DE9115634U1 - Additional steam heating for microwave cooking appliances - Google Patents

Description

Prof Dr Horst Piche»
Lützelsteinerstr 22
MUNICH 45

Additional steam heating for microwave cooking devices

The invention relates to an additional steam heating system for microwave cooking devices of all types (solo and combination devices) as well as ovens with an integrated microwave part, which can be operated alone or simultaneously with microwave heating.

Microwave cooking appliances are currently available on the market as solo appliances with exclusive microwave heating or as combination appliances or as ovens with classic heating types such as top and bottom heat, circulating air and radiant grill.

When cooking food without water, which is nutritionally beneficial, in these devices, the food often dries out or loses water. The use of closed dishes - even with additional water on the bottom of the dish and storing the food above a steam sieve - often does not produce satisfactory cooking results when using the microwave.

The invention is based on the task of generating steam independently of the microwave feed and bringing it to the food. The device for generating steam can be arranged inside or outside the cooking chamber. The spread of the steam in the cooking chamber is preferably limited by a cooking utensil or another container.

The features of claim 1 serve to solve this problem. The subclaims contain expedient further developments.
The following advantages over previous device designs result from the device according to the invention:

Gentle but effective energy transfer (exclusively

or additionally) to the food by steam

no drying out of the food surface

Low water or mass loss of the food being cooked

better sensory and nutritional quality

short cooking time in combination mode

Energy saving as steam is not generated by microwave energy

must become.

Drawing A shows an example of the innovation:

Water flows from a storage container or from the pipe (9) into the electrically heated steam generator (8). Depending on the type of circuit, the steam flows with or without the simultaneous activation of microwave energy through the steam pipe (6) into the cooking dish with lid (5) and there reaches the food (1).

Condensate collects on the bottom of the dish after the condensation heat has been released, which is why the food should be stored on a raised sieve insert (2) if necessary.

A similar embodiment is shown in drawing B.
The steam generator (8) is integrated into the base of the dish. The hot steam condenses on the food and heats it (1), which is then stored on its own sieve insert (2). The condensate flows back to the electrically heated steam generator (8) and is available to the system again.
The electrical energy is introduced via a plug-in power supply (6). Instead of the power feedthrough (7), contacts can also be used, e.g. on the bottom of the dish.

1 Food

2 sieve insert (if required)

3 Cooking chamber (microwave-proof on all sides)

4 Support plate (microwave permeable)

5 cooking dishes with lids (microwave-safe)

6 Steam line (detachable connection)

7 Cable entry

8 steam generators (electrically heated)

9 Water inlet (from tank or pipe)

ⁿ ■ 3

1 Food

2 sieve insert (if required)

3 Cooking chamber (microwave-proof on all sides)

4 Support plate (microwave permeable)

5 cooking dishes with lids (microwave-safe, except base)

6 Power supply (pluggable)

7 Power feedthrough (microwave-proof)

8 steam generators (electrically heated)

Claims (4)

1) Additional steam heating for all types of microwave cooking devices, including ovens with an integrated microwave part, characterized in that it transfers energy, alone or together with the microwave heating, to the food (1) which is stored in a largely microwave-permeable cooking dish (5) or other container. 2) Additional steam heating according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrically heated steam generator (8) is arranged outside the cooking chamber (3) and steam flows in via a detachable steam line (6). 3) Additional steam heating according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrically heated steam generator is integrated in the cooking utensil (5) and the amount of water added circulates as steam or condensate. 4) Additional steam heating according to claim 1 and claim 3, characterized in that the electrical, plug-in power supply (6) automatically closes the circuit by means of electrical contacts, e.g. on the bottom of the dish, when the cooking dish (5) is placed in the cooking chamber (3).