ing po~corn; ooc)kinO deep t'ried pre-prepared i'rozen ~'ried ~'oods such ax i'ried chichen, ~'ried shrim~ and the like.
~TATEMENT OF TH~ PRESENT INVENTION
Accordi na to the present invention, a cooking kit i'or use in a microwa~e o~en, consist.s oi' ~ngageable, invertible, cooking meDIberx. Tn~ kit, in its simplest embodiment, includes an invertible, microwave-absorpti~e, ~'irst cooking member, hith a l'irst sur~'aoe t'abricated to cook a tood thereon; an invertible, ' 3~29 PCT/US90/01152 ~ ` ? z ~
second cooking member with a second sur~ace ~abricated to cook a $'ood thereon; a steam-con~'irling, cooking chamber de~ined b~-said ~'irst and ~ecor~d members; and means to retain said t'irst and second members in engagement (a) when said tirst member is the top memb~r, (b) when said second melnber is the top m~lnber and (c) when said ~'irst and second cooking members are inverted together. Tht- weigr~ ot' the t'irst and second cooking members can be choxen to duplicate low-pressure~ pressure-cc)oker tesult.~. O~)l.iorl~l accessory pan members include a per~'osated mic~rowave-ret'Lective, invertible, accessory pan member ancd an impert'oral:~, microwa~e-re~lective, invertible accessory pan member.
The micrc)~ave-~bsorpti~e Yirst cooking member includes a homogerleous, mic~rowave-loss~ material, e.g., it ma~ be a comyound Illelnber, ~'or example, a metal grill having microwave-~b~orptive coatir~g mounted in a microwave-transmissive bowl.
The second member may be either microwave-rel'lective, partially microwave-trarlsparent or microwave-transparent. The second member may consist o~' two distinct cooking containers, one microwave-transmissive and one microwave-re~lective, which can be employed together or inclividually.
In one embodiment, the ~econd cooking member is a microwave-t.ransmissivta howl made $'rom glass, ceramic, ~lass-ceramic, or heat re~istarlt plastic. The bowl has a r.im which is engageable with the t'irst cooking member to det'ine a steam coni'ining chamber. Microwave energy passes through the microwave transmissive cooking menlber to heat t'ood wi.thin the ~team cotll'ining chamber b~ direct absorption o~' the microwave eneray.
In an alternative embodiment, the second cooking member is a mierowa~e re~'lective bo-~l or pan member ~'ormed ~'rom metal such as xtee~ or aluminuln al!oy. Tnt- microwave ret'lective second c~l)king alelnbe-t !las a rim which engages the ~'irst cookin8 member 1,) de~ ste~lll con~'inirlg chamber. Food which is prepared in t.he ~lt.ern~ t- embodiment will receive all o~' its heat t'rom t.~ t'irxt coc)kirlg menl~er because the steam-con~'ining chamber ol'' . .

4 ~;;
the.second em ~ ~ ment is entirely suzrounded b-- microwave r~t'lective metal. All o~' the microwa-e energy is absorbed b~
the microwave-loss~ substance o~' the t'irst: cooking member which sup~lies all ot' t.he cooking heat t'or the t'ood. The ~'ood ma~ be in direct .~ontac~ with the cooking sur~ace ot the ~irst cooking memb~r or ~he t~irst cooking member may be on top ot' and suppolted b~ Ihe second cooking member. In this embodiment the l'ood on the cooking surt'ace ot' the second cooking member will be hr-at.ed b- radiant erlerg~- enlarlating i'rom the heating sur~'ace r,t' the t'irxt ~ooking member.
Irl ~ I'urttler enlbodiment, bot.h the microwave-transmissive second cc)r)ki.ng membr-r and the mi.crowave-ret'lective second cooking m~mt)er rna- br- mombinPd to pro~id~ l.w~, steam con~'ining chambers, it' the al.tr-rrlati~e miorowave-relLectivr- second cooking member ~i.lJ. ~'i.t ~it~i.n t.he microwa~e-transmissis~e second cooking member.
Thr- t'i7rst. and se(orld in~ertible oookirlg members may be employed in various combinations. Optional accessor~- members may be empl.oyed indi~ lual.ly with one or the other oi' said t'irst and second members as well as with both ol' said ~'irst and second in~ertibl.e cooking members in various combinations. In some applications, the t'irst member is the bottom member; in other appli.catioos, the t'irst. member ix ~he top member. Similarl~
in ~onle ~pplio~tions, the ~econd member is the bottom member ~rlri, in rther applications, tne second member is the top member.
~ES~RIPTION OF T~E ~RA~7TNCS
The a(l~ant.~es arld benet'it~ resultin~ t'rom the described elemerlts wiJl benl)me apparerlt t'rom the t'ollowing detailed de~(riptiorl b~ relerr-n-e lo thr- actompan~-ing drawings in which:
FT~?IJR~ 1 ix ~ (~n(~x-se~tiorl illustr~ti.orl ol' a t'irst member1 a heat gPrlerat.ing element.
FIG~IRE '' ix ~ croxs-secti.orl i'llustratiorl ot' a second member, a .
ch;~ t)r-r -t'ormi n~ ele!nent.

...... ... . . . .

:
' ~ ' :' :~' , W091/13529 PcT/Us9~/olls~
~ 5 z-~5~

FICURE ~ is a cross-secti.on illustration ot a third member, a collector element, including, as shown, three components.
FT~,URE ~ is a closs-section illustration ol an optional tourth member, a pan element.
F~GURE 5 is a cros~-section illustration o~ an assembly o~ the tirst and second elements.
FIGURE ~ cross-section il.Lustration o~ an alternative, i.e., in~erted, assembly o~ the ~'irst and second el.ements.
FIGIJRF. 7 i~ a cI-oss-section illustration o~ an assembly ot the secorlt~ and third elements.
FIGI;RE ~ ix ~ cros~-sec~i~n illustràtion ot an assembly o~ the lirsl. and third elements.
F~GURF. Y is a ~ross-section illustration o~ an assembly o~ the lirsL eLement and arl optional pan element..
FICURE 1~ i~ a cross-section il.lustration ot an assembly o~ the Yirst, second and third elemen~s.
FICURE 11 .is a cross-section illustration oi an assembly o~ the tirst and second elements and an optional pan element.
FIGURE 1'~ is a cro~s-~ec~iorl il.Lustration ot an assembly o~ the ~irst and second el.ements.
F~CURE ~:~ is ~ ross-section il.Lustration.oi an assembl~ o~ the : - lirs~ and second e.lements, similar to Fi~ure 5 cl.u(iirlg a cross-section view ot a two-crust pie and :
FIC~RF ]~ i.s a cross-section i..Llustration ot an assembl~ ot the tirst., second and t-ourth elements including a cross-se-lit)n ot a pi~za pie.

W091/13~29 PCT/US90/01152 ~375~ 3 ~ ~
FIGURE 15 is a cross~~ection illus-tration ot' an assembl~ ot' the Yirst and second elements similar to Figure ~
including a cross-section view ot' a pizza pi.e.
FIG~!RE 1~ is a cross-sect.ion illustration ot' an alternative construction oJ' the ~'ourth e.lenlent Yor cake baking.
FIGURE 17 is a cross-section illustration ot' an assembly ol'.the t'irst, second and ~'ourth elements wherein the Yourth element. correspon~s to that illustrated in Figure 1~.
FTGURE 1~ is a cross-section illustration ot' the t'ourth element similar to that ol' Figure 1~ containing a baked cake.
FICURE 1~ is ~ cross-section illustration o~' an assembly ot' the ~'irst an~/ 1'ourth elements with a baked cake in the l'ou~rl elelllerlt.
FIGURF, '~ is a closs-section ot' the ~'irst and t'ourth elements with a t'rozen t'ond illustrated in cross-section on the l'ourth element.
FIrJURE ~1 is a cross-section illustration oi' an assembly oi' the ~'irst and ~econd elements and Yourth elernents showing a t'rozen t'ood, in its tray, contained on the t'irst e.l elnen t, .
FIGUR~ is a cross-section illustration ot' the Yirst element : with an inverted, two-crust pie and pie pan illustrated in cross-seotion.
FICIJRE ~3 is a cross-sect.iorl illustration ot' the Yirst, second and t'olJrt.h elements wherein the ~'ourth element is a pie pan and the pie pan contains a two-crust pie, shown in cross-section.
F~CITRE ~ is ~ rross-section illu.stration ot' an assembl~ ot' the ~'irxt and secon~ elemerlts including a conical Yrustum sleeve t'or heatin~ popcorn.

- - ~ -: ~ :

W091/13529 P~TtUSgO/01~52 ~' 7 ' z~7~

FIGURE ~5 is a cross-section illustration ot' an assembl~ ot' the t'irst, second and ~'ourth elements to provide a baking chamber t'or biscuits, breads, rolls, etc.
FICURE ~ is a cross-se~tion illustration ot' a nested kit ot' elements t~or shipping or storage.
DESCRIPTION OF T~E PR~FERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will be described in several ditf'erent and us~t'ul elnbodinlen1;s.
heat-gerleratirlg memt~er, ~'irst cookin~ member ~L~ is illustrated in Figure 1. A microwave-transmissive, second oooking member 1'~ is illustrated in Figure ~. A collector assembl~ 1~ is illustrated in Figure ~. An optional pan e~ement 1~ is illlJstrated in Figure 4.
All ot' the elements 1~ , 14, 1~ are intended to be ot' such sha~e that the~ can be employed in ~arious combinations as will be more t'ully set ~'orth.
The heat generating, t'irst cooking member 1() may be constructed ot' a homogeneous, microwave-loss~ material, t'or example, Garbot'ra~, a si~icon carbide compound manu$'actured by General Re~'ractories ~ompan~, or ma~ be a compound member, as a metal grill havina h microwave-absorptive coating mounted in a rnic~rohave-~ral1smissive vessel. The i'ollowino pre$'erred embodilllents will describe the compound member.
The heat generatin~, t'irst cooking member 1~, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a microwave transmissive vessel 1~, a metal grilling plate '~, a microwave absorpti~e substance ~'~ in oontaot a xur~'ace ~)~' the m~tal grilling plate '~, a perimeter sealing ring ~-~ an(1 an interior chamber '~ preterabl~ ~'illed ~ith ~ microwa~e-n()rl-absorptive heat insulator ~ which can be a p~lr~iol~la~.e ~ rm~l insulatirlg substance such as vermicuLite.
Th~ heat gerler~ting, t'ir~1- coo~ing member 1~ also has a~l)r-opriat.~ ~landLe elem~nts :~ which are t-abricated t-rom nliorowa~e tranxparent h~at-inslllatin ma~erials. Pret'erably ' . ~ ~' ': ',: ' ' WO gl/13~29 2~ 3 PCT/US90/01152 ~ . K `^`i: J

the metal grilling plate ~ is ~'lat but in some embodiment the grilling plate '~ may be dished, i.e., concave, to t'acilitate t'rying eygs, inf'ra or baking cakes, inf'ra.
PreS'er~bl~ the microwa~e tr.~ansmissive vessel 1~ i.s t'abricated t'r(>m a sut)xt~noe such as he~t resis~ant glass or glass ceramic or high t.emperat.ure resistant plastic. The metal grilling ~late ~ ix ~le~'erabl~ l'ormed t'rom aluminum alloys although ste~l, copper or other metals and metal alloys may be employed.
The meta~ ~ri.l.lirlg plate '~ must transmit heat energy cluickly and pro~-ide a rugged, reusable, cleanabl.e cooking surt'ace.
Th~ microwave absorptive substance ~'~ pre~'erably is a di.spersion o~' Yerrite particles in an appropriate carrier such as ~ siLicone rubber or ot.her temperature resistant carriers.
Tn a prel'erred ~mbodiment, a silicone rubber coating oon)positiorl is t'illed with t'errite particles and applied as a .
reJativel- thick coating (up to about. 5 millimeters) to the inner surt'~ce ot' the metal grillin~ pl.ate ~. The size ot' the metal grill.ing plate ~ establishes the size oi' the other elements in tne kit. Typically the metal grilling plate '~ has a diameter i'rom ~ to l~ inches, pre~'erably about ~ to 1'~
inches.
The mi.c:to~ve-transmj.ssi~e, second cooking member 1~, as shown in Figure '~, is impert'orate and has an essentially t'lat base ~ , la~erirlg ~idewalls ~, handle members ~, an~l a peripheral ct)pLanar rim 3~. The peripheral rim ~ pre1erably is adapted t.o engage the perimeter xealing r.ng ~4 ot' the heat generating, ~'irst cooking member l~ 'hereby, as illustrated in Fiyure ~, to ~slablixh ~ I)erime~er ~eal t'or a chamber 4~ that is bounded by t.he mi_rowa~e-transmissive, second cooking member l~ and the heat. generatir~y, i'irst cooking member l~. The rim `~ o~' th microwave-t.r~nsmissi~e, second cooking member 1' rna~- engage the met.al gril.lirly ~ e ~().
Tt. is an importar~ 'eature o~' this in~ention that the mi~rowa~e-t.rarlsmissive, second cooking member l'~ have a s~lt)starltial mass, prel'erabl ~t' t'rom about 1.~ to ~ pounds whereb~-,. . .~

WO9lJ13529 ~75~ 3 PCT/US90/0~152 a reliable ctealing engagement between the rim ~ and theperimeter seali.n_ ring ','~ can be estab.li.shed, ~u~'t'icient to permit development ot- superatmo.spheric pressure in t.he ohamber 4(). The sealing engagement. may be deve.loped between the rim ~
-~' the miurow~ transmissive, seoond cooking member l'~ and t,he surt'a~e ot' the metal yri.ll:i.nO plat,e '~. The microw~ve t.ran.smissive, seoond oooki.nd member 1'~ pret'erably is t.ranC;r).qrent t.o Iight,. The microwave transmissive, second rooking member 1~ can be t'ormed t'rom heat resistant glass, gl~sx-oerami~ or ~.enlperature resistant plastic.
An v~)tiorlaJ ~ xsory met,al pot 44 is analogous to a t'rying pan havirlg ~ b~.txe 5~, ~.apering sid~walls ~ and an outwardly e~tenrling upper rim l'Lane ~-~ that rests upon the shoulder 54 ot' a microwave t.ransmissive pot 4-~. A pert'orated metal pan 4~
has a pert'orate~ bas~ ~ and tapering sidewalls ~ that permit engagement. with the inner slJr~ace ot' the tapering sidewal,ls o~' the metal pot 44. ThP metal pot 44 is ~-ret'erably ~'abricated trom a.l~lmirlum or ~luminum alloy and has a thickness ot about 1.5 mil.limeters. The pertorated pan 4~ is pret'erably tabr~ic~ted tr-om al.unlinlJm or aluminum aLlo- and has a thickness ot' ~hollt. 1..S milLimeter~. The pert'orations ot' the pert'orated pan 4~ mUC;~. he smAll enough to block passage ot' microwave ener-g~; and large enough to permit t'ree passage ot' steam and rerl(Jered h~-product. The pertorations are distributed over the bas~ ~ in a prPt'erred embodiment. Alternati~el~ the pert'orations are provided solel~ i.n the perimeter region ot' the base ~, in which case, xome by-products wil.L remain in contact wit:h t'ood on the pan. 1'he per~'oration area is about ~ to ~5 sq. millimeter. The total are~ ot' all ot' the pert'orations is !'~om ahol.lt 1~) t.o about ~% nt' the total area ot' the base ~.
~ircllL~r perl'orat.ions t'rom a~out ().5 to IU millimeters diameter are pret'erre-l.
The )ptional p~rl eLemerlt 1~, Figure 4, includes a base 7U and ~pxt~ln(1irlg xi-1e~al,ls 7'~, pret'erabl~ outwardl~- tapered. The optior)~l par) ~lement 1~ pret'erabl~ is t'abricated t'rom aluminum or ~lumir)um allo~. The ~ptionaL pan e.lement 1~ t'unc~ions to WO91/13529 PCr/US90/01152 ' 2~7~ t'~
. .. ' 1~
prevent spread ot liquids and cooking juices ~'rom l'ood products that are being heated in the present apparatus and also as a serving or eating dish. The base 7~ o~' the optional pan element 1~ pret'erably rests in direct heat exchange engagement with the exposed sur~'ace o~' the metal grilling plate ~ as shown clearly in Figures Y, 11. Optionally, the sur~'ace ol' the metal grilling plate ~ may be coated with a ~'ilm o~' cooking oil or other liquid to improve the heat trans~'er between the metal grilling plate '~ and the optional pan element 1~. A
similar t'ilm ol' coo.king oil, melted butter, or other ~'luid may be placed in the optional pan element 1~ to cover the base 7U
and improve the heat exchange ~'rom the auxiliary cooking pan 1 to its i'ood contents.
Assembly o~' Elements __ The elements o~' the present cooking assembly can be combined in a variety o~' novel and use~'ul cooking utensils.
The microwave-transmissive, second cooking member 1'~ and the heat generating, Yirst cooking member 1~ can be combined as .shown in Figures 5, ~. In each o~ these examples, the rim ~
o~' the microwave-transmissive, qecond cooking member 1~ engages the perimeter ring ~4 on the metal grilling plate ~ to provide a steam con~'ining chamber 4~. When the microwave-transmissive, second cooking member 1~ is ~'abricated ~'rom transparent material such aq heat resistant glass and the temperature within the chamber 4~ is above the steam condensa-tion temperature, then the inner walls oY the microwave-transmissive, second cooking rnember 1~ will be t'ree o~' condensed moisture and the content~ cooking in chamber 4() will be visible through the tranqparent walls o~ the microwave-transmissive, second cooking member 1~. In Figure 5, the weight o~ the microwave-transmissive, second cooking member 1~, pret-erably 1.5 to ~ pounds, urges engagement ol the rim ~ and sealing member ~4 or metal grilling plate ~ to pro'vide a seal to conl'ine steam at slightly elevated pressures above atmosE)heric. In Figure ~, the inverted combination ot' Figure 5 can be employed in a variety ol' l'ood heating sequences WO91t13529 PCT/US90/01152 11 % ~t5 ~ 3 depending upon the nature o~ the ~'ood and the desires ot' the cook --- the weight o~ the heat generating, t'irst cooking m~mber 1~, pret'erably about 1.5 to ~ pounds, urges engagement t... I~ro~ide a sea.l to con~'ine steam at slightly elevated pressurex above atmoxpheric.
The mi.crowave-transmissive, second cooking member 1'~ may be combined with the collector assembly 14 as shown in Figures 7, 1() wherein the rim ;~ ot' the microwa~e-transmissive, second cooking member 1'~ engag~s the upper rim 5'~ ot- the microwave transmi~si.ve pot ~'~ to ~'orm a chamber ~
As shown in Figure 1~, three ot' t.he members are combined in an ~ssemt~ly including the microwave-transmissive, second cooking member 1'~, the colLector assembL- 14 and the heat generating, t'irst cooking member 1~.
The heat generating, t'i.rst cooking member 1~ can be combined with the collector member ]4 as shown in Figure ~ with a ~'ood i.tem 7 ~, ~uch as a steak, resting upon the ~eri'orated plate and supporting the metaJ grilling plate ~0.
The o~1:ional pan member 1~ may be combined with the heat generating, ~'irst cooking member lU as shown in Figures ~, 11 wherein the .t'lat. base 7~ o~' the optional pan member 1~ rests u~)orl the metal grilling plate '~0 oY the heat generating, ~'irst cook.ing member IU. In Figure Y, the optiona~ pan member 1~
t'l.lnctions as a ~'rying pan, griddle plat.e, pizza-pie pan or cake parl. In Figure 11, the o~tional pan member l~ is con~'ined within a steam retaini.ng chamber 4~ and supports t'ood items (n(:)t snown in Figure ]1) t.hat are being cooked.
Figure 1'~ illust.r~t.es t.he heat. generating, i'irst cooking member 1() an~ the micro~:a-e-transmissi~e, second cool~ir.~g member 1'~ as an assemt)l~ in ~hi-h the he~t generating, t'irst cooking member 1~ is heirlg he~ted .qnd the contents oi' the microwa~e-tranxmi~si~e, second cooking member 1'~ (e.g., soup, t'rozen t'ood, et cet.era) is being heated b~ microwa~e energy. The assembly o~' Figure 1" suggests that two di~'i'ering t'unctions o~' :::: : . :, , : .
~ . , . ' ' : : , ' i .,,~, . '' .. ' : :

W091/13$29 PCT/~0/~1152 ~. ., Z~ 3 1 ~
the cooking member~s can be'carried out conc~lrrentl- in a microwave oven chamber.
Other uset'ul combinations o~' the elen~ents are hereinafter described as the~ are employ~ in ~ariolJs cooking operatiorls.
T. ~..Fro~e!! Two-crus_ Ple .~ t'rozen two-crust pie ha.s presented di~'t'iculties in microwave ~ooking hecallse ot' se~era.l dit'~'erent. heat.ing requi.rements. The bol.tom oru~t an~ the top crust requir-e hi.gh temperatures t'or baking the past.r~ and browrling it to an aestheticalLy pleasing apllearan~e --- wit.hollt burning. The interior ot' the t'rozen pie ix largel.~ ~at.er (e.g., appLe pie, cherr~ pie, meat pie, etc.) th~t re(~ es thawirlg and sut.)se~tllent heating to oomplete its eooking e~ole.
The asst-mhl~- ot' elements shown in Figure 5 has been reproduced in Figure 1~ to il..Lustrate double-crust pie cooking with the pr~serlt. kil;.
A l'rozerl two-cru~t pie, typically a t'rui.t pie, can be baked successt'ully b~ initially heating the assembly ot' Figure 5 unti~ the metal orilling plate ~ rises to t~5~-5~() degrees F, i.e., sui't'ioient. to bake a pie crust. The pre-heated assembled unil: ~-nsixting ol' the microwave-transmissive, second cooking member 1~ and the heat generating, ~'irst cooking member 1~ is removed from the microwave oven b~ means ot' the ju~taposed handles ~ . A t'rozen t'ruit pie 7~ is introduced, Figure 1:~, into the chamber 4() in its met.al ple plate 7~ which is E~laced directly upon the metal grilling plate '~. The mitro~a~e-transmi.ssivel ~second cooking member 1~ is replaced and the axsembl~ ax ~shown ;r~ Figure 1~ is returned to the mit.rt)~ e o~en arld ~po~e~ to m.icro~n~e ener~--. The er-- ilign ~emper:l1ure ot' tht- metnl gril.l.ing pl~te '~ is transmitted nlire~tl~ l..hrol~h t.ne meta.L r~ie plate l~ into the t'rozen pie callsirlt (iet'ros~ir)g and act~la~ baking of a bottom pie crust ~.
~licr(-)-;a~e ~n~r~ ent.ers through the top pie crust ~ and bahes the t.or) pie ~r~l~st ~ / an~l det'rost~ and heats the pie t'i.Lling ~4. -The ~it~ t'illin~ ~ is n~so heated b-- heat c:onducted from the WO91/13529 P~T/US90/01152 f ~ 7.~ 3;
metal grilling plate '~() through the metal pie plate 7~ and the bottom crust X~. It' the upper pie crust X~ is imper~'orate, it is easier t'or the trust X~ to rise upward.Ly and bake Llnil'ormly in a dome shape.
In ~peration, ~he coolc considers the thermal capaeit~ ol' the he~t generatin~, i'irst cooking member 1~ and chooses the amuunt ot- t.imt- tn preheat the heat generating, i'irst cookin~ member 1 s~ t.hat, iherl the pie 7~ contacts the preheated metal grilling pLatt- '~U, ~ s~litat)le amount ot' st.ored heat will be available tor deli~er~ tt. the bottom crust X~. For some l'oods such aa a '~ oz. t'r~ozell t'ruit pie, preheating the heat generating, i'irst c~(loking membt-r 1() to s~.ore heat may not be necessary. While t.hl~ pie del'rostx, it.s t'i.lling heats and its top crust browns, t.he heal. gt-ner~l.i.rlg, t'irst cooking member 1~ has adequate time ~o heat ~.n~i brown the bottom crust. A small X oz. meat pie wit.h a liqui/i 1'il1ing ma~ require more preheating or standing time on a hol: ~t-~taL grilling plate '~.
Tn ~ll cases, the pie is con~'ined ithin the chamber 4~ while in the baking prooess.
TT1e asst?mb~.- ot' Figure ]:~ may be employed to bake t'reshly ~repared tWo-orlJSt pies, i.e., pies which ha~e not been ~'rozen.
The appRratlJs ot Figure ]~ may be employed to cook one-crust pies (top crllst.) by placing the t'rozen one-crust pie in its mt-t.al pi.e plate into the chamber 4~ and placi.ng the assembl~ in a microwave o~en ~'or e~posure to mi.croha~e energ~.
TT. T'izza P_es The asxemt)l~ ol' Figurt- ll, reproduced in Figure 14, ma~ be emplo~eli ~.o prepare ~ trt)zer1 pizza pie wherein the optiona.l pan elelner,t 1~ is place(1 on t.he metal grilling plate '~() and a l rOZerl P;Z7a Pi~ X~ iS placed on an accessor~ pan e.Lemen~
The axsembl~ ot' Figure 11 is preheate~i without the pizza pie to ~uil:able ele~ated temperature, pret'erabl~ ~'rom about ~5~-5 .ie~ree~ F. The pi z.~ pie X~ on thf? optional accessor~ pan eit-rner1t l~ ix pl~ee~ .in a heat t.ransi'er relationship with the : - .: .: , :: ' : .: : ,.

metal grillin~'plate'~t) and the a.ssembl- is exposed to microwave energ~. ~1icrowave energ~, entering through the microhave-transmiss;ve, second cooking member 1'~, heat~ the t(:)ppirlg ~ oi' the pi~.a pie ~tj and causes moisture S'rom the pi~.za pie io l'orm st.ealn within the st.eam eonl'ining chamber 4U.
The ~tealll is corlt'ined at a slight superatmospheric pressure determ;ned by the weight. ot' the microwave-transrnissive, second cooking member 1~. Tt the trozen pizza pie ~(j has its own aluminum l'c-il pan ~t), the op~ional accessor~ pan element 1~ is not required and the assembl~ ma- be used as illustrated in Figure 1~. The pi~za pie ~ ma~- be app.lied directlv to the metal gril.ling plate '~(), on its aluminum ~'oil pan ~t). To achi.e~e ~Init'ornl heà~ing ot' a piz7.a pie, it may be desirable to app.t~ ~e-eral (irops ot' cooking oi.L to the top ot' the metal grilling plate ~t) to ~chieve more ~nit-orm thermal contact bet.weerl the meta~ gril.ling plate 'Lt) and the optional accessory pan e.lement. 1~ (Figure ]~) or the aluminum toil pan ~t) (Figure : 15)-Tn Figure 11, n pert'c~rated pan 1t; may be used in place ot' the r)ar, ltt on the metal gri.lling pl.ate '~t~. The peri'orations on pan ~tj ~to not hin~1er the crusting and browning ot a pizza pie crust.
TII. ~ot ! t'.o(?ki~_and_Fr~
The combi.nation o~' the optional accessory pan member 1(j and the hea~ generating, i'irst cooking member 1t~ is illustrated in Figure ~ wherein the optional. accessory pan element 1ti t'unctions as a griddle or t'r~ing pan. The combination ot' the two members ot- Figure ~ is p.laced into a microwave oven and heat:e(i unti.L an appropriate temperature is achieved. The unit i5 then removed t'rom the over1 and its stored heat energy can be emploved t'or ~'r--ing eggx outside the microwave oven. The meta.l grilling plate '~'t) ma~ be conca-e t'or this embodiment to direct the e~g tc~ard the c:enter ot' the plate.
1~. is known that i'resh eggs are serlsitive to microwave oven cooking and, it' heated in a micro~ave oven, are ~'requentl~

: : ~ : ~ : : :

W091/13529 PCr/US90/01152 i 15 z~7~
cooked unevenly with some parts ~'irm and other parts essentially raw. The unevenness can be o~'i'set in part by providing rotating tables or b~ t'requentl~ opening the microwave oven and manually mo~ing the cooking egg to dii't'erent locations within the microwave oven chamber. However when eggs are cooke~ according to the present invention, the heated optional aCGeSSor~ pan member 1~ in combination with the heat generating "'irst cooking member 1() retains appropriate heat to eom~let.e coQking o~' a raw egg to the desi.red degree o~' t'irmness out.side the microwave o~en.
Tn operati.on, when heat generating, ~'irst cooking member 1~, the mi.crowave-transmissive, second cooking member 1~ and accesxory pan 1~, as shown in Figure 11, are preheated, the preheated alumi.num pan 1~ can become a i'rying pan to i'ry an egg thereirI. The heat geoeratirIg~ l'irst cooking member 1~ is heated to a suitab~e temperature and sui'i'icient heat is skored in th~ assembIy. A she.Lled egg is applied t.o the heated accessor~ pan 1~ and the cooking egg is not exposed to microwa~e energy which could "harden" the egg yolk.
When heat. generat.i.ng, ~'irst cooking member 1~ and microwave-transmissive, second cooking member 1'~, as shown in Figure 5, are prehe~ted t'or a predetermined time, the assembly is avai.Labl.e to soYt cook (e.g. coddle) an egg placed on the metal ~ri.IIing plat.e '~) or in a metal accessory pan 1~ (Figure ~).
~'ot~ that (1) the time required to preheat the metal grilling .Late '~ in order to sot't cook ar1 egg is a t'raction ot' the time re~uired to ~ry an egg; (~) the aluminum accessory pan 1~ is rlot preheated empty; and (~) no oil is used to make good thermaL contact. The egg is slowly so~'t cooked to indi~idual.
tast.e, i.e., about. t'i~e minutes, solely ''rom the heat energy st.o~ed in ~the heat generating, ~'irst cooking member 1~.
~ther t'o~dx ~-hich ma~ be ~'ried or grilled can be placed on the heated combination oi' the heat generating, ~'irst cooking member 1~ and the o~Itional accessor~- pan memher 1~ as shown in Figure aI~d in Figure 11. The assembl~ o~' Figure 11 is prei'erred -W~91/13529 pCT/US90/01152 ~75~3 1b becaue (1) the heat collected in the chamber 4~ is not lost;
(~) any ~plattier is contained; and (:~) the Yood is ~hielded trom the cooling action o~ circulating air which is present in most micro~ave o~en chambers; and ~41 a hea~, glass, microwavt--transmissive second cooking member 1~ increases in microwave losxiness as it heats.
IV. Cake Bahin~
......... _. .. ._ .. . .
Baking cakex irl microwave ovens in th past has been ditticult because o~ the unevenness ot the heat application. Cakes tend to rise unevenl~ and to provide irregular top sur~aces which are undesirable.
According to ~.he present invention, a cake batter Y'~ is mixed and intr-oduced into a lightl~ grea.sed optional accessory pan mem~er 1~', pre~erably having generally vertical or slightly sLoping sidewalLs 7~', corresponding to a conventional cake tin shc)wrl in Fiyure 1~. The quantity ot cak~ batter Y-~ should be sutticient so that the baked cake will rise slightly above the level ot the sidewalls 7-~'. The combination ot a heat generating, tirst cooking member 10 and ~ microwave-transmissi~e, seoond cooking member 1~ as in Figure 5, is preheated in a microwave oven beiore placing the cake batter Y~
and the optional accessory pan member 1~' therein. The combination ot heated heat generating, tirst cooking member ~, a~cessor- pan member 1~' ~ith cake batter Y'~ and the microwave-transmissi~e, second cooking member 1~ shown in Figure 17, is ~eturned to the microwave o~en wherein the cake bakes because o~ t1) exposure to the microwave energy in the microwave oven;
(~? b~ conducti-~e heat trom the heat generating, ~irst cooking member 1(); and (~) b~ the superatmospheric steam in the chamber 4~. Atter the cake ri~es above the le~el ot the rim ot the optional acc.~exx/)r.- l~an member 1~' and completes.its baking, the tol~ SlJrtaCe ol the cake ~, Figure 1~, wilL be irregular and n~ither crlJsteli nor bro~ned. The assembl~ ot- Figure 1, is relllo~ed trom the microwavt- o~er1 and disa~sembled. The heated heat generat.ing, tirst cooking member 1~ is inverted and placed on tol~ o~- the ~ake as shown in Figure 1~. The cake Y'~' ~ill be "" : .:: - . . . - ., - . : -; ~ - - ~::
:: : , !~ 17 ~ ~ 3 browned, crusted and t'lattened to a unit'orm top sur~'ace by direct contact with the heated metal grill plate ~.
The we;ght ot' the heat generating, ~irst cooking member 1~ does not crush the oake ~' and it results in a t'lat top t'or the cake coplaner with th upper rim o~' the optional accessor~ pan member 1~'.
~dditional hrowning and crusting is possible bv exposing heat generating, t'irst c~ooking member 1~ resting on top ot' pan member 1~' t'or an additional period ot' time to microwave energy. During this additional period ot' time, microwave energy carlnot reach the baked cake becallse it is shielded on its tol) b~ metal griL13ng plate '~ and on its sides and bottom by actesxory pan member 1~'.
et'r(?s_ing_and Heat_ng_TV_Dinners A t'rozen ~'ood, conventionally packaged on an aluminum l'nil tray or on a high temperature resistant plastic trav or on another heat-resistant support, is placed in an assembly o~' the type shown in Figure 5, i.e., a heat generating, t'irst cooking member 1~ and a microwave-transmissive, second cooking member 1'~. The t'rozen t'ood ~ can be quickly and conveniently heated.
T~' the assembly was not preheated bet'ore the ~'rozen i'ood was placed therein, the microwave-transmissive, second cooking member 1~ ma~ become coated with condensed moisture on its inner surt'ace. The condensed moisture will run down on to the surt'ace ot' the metal grillirlg plat.e '~ ot' the heat generating~
t'irst cooking member 1~, where it boils and ~'orms steam that increases the total heat content o~' the assembly. At some stage, Lhe ~ham~er ~ is heated above the dew point ol' its steam oorltents arld the oondensation on the inner sur~'ace o~' the microwa~-tr-arlslnissi~e, second cooking mem~er 1'~ disappears.
Thereat'ter the cook can ~isu~lly obser~e the t'ood and decide wh~r) the t'o~d h;ls properl~- h~ated. The e~perienced cook will recognize and take into account that some at'ter-cooking ot' the t'tozen t'oo-1 m~ occur.

. . ~ .

WO91/13529 PC~/~S90/01152 i~7~3~.~3 1 ~

The ~'rozen l-ood ~(j ix heated by a combirlation oY heat conducted t'rom the metal grilling plate '~t) through ~'rozen ~'ood container Y4 and into the bottom portion~ oY the ~'rozen ~'ood ~t~.
~im~lltaneousl5 microwave energy entering chamber ~t) ~hrough the microwavæ-transmissive, second cooking member 1~, penetrates into the t'rozen t'oocl ~ causing volatili~at~ion o~' moisture and heating ot' the ~'rozen ~'ood ~tj. The amount o~' dehydration o~' the t'rozen t'ood Yt; is controlled because the volatilized stearn is con~'ined at sli~htly superatmospheric pressures within the chamber ~. Tt. may be desirable to spray selective areas o~' t.he upper sur~'ace ot' the i'rozen ~'ood Y(j with moisture prior to deYrostir1~ and heatir~g in order to reduce the hydration tendencies oJ' peas and carrots, ~'or example, relative to the meat l)()rt~i.ons. ~dding moisture is more ~'ully described in U.S.
Patent 4,~,555.
~'l. AlterrlaLive Techni~ue t`or Bakin~ PIes An alternative technique t'or baking pies carl be described in connection with Figures '~ and 1~. A i'rozen meat pie or other moist ingredient pie having a bottom crust which is di~'~'icult to bake satis~'actorily, can be baked in a novel manner with sel~cted members o~' the kit ol' this invention. In Figure '~, a t'ro~en pie ~ includes a bottom crust 10~, a top crust It)4 and a mois~ure containing $'illing 10tj. The ~'rozen pie ~ is placed on a metal pie pan lt)t) which may be aluminum i'oil or other met:al. The ~'rozen pie Y~ i~ placed upside down with its top crust lt)4 against the metal gril.Ling surt'ace ~t) ot' the heat generating, ~'irst cooking member It) and covered by the mi.crowave-transmissive, second cooking member 1~.
The asxemt)ly as ~.hown in Figure '~'~ is placed in a microwave o~erl and e~posed t.o microwave energy. Microwave energy canno+
perle~rate 1he mel:al pie pan lt~ and aGcordingly ~'unctions to heat. t.he microwave absorbent substance ~'~. That heat is corl(il1cted to L~le metaL gril.ling plate ~t) and thence directly to t.h~ top pi~ crust. ]t)4. The t.op pie crust 1~4 thaws and ~artial.l~ bakex to a xuitab.Le brown coloring. Thereat'ter the assemh.Ly o~' Figure ~'~ is removed ~'rom the microwave oven. The ., f;'~' lY Z~9~;3 ~;

~'rozen pie ~ has its top crust l~4 partiall~ baked and its bot-tom crust 1~'~ del'rosted and heated ~'rom the steam e~ol~ed during the partial baking o~' top crust 1~4. This partiall~-baked ~)ie is placed on the heat generating, t-irst co~hing member 1() in its normal position and the assembly ix covered with a microwave-tran~missive, ~econd cooking member 1~ to produce the assembL-; o~ Figure '~'~. The aqueous pie i'illing 1 r-emains ~-ro~.en throughc)ut the partial baking o~ the top crust 1~4. Thu.s the pie Y~ remains essentially i-rozen and can be easil~ ; nv erted.
The r~.atet1 assembly o~- Fjgure '~ is returned to the microwave oven and taking ol ~he pie is completed. Durin~ the i'inal stage ol the t,~.;ing, the bottom crust 1~'~ is heated primarily b~ conduction ot' heat energ~ i-rom the metal grilling plate '~
through the pie pan ]~U. The aqueous pie ~'illing 1~ is heated primaril~ by microwave energy which penetrates the microwave~
transmissive, second cooking member 1'~ and penetrates the top erust 104. The prebrowned top crust 1~4, r~ow i'ree to rise, wil~ rise, crust and turn brown. The chamber 4~ become-~ ~'illed with superatmospheric steam, which combines with the ~5~~5U~
degrees F heat that is released by the metal grill suri'ace '~
to complete the neating and baking oY the side and bottom crust 1()'~ .
T~picalL~, in the operation described concerning Figure '~'~, the pre~'erred dei'rosting and partial browning ot' the top sur~'ace oi' th. pie occurs approximatel~ two minutes a~'ter the time normally required ~'or the temperature o~' metal grilling plate '~l) to ri~e to a temperature ot' about ~5~ degrees F. For e~an~ple, i~' ~ne me~al grilling plate '~ required seven minutes to rise to :~5l) ~teyrees F, then in contact with the l'rozen pie orust, lhe m.--tal grilling plate ~ wilL heat in about nine ~'IT. Po~corn ~ number o~' pro~esses l'or bakin~ popcorn in rnicrowave ovens are describe~ in the literature. ~'.S. Patents ~,Y7'~,~45;

.
' ~ " ' , ' ` ' ~ ` . , , ' .`

WO 91/1352~ PCI/US90/01152 : ` if. .;

4,'~Y~ ; 4,4~5,~ ; 4,45~ . The kit ot the present invention provides an improved popcorn making ~'acility as shown in Figure '~4. The assembly ot' Figure 1'~ is provided ~ith a ~'rustoconicaL sleeve 1~ which is placed With it~ nar-~ow opening on the metal ~rilling plate ~. The sleeve lO~
restricts unl)opped corn to the central region o~' the metal ~rilling plate ~ which is the hottest region. A supply 11~ o~' unpopped popoorn is placed in the bottom o~' the ~'rustoconicàl sleeve 1~. The microwave-transmissive, second cooking member 1~' is plaeed on the heat generating, ~'irst cookin~ member 1 and the assembly o~' Figure '~4 is placed in a microwave oven.
Heating the sllpply ll~ o~' unpopped popcorn causes popping to occur to produce popped pop~orn 11~ which rise~ in the ~'rustoconical sleeve 1~ and over~'lows onto the cooler perimeter o~' the heated suri'ace o~' the metal grilling plate ~.
A~'ter the popping is completed, the assembly oY Figure ~4 is removed ~'rom the microwave oven and is inverted. The microwave-transmissive, second cooking member 1~ thereai'ter i'unctions as a warm serving di3h ~'or the popped popcorn 11'~.
The i'rustoconical sleeve 1~ is removed ~'rom the microwave-transmissive, second cooking member 1~ a~'ter it is inverted to its open top position. Pre~erably the Yrustoconical sleeve lU~
is t'orm~d ~'rom heat resistant glass.
VIII. Steam Cooking ____ __ Re~'erring to Figure 7, the present kit may be assembled to produce a steamer type cooking utensil wherein a supply o~' water is introduced into the chamber 41 beneath the pert'orated accessory pan 4~ and the metal pot 44. The metal pot 44 ma- be dispensed with or the metal pot 44 may be inverted over the per~'orated accessory pan 4~. The water vaporizes and the resulting steam is oontained within the chambers 4~, 41. An~
t'ood positioned on top o~' the per~'orated pan 4~ will be steamed and thereby cooked in the manner o~ a steam cooker. This technique is use~'ul 1'or sea~'oods (lobsters, shrimp, etc.), dessert.s (plum puddings, iig puddings, etc.), steam heating bakery goods (rolls, buns, et(.).

~, :

,, W8 91/13529 ~ ~9~ ~ Pcl/us9O/01152 When.a per~'orated accessory pan 4~ is employed as a shel~' wjthin the chamber 4~, a t'ood can be exposed to microwave erlerg~ on a per~'orated accessory pan 4~ or directly in the mi(ro~a~e transmissive pot ~. When a per~orated aecessorv pan ~ i.s used as a shell', water can be boiled beneath the per~'orated accessory pan 4~, and the steam ~'rom the boiling water will be contained within the chamber 4~, to steam cook c~ntairled ~'ood. Stearn which contacts heated metal grilling plate '~() becomes superheated.
To st.eam t'oods, ~'or e~ample, to cook ~'rozen lobster tails, the cook ean t'irst. dip the ~'rozen lobster tails in water be~'ore heating in the microwave-transmissive, second cooking member 1'~, in the assembl~ sho~n in Figure ~. Alternatively some wa~er (:ould be ~'irst boiled in the microwave-transmissive7 second cooking member l'~; thereat'ter the t'rozen lobster tails are placed in the boiling water and covered by heat generating,' t'irst cooking member 1~. The t'ood is then e~posed to superatmospheric steam, i.e., steam heated by the metal grilling plate '~ and by microwave energy.
Another example ot' steaming is cooking a t'rankt'urter (hot dog) in the assembl~ ot' Figure ~. The ~'rankt'urter is placed in the microwa~e-transmissive, second cooking member 1~ and heated by microwave energy and superatmospheric steam. Steam ~'rom t'rank~'urter juices or t'rorn moisture added to the chamber by the operator becomes superheated upon contact with the heated metal gri.lli.ng plate '~(). When the ~'rank~'urter is heated, the assembly oY Figure ~ is inverted to create the assembly o~' Figure 5. The t'rankt'ur-ter t'alls onto the hot metal grilling plate '~ and is grilled to the desired degree o~' browning.
Frankt'urter rolls also ma- be placed in the microwave-transmissive, secorld cooking member 1'~ with the t'rank~urter ~'or heating in t.he Figure ~ asseDlbly. ~'hen the elements are inverted, the 1'rankl'urter rolls are toasted on the metal grilling pla~e ~ ~hile the t'rankt'urters are being grilled.

.: ' ' ': ' - - --WO 91/13~29 ~ ~,5~3 ~ PCT/US90/01152 IX. Frozen Fried _ oGdsA novel process ~'or heating and cooking ~-rozen pre~ried Yoods such as ~'ried potatoes, ~'ried chicken employs the heat generating, ~'irst cooking member 1~ and the microwave-transmissive, second cooking member 1~ assembled as shown in Figure ~. The assembly is preheated to an operating temperature labout 5U~ degrees F) by exposure to microwaves in a microwave oven. The assembly is removed and a i'rozen ~'ried ~ood is placed into the chamber 4~ on the base 3'~ o~' the microwave-~ransmissive, second cooking member 1'~. The preheated assembly is returned to the microwave oven and exposed t.o microwave energy until the i'ood dei'rosts and heats to a temperature approaching a desired serving temperature.
Thereupon t:he heat generating, ~'irst cooking member 1~ and the microwa~e-transmissive, second cooking member 1~ are inverted to a position shown in Figure 5 so that the warm, ~'ried ~'ood ~'alls by gravity onto the metal grilling plate '~U where the t'ood bakes, browns, crusts, t'ries and/or se~rs as the case may be in surl'ace contact with the hot metal grilling plate ~.
Dee~ ~'at t'rying can be simulated by applying a small quantity ot' cooking oil to the t'rozen ~'ood to replace some o~' the oil ~hich may be dri~en oi'~' during the dei'rosting and heating.
When the heated 1'ood drops onto the heated metal grilling plate ~ at the moment o~' inversion o~' the assembly, there is no signit'icant loss o~' temperature on the metal grilling plate '~, as happens when a 1'rozen ~'ood contacts a heated metal grilling plate.
In either the Figure 5 or the Figure ~ coni'iguration, the i'ood can be stirred conveniently by removing the assembly ~'rom the mlcrowave oven and ~'irmly holding handles 3~ together and sha~ing the a~sembly to agitate its ~'ood contents.
. Steak Broiling ...~
In Figure ~, a xteak 74 is shown supported on a per~'orated aluminum accessory pan 4~ over a ~icrowave-shielded by-product ' condensation chamber ~1 de~'ined by the metal pot ~4 and the '` ~

%~,7 ;3~3 per~`orated cake pan ~. The steak 74 contacts and ~upports the heat generating, l'irst cooking member 1~. The weight o~' the heat generating1 l'irst cooking member 1~ urges t~e metal grilling plate ~ into engagement with the top o~' the steak 74.
The heated metal grilling plate ~ heats and grills the top sur~'ace o~' the steak 74. Liquid by-products o~' the steak process ~'al~ hy gravity into the by-product collection chamber 41 ~'rom where they may be recovered i'or use as gravy.
Microwave energy may enter into the steak 74 directly through the sides o1' the s-teak to heat and cook the meat. Pre~'erably any bones are remo~ed t'rom the steak 74 because bones might interl'ere with the required surl'ace contact oi' the metal grilling plate '~ with the upper surl'ace o~' the steak. Note that the microwave-shielded by-product condensation chamber 41 is microwave-shieldecl which prevents microwave energy heating ol' the by-products o~' cooking. The cooking by-products may be saved ~'or subsequent cooking or may be discarded.
~I. Sausage Cook_~
Figure 1~ illustrates a microwave-transmissive, second cooking member 1'~ on top o~' a collector assembly 14. This con~'iguration is u~el'ul l'or rapid dei'rosting and heating l'ood such as sausages which yield large quantities o~' liquid by-products during cooking. Where the microwave transmissive pot 4~ o~' Figllre 1~ is ~'abricated i'rom glass or ceramic, it can rest directl- on the metal ~rilling plate '~ whereby the heat generating, l'irst cooking mernber lU is preheated while the by-product producing $'ood is being precooked. A~'ter the product xuch as sausages is adequately precooked, ~ia microwave energ~, the collector agsembly 14 is removed and the assembl~ ol' Figure is reconstituted to permit the searing and ~'inal grilling o~
th~ x~ux~ge on l.he heate~ metal grilling plate ~. The prerheated sausage, i'or example, may complete its cooking on the met:~l gl~illing plate '~ concurrentl~- with ~'rying an egg on the met.al grilling plate ~. The egg-cooking and ~'inal sausae ~o(JI~irlg Hre pnel'erably condl~cted ;ithout microwave energy ---i.e., outside the microwave oven.

.:

.:

~091/13529 PcT/~s~o/o~ls2 ~ ~;7 5 ~

XII. Biscuit Baking ~iscuits may be baked with the assembl~ illustrated in Fi~ure '~5 including a heat generating, ~'irst cooking member t~, a microwave-transmissive, second cooklng member 1~ and an in~erted metal pot ~. The met~l pot 44 and the metal grilling plate ~ combine to del'ine a steam-coni'ir1ing baking chamber ~1. In this embodiment, the inverted metal pot 44 -t'unctions as a microwave-ret'lective, second cooking member because it combines with the heat generating, ~'irst cooking member 1~ to create the steam-cont'ining chamber 1~1. Individual biscuits ~ are placed in the baking chamber 1~l and are protected t'rom expos1lre to microwaves because they are surrounded by a metal enclosure consisting ot' the inverted metal pot 44 and the metal grilling pla~e '~. The metal grilling plate '~ may be at room temperature when the biscuit baking commences or may be preneated The biscuits 1~ are heated $'rom the heated metal grilling p.late ~0 b~ conduction and rise ~e~pand) upwardly.
~-ter the biscuits have risen and the bottom suri'aces become brown, the assembl~ may be removed t'rom the microwave oven and ~.he biscuits 1~ may be inverted on the heated metal grilling plate ~ and the assembly oi' Figure '~5 reconstructed and retl~rned t.o the microwave oven to brown the other sur-t'ace ol' the biscuits The presence ot' the microwave-transmissive, second cooking member 1'~ prevents any signit'icant heat loss i'rom the s~stem and th~rther coniines the superatmospheric pressure in the ~hamber 1~1 during the baking operation.
Nestin~
......... _._ ~n a prei'erred embodiment, all oi' the elements ot' the present cooking kit, namely, the heat generating, t'irst cooking member 1~, the microwa~e-transmissive, second cooking member 1~, the coll~ctor asxemt,ly 1~ and the optiona1 pan element 1~ should be nestable ~'or ship~ing an(l storage purposes. Note that the optional pan element l~ is also a microwa~e-rei'lectivt- second cookir1g member. ~ typical nested ~it is shown in Figure '~.
Prei'erabl~ all ot' tne elements in their nested condition should t'i~ into a microwa~e o-en ~'or storage therein when not in use.
~esting requires appropriate design ot' the slopes ol the side 1.
, ~ r'7~ 3 ~ '~5 ~ !~

walls o~' the various element~ and appropriate selections ol' depths and widths. It may be desirable to pro~ide mor'e than one metal pot 4~, ~'or e~ample, to devel~p ~ larger baking chamber 1'~1.

CenPral Comments , , ~, ., , . . .. ,.. _. .. .. .
When cooking is complete, t.he second cooking member 1'~ may be le~'t i.n pLace on top ot' the heat generating, ~'irst cooking member IU as shown in Fi.gure 1'~ to keep the l'ood warm during serving.
It may be desirable to pro~ide additional use~'ul accessory metal par1s ot' dit'l'erent sizes and shapes. Pret'erably the cross-sectioll shape ol' the elements ot' the present kit are circular. Other cross-sectiorls are t'easible and sometimes even desirable, t'or e~ample, general.l- square, prel'erably with rounded cornels; rectangular, pre~'erably with rounded corners;
o-~al; and other xhapes correspor1ding to the shape ol' the anticipated l'ood ~rticle or container.

-, '

Claims (23)

CLAIMS:

1. A microwave-oven cooking-kit, with engageable, invertible, cooking members, which comprises:
an invertible, microwave-absorptive, first cooking member, including a first surface adapted to cook a food thereon, an invertible, second cooking member including a second surface adapted to cook a food thereon, a steam-confining, cooking chamber defined by said first and second members, means to retain said first and second members in engagement (a) when said first member is the top member, (b) when said second member is the top member; and (c) when said members are inverted together.
said cooking members being adapted to cook food in the first surface-up position with said first surface supporting said food and also adapted to cook food in the second surface-up position with said second surface supporting said food.

2. The cooking kit of Claim 1 wherein said first cooking member weighs between 1.5 and 3.0 pounds.

3. The cooking kit of Claim 1 wherein said second cooking member weighs between 1.5 and 3.0 pounds.

4. The cooking kit of Claim 1 wherein said means to retain said first and second members in engagement comprises at least one handle member on said first cooking member and at least one handle member on said second cooking member, said handle members arranged in juxtaposition to permit transport and inversion of said cooking kit as a unit.

5. The cooking kit of Claim 1 where said second cooking member is a microwave-permeable bowl member having a rim.

6. The cooking kit of Claim 5 with said second cooking member in its said rim resting on and engaged with said first surface of said first cooking member; and an accessory pan member having a base resting on said first surface in heat-transfer relationship and being entirely confined within said steam-confining chamber.

7. The cooking kit of Claim 6 where said accessory pan member is perforated to permit the passage of steam and is fabricated of a microwave reflective material.

8. The cooking kit of claim 1 where said second cooking member is a microwave reflective first pan member having a base and a sidewall with a rim; and said rim supports and engages said first cooking member.

9. The cooking kit of claim 8 including a perforated, accessory pan member in said steam confining chamber and having a base supported above said second surface, a by-product collection chamber defined by said accessory pan member and by said first pan member, said by-product collection chamber being entirely confined within said steam-confining chamber.

10. The cooking kit of Claim 1 wherein said second cooking member is a metal pan having a base and a sidewall, and the open rim of said sidewall is engageable with said first surface of said first cooking member and said base comprises the said second surface.

11. The cooking kit of Claim 5 wherein said second cooking member is formed from heat resistant glass, ceramic material, glass-ceramic material or heat-resistant plastic.

12. For use in a microwave oven, an invertible microwave cooking apparatus comprising:
a heat generating member which includes a heat conductive metal grill having in contact with its reverse surface a microwave absorptive material; an imperforate, microwave transmissive bowl member having a rim engaged with said heat generating member; a steam confining chamber defined by said heat, generating member and said bowl member; means to retain said heat generating member and said bowl member in engagement while said apparatus is inverted; said bowl member being adapted in its rim-up position to confine food in contact with an inner surface thereof while said food is being heated said inner surface within said bowl member being below but not in contact with said heat conductive metal grill; and said bowl member being further adapted in its rim-down position to confine vaporous cooking by-products from cooking food in contact with said heat conductive metal grill.

13. The cooking apparatus of Claim 12 wherein said heat generating member weights between 1.5 and 3.0 pounds.

14. The cooking apparatus of Claim 12 with said bowl member in its rim-down position, including an auxiliary pan member having a base resting on said metal grill in heat transfer relationship and being entirely confined within said steam-confining chamber.

15. The cooking apparatus of Claim 12 wherein said bowl member has at least one handle member and said heat generating member has at least one handle member arranged in juxtaposition with said handle members of said bowl member to permit transport and inversion of said cooking apparatus as a unit.

16. The cooking apparatus of Claim 12 wherein said bowl member weighs between 1.5 and 3.0 pounds.

17. The cooking apparatus of Claim 12 including an auxiliary imperforate metal pan having its base disposed within said bowl member in its rim-up position and having a perforated metal pan member positioned above said base of said imperforate metal pan member to define a microwave shielded chamber between the two said pans, said heat generating member positioned above the open top of said bowl member to define said steam confining chamber.

18. The microwave cooking apparatus of Claim 12 wherein said bowl member is in its rim-down position including means engageable with said metal grill for restricting location of a food to a selected location on said grill, said location comprising less than the cooking surface of said metal grill.

19. The microwave cooking apparatus of Claim 18 wherein said means for restricting location of a food comprises a sleeve, open at each end and having a rim at each end, said sleeve having a first rim engaged with said cooking surface of said metal grill and having the second rim disposed above said grill.

20. The microwave cooking apparatus of Claim 12 wherein said bowl. member is in its rim-down position, including an auxiliary imperforate metal pan member having a base and a rim, said rim being engaged with said metal grill within said steam confining chamber, whereby said auxiliary pan member and the cooking surface of said metal grill define a microwave shielded heating chamber.

21. The microwave heating apparatus of Claim 20 wherein said bowl member weighs between 1.5 and 3.

22. The cooking apparatus of Claim 14 wherein said base of said auxiliary pan member which engages said grill is provided with perforations.

23. The microwave cooling apparatus of Claim 12 comprising:
a collector assembly comprising a microwave transmissive pot, a metal pot engaged within said microwave transmissive pot, and a perforated metal pan engaged within said metal pot, a rim at the open end of said microwave transmissive pot; said microwave transmissive bowl member having its rim engaged with said rim of said microwave transmissive pot to define an enclosed chamber between said microwave transmissive bowl member and said microwave transmissive pot;
said microwave transmissive pot resting upon said microwave absorptive heating member.