JP6796771B2 - Cooking cooker and steam heating method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a heating cooker having various heating functions such as high-frequency heating, radiant heating, hot air circulation heating, and steam heating. Regarding the method.

In the cooking of foods, the method of cooking foods using low-temperature steam can suppress the oxidation of foods, trap the nutritional value and umami components of foods, and make the foods delicious by making the best use of the taste of the food ingredients themselves. It is attracting attention as a cooking method that can be used.

Here, cooking with low-temperature steam (“low-temperature steam cooking”) means that the temperature inside the heating chamber (internal temperature) is 100 ° C. or less in a state where the heating chamber for cooking food is filled with steam. This is a cooking method in which the food to be cooked is steam-heated in the heating chamber while keeping the desired low temperature.

One of the merits of "low temperature steam cooking" is that meat, which is a food, can be softened. This utilizes the difference in denaturation temperature between the two proteins, "myosin" and "actin". By keeping the food temperature at a temperature at which "myosin" is denatured and "actin" is not denatured, the meat becomes tender and tasty.

In recent years, cookers have been provided with products capable of performing multifunctional heating such as high-frequency heating, radiant heating, hot air circulation heating, and steam heating, and various types of cooking such as "simmering" and "cooking" are provided. , "Bake", "Steam", "Fry", "Boil", etc. can be done with one device. It has been proposed to perform "low temperature steam cooking" by using the steam heating function in such a cooking device (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2008-11167

In order to make the meat tender and delicious as described above, it is necessary to maintain the food temperature at a specific temperature and perform "low temperature steam cooking" in consideration of the denaturation temperature of "myosin" and "actin" in the protein. is there. The denaturation temperature of the protein "myosin" in terrestrial animal meat is in the range of 50-60 ° C, and the denaturation temperature of "actin" is in the range of 66-73 ° C. In addition, in terms of food hygiene management, it is stipulated that chicken meat should be heated at 63 ° C. or higher for a long time.

Therefore, in order to make the meat tender and delicious and to solve the hygiene problem, it is necessary to perform "low temperature steam cooking" while maintaining the temperature inside the chamber in a very narrow temperature range of 63 to 64 ° C. is there. In addition, when food is heated using "low temperature steam cooking", the optimum steam heating environment (internal temperature and cooking time) differs depending on the food to be cooked. For example, cucumber, lettuce, and onion have an internal temperature of 50 to 60 ° C. and a cooking time of 10 to 15 minutes, and tomatoes have an internal temperature of 60 to 70 ° C. and a cooking time of 15 to 20 minutes. In pumpkins, the temperature inside the refrigerator is 70 to 80 ° C, and the cooking time is 20 to 30 minutes. Depending on the type of vegetables, the optimum temperature and cooking during cooking in "low temperature steam cooking" The time is different.

As described above, in order to make food delicious by using "low temperature steam cooking", it is necessary to perform highly accurate temperature adjustment. However, in the cooking cooker, it is difficult to maintain the temperature inside the refrigerator at a desired temperature by using the steam heating function. In particular, it is very difficult to keep the entire temperature inside the heating chamber at a desired temperature in order to adjust the temperature inside the chamber while injecting steam into the heating chamber.

The present invention provides a cooking cooker capable of reliably maintaining the temperature inside the cooking chamber at a desired temperature according to the cooking content and performing optimum "low temperature steam cooking", and a steam heating method using the cooking cooker. The purpose is to provide.

The cooker according to one aspect of the present invention
A heating chamber that houses the object to be heated,
An operation unit for setting the cooking contents for the object to be heated,
A steam heating unit having a configuration in which steam is injected into the heating chamber to steam-heat the object to be heated and the amount of steam injected can be changed.
A circulation fan that circulates the air in the heating chamber.
Based on the internal temperature sensor that detects the internal temperature of the heating chamber, the internal temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor, and the cooking content set by the operation unit, the steam heating operation and the steam heating operation in the steam heating unit A cooking device including a control unit that controls the circulation operation of the circulation fan.
When "low temperature steam cooking" is set as the cooking content in the operation unit, the control unit is configured to execute at least the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage".
In each of the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage", the temperature is higher than the first temperature control control level and the first temperature control level based on the temperature inside the refrigerator detected by the temperature sensor inside the refrigerator. When the temperature inside the refrigerator is lower than the first temperature control level, the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan are "strongly heated" with the second temperature control level having a high temperature as a threshold. When the temperature inside the refrigerator is equal to or higher than the first temperature control control level and lower than the second temperature control control level, the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan are "controlled". "Medium heating temperature control" is performed, and when the temperature inside the refrigerator is equal to or higher than the second temperature control level, "weak heating temperature control" is performed with respect to the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan. Is configured to do
The heating output of the steam heating operation with respect to the heating chamber is configured to decrease in the order of the "strong heating temperature control", the "medium heating temperature control", and the "weak heating temperature control".

The steam heating method in the cooking device according to one aspect of the present invention is
A heating chamber that houses the object to be heated,
An operation unit for setting the cooking contents for the object to be heated, and
A steam heating unit having a configuration in which steam is injected into the heating chamber to steam-heat the object to be heated and the amount of steam injected can be changed.
A circulation fan that circulates the air in the heating chamber and
An internal temperature sensor that detects the internal temperature of the heating chamber and
A control unit that controls a steam heating operation in the steam heating unit and a circulation operation of the circulation fan based on the temperature inside the refrigerator detected by the temperature sensor and the cooking content set by the operation unit is provided. It is a steam heating method in a cooking cooker.
When "low temperature steam cooking" is set as the cooking content in the operation unit, at least the steps of executing the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage" are included.
In each step of the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage"
Based on the internal temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor, the internal temperature is set with the first temperature control level and the second temperature control level higher than the first temperature control level as threshold values. When it is less than the first temperature control control level, "strong heating temperature control" is performed for the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan.
When the temperature inside the refrigerator is equal to or higher than the first temperature control level and lower than the second temperature control level, "medium heating temperature control" is applied to the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan. And when the temperature inside the refrigerator is equal to or higher than the second temperature control control level, "weak heating temperature control" is performed for the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan.
The heating output of the steam heating operation for the heating chamber is set to decrease in the order of the "strong heating temperature control", the "medium heating temperature control", and the "weak heating temperature control".

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a cooking cooker and a steam heating method capable of performing optimum "low temperature steam cooking" by surely maintaining the temperature inside the refrigerator at a desired temperature according to the cooking content.

Perspective view showing the appearance of the cooking apparatus of Embodiment 1 which concerns on this invention. A perspective view showing a state in which the door of the cooking device of FIG. 1 is open. Front sectional view schematically showing an arrangement configuration of a heating means (heating unit) and the like in the cooking device of the first embodiment. A graph showing the temperature transition in the heating chamber 2 when making "hot spring eggs" by "low temperature steam cooking" in the heating cooker of the first embodiment. In the cooking device of the first embodiment, a table relating to the heating unit to be driven and the cooking time used in the "preheating stage" and the "initial cooking stage" in the "low temperature steam cooking". In the cooking device of the first embodiment, a table relating to the heating unit to be driven and the cooking time used in the "main cooking stage" in the "low temperature steam cooking" The figure which shows typically the state at the time of performing "low temperature steam cooking" in the heating cooker of Embodiment 1.

First, various aspects of the cooking device of the present invention and the steam heating method in the cooking device will be described.

The cooking device of the first aspect according to the present invention is
A heating chamber that houses the object to be heated,
An operation unit for setting the cooking contents for the object to be heated,
A steam heating unit having a configuration in which steam is injected into the heating chamber to steam-heat the object to be heated and the amount of steam injected can be changed.
A circulation fan that circulates the air in the heating chamber.
Based on the internal temperature sensor that detects the internal temperature of the heating chamber, the internal temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor, and the cooking content set by the operation unit, the steam heating operation and the steam heating operation in the steam heating unit A cooking device including a control unit that controls the circulation operation of the circulation fan.
When "low temperature steam cooking" is set as the cooking content in the operation unit, the control unit is configured to execute at least the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage".
In each of the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage", the temperature is higher than the first temperature control control level and the first temperature control level based on the temperature inside the refrigerator detected by the temperature sensor inside the refrigerator. When the temperature inside the refrigerator is lower than the first temperature control level, the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan are "strongly heated" with the second temperature control level having a high temperature as a threshold. When the temperature inside the refrigerator is equal to or higher than the first temperature control control level and lower than the second temperature control control level, the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan are "controlled". "Medium heating temperature control" is performed, and when the temperature inside the refrigerator is equal to or higher than the second temperature control level, "weak heating temperature control" is performed with respect to the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan. Is configured to do
The heating output of the steam heating operation with respect to the heating chamber is configured to decrease in the order of the "strong heating temperature control", the "medium heating temperature control", and the "weak heating temperature control".

The cooker of the first aspect configured as described above can reliably maintain the temperature inside the cooking chamber at a desired temperature according to the cooking content, and can perform optimum "low temperature steam cooking".

In the cooking apparatus of the second aspect according to the present invention, the control unit in the first aspect described the "preheating stage" for heating the heating chamber for a predetermined time when the temperature inside the refrigerator is lower than the predetermined temperature. It may be configured to be performed before the "initial cooking stage".

In the cooking device of the third aspect according to the present invention, the first temperature control control level in the "main cooking stage" of the first aspect or the second aspect is set to the first in the "initial cooking stage". The temperature may be set higher than the temperature control control level, and the second temperature control level in the "main cooking stage" may be set to a temperature higher than the second temperature control level in the "initial cooking stage".

In the cooking cooker according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the control unit in any one of the first to third aspects described above controls the "strong heating temperature control" of the "initial cooking stage". , The steam heating unit may be configured to maximize the amount of steam injected and the circulation fan to execute the circulation operation.

In the cooking device of the fifth aspect according to the present invention, the control unit in any one of the first to fourth aspects described above is in the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage". In each of the above-mentioned "medium heating temperature control", the amount of steam injected by the steam heating unit may be limited.

In the cooking device of the sixth aspect according to the present invention, the control unit in any one of the first to fifth aspects described above is in the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage". In each of the "weak heating temperature control", the circulation fan may be configured to execute only the circulation operation.

In the heating cooker of the seventh aspect according to the present invention, the control unit in any one of the first to sixth aspects described above is the "strong heating temperature control control" of the "main cooking stage". The amount of steam injected in the "initial cooking stage" is set to be smaller than the amount of steam injected in the "strong heating temperature control" of the "initial cooking stage", and in the "medium heating temperature control" of the "main cooking stage". It may be set to be larger than the injection amount of steam.

In the cooking device of the eighth aspect according to the present invention, the control unit in any one of the first to seventh aspects described above has at least "initial cooking stage" and "main cooking stage", respectively. In the above-mentioned circulation fan, the circulation operation may be performed.

In the cooking cooker according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the steam heating unit according to any one of the first to eighth aspects has at least two types of steam heaters having different heating outputs. It may be configured so that the injection amount of steam can be changed.

The steam heating method in the cooking device according to the tenth aspect of the present invention is
A heating chamber that houses the object to be heated,
An operation unit for setting the cooking contents for the object to be heated, and
A steam heating unit having a configuration in which steam is injected into the heating chamber to steam-heat the object to be heated and the amount of steam injected can be changed.
A circulation fan that circulates the air in the heating chamber and
An internal temperature sensor that detects the internal temperature of the heating chamber and
A control unit that controls a steam heating operation in the steam heating unit and a circulation operation of the circulation fan based on the temperature inside the refrigerator detected by the temperature sensor and the cooking content set by the operation unit is provided. It is a steam heating method in a cooking cooker.
When "low temperature steam cooking" is set as the cooking content in the operation unit, at least the steps of executing the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage" are included.
In each step of the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage"
Based on the internal temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor, the internal temperature is set with the first temperature control level and the second temperature control level higher than the first temperature control level as threshold values. When it is less than the first temperature control control level, "strong heating temperature control" is performed for the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan.
When the temperature inside the refrigerator is equal to or higher than the first temperature control level and lower than the second temperature control level, "medium heating temperature control" is applied to the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan. And when the temperature inside the refrigerator is equal to or higher than the second temperature control control level, "weak heating temperature control" is performed for the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan.
The heating output of the steam heating operation for the heating chamber is set to decrease in the order of the "strong heating temperature control", the "medium heating temperature control", and the "weak heating temperature control".

The steam heating method in the heating cooker of the tenth aspect configured as described above ensures that the temperature inside the cooking chamber is maintained at a desired temperature according to the cooking content, and optimal "low temperature steam cooking" is performed. Can be done.

In the steam heating method of the eleventh aspect according to the present invention, in the tenth aspect, when the temperature inside the refrigerator is lower than the predetermined temperature, the "preheating stage" for heating the heating chamber for a predetermined time is the "initial cooking stage". It may include the step performed in the previous stage of.

In the steam heating method according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the tenth aspect or the eleventh aspect, the first temperature control level in the "main cooking stage" is set to the first temperature control level in the "initial cooking stage". The temperature may be set higher than one temperature control control level, and the second temperature control level in the "main cooking stage" may be set to a temperature higher than the second temperature control level in the "initial cooking stage".

The steam heating method according to the thirteenth aspect according to the present invention is the steam heating method in the "strong heating temperature control" of the "initial cooking stage" in any one of the tenth to twelfth aspects. The circulation operation may be executed by the circulation fan with the maximum amount of steam injected by the heating unit.

The steam heating method according to the fourteenth aspect according to the present invention is the above-mentioned "middle" in the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage" of any one of the tenth to thirteenth aspects. In "heating temperature control", the amount of steam injected by the steam heating unit may be limited.

The steam heating method according to the fifteenth aspect according to the present invention is the "weak" of the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage" of any one of the tenth to fourteenth aspects. In "heating temperature control", only the circulation operation may be executed by the circulation fan.

The steam heating method of the sixteenth aspect according to the present invention is the injection of steam in the "strong heating temperature control" of the "main cooking stage" of any one of the tenth to fifteenth aspects. The amount is set to be smaller than the amount of steam injected in the "strong heating temperature control" of the "initial cooking stage", and more than the amount of steam injected in the "medium heating temperature control" of the "main cooking stage". Many may be set

The steam heating method according to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention is the circulation fan in at least the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage" of any one of the tenth to sixteenth aspects. May continue the cyclic operation.

Hereinafter, an embodiment showing a cooking device according to the present invention and a steam heating method in the cooking device will be described in detail with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The numerical values, shapes, configurations, steps, and the order of steps shown in the following embodiments are only examples, and do not limit the present invention. Among the components in the following embodiments, the components not described in the independent claims indicating the top-level concept are described as arbitrary components.

In the cooking apparatus of the following embodiment, a cooking apparatus having a steam heating function by steam, a convection heating function by circulation of hot air, a high frequency heating function by microwaves, and a heater heating function by radiant heating of a heater will be described. However, this configuration is an example, and the present invention is not limited to the configuration described in the following embodiments. The cooking cooker of the present invention can be applied as long as it is a cooking cooker having at least a steam heating function and a convection heating function, and in addition to its configuration, heating having each function of a high frequency heating function and a heater heating function independently. It includes a cooker, a cooker that combines the functions thereof, or various cookers that are configured based on a technical idea equivalent to the technical features described in the following embodiments.

<< Embodiment 1 >>
Hereinafter, the cooking device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the cooking utensil according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the door is opened in the cooking device of the first embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cooking cooker is configured such that the front opening of the heating chamber 2 provided inside the cooker main body 1 can be opened and closed by the door 3. A handle 3a is provided at the upper end of the door 3, and the user holds the handle 3a to rotate the door 3 to open and close the front opening of the heating chamber 2 upward. The inside of the heating chamber 2 is substantially sealed by closing the door 3, and the food to be heated arranged inside the heating chamber 2 is cooked in a substantially sealed state.

As shown in FIG. 1, on the front of the cooker, a door 3 that opens upward sets cooking contents including various cooking conditions such as cooking temperature setting, cooking time setting, and type of object to be heated. An operation unit 4 for this purpose is provided. Further, the operation unit 4 provided on the front surface of the cooking cooker has a display portion for displaying various cooking conditions, a heating state during cooking, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cooking apparatus of the first embodiment is configured to accommodate a cooking plate 5 on which the food 20 to be heated is placed inside the heating chamber 2. The cooking plate 5 has a configuration that can be arranged in the upper stage, the middle stage, or the lower stage inside the heating chamber 2. Therefore, a plurality of steps (protruding portions 6) capable of supporting the cooking plate 5 are formed on the side walls on both sides of the heating chamber 2.

In the cooking dish 5 arranged inside the heating chamber 2, a heating element is embedded in the placing surface for placing the food 20. The heating element absorbs microwaves to generate heat, and ferrite or the like is used. In the first embodiment, a configuration example in which a heating element is embedded as a cooking dish 5 will be described. However, when executing the sequence of "low temperature steam cooking" in steam heating described later, the high frequency heating function is used. It is not necessary that the heating element is embedded in the cooking dish 5 because it is not provided.

Further, in the first embodiment, the cooking plate 5 is supported by the protruding portion 6 formed at a predetermined position on the side wall of the heating chamber 2, but the cooking plate 5 is a predetermined inside of the heating chamber 2. The configuration may be such that the cooking plate is hung from the ceiling wall or the cooking plate is provided with legs protruding downward and placed on the bottom surface of the heating chamber 2. A plurality of uneven grooves are formed on the mounting surface of the cooking plate 5 used in the cooking device of the first embodiment, and the moisture (lye and odor in the food) generated from the food generated during the heating of the food enters the grooves. , Direct contact with food is prevented.

FIG. 3 is a front sectional view schematically showing an arrangement configuration of a heating means (heating unit) and the like in the cooking device of the first embodiment. As the heating means (heating unit) in the heating cooker of the first embodiment, hot air is circulated inside the steam heating unit (steam heating unit) 10 and the heating chamber 2 for steam-heating the food in the heating chamber with steam. Hot air circulation unit (hot air circulation unit) 11 for heating, flat heater unit (flat heater unit) 12 provided in the portion including the ceiling wall of the heating chamber 2, and dielectric heating by radiating microwaves. A high-frequency heating unit (high-frequency heating unit) 13 is provided.

The steam heating unit 10 has a water storage chamber 14 provided inside the cooker main body 1 and outside the heating chamber 2, and the water inside the water storage chamber 14 is heated to a high temperature by two types of steam heaters (16, 17). It is configured to be heated to generate steam. The generated steam is intensively injected into the heating chamber from the spout 22 (see FIG. 2) formed in the upper part of the heating chamber 2, and the food to be heated is steam-heated. In the steam heating unit 10 of the first embodiment, the first steam heater 16 and the second steam heater 17 are embedded in the side surface of the water storage chamber 14 formed by aluminum die casting. The first steam heater 16 is composed of a seeds heater having an output of 650 W, and the second steam heater 17 is composed of a seeds heater having an output of 350 W. Although the specific configuration in the first embodiment does not specify the configuration of the present invention, it has at least two steam heaters (16, 17), and the output of the first steam heater 16 is the second steam heater. Setting 17 to be larger than the output may be included in the present invention. In the steam heating unit 10 configured in this way, cooking can be performed using a steam heating function in which the heating output is different and the amount of steam injected can be changed.

The hot air circulation unit 11 heats the air sucked from the heating chamber 2 by the circulation fan 18 provided on the back side of the heating chamber 2 by the convection heater 18 to form hot air, and heats the hot air into the heating chamber 2. It is configured to return and perform hot air circulation heating inside the heating chamber 2. The flat heater unit 12 provided so as to form a part of the ceiling wall of the heating chamber 2 is provided with a flat heater 21 divided into two inside and outside, and is appropriately switched according to the cooking content including cooking conditions and the like. It is a configuration to obtain. In the high frequency heating unit 11, an antenna for radiating microwaves is provided under the bottom wall of the heating chamber 2, and a high frequency generator, for example, a microwave formed by a magnetron passes through a waveguide and has directional antenna. It is configured to be sent to the inside and radiated in a desired direction with respect to the inside of the heating chamber 2.

As described above, the cooking device of the first embodiment is provided with a plurality of heating means (heating units), and the user selects a desired heating unit, or the user cooks the contents (cooking). By selecting (including conditions), an appropriate heating unit is selected. By arranging the food to be heated inside the heating chamber 2 of the cooking cooker, closing the door 3, setting the heating unit, cooking contents, etc. in the operation unit 4, and pressing the start button. The cooking operation is started.

An interior light for illuminating the inside of the heating chamber 2 is provided on the wall surface of the heating chamber 2. Further, the door 3 is provided with heat-resistant transparent glass so that the internal state of the heating chamber 2 closed by the door 3 can be confirmed.

As a temperature detecting means in the heating cooker of the first embodiment, an internal temperature sensor 7 for detecting the internal temperature of the heating chamber 2 (heating chamber temperature), for example, a thermistor is located behind the ceiling wall of the heating chamber 2. It is thrust into. Further, in the cooking device of the first embodiment, an infrared sensor (IR sensor) 8 is provided in order to detect the temperature of the object to be heated in the heating chamber 2. The infrared sensor 8 is provided at substantially the upper center of the side wall on the right side of the heating chamber 2, and is configured to detect the temperature of a specific temperature detection target inside the heating chamber 2.

In the cooking device of the first embodiment, the infrared sensor 8 will be described in a configuration in which the infrared sensor 8 is provided at substantially the upper center of the side wall on the right side of the heating chamber 2, but the infrared sensor 8 is arranged at the heating chamber 2. The arrangement is not limited to the arrangement position of the first embodiment as long as the arrangement can detect the temperature of a specific temperature detection target inside the.

Further, in the cooking device of the first embodiment, the ceiling wall temperature sensor 9 is provided as a temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature of the ceiling wall provided with the flat heater unit 12. The ceiling wall temperature sensor 9 is provided on the upper side of the ceiling wall, and is provided in the vicinity of the flat heater unit 12.

In the cooking device of the first embodiment, various temperature detection data from the temperature detecting means are input to a control unit (for example, a microcomputer) 15 provided in the cooking device main body 1. In the cooking cooker of the first embodiment, the control unit 15 specifies the cooking sequence based on the cooking content set by the operation unit 4, and optimally cooks the object to be heated (food). It is configured in.

[Low temperature steam cooking]
The operation of "low temperature steam cooking" will be specifically described in the cooking device of the first embodiment configured as described above.

The case where "hot spring egg" is made as a food requiring delicate temperature control by using "low temperature steam cooking" in the cooking device of the first embodiment will be described. "Onsen tamago" is a kind of cooking of "boiled egg", and is a "boiled egg" in which the yolk is in a soft-boiled state and the egg white is in a semi-coagulated state. The operation when "low temperature steam cooking" is used when making this "hot spring egg" will be described.

In general, egg yolk begins to coagulate at 65 ° C and completely coagulates at 70 ° C. On the other hand, egg white starts coagulation at 58 ° C. and completely coagulates at 80 ° C. Therefore, by maintaining the temperature inside the heating chamber 2 in the temperature range of 68 to 72 ° C., the temperature of the egg yolks arranged inside the heating chamber 2 is maintained in the temperature range of 65 to 69 ° C. This creates a "hot spring egg" with a soft-boiled egg yolk and a soft egg white.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the temperature transition in the heating chamber 2 when making “hot spring eggs” by “low temperature steam cooking” in the heating cooker of the first embodiment. In FIG. 4, the vertical axis is the temperature inside the refrigerator [° C.], the horizontal axis is the time [seconds], and the temperature transition when the temperature inside the refrigerator is controlled in the temperature range of 68 to 72 ° C. is shown. .. By setting the temperature inside the heating chamber 2 to a temperature range of about 68 to 72 ° C., the temperature of the food arranged inside the heating chamber 2 is maintained in a temperature range of about 65 to 69 ° C. In the first embodiment, the temperature inside the refrigerator is set in the control range of 5 ° C., and the control range of the food temperature is basically set in 5 ° C. increments.

Hereinafter, in the cooking device of the first embodiment, the operation when "low temperature steam cooking" is set as the cooking content in the operation unit 4 will be described. In the "low temperature steam cooking", first, the "preheating stage P1" for raising the temperature inside the heating chamber 2 to a temperature equal to or higher than the minimum temperature for steam heating is executed. This "preheating stage P1" preheats the heating chamber 2 to a temperature at which the steam injected into the heating chamber does not condense during steam heating. In the "preheating stage P1", the hot air circulation unit 11 and / or the flat heater unit 12 is driven for a predetermined time so that the heating chamber 2 has a temperature equal to or higher than the minimum temperature for steam heating.

The heating operation in the "preheating stage P1" is executed for a predetermined time set in advance, and when the heating chamber 2 reaches a temperature equal to or higher than the minimum temperature for steam heating, the "initial cooking stage P2" and the "main cooking stage" are reached. Two stages of steam heating of "P3" are performed. In the first embodiment, the configuration will be described in which steam heating is performed in two stages of "initial cooking stage P2" and "main cooking stage P3", but the present invention describes the present invention according to the food to be heated, the cooking content, and the like. It may be configured to perform steam heating in a plurality of stages as appropriate.

In the cooking apparatus of the first embodiment, the temperature inside the refrigerator is adjusted by using two temperature control control levels (A, B) as threshold values in each cooking stage (P2, P3). In the "initial cooking stage P2", the first temperature control level A1 and the second temperature control level B1 are used as two threshold values. Further, in the "main cooking stage P3", the first temperature control control level A2 and the second temperature control control level B2 are used as two threshold values. The temperature inside the refrigerator used here is calibrated by considering the inside condition (for example, heating chamber temperature information detected by a ceiling wall temperature sensor or the like) of the detected temperature detected by the temperature sensor 7 inside the refrigerator. It is the temperature, which is the cooking temperature inside the heating chamber 2.

5A and 5B are tables showing a specific example of a heating unit to be driven and a cooking time used in each stage in "low temperature steam cooking" in the cooking device of the first embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, in the "low temperature steam cooking" in the first embodiment, the driving target of the control unit 15 is at least a flat heater 21 of the flat heater unit 12 and a convection with the circulation fan 18 of the hot air circulation unit 11. The heater 19, the first steam heater 16 and the second steam heater 17 of the steam heating unit 10. Note that FIG. 5A shows the temperature control operation in the “preheating stage P1” and the “initial cooking stage P2”, and FIG. 5B shows the temperature control operation in the “main cooking stage P3”.

FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing a state when "low temperature steam cooking" is executed (steam heating) in the heating cooker of the first embodiment, and FIG. 6A is a diagram of the steam heating unit 10. The state when the first steam heater 16 is operating (on state), and (b) in FIG. 6 is the state when both the first steam heater 16 and the second steam heater 17 are operating (on state). Is schematically shown.

[Temperature control operation in low temperature steam cooking]
The "preheating stage P1", which is first executed in the temperature control operation in the "low temperature steam cooking", is executed when the temperature inside the refrigerator is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. At the start of "low temperature steam cooking", if the temperature inside the refrigerator is higher than the predetermined temperature, for example, if other cooking has been performed until just before, it is not necessary to execute the "preheating stage P1" from the beginning. As a result, a part or all of the operations of the "preheating stage P1" may be skipped and started from the operation of the next stage. Here, the predetermined temperature is a temperature equal to or higher than the minimum temperature for steam heating in the heating chamber 2.

In the "preheating stage P1", the "initial preheating operation" is first performed. In the "initial preheating operation", the flat heater 21 which is a radiant heating heater of the flat heater unit 12 is activated in order to raise the temperature inside the refrigerator. The heating by the flat heater 21 is performed for a preset first preheating time, for example, 20 seconds. Next, the "main preheating operation" is executed for a preset second preheating time, for example, 30 seconds. In the "main preheating operation", the circulation fan 18 and the convection heater 19 of the hot air circulation unit 11 are used. By using the hot air circulation unit 11, hot air circulates in the heating chamber, and the temperature of the entire heating chamber becomes substantially uniform. When the "preheating stage P1" is completed, the steam heating operation using the steam heating function is started.

The first steam heating operation is the "initial cooking stage P2", and the temperature is adjusted with a temperature lower than that of the "main cooking stage P3" in the latter stage as a threshold value. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, as two temperature control control levels. The first temperature control level A1 (for example, 68 ° C.) and the second temperature control level B1 (for example, 70 ° C.) are set.

As shown in the table of FIG. 5A, when the temperature inside the refrigerator is less than the first temperature control control level A1 (for example, 68 ° C.) (low temperature) in the “initial cooking stage P2”, the strong heating temperature control operation is performed. Is executed. In this strong heating temperature control operation, both the first steam heater (650 W) 16 and the second steam heater (350 W) 17 are operated at the maximum injection amount to be operated (on state), and the hot air circulation unit 11 is operated. The circulation fan 18 is in an operating state (on state).

As described above, when the strong heating temperature control operation is executed in the "initial cooking stage P2" and the temperature inside the refrigerator gradually rises and exceeds the first temperature control level A1 (at an appropriate temperature), the medium heating temperature is reached. The key control operation is executed. In the middle heating temperature control operation, the first steam heater (650W) 16 is turned off, and the second steam heater (350W) 17 is controlled by the duty ratio which is the on / off ratio. At this time, the amount of steam injected from the steam heating unit 10 is limited, and the duty ratio of the second steam heater (350W) 17 is set to 20 seconds (on state) / 40 seconds (off state). At this time, the circulation fan 18 of the hot air circulation unit 11 is continuously kept on, and the temperature inside the heating chamber 2 is made uniform.

Further, when the temperature inside the refrigerator gradually rises and exceeds the second temperature control control level B1 (at high temperature), the weak heating temperature control operation is executed. In the weak heating temperature control operation, the second steam heater (350W) 17 is turned off together with the first steam heater (650W) 16, and only the circulation fan 18 of the hot air circulation unit 13 is continuously kept on. Therefore, the temperature inside the heating chamber 2 is made uniform.

In the weak heating temperature control operation, since the heating source is not operating, the temperature inside the heating chamber 2 immediately starts to decrease. When the temperature inside the refrigerator falls below the second temperature control level B1, the medium heating temperature control operation is executed again. In the medium heating temperature control operation, since only the second steam heater (350W) 17 whose duty ratio is controlled is the heating source, the temperature inside the refrigerator continues to decrease gradually. Then, when the temperature inside the refrigerator falls below the first temperature control level A1, the above-mentioned strong heating temperature control operation is executed, and the temperature inside the refrigerator gradually starts to rise again. In this way, the temperature control operation is performed using the two threshold values (A1 and B1) in the "initial cooking stage P2", so that the temperature inside the refrigerator is within a predetermined temperature range (for example, 68 ° C. to 70 ° C.). It will be securely held.

When the "initial cooking stage P2" is executed for a predetermined time (initial cooking time: for example, 420 seconds) as described above, the next stage "main cooking stage P3" is executed.

In the "main cooking stage P3", the temperature control control levels (A, B) having a temperature higher than the first temperature control level A1 and the second temperature control level B1 set in the "initial cooking stage P2" are set. Has been done. In the first embodiment, as an example, the first temperature control level A2 in the “main cooking stage P3] is set to 70 ° C., and the second temperature control control level B2 is set to 72 ° C.

As shown in the table of FIG. 5B, in the "main cooking stage P3", when the temperature inside the refrigerator is less than the first temperature control control level A2 (for example, 70 ° C.) (low temperature), the strong heating temperature control operation is performed. Is executed. In this strong heating temperature control operation, the first steam heater (650 W) 16 is in the on state and the second steam heater (350 W) 17 is in the off state. Further, the circulation fan 18 of the hot air circulation unit 11 is in the ON state.

As described above, when the strong heating temperature control operation is executed in the "main cooking stage P3" and the internal temperature gradually rises and exceeds the first temperature control control level A2 (at an appropriate temperature), the medium heating temperature is reached. The key control operation is executed. In the middle heating temperature control operation, the first steam heater (650W) 16 is turned off and the second steam heater (350W) 17 is turned on. Here, the duty ratio controlled heating operation is not performed. At this time, the circulation fan 18 of the hot air circulation unit 13 is continuously in the operating state (ON state).

Further, when the temperature inside the refrigerator gradually rises and exceeds the second temperature control control level B2 (at high temperature), the weak heating temperature control operation is executed. In the weak heating temperature control operation, the first steam heater (650W) 16 and the second steam heater (350W) 17 are in the off state, and only the circulation fan 18 of the hot air circulation unit 13 is continuously operating (on state). ).

In the weak heating temperature control operation, since the heating source is not operating, the temperature inside the heating chamber 2 immediately starts to decrease. When the temperature inside the refrigerator falls below the second temperature control level B2, the medium heating temperature control operation is executed. In the medium heating temperature control operation, since only the second steam heater (350W) 17 is the heating source, the temperature inside the refrigerator continues to decrease gradually. Then, when the temperature inside the refrigerator falls below the first temperature control level A2, the strong heating temperature control operation is executed, and the temperature inside the refrigerator gradually rises again. As a result, in the "main cooking stage P3", a temperature control operation is performed in which the temperature inside the refrigerator is surely maintained in a predetermined temperature range (for example, 70 ° C. to 72 ° C.).

As described above, when the "low temperature steam cooking" is executed by the heating cooker of the first embodiment according to the present invention, at least two stages of steam heating ("initial cooking stage P2") are performed in the subsequent stage of the "preheating stage P1". And "main cooking stage P3"), and in each cooking stage (P2, P3), two temperature control levels (A, B) are used to ensure that the temperature inside the refrigerator is maintained within a predetermined temperature range. At the same time, it is controlled so as to gradually approach the target temperature range by steam heating in at least two stages. Therefore, by using the technical features of the cooking device and the steam heating method specifically described in the first embodiment of the present invention, the temperature inside the refrigerator can be desired according to the cooking content, the type of food, and the like. It is possible to perform optimum "low temperature steam cooking" while reliably maintaining the temperature.

As described in the first embodiment, the cooking utensil of the present invention may be configured at least as follows.

The cooking utensil of the present invention has at least a heating chamber (2) for accommodating an object to be heated.
Operation unit (4) for setting the cooking contents for the object to be heated,
A steam heating unit (10) having a configuration in which steam is injected into a heating chamber to steam-heat an object to be heated and the amount of steam injected can be changed.
A circulation fan (18) that circulates the air in the heating chamber.
Steam heating operation and circulation in the steam heating unit based on the internal temperature sensor (7) that detects the internal temperature of the heating chamber, the internal temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor, and the cooking content set by the operation unit. It is a cooking device provided with a control unit (15) for controlling the circulation operation of the fan. When "low temperature steam cooking" is set as the cooking content in the operation unit of the heating cooker of the present invention, the control unit should execute at least the "initial cooking stage (P2)" and the "main cooking stage (P3)". It is configured, and in each of the "initial cooking stage (P2)" and "main cooking stage (P3)", the first temperature control control level (A1,) is based on the temperature inside the refrigerator detected by the temperature sensor inside the refrigerator. A2) and the second temperature control level (B1, B2), which is higher than the first temperature control level, are set as thresholds, and when the temperature inside the refrigerator is lower than the first temperature control level, the steam heating unit "Strong heating temperature control" is performed for the steam heating operation and the circulation operation of the circulation fan, and when the temperature inside the refrigerator is above the first temperature control level and below the second temperature control level, the steam heating of the steam heating section "Medium heating temperature control" is performed for the operation and circulation operation of the circulation fan, and when the temperature inside the refrigerator is above the second temperature control level, the steam heating operation of the steam heating section and the circulation operation of the circulation fan are performed. It is configured to perform "weak heating temperature control". Further, "strong heating temperature control", "medium heating temperature control", and "weak heating temperature control" are configured so that the heating output of the steam heating operation with respect to the heating chamber is lowered in that order.

Further, the control unit in the cooking device of the present invention performs the "preheating stage P1" for heating the heating chamber for a predetermined time before the "initial cooking stage (P2)" when the internal temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature. It is configured. The first temperature control level (A2) in the "main cooking stage (P3)" is set to a temperature higher than the first temperature control level (A1) in the "initial cooking stage (P2)", and "main cooking" The second temperature control level (B2) in the “stage (P3)” is set to a temperature higher than the second temperature control level (B1) in the “initial cooking stage (P2)”.

Further, the control unit in the cooking device of the present invention maximizes the amount of steam injected by the steam heating unit in the "strong heating temperature control" of the "initial cooking stage (P2)", and executes the circulation operation by the circulation fan. It is configured to do. The control unit is configured to limit the amount of steam injected by the steam heating unit in each of the "medium heating temperature control" in the "initial cooking stage (P2)" and the "main cooking stage (P3)". The control unit is configured to execute only the circulation operation by the circulation fan in each "weak heating temperature control" in the "initial cooking stage (P2)" and the "main cooking stage (P3)". In the control unit, the amount of steam injected in the "strong heating temperature control" of the "main cooking stage (P3)" is smaller than the amount of steam injected in the "strong heating temperature control" of the "initial cooking stage (P2)". It is set and is set to be larger than the amount of steam injected in the "medium heating temperature control" of the "main cooking stage (P3)". The control unit is configured to perform a circulation operation by a circulation fan at least in each of the "initial cooking stage (P2)" and the "main cooking stage (P3)". Further, the steam heating unit is configured to have at least two types of steam heaters having different heating outputs so that the amount of steam injected can be changed.

The steam heating method in the cooking device of the present invention may be configured to include at least the following steps.

In the steam heating method in the heating cooker of the present invention, steam is injected into the heating chamber (2) for accommodating the object to be heated, the operation unit (4) for setting the cooking content for the object to be heated, and the heating chamber. The steam heating unit (10) has a configuration that can change the amount of steam injected by steam-heating the object to be heated, a circulation fan (18) that circulates air in the heating chamber, and the internal temperature of the heating chamber. Based on the internal temperature sensor (7) that detects the above, the internal temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor, and the cooking content set by the operation unit, the steam heating operation and the circulation operation of the circulation fan in the steam heating unit are performed. It is a steam heating method in a heating cooker provided with a control unit (15) for controlling.
When "low temperature steam cooking" is set as the cooking content in the operation unit, at least the steps of executing the "initial cooking stage (P2)" and the "main cooking stage (P3)" are included.
In each step of "initial cooking stage (P2)" and "main cooking stage (P3)"
Based on the temperature inside the refrigerator detected by the temperature sensor inside the refrigerator, the first temperature control control level (A1, A2) and the second temperature control level (B1, B2) higher than the first temperature control level are set as threshold values. As a result, when the temperature inside the refrigerator is less than the first temperature control control level, "strong heating temperature control" is performed for the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan.
When the temperature inside the refrigerator is above the first temperature control level and below the second temperature control level, "medium heating temperature control" is performed for the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan, and then the refrigerator When the internal temperature is equal to or higher than the second temperature control level, "weak heating temperature control" is performed for the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan.
The heating output of the steam heating operation for the heating chamber is set to decrease in the order of "strong heating temperature control", "medium heating temperature control", and "weak heating temperature control".

As described above, as described by showing a specific configuration using the embodiment, according to the present invention, the temperature inside the refrigerator is surely maintained at a desired temperature according to the cooking content and the like, and is optimal. It is possible to provide a cooking device capable of performing various "low temperature steam cooking", and to provide a steam heating method by the cooking device.

According to the present invention, the delicate temperature control required for "low temperature steam heating" can be reliably and easily performed, so that the taste of the food material itself can be utilized to cook the food deliciously, which has a market value. A high cooker can be provided.

1 Cooker body 2 Heating chamber 3 Door 4 Operation part 5 Cooking plate 6 Protruding part 7 Inside temperature sensor 8 Infrared sensor 9 Ceiling wall temperature sensor 10 Steam heating unit (steam heating part)
11 Hot air circulation unit (hot air circulation unit)
12 Flat heater unit (flat heater)
13 High frequency heating unit (high frequency heating unit)
14 Water storage room 15 Control unit 16 1st steam heater 17 2nd steam heater 18 Circulation fan 19 Convention heater 20 Food 21 Flat heater

Claims (15)

A heating chamber that houses the object to be heated,
An operation unit for setting the cooking contents for the object to be heated,
A steam heating unit having a configuration in which steam is injected into the heating chamber to steam-heat the object to be heated and the amount of steam injected can be changed.
A circulation fan that circulates the air in the heating chamber.
The steam heating operation and the steam heating operation in the steam heating unit are based on the internal temperature sensor that detects the internal temperature of the heating chamber, the internal temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor, and the cooking content set by the operation unit. A cooking device including a control unit that controls the circulation operation of the circulation fan.
When "low temperature steam cooking" in which the temperature inside the refrigerator is cooked in a range of 50 ° C. or higher and lower than 100 ° C. is set as the cooking content in the operation unit, the control unit at least "initial cooking stage" and "main cooking". It is configured to run a "stage"
In each of the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage", the steam heating unit is turned on based on the temperature inside the refrigerator detected by the temperature sensor inside the refrigerator to reach the first temperature control control level. When the temperature inside the refrigerator is lower than the first temperature control control level , with the first temperature control level and the second temperature control level higher than the first temperature control level as the threshold value. "Strong heating temperature control" is performed for the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan, and the temperature inside the refrigerator is equal to or higher than the first temperature control level and the second temperature control level. When it is less than, "medium heating temperature control" is performed for the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan, and when the temperature inside the refrigerator is equal to or higher than the second temperature control control level, the steam It is configured to perform "weak heating temperature control" for the steam heating operation of the heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan.
The heating output of the steam heating operation with respect to the heating chamber is configured to decrease in the order of the "strong heating temperature control", the "medium heating temperature control", and the "weak heating temperature control".
The first temperature control level in the "main cooking stage" is set to a temperature higher than the first temperature control level in the "initial cooking stage", and the second temperature control level in the "main cooking stage" is The temperature is set higher than the second temperature control level in the "initial cooking stage", and the temperature between the first temperature control level in the "initial cooking stage" and the second temperature control level in the "main cooking stage". A cooker configured to control the temperature within a range of 10 ° C. The first aspect of the present invention, wherein the control unit is configured to perform a "preheating stage" for heating the heating chamber for a predetermined time before the "initial cooking stage" when the temperature inside the refrigerator is lower than a predetermined temperature. Cooker. The control unit is configured to maximize the amount of steam injected by the steam heating unit and execute a circulation operation by the circulation fan in the "strong heating temperature control" of the "initial cooking stage". Item 2. The cooking apparatus according to item 1 or 2 . The control unit is configured to limit the amount of steam injected by the steam heating unit in each of the "medium heating temperature control" in the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage". The cooking cooker according to any one of 1 to 3 . From claim 1, the control unit is configured to execute only a circulation operation by the circulation fan in the "weak heating temperature control" in each of the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage". The cooking device according to any one of 4 . The control unit sets the amount of steam injected in the "strong heating temperature control" of the "main cooking stage" to be smaller than the amount of steam injected in the "strong heating temperature control" of the "initial cooking stage". The cooking device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the amount of steam injected in the "medium heating temperature control" of the "main cooking stage" is set to be larger than the amount of steam injected. The cooker according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the control unit is configured to perform a circulation operation by the circulation fan at least in each of the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage". The cooking apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the steam heating unit has at least two types of steam heaters having different heating outputs and is configured so that the amount of steam injected can be changed. .. A heating chamber that houses the object to be heated,
An operation unit for setting the cooking contents for the object to be heated, and
A steam heating unit having a configuration in which steam is injected into the heating chamber to steam-heat the object to be heated and the amount of steam injected can be changed.
A circulation fan that circulates the air in the heating chamber and
An internal temperature sensor that detects the internal temperature of the heating chamber and
A control unit that controls a steam heating operation in the steam heating unit and a circulation operation of the circulation fan based on the temperature inside the refrigerator detected by the temperature sensor and the cooking content set by the operation unit is provided. It is a steam heating method in a cooking cooker.
At least the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage" are executed when "low temperature steam cooking" is set as the cooking content in the operation unit in which the temperature inside the refrigerator is 50 ° C. or higher and lower than 100 ° C. Including steps
In each step of the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage"
Based on the internal temperature detected by the internal temperature sensor , the internal temperature is raised to the first temperature control control level by turning on the steam heating unit, and the first temperature control control level and the first temperature control level are increased . When the temperature inside the refrigerator is lower than the first temperature control control level with the second temperature control level higher than the temperature control level as the threshold value, the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan are performed. On the other hand, "strong heating temperature control" is performed,
When the temperature inside the refrigerator is equal to or higher than the first temperature control level and lower than the second temperature control level, "medium heating temperature control" is applied to the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan. And when the temperature inside the refrigerator is equal to or higher than the second temperature control control level, "weak heating temperature control" is performed for the steam heating operation of the steam heating unit and the circulation operation of the circulation fan.
The heating output of the steam heating operation for the heating chamber is set to decrease in the order of the "strong heating temperature control", the "medium heating temperature control", and the "weak heating temperature control".
The first temperature control level in the "main cooking stage" is set to a temperature higher than the first temperature control level in the "initial cooking stage", and the second temperature control level in the "main cooking stage" is The temperature is set higher than the second temperature control level in the "initial cooking stage", and the temperature between the first temperature control level in the "initial cooking stage" and the second temperature control level in the "main cooking stage". A steam heating method in which the temperature is controlled within a range of 10 ° C. The steam heating method according to claim 9 , further comprising a step of performing a "preheating stage" for heating the heating chamber for a predetermined time before the "initial cooking stage" when the temperature inside the refrigerator is lower than a predetermined temperature. The steam according to claim 9 or 10 , wherein in the "strong heating temperature control" of the "initial cooking stage", the amount of steam injected by the steam heating unit is maximized and the circulation operation is executed by the circulation fan. Heating method. Any one of claims 9 to 11 , wherein the amount of steam injected by the steam heating unit is limited in the "medium heating temperature control" in each of the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage". The steam heating method described in. The invention according to any one of claims 9 to 12 , wherein only the circulation operation is executed by the circulation fan in each of the "weak heating temperature control" in the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage". Steam heating method. The amount of steam injected in the "strong heating temperature control" of the "main cooking stage" is set to be smaller than the amount of steam injected in the "strong heating temperature control" of the "initial cooking stage", and the above-mentioned " The steam heating method according to any one of claims 9 to 13 , which is set to be larger than the amount of steam injected in the "medium heating temperature control" of the "main cooking stage". The steam heating method according to any one of claims 9 to 14 , wherein the circulation fan continuously performs a circulation operation at least in each of the "initial cooking stage" and the "main cooking stage".

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