GB2466489A

GB2466489A - Food stirrer for microwave oven

Info

Publication number: GB2466489A
Application number: GB0823410A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Martin Farmer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-12-23
Filing date: 2008-12-23
Publication date: 2010-06-30
Also published as: GB0823410D0

Abstract

A food stirrer for a microwave oven is attached to the interior roof of the oven. The stirrer is stationary in use and stirs the foodstuff as the microwave turntable rotates. The stirrer is attached to the oven by hook and loop type fasteners which prevent damage by allowing the stirrer to detach should the food solidify through overcooking. The stirrer is extendable having removable sliding sections with different heads for different viscosity foodstuffs. When detached the stirrer may be used as a conventional hand stirrer and is dishwaterproof.

Description

I

Description

This invention relates to a device for enabling the stirring of a liquid foodstuff whilst it is being heated in a conventional microwave oven that has a rotary turntable.

It is now assumed the any further reference to foodstuff is of a liquid form When a foodstuff is being heated in a conventional domestic microwave the heating process is from.a single point thus giving a hotspot of heating. The rotating table fitted to most microwave ovens reduces this by introducing different sections of the foodstuff to the microwave radiation stream.

The microwave stirrer works with the rotating bowl to virtually eliminate hotspots and the need to remove to product to stir as directed by the foodstuff producers. By agitating the foodstuff the aforementioned hotspots are virtually eliminated and therefore the foodstuff does not create a "scum' ring,( this is where at the point that the foodstuff is at its thinnest i.e.: around the edge of the bowl, excessive heat causes thickening and setting of the product,) which reduces cleaning of the bowl. In creating the scum' ring the foodstuff is proven to explode and splatter around the inside of the microwave oven, again due to the stirrer this is eliminated and no cleaning is required.

The modus operadi of the stirrer will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 1. The self adhesive hook and eye pad is stuck to the microwave roof 2. The retracted stirrer is positioned directly below the hook and eye pad 3. The retracted stirrer is then engaged to the roof mounted pad 4. The bowl containing the foodstuff is introduced to the microwave 5. The stirrer is extended into the foodstuff off-centre of rotation 6. The microwave oven is activated and the plate rotates, the bowl rotates and the stirrer stays still Once the foodstuff is satisfactorily heated the stirrer is peeled off the hook and eye pad and can be used then as a conventional hand stirrer if required.

The stirrer comes in 2 parts: A is the roof mounted section B is the removable/sliding section is for constant viscosity foodstuff C is the removable/sliding section is for variable viscosity foodstuff Note: Constant foodstuffs: Soup, Baked Beans. Variable foodstuffs: Scrambled egg, Porridge Sc

Claims

Claims 1. The microwave stirrer enables a foodstuff to be heated in one operation without having to remove it from the microwave oven to stir it and then replace and continue.
2. The stirrer virtually eliminates hotspots in the foodstuff by constantly agitating the liquid thus promoting homogonisation, therefore, no standing time after heating is required.
3. The formation of a "scum" ring around the face of the bowl where the foodstuffs edge makes contact at it's thinnest point is tremendously reduced thus leaving the bowl n a much cleaner condition, reducing subsequent cleaning time.
4. The foodstuff does not splatter around the microwave oven, due to hotspot elimination, and leaves the inside of the oven clean and therefore not requiring further intense cleaning.
5. The materials used are foodgrade and are microwave oven and dishwasher proof.
6. Different heads shown in figurel, C and D enable different foodstuffs to be prepared
7. The stirrer is designed for one hand operation
8. Variable extension covers the entire conventional microwave oven range Amendments to claims have been filed as follows 1. The microwave stirrer is a aevice operatea one handed, simultaneously fixing to the microwave oven's roof while inserting a bowl of liquid foodstuff ofa high viscosity which, when heated will reduce significantly in viscosity ie: porridge, to enable the mentioned foodstuff to be heated without having to remove it from the oven to stir the foodstuff and then replace it and to be removed in a reverse one handed operation to detach the microwave stirrer from the roof of the microwave oven.2. The one handed operation eliminates the need for the device to be prepared inside the oven before introducing the foodstuff in the container and also the need for later removal.3. The stirrer mentioned in 1. promotes liquid homogenisation,, thus, eliminating standing time after heating 4. The stirrer mentioned in 1. greatly reduces the "scum" ring around the bowl face due to the thinning of the foodstuff adjacent to the microwave generator and consequently reduces cleaning time.5. The stirrer mentioned in 1. eliminates "hot spots" due to the claim made in 3.This prevents splattering of the foodstuff around the inside of the oven and subsequent intense cleaning.6. The stirrer mentioned in 1. is manufactured from a foodgrade plastic and is dishwasher safe 7. The stirrer mentioned in 1. has different detachable heads to optimise heating of different foodstuffs 8. The stirrer mentioned in 1. is of a telescopic design to encompass the full range of conventional microwave ovens.S S. S * d�* * S* 5,. 5 ** S * S * * *.S*SSS** * * *** * S *. * S S* * 55