GB2444517A

GB2444517A - Interactive cooking aid

Info

Publication number: GB2444517A
Application number: GB0624378A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karen J D Costa; James Benton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-12-06
Filing date: 2006-12-06
Publication date: 2008-06-11
Also published as: GB0624378D0

Abstract

An interactive cookery aid in which a recipe can be selected from a database of recipes and the quantity of ingredients required are provided according to the specified number of people and the recipe and the preparation and/or cookery instructions are provided visually on a screen and/or audibly. The aid may be provided as a stand alone device in the form of a cube having an inbuilt speaker and a hinged lid which pivots to reveal a touch screen display. Alternatively, the aid may be provided as part of a cooker and the screen provided as an integrated part of the cooker. The database may be an integrated component of the aid or accessed over the Internet. The aid may also include an audible/visible timing device.

Description

COOKERY AIDS

The present invention relates to improvements in or relating to cookery aids.

Cookery books and cards which provide recipes including quantities of ingredients, preparation of ingredients, cooking conditions and the time required for cooking are well known. The books can also provide information concerning the nutritional content of the food such as fat content, carbohydrate content, protein content and the like.

These books however suffer from the disadvantages that it is frequently necessary to make several references to a book during the preparation of a meal which can distract from the actual cooking which may impair the quality of the final meal. Furthermore, it is necessary to relate the cooking instructions to a separate timing device to ensure that the recipe is followed and this can provide a further distraction. In addition recipe books ... 15 and cards usually provide a recipe in amounts of ingredients required for a fixed number S...

****. of people (for example 4 or 6 persons) and it is necessary to make a separate calculation to determine the amounts required for a different number of people.

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Cookery books and cards are also generally used in the kitchen where they inevitably become dirty and soiled.

The present invention overcomes these problems.

The present invention provides an interactive cookery aid comprising means whereby a recipe can be selected from a database of recipes and the ingredients are provided according to the specified number of people and the recipe, the quantities of ingredients required and the preparation and/or cookery instructions are provided visually on a screen and/or verbally.

In a preferred embodiment at least the preparation and/or cooking instructions are provided verbally and the system includes audible means to indicate when certain actions are required for preparing a meal. For example if a course is being prepared consisting of a roast chicken and boiled vegetables the system can include means to tell the chef when the cooking of the vegetables should start so that their cooking state can be synchronised to be complete at the same time as the completion of the cooking of the chicken. The facility can be provided for a plurality of components of a single course of a meal and also for the appropriate preparation and cooking of several courses of a meal.

The recipe provision whether visibly and/or audibly is therefore combined with a timing device which is preferably visible and part of a screen display that is provided to the chef; the timing device preferably includes an audio system.

In a preferred embodiment the database will contain a multitude of recipes and there is no practical limit on the number that can be provided. In a preferred embodiment the database can be accessed in a manner that enables a pre-selected recipe to be obtained or that enables the database to be search for uideasn in deciding the composition of a meal. In a further embodiment the database could be accessed in a range of ways to obtain recipes for different types of food such as the type of meal ... 15 (starter, main course, dessert and the like); country of origin (Italian, Mexican, and the like); vegetarian, low fat, kosher, , low carbohydrate and the like. In addition the database can be structured to obtain recipes for people with food intolerances (i.e. no S.,... . . . * . dairy products) or allergies (i.e. no nuts). All these selection options alone or in combination can be provided to the chef on the screen of the display thus providing a *. : 20 user friendly system considerably more easy to use than traditional recipe books and * *. cards. The database and the underlying software can be such that the information _.

concerning several courses of a single meal can be integrated to aid the production of * each course and the overall meal. The system can also provide advice on beverages that can be provided with the recipe such as a selection of wine.

The cookery aid of the present invention can be provided as a stand alone device preferably with a touch screen that can be used whenever the chef wishes to obtain recipe information. For example, it could be portable and compact so that it could be used in shops when obtaining the ingredients for a meal. Alternatively or additionally it could be used in the kitchen during the preparation and cooking of the meal. Preferably the aid is provided with a touch screen to enable the user to select the recipe and to input the number of people for which it is required. Alternatively, the cooking aid could be provided as part of a cooker and the screen may be provided as an integrated part of the cooker.

In the embodiment of the present invention in which the cooking aid is used for cooking the chef will select the recipe or recipes required indicating the number of people being catered for. The ingredients required and their method of preparation will then be provided. Subsequently the chef can input the time when the meal is to start and the cooking aid then indicates when the required actions should be preformed. In a preferred embodiment the timer and the aid is then activated so that visual and/or audio (preferably audio) reminders are provided whenever a particular action is required.

The cookery aid of the present invention has uses in both domestic and commercial provision of food. The invention may be used in restaurants as a cookery aid, it may also be used in fast food restaurants as an aid to relatively untrained and inexperienced staff to produce well cooked meats from pre-provided ingredients (for example in restaurants such as MacDonald's and in pizza houses). The invention may also be used to enhance the quality of the food provided by reheating of precooked materials. For example the invention may be used to control the provision of meals on aircraft and trains whereby step by step instructions provided by the supplier of the precooked * : : material can be a part of the database and inputting the nature of the precooked material and the time for consumption can activate the system to provide the appropriate reheating cycle and reminders. The cookery aid can also provide nutritional information on recipes and also provide recipes according to input of dietary needs and in this way S...

*,.., can be used to encourage healthy eating.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the system provides on the users screen a picture of the finished meal. This is particularly useful when the invention is used in the cooking environment in that allows the chef to make a visual check on the appearance of the product.

The database employed in the present invention can be an integrated component of the device. Alternatively the database can be provided centrally and accessed remote by, for example, over the internet. The database can also be such that individuals, restaurants and other food providers can input their own recipes. This, for example, would help chefs in restaurants prepare meats according to recipes developed by others; it would also enable individuals to produce the favourite meats of others.

The present invention is illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of the device of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the information flow in operation of the device of the present invention in relation to obtaining ingredients for a meal.

Figure 3 is a flow diagram iHustrating information flow during cooking of a meal Figure 4 is a flow diagram illustrating information flow during the re-heating of pre-cooked food.

Figures 5 to 9 are illustrations of the cookery aid of the present invention. *4 * S.. S... * .

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Claims

1. An interactive cookery aid comprising means whereby a recipe can be selected from a database of recipes and the ingredients are provided according to the specified number of people and the recipe, the quantities of ingredients required and the preparation and/or cookery instructions are provided visually on a screen and/or verbally.

2. An interactive cookery aid according to claims I in which the preparation and/or cooking instructions are provided verbally.

3. An interactive cookery aid according to claim I or claim 2 in which the system includes audible means to indicate when certain actions are required for preparing a meal. S 15 * p..

4. An interactive cooking aid according to any of the preceding claims which provides information concerning plurality of components of a single course of S..... * S

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5. An interactive cooking aid according to any of the preceding claims which *..: provides information concerning the preparation and cooking of several *S.S *,* courses of a meal.

6. An interactive cooking aid according to any of the preceding claims combined with a timing device which is preferably visible and part of a screen display that is provided to the chef.

7. An interactive cooking aid according to any of the preceding claims which provides suggestions of beverages to drink with the recipe.

8. An interactive cooking aid according to any of the preceding claims comprising a stand alone device preferably with a touch screen.

9. An interactive cooking aid according to any claims I to 7 be provided as an integrated part of a cooker.

10. A cookery aid according to any of the preceding claims in which the database is provided centrally and accessed remote by, for example, over the internet. * * * *** **** * * S...

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