GB2308057A - Cooking apparatus - Google Patents

Cooking apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2308057A
GB2308057A GB9625920A GB9625920A GB2308057A GB 2308057 A GB2308057 A GB 2308057A GB 9625920 A GB9625920 A GB 9625920A GB 9625920 A GB9625920 A GB 9625920A GB 2308057 A GB2308057 A GB 2308057A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
container
cooking apparatus
steam
food
outlet
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB9625920A
Other versions
GB2308057B (en
GB9625920D0 (en
Inventor
Peter Anthony Dyson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
P A DYSON Ltd
Original Assignee
P A DYSON Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by P A DYSON Ltd filed Critical P A DYSON Ltd
Publication of GB9625920D0 publication Critical patent/GB9625920D0/en
Publication of GB2308057A publication Critical patent/GB2308057A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2308057B publication Critical patent/GB2308057B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J27/00—Cooking-vessels
    • A47J27/08—Pressure-cookers; Lids or locking devices specially adapted therefor
    • A47J27/0817—Large-capacity pressure cookers; Pressure fryers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L19/00—Products from fruits or vegetables; Preparation or treatment thereof
    • A23L19/10—Products from fruits or vegetables; Preparation or treatment thereof of tuberous or like starch containing root crops
    • A23L19/12—Products from fruits or vegetables; Preparation or treatment thereof of tuberous or like starch containing root crops of potatoes
    • A23L19/14—Original non-roasted or non-fried potato pieces
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L19/00—Products from fruits or vegetables; Preparation or treatment thereof
    • A23L19/10—Products from fruits or vegetables; Preparation or treatment thereof of tuberous or like starch containing root crops
    • A23L19/12—Products from fruits or vegetables; Preparation or treatment thereof of tuberous or like starch containing root crops of potatoes
    • A23L19/18—Roasted or fried products, e.g. snacks or chips
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23L—FOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L5/00—Preparation or treatment of foods or foodstuffs, in general; Food or foodstuffs obtained thereby; Materials therefor
    • A23L5/10—General methods of cooking foods, e.g. by roasting or frying
    • A23L5/13—General methods of cooking foods, e.g. by roasting or frying using water or steam

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Nutrition Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
  • Commercial Cooking Devices (AREA)

Description

COOKING APPARATU8 AND METHOD The present invention relates to a cooking apparatus and method and is concerned particularly, although not exclusively, with a cooking apparatus and method for cooking food such as potatoes.
To reduce the fat content in fried foods, such as chipped potatoes, it has been found useful to partly cook the potatoes in water before introducing them into hot oil.
A problem with partly cooking food in water when the cooking vessel is pressurized is that of the time taken to release the pressure in the vessel to enable the partly cooked food to be removed and a fresh batch of food to be introduced into the vessel.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided cooking apparatus arranged in use to cook at least partly a portion of food, the apparatus comprising a container arranged, in use, to contain a portion of food to be cooked, and heating apparatus arranged in use to heat water in the container for cooking the food, the apparatus further comprising a coolant inlet arranged in use to supply a coolant into the container, after the food has been cooked for a predetermined period of time.
The coolant may comprise water.
Preferably, there is provided pump means arranged in use to pump the coolant into the container through the coolant inlet.
There may be provided an outlet means arranged in use to allow steam and any waste products to exit the container.
The inlet may be provided with inlet valve means.
The outlet may be provided with outlet valve means.
The inlet valve means and/or the outlet valve means may be arranged to operate automatically after a predetermined time period. The operation of the inlet valve means and/or the outlet valve means may be arranged to be controlled by a controller, which may be a microprocessor.
Preferably the heating apparatus comprises one or more gas burners. The heating apparatus may comprise one or more fan-assisted gas burners. Alternatively or additionally, the heating apparatus may comprise electrical heating apparatus.
The container may be provided with a closure means which closure means is moveable between open and closed positions such that when the closure means is in the open position portions of food to be cooked may be put into and taken out of the container, and when the closure means is in the closed position it forms an air tight seal with the container.
Preferably, there is provided at least one food retaining means arranged in use to be located within the container. The food retaining means may be arranged in use to move within the container during cooking.
Preferably, the food retaining means is arranged in use to be rotatably moved within the container during cooking.
The or each food retaining means may comprise a basket.
The container may be arranged such that, in use, portions of food to be cooked are immersed in boiling water. Alternatively or additionally, the container may be arranged such that, in use, portions of food to be cooked are exposed to steam in the container.
Preferably, the arrangement is such that in use the heating apparatus heats water in the container which water cooks portions of food in the food retaining means, wherein after a predetermined period of time the inlet valve means is opened and cooling water is introduced into the container, and the outlet valve means is also opened and steam and waste material is allowed to escape from the container.
Preferably, there is provided a water level valve means arranged to allow excess water to leave the container in the event that a water level in the container exceeds a predetermined maximum.
In a preferred arrangement there is provided a separating device arranged to receive steam and any waste material from the outlet of the container. The separating device may comprise a container into which the steam and any waste material are introduced.
Preferably, the separating device is arranged such that steam and any waste material are cooled in the separating device. The separating device preferably comprises a waste outlet and a steam outlet wherein the waste is arranged to exit the separating device through a waste outlet to a drain and the steam is allowed to exit the separating device through the steam outlet.
The steam may be extracted from the separating device by pump means.
Preferably, the separating device comprises a substantially cylindrical body portion having a waste outlet in a lower portion thereof and having a steam outlet at an upper portion thereof.
In a preferred arrangement the steam and any waste are introduced into the body portion of the separating device through a separator inlet in such a way that they are made to swirl around the walls of the body portion to allow the steam and any waste material to cool.
The invention also provides a method of at least partly cooking food, the method comprising placing the food to be cooked in a container, boiling water in the container to cook the food, and introducing coolant through a coolant inlet into the container after a predetermined time period.
Preferably, the method includes allowing steam and waste material to leave the container through an outlet after a predetermined time period.
In a preferred arrangement the method includes automatically operating coolant inlet valve means to introduce coolant after a predetermined time interval.
Preferably, the method includes automatically operating outlet valve means to allow steam and waste material to escape from the container after a predetermined time period.
The method may include controlling the coolant inlet valve means and/or the outlet valve means by a controller such as a microprocessor.
In a preferred arrangement the method includes introducing steam and any waste from the outlet into a separating device. The method may include cooling the steam and any waste in the separating device and allowing any waste to leave the separating device through a separator outlet. The method may include allowing steam to leave the separating device through a steam outlet.
The method may include cooling the steam and any waste in the separating device by causing the steam and any waste to swirl around a body portion of the separating device.
The method preferably includes using coolant which is water.
Preferably the method comprises a method of at least partly cooking chipped potatoes.
The invention also includes any combination of the features or limitations referred to herein.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in part sectional view an embodiment of cooking apparatus according to the invention, and Figure 2 shows a separating device for use with the apparatus of Figure 1.
Referring particularly to Figure 1, this shows generally at 10 cooking apparatus for use in cooking food.
The apparatus comprises a box-shaped steel body portion 10a and a hingedly mounted steel lid 10b (shown partly cut away). The lid 10b is securely clamped onto the body 10a by a swing bolt and nut fastener arrangement 10c. A lower portion 10d of the body is wedge-shaped and contains water 11. A basket 12 for containing food to be cooked is mounted (mounting not shown for clarity) in the container 10 such that portions of food located in the basket 12 are immersed in boiling water in use. If it is required to cook the portion of food in steam (i.e. not immersed in the water) an alternative mounting arrangement (not shown) is provided, which is arranged to rotate the basket about the centre of the container 10.A fan-assisted gas burner 13 heats the water 11 which generates steam in the container and, with the lid 10b clamped in the closed position, pressure in the container 10 builds to a normal cooking pressure of between 10 and 12 pounds per square inch (p.s.i.) After a predetermined time interval during which the food (not shown) is part-cooked either by the water or the steam a microprocessor (the key-pad control of which is shown at 14) automatically opens a valve (not shown) of a coolant inlet 15 to introduce a spray of approximately 12 litres of cold water into the container 10 in the direction of broken lines 15a. Substantially simultaneously the microprocessor opens a valve (not shown) of an outlet 16. The effect of the cooling water being sprayed into the container 10 is to reduce quickly the temperature inside the container. When the outlet 16 is opened, steam and any waste material is sucked out of the outlet 16. In the case of chipped potatoes the waste material is starch which forms a foam when the potatoes are being cooked in steam. An excess water control valve 10e permits the water level in the container 10 to be reduced in the event that it becomes too great.
During cooking the water in the container may reach a temperature of approximately 114"C. The introduction of the cold water helps to maintain the water level in the container. Because of thermal insulation layer 19 around the container, the temperature of the water does not normally fall below 900C, thus enabling a rapid return to cooking temperature.
Referring to Figure 2, this shows generally at 17 a separating device having a generally cylindrical body 17a with a conically-shaped lower portion 17b. In use steam and any waste such as foam from outlet 2 of Figure 1 is fed into the separating device through an inlet 18 towards the top of the device 17. The steam and foam is made to swirl around the inside of the cylindrical body portion 17a until the foam reverts to a liquid which falls towards the bottom of the body 17 and exits through a drain outlet 17c. Any remaining steam is extracted through a steam vent 17d using a pump (not shown).
The embodiment of the invention shown enables a batch of food, for example chipped potatoes, to be at least partly cooked in water or steam. The process of introducing coolant into the pressurized container 10 whilst simultaneously opening the outlet 16 enables a rapid reduction in temperature and pressure in the container 10 after the cooking cycle is complete. In addition it permits any waste such as foam to be conveniently removed from the container 10, thus keeping the water 11 relatively clean. If the operation of the burner 13 is controlled correctly, very little time is lost between cooling, removing the cooked food and introducing a new portion of food to be cooked.The process of cooking repeated batches of food under pressure is therefore made faster and any waste products are conveniently separated from the steam in the separating device 17 before the steam is released into the atmosphere.
Once the food has been partially cooked under water and under pressure, the cooking process can be finished off in hot oil or fat.
Summing up effective steps in the above mentioned specific embodiment, the invention makes it possible to steam chips under very high pressure, of up to 15 pounds per square inch. After the steaming cycle is finished, which may take about six minutes, the interior of the steam vessel is quenched with cold water. This quenching process has the advantage that :1. it cools the interior of the steam chamber a little to allow safe reduction in pressure before opening the chamber.
2. it rinses down the interior walls of the chamber which may be covered, by this stage, in a kind of mousse of water and starch.
3. it tops up the water level in the steam chamber ready for the next batch of chips.
The finished batch can readily be removed and inserted into hot oil to conclude the process.

Claims (47)

1. A cooking apparatus arranged in use to cook at least partly a portion of food, the apparatus comprising a container arranged, in use, to contain a portion of food to be cooked, and heating apparatus arranged in use to heat water in the container for cooking the food, the apparatus further comprising a coolant inlet arranged in use to supply a coolant into the container, after the food has been cooked for a predetermined period of time.
2. A cooking apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the coolant comprises water.
3. A cooking apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein there is provided pump means arranged in use to pump the coolant into the container through the coolant inlet.
4. A cooking apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein there is provided an outlet means arranged in use to allow steam and any waste products to exit the container.
5. A cooking apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the inlet is provided with inlet valve means.
6. A cooking apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein the outlet is provided with outlet valve means.
7. A cooking apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the inlet valve means is arranged to operate automatically after a predetermined time period.
8. A cooking apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the outlet valve means is arranged to operate automatically after a predetermined time period.
9. A cooking apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the operation of the inlet valve means is arranged to be controlled by a controller.
10. A cooking apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein the operation of the outlet valve means is arranged to be controlled by a controller.
11. A cooking apparatus according to Claim 9 or Claim 10, wherein the controller comprises a microprocessor.
12. A cooking apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 11, wherein the heating apparatus comprises one or more gas burners.
13. A cooking apparatus according to Claim 12, wherein the heating apparatus comprises one or more fan-assisted gas burners.
14. A cooking apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 13, wherein the heating apparatus comprises electrical heating apparatus.
15. A cooking apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 14, wherein the container is provided with closure means, which closure means is moveable between open and closed positions such that when the closure means is in the open position, portions of food to be cooked may be put into and taken out of the container, and when the closure means is in the closed position it forms an airtight sealer with the container.
16. A cooking apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 15, wherein there is provided at least one food retaining means arranged in use to be located within the container.
17. A cooking apparatus according to Claim 16, wherein the food retaining means is arranged in use to move within the container during cooking.
18. A cooking apparatus according to Claim 16 or Claim 17, wherein the food retaining means is arranged in use to be rotatably moved within the container during cooking.
19. A cooking apparatus according to any of Claims 16 to 18, wherein the or each food retaining means comprises a basket.
20. A cooking apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 19, wherein the container is arranged such that, in use, portions of food to be cooked are immersed in boiling water.
21. A cooking apparatus according to Claim 20, wherein the container is arranged such that, in use, portions of food to be cooked are exposed to steam in the container.
22. A cooking apparatus according to Claims 2, 5, 6 and 16, wherein the arrangement is such that in use the heating apparatus heats water in the container which water cooks portions of food in the food retaining means, wherein after a predetermined period of time, the inlet valve means is opened and cooling water is introduced into the container, and the outlet valve means is also opened and steam and waste material is allowed to escape from the container.
23. A cooking apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 22, wherein there is provided a water level valve means arranged to allow excess water to leave the container in the event that a water level in the container exceeds a predetermined maximum.
24. A cooking apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein there is provided a separating device arranged to receive steam and any waste material from the outlet of the container.
25. A cooking apparatus according to Claim 24, wherein the separating device comprises a container into which the steam and any waste material are introduced.
26. A cooking apparatus according to Claim 24 or Claim 25, wherein the separating device is arranged such that steam and any waste material are cooled in the separating device.
27. A cooking apparatus according to any of Claims 24 to 26, wherein the separating device comprises a waste outlet and a steam outlet wherein the waste is arranged to exit the separating device through a waste outlet to a drain and the steam is allowed to exit the separating device through the steam outlet.
28. A cooking apparatus according to any of Claims 24 to 27, wherein the steam is extracted from the separating device by pump means.
29. A cooking apparatus according to any Claims 24 to 28, wherein the separating device comprises a substantially cylindrical body portion having a waste outlet in a lower portion thereof and having a steam outlet at an upper portion thereof.
30. A cooking apparatus according to Claim 29, wherein the steam and any waste are introduced into the body portion of the separating device through a separator inlet in such a way that they are made to swirl around the walls of the body portion to allow the steam and any waste material to cool.
31. A cooking apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
32. A method of at least partly cooking food, the method comprising placing the food to be cooked in a container, boiling water in the container to cook the food, and introducing coolant through a coolant inlet into the container after a predetermined time period.
33. A method according to Claim 32, wherein the method includes allowing steam and waste material to leave the container through an outlet after a predetermined time period.
34. A method according to Claim 32 or Claim 33, wherein the method includes automatically operating coolant inlet valve means to introduce coolant after a predetermined time period.
35. A method according to any of Claims 32 to 34, wherein the method includes automatically operating outlet valve means to allow steam and waste material to escape from the container after a predetermined time period.
36. A method according to Claim 34, wherein the method includes controlling the coolant inlet valve means by a controller.
37. A method according to Claim 35, wherein the method includes controlling the outlet valve means by a controller.
38. A method according to Claims 36 or 37, wherein the controller comprises a microprocessor.
39. A method according to any of Claims 32 to 38, wherein the method includes introducing steam and any waste from the outlet into a separating device.
40. A method according to Claim 39, wherein the method includes cooling the steam and any waste in the separating device and allowing any waste to leave the separating device through a separator outlet.
41. A method according to Claim 39 or Claim 40, wherein the method includes allowing steam to leave the separating device through a steam outlet.
42. A method according to any of Claims 39 to 41, wherein the method includes cooling the steam and any waste in the separating device by causing the steam and any waste to swirl around a body portion of the separating device.
43. A method according to any of Claims 32 to 42, wherein the method includes using coolant which is water.
44. A method according to any of Claims 32 to 43, wherein the method comprises a method of at least partly cooking chipped potatoes.
45. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the cooking takes place under water and under pressure.
46. A method as claimed in claim 45, in which a cooking process is then finished off using hot oil or fat.
47. A method substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB9625920A 1995-12-15 1996-12-13 Cooking apparatus and method Expired - Fee Related GB2308057B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9525632.7A GB9525632D0 (en) 1995-12-15 1995-12-15 Cooking apparatus and method

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9625920D0 GB9625920D0 (en) 1997-01-29
GB2308057A true GB2308057A (en) 1997-06-18
GB2308057B GB2308057B (en) 2000-07-26

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GBGB9525632.7A Pending GB9525632D0 (en) 1995-12-15 1995-12-15 Cooking apparatus and method
GB9625920A Expired - Fee Related GB2308057B (en) 1995-12-15 1996-12-13 Cooking apparatus and method

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB9525632.7A Pending GB9525632D0 (en) 1995-12-15 1995-12-15 Cooking apparatus and method

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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006015212A2 (en) * 2004-07-28 2006-02-09 Technology Licensing Corporation Method for prevention of temperature overshoot in a cooking appliance

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3818818A (en) * 1970-04-08 1974-06-25 Vari Phase Inc Apparatus for processing food

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3818818A (en) * 1970-04-08 1974-06-25 Vari Phase Inc Apparatus for processing food

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006015212A2 (en) * 2004-07-28 2006-02-09 Technology Licensing Corporation Method for prevention of temperature overshoot in a cooking appliance
WO2006015212A3 (en) * 2004-07-28 2006-11-02 Technology Licensing Corp Method for prevention of temperature overshoot in a cooking appliance

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9525632D0 (en) 1996-02-14
GB2308057B (en) 2000-07-26
GB9625920D0 (en) 1997-01-29

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20041213