WO2016174601A1

WO2016174601A1 - Steam cooking apparatus for fishing baits

Info

Publication number: WO2016174601A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/052403
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alessandro CARAMASCHI
Original assignee: Attrezzeria Universal S.R.L.
Priority date: 2015-04-29
Filing date: 2016-04-28
Publication date: 2016-11-03

Abstract

A cooking apparatus for cooking sport fishing baits (100) comprises a steam-generating unit (2), basket means (5) for receiving baits (100) to be cooked and provided with a plurality of passage openings for the steam, containment means (3) for removably housing the basket means (5) in an operating configuration (C), supporting means (4) to support the containment means (3) and to house the generating unit (2) under the containment means (3) and at a respective opening (21) thereof in order to allow the steam to diffuse inside the containment means (3), a reservoir (6) connected to the containment means (3) and arranged to contain water and supply means (7) connected to the reservoir (6) for supplying water to the generating unit (2) in an adjustable way during the operation of said apparatus (1), a lid (8) for closing the basket means (5) inside the containment means (3) in the operating configuration (C); the reservoir (6) comprises a tub that is fixed to the containment means (3), is fillable with water by an user during the operation, and has a bottom (6a) provided with a supply hole (31) connected to the supply means (7), which comprise pipe means (11) for connecting the reservoir (6) to the generating unit (2) and tap means (12) connected to the pipe means (11) for adjusting a quantity of water flowing by gravity from the reservoir (6) to the steam-generating unit (2).

Description

Steam cooking apparatus for fishing baits

The invention concerns apparatuses for preparing and cooking baits for sport fishing and, in particular, relates to a portable cooking apparatus for the non-industrial production of baits to be used in sport fishing, in particular the carp fishing. The invention also concerns a cooking system including the above-mentioned cooking apparatus.

In sport fishing, it is widely diffused the use of baits, namely real or fake food used to attract fish. The bait can be a live, dead or artificial one.

Among the numerous types of artificial baits, baits are used, in particular for carp fishing, that are usually called "boilies" and include little balls or pellets made of flours, cereals, seeds and flavors mixtures that are boiled or preferably steam cooked in order to harden and resist the fish attack, namely in order to be swallowed in one piece.

These baits are industrially produced and are available on the market. However, their composition is preset and it cannot be varied and customized by the user (angler) who is forced to choose in a relatively limited product variety.

For that reason, recently among both amateur and competitive anglers the trend diffuses to autonomously prepare the baits, at home or craft made, so as to be able to vary the baits composition, in particular by selecting ingredients to their liking and/or using controlled and quality components. In that way, for the angler from one side it is possible to realize baits stimulating the fish (carp) appetite depending on their habitat, namely the waters where the animals live, from the other side it is possible to choose the mixture hardness depending on the fishing sessions.

The cooking of the baits mixture can be carried out by boiling or steam cooking.

The boiling cooking is carried out by using big pots filled of water that are brought to the boil and in which the little balls are cooked. The latter one are drained after a suitable cooking time.

This way of cooking is inconvenient and dangerous because generally it is carried out in rooms that are not equipped for the cooking such as garages, basements, cellars, courtyards, this requiring to use portable gas camp stoves and gas cylinders that must be carefully handled, and involving burn risks during the draining operation, and/or risks of slipping on water puddles that easily are formed during the above-mentioned draining.

Moreover, by boiling cooking the bait loses about 40% of its flavoring properties, thus diminishing its efficacy.

The steam cooking, which is considered the best and more effective cooking because the bait does not loose flavoring properties, can be carried out using dedicated pots or commercial steamers for domestic use. Inside the pot or the steamer there are placed one or more superimposed baskets that house the baits and are kept lifted from the bottom where the boiling water is collected. A lid closes the pot and the steamer in order to allow the steam that cooks the baits to form therein. When the cooking is done, the lid, hot and wet for the steam, must be removed and then the baskets must be extracted and generally placed on the ground. Also in this case the cooking procedure is dangerous, in particular at the end of cooking, for the burn risk (when removing the lid and the baskets) and/or the risk of slipping on the water that can leak and accumulate on the floor.

Another drawback of the known pots or steamer for steam cooking is that the little balls have to be transferred from the cooking baskets to other dedicated containers for the drying with the risk of breaking or damaging the baits themselves.

The pots and steamers for the domestic use also do not allow a high bait production in a short time, since they have a limited operating range.

The baskets that are superimposed assembled, with a so-called pyramid configuration, allow cooking a greater quantity of baits, but do not allow a uniform cooking of the baits: actually, the baits positioned in the upper baskets, being hit by a smaller quantity of steam, need a longer cooking time than the baits positioned in the lower baskets. Consequently, either overcooked baits (in the lower baskets) or raw baits (in the upper baskets) are obtain.

An object of the present invention is to improve the known apparatuses for realizing and cooking sport fishing baits, particularly of the "boilies" type.

Another object is to achieve a cooking apparatus that allows uniformly steam cooking a considerable quantity of baits, in a short time and with an orderly and clean production.

A further object is to obtain a cooking apparatus having a very high operating range and that allows continuously cooking the baits, without interruptions.

Still another object is to achieve a cooking apparatus that can be easily disassembled in order to allow its careful cleaning and/or an effective maintenance.

Another further object is to obtain a safe and reliable cooking apparatus, which practically eliminates any accident and injury risk for the user and, in particular allows easily and conveniently moving and handling the baits even after cooking without the risk of damaging said baits.

Still another further object is to achieve a strong and reliable cooking apparatus that is simple to use and having limited overall dimensions and weight and therefore is simple to move and carry and is usable in a safe way also indoor.

In a first aspect of the invention, a cooking apparatus is provided according to claim 1. In a second aspect of the invention, a cooking apparatus is provided according to claim 8. In a third aspect of the invention, a cooking system is provided according to claim 14. The cooking apparatus of the invention comprises one or more steam-generating units, basket means to receive baits to be cooked and provided with a plurality of through or passage openings for the steam, containment means to removably house the basket means in an operating configuration, and supporting means to support the containment means and to house the steam-generating unit under the containment means and at a respective opening thereof in order to allow the steam to diffuse inside said containment means.

The cooking apparatus further includes a reservoir connected to the containment means and arranged to contain water and supply means connected to the reservoir for supplying the water to the steam-generating unit in an adjustable way during the operation of the apparatus. A lid is provided for closing the basket means inside the containment means in the operating configuration and comprises a plurality of holes to let the steam come out, said holes being provided at perimeter portions of the lid in order to facilitate a uniform distribution of the steam inside the containment means during the operation of the apparatus.

The basket means comprise a couple of handles made of thermally insulating material and fastened so as to protrude outside the containment means in the operating configuration. The supporting means comprise a supporting plane on which the steam-generating unit is positioned and a plurality of connecting arms that are rotatably fixed to the supporting plane and reversibly connected to the containment means.

Thanks to the invention, it is possible to obtain a cooking apparatus that allows uniformly cooking a considerable quantity of baits, in a short time and with an orderly and clean production. In fact, the basket means, containing a great number of baits, can be easily extracted from the apparatus after cooking and they can be replaced by other basket means containing baits to be cooked, keeping the steam-generating unit working. Due to the reservoir, which can be easily filled by the user, and the supply means, the steam- generating unit(s) has a high operating range and allows continuously cooking the baits, by using subsequent basket means.

The cooking apparatus of the invention is safe and reliable because the handles of the basket means, made of insulating material and arranged outside the containment means and therefore not hit by the steam, can be grasped by the user at the end of the baits cooking without the need to wear protective gloves, eliminating any accident and injury risk. The easy extraction and insertion of the basket means from/into the containment means allows moving and handling the baits, particularly after cooking, in a simple and convenient way without risks of damaging the baits.

The cooking apparatus of the invention is also easy to maintain and clean, because it can be disassembled, by disconnecting the supporting means from the containment means, in order to allow a careful cleaning and/or to replace the steam-generating units. The steam- generating units, being electrically supplied, allow safely using the cooking apparatus also indoor.

The cooking apparatus, preferably made of metal sheet, is particularly strong and reliable and anyway simple to use and transport having limited overall dimensions and weight.

The invention will be better understood and carried out with reference to the enclosed drawings that show an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment, wherein:

figure 1 is a front view of the cooking apparatus of the invention;

figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of figure 1;

- figure 3 is a side view of the apparatus of figure 1;

figure 4 is a top plan view of the apparatus of figure 1 without closing lid in order to better highlight basket means;

figure 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus of figure 1 wherein few parts have been removed in order to show steam generating means;

- figure 6 is a plan view of the basket means of figure 4;

figure 7 is a side view of the apparatus of figure 1 with the lid in an opening position and, in a dashed line, in other intermediate positions;

figure 8 is a side view of a holding unit that associable to the cooking apparatus of figure 1 and fastenable to a vertical wall;

- figure 9 is a front view of a cooking system comprising the apparatus of figure 1 and the holding unit of figure 8;

figure 10 is a side view of the cooking system of figure 9;

figure 11 is a side view of a variant of the cooking system of figure 9;

figures 12 and 13 are respectively front and top plan views of another version of the holding unit that associable to the cooking apparatus of figure 1 and movable on wheels;

figure 14 is a front view of another version of the cooking system including the apparatus of figure 1 and the holding unit of figure 12;

figure 15 is a side view of the cooking system of figure 14. With reference to figures 1 to 7, the cooking apparatus 1 according to the invention is shown that is arranged to cook sport fishing baits 100, in particular baits 100 of the so- called "boilies" type and comprising little balls or pellets made of flours, cereals, seeds and flavors mixtures or baits made of legumes, cereals, berries, tubers, etc.

The cooking apparatus 1 comprises at least one steam-generating unit 2, in particular two as in the example shown, extractable basket means 5 suitable to receive baits 100 to be cooked and provided with passage openings for the steam generated by the generating units 2 and containment means 3 suitable for removably housing said basket means 5 therein in an operating configuration C.

The apparatus 1 further includes supporting means 4 for supporting the containment means 3 and housing the two generating units 2 under the containment means 3 and at respective openings 21 thereof, in order to allow the steam exiting the generating units 2 to diffuse inside the containment means 3 through the passage openings of the basket means 5.

The apparatus 1 also includes a reservoir 6 connected to the containment means 3 and arranged to contain water and supply means 7 connected to the reservoir 6 and suitable to supply the water to the generating units 2 in an adjustable way during the operation of the apparatus 1.

A lid 8 is provided for closing the basket means 5 inside the containment means 3 in the operating configuration C.

In the shown embodiment, the containment means comprise a container or basin 3 having a top plan rectangular shape, provided with a base wall 22 and respective walls 23, 24, 28 defining a cavity or housing suitable to receive and contain the basket means 5. The base wall 22 of the basin 3 has two through openings 21 arranged side-by-side and arranged for coupling respective top openings of the generating units 2.

The basin 3 preferably is made of metal sheet.

The lid 8 is rotatably fixed to a rear wall 28 of the basin 3 and is connected to lateral walls 24 of the basin by means of two respective spring or pneumatic cylinders 38. The two cylinders 38 allow the user to lift the lid 8 in an open position by imparting a simple push to the lid and they keep it steadily in the open position.

The supporting means 4 substantially comprise a supporting plane 25 on which the generating units 2 are positioned and connecting means 26 connected to the supporting plane 25 and reversibly couplable to the containment means 3 in order to block the generating units 2 between the supporting plane 25 and the containment means 3 in an assembled configuration, or to detach the supporting plane 25 and/or the generating units 2 from the containment means 3, in a disassembled configuration.

The connecting means comprise, in particular, a plurality of connecting arms 26, for example four, that are rotatably fixed to the supporting plane 25 and connected to the containment means by couplings 27.

In the assembled configuration, the connecting arms 26 block the generating units 2 between the supporting plane 25 and the bottom wall 22 of the basin 3. The couplings 27 also allow easily decoupling the arms 26 from the basin 3 in order to detach the supporting plane 25 and the generating units 2 in the disassembled configuration.

The steam-generating units 2, of a known type and therefore not described in details, are electrically supplied apparatuses and comprise respective vessels 35 suitable to contain the water to be heated in order to generate the steam. The vessels 35, which for example have a substantially elliptic top plan shape, have chutes 36 to supply the water by gravity.

In a variant not shown in the figures, the cooking apparatus 1 can comprise only one steam-generating unit 2 or three or more steam-generating units 2, arranged aligned on one or more rows.

The reservoir 6 comprises a tub, particularly a tub open on the top and having a rectangular shape, fixed to the basin 3, in particular to a side of the latter, in order to be freely filled by the user even during the operation of the cooking apparatus 1. The reservoir 6 comprises a bottom 6a provided with one or more, for example two, supply holes 31, connected to the supply means 7. The bottom 6a of the reservoir 6 is further provided with a drain hole 32 that allows completely emptying the reservoir 6.

The supply means 7 comprise pipe means 11, connecting the reservoir 6 to the generating units 2 and tap means 12 connected to the pipe means 11 and arranged to adjust a quantity of water supplied to the steam-generating units 2. More precisely, the pipe means comprise one or more pipes 11, for example two, of flexible type and made of plastic material, each pipe comprising a first section 11a connecting the reservoir 6 to a respective tap 12 of the tap means and a second section l ib connecting the tap 12 to the vessel 35 of the corresponding steam-generating unit 2. When the tap 12 is open, the water flows by gravity from the reservoir 6 to the vessel 35 of the steam-generating unit 2, through the chute 36. The taps 12 are fixed to a front wall 23 of the basin 3.

A supporting element 33 is provided for supporting and locking the pipes 11 and for supporting the taps 12. The supporting element 33 comprises a flat and elongated element resting against the bottom wall 22 of the basin 3 and fixed to the reservoir 6. With particular reference to figure 6, the basket means comprise a basket or tray 5 provided with a respective bottom wall 15 and respective lateral walls 16, 17 defining a compartment suitable to receive a plurality of baits 100 arranged side-by-side. The bottom wall 15 and the lateral walls 16, 17 of the basket 5 are provided with a plurality of passage openings for the steam exiting the steam-generating units 2.

The basket 5 is made, for example, of heat-resistant plastic material so as to reduce the weight, at the same time guaranteeing a proper mechanical strength and stiffness in order to support the weight of the baits 100.

The basket 5 further includes a couple of handles 14 made of a thermally insulating material, for example wood or plastic, and fixed to transversal lateral walls 17 of the basket 5 so as to protrude from the basin 3 in the operating configuration C. In that way, the handles 14 are not hit by the steam during the operation and therefore they are not heated up and can be grasped by the user at the end of cooking of the baits 100 without need to wear protective gloves.

In a variant of the apparatus not shown in the figures, the basket means 5 can comprise two or more baskets having smaller size that can be insert side-by-side inside the basin 3 and/or can be superimposed and stacked inside the basin 3, which has in this case a proper depth or height.

The lid 8 includes a substantially flat rectangular-shaped element, provided with folded peripheral edges, arranged to be placed upon and coupled to the basin 3 in order to enclose the basket 5 in the operating configuration C. The lid 8 is provided with a plurality of through holes 18 allowing the steam to exit. The holes 18 are made at perimeter portions of the lid 8 in order to facilitate an uniform distribution of the steam inside the containment means 3 during the operation. In particular, in the case shown wherein basin 3 and lid 8 have a rectangular top plan shape, the holes 18 are concentrated near the four vertexes or corners of the lid 8.

The lid 8 also comprises a transparent portion 19 that allows seeing the baits 100 inside the apparatus 1 during cooking. The transparent portion 19, for example, is shaped as an outwardly protruding cap and it is made of plastic material.

The lid 8 is made, for example, of metal sheet or plastic material.

The operation of the cooking apparatus 1 according to the invention provides inserting inside the basin 3 having the lid 8 lifted in the open position a basket 5, where a plurality of baits 100 to be cooked have been placed in advance. Before or after inserting the basket 5, it is provided to fill the vessels 35 of the steam-generating units 2, by opening the taps 12 and allowing the water to flow from reservoir 6. Then the generating units 2 are turned on in order to generate the steam and the lid 8 is positioned in order to close the basket 5 inside the basin 3 in the operating configuration C. The cooking progress of baits 100 can be visually checked thanks to the transparent portion 19 of the lid 8.

At the end of cooking, after lifting the lid 8, the basket 5 can be easily extracted from the basin 3 thanks to the handles 14. Since the handles are made of thermally insulating material and are arranged outside the basin 3, they can be directly grasped by the user without need to use protective gloves, this allowing simplifying and making safer the extraction operation.

The lid 8 can be easily lifted by the user with a light upward push thanks to the cylinders 38. Substantially, the cylinders push and hold the lid 8 in the open position, preventing the user's hands and arms from contacting the steam exiting the basin 3.

Another basket 5 containing baits to be cooked can be inserted in place of the extracted basket 5 in order to carry on cooking and producing baits.

It should be noticed that, thanks to the reservoir 6 and the supply means 7, the steam- generating units 2 have a very high operating range and allow continuously cooking the baits, by using subsequent baskets. In fact, the reservoir 6, externally fixed to the side of the basin 3, can be easily filled with water by the user also during the operation of the generating units 2, which therefore can be continuously supplied by the supply means 7 without need to stop them for the replenish the water like happens in the known cooking apparatuses.

Furthermore, the cooking apparatus 1 is particularly compact and light and can be easily carried and used indoor too, because it requires only a suitable electrical supply.

It should be also noted that the apparatus can be easily disassembled, by separating the supporting means 4 from the basin 3, to allow performing an accurate cleaning and/or maintenance on it, for example for replacing the steam-generating units 2, in case of failure or malfunction thereof. In particular, thanks to the connecting arms 26 reversibly coupleable to the basin 3 by respective couplings 27, it is possible to easily and quickly block the generating units 2 between the supporting plane 25 and the containment means 3 in the assembled configuration, or to separate the supporting plane 25 and the generating units 2 from the containment means 3 in the disassembled configuration.

Figures 8 to 11 show a cooking system 10 comprising a holding unit 40 arranged for removably housing the cooking apparatus 1 and one or more baskets 5. More precisely, the holding unit 40 comprises frame means 41 on which first holding means 42 are removably fixed that are arranged for receiving and supporting the cooking apparatus 1, and second holding means 43 that are arranged for slidably receiving the baskets 5. The frame means 41 substantially comprise a rack fastenable to a vertical wall of a room or furniture or shelving. The frame means 41 include a couple of vertical uprights 45, parallel and spaced apart, hat are interconnected by a couple of crossbeams 46 and to which the first and second holding means 42, 43 are fastened.

The first holding means include a couple of first holding arms 42, parallel and spaced apart, that are removably fixed to the frame means 41 and arranged for receiving the cooking apparatus 1. In particular, the first holding arms 42 comprise respective elongated angular profiles arranged to abut with the base wall 22 and the transversal lateral walls 24 of the basin 3 of the cooking apparatus. The first holding means 42 can be fixed to an upper end of the frame means 41 (figure 8-10) or to a lower end of the frame means (figure 11).

Likewise, the second holding means comprise a plurality of second holding arms 43 that are arranged in superimposed and spaced apart couple along the frame means 41 under the first holding means 42 (figures 8-10) or above the first holding means (figure 11). The second holding arms 43 of each couple are parallel and spaced apart in order to receive a respective basket 5. In particular, the second holding arms 43 comprise respective elongated angular profiles arranged to abut with the bottom wall 15 and the transversal lateral walls 17 of the respective basket 5.

During operation, a basket 5 containing the cooked baits 100 can be extracted from the cooking apparatus 100 and positioned on a couple of second holding arms 43 to cool down, and another basket 5 containing baits 100 to be cooked can be extracted from a respective couple of second holding arms 43 and inserted inside the apparatus 1 for cooking.

The cooking system 10 firmly and safely supports the cooking apparatus 1 and allows simply, quickly and safely using a plurality of baskets 5 in order to optimize the production.

Figures 12 to 15 show another version of the cooking system 10 of the invention that differs for the holding unit 50 that comprises frame means 51 provided with wheels 57 and thus is movable so as to allow moving the cooking apparatus 1 and the basket means 5. The frame means 51 comprise, in particular, a base portion 54 formed by four crossbeams that are connected to form a rectangular frame and a couple of vertical uprights 55, parallel and spaced apart, that support a couple of first holding arms 52 arranged to receive the cooking apparatus 1 and a plurality of second holding arms 43 arranged in superimposed and spaced apart couple along the frame means 51, under the first holding means 52 for slidably receiving and supporting respective baskets 5. The two vertical uprights 55 are connected by a connecting frame 56.

The frame means 51 substantially form a supporting trolley that allows easily moving the cooking apparatus 1 and the baskets 5.

This embodiment of the cooking system 10 too allows firmly and safely supporting the cooking apparatus 1 and using a plurality of baskets 5 in order to optimize the production.

Claims

1. Cooking apparatus for cooking sport fishing baits (100) comprising:

- at least one steam-generating unit (2);

- basket means (5) for receiving baits (100) to be cooked and provided with a plurality of passage openings for said steam;

- containment means (3) for removably housing said basket means (5) in an operating configuration (C);

- supporting means (4) for supporting said containment means (3) and for housing said generating unit (2) under said containment means (3) and at a respective opening (21) thereof in order to allow said steam to diffuse inside said containment means (3);

- a reservoir (6) connected to said containment means (3) and arranged to contain water and supply means (7) connected to said reservoir (6) for supplying water to said generating unit (2) in an adjustable way during the operation of said apparatus

(i);

- a lid (8) for closing said basket means (5) inside said containment means (3) in said operating configuration (C);

characterized in that said reservoir (6) comprises a tub, in particular tub open on the top, that is fixed to a side of said containment means (3) and is fillable with water by an user, said reservoir (6) having a bottom (6a) provided with at least one supply hole (31) connected to said supply means (7), the latter ones comprising pipe means (11) for connecting said reservoir (6) to said generating unit (2) and tap means (12) connected to said pipe means (11) to adjust a quantity of said water flowing by gravity from said reservoir (6) to said steam-generating unit (2).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reservoir (6) comprises at least one drain hole (32) in said bottom (6a) to empty said reservoir (6).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said pipe means (11) comprise at least one pipe (11), in particular of flexible type, provided with a first section (11a) suitable to connect said reservoir (6) to a respective tap (12) of said tap means and a second section (l ib) suitable to connect said tap (12) to a vessel (35) of said generating unit (2) suitable to contain water to be heated to generate said steam.

4. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, comprising two steam-generating units (2) that are arranged side-by-side and coupled to said supporting means (4) under said containment means (3) at respective openings (21).

5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said basket means comprise at least one basket (5) provided with a bottom wall (15) and with lateral walls (16, 17), said walls (15, 16, 17) being provided with a plurality of respective passage openings to let said steam pass through.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said lid (8) comprises a plurality of holes (18) to let the steam come out, said holes (18) being provided at perimeter portions of said lid (8) to facilitate an uniform distribution of said steam inside said containment means (3) during the operation.

7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein said supporting means (4) comprise a supporting plane (25) on which said generating unit (2) is positionable and connecting means (26) connected to said supporting plane (25), said connecting means (26) being reversibly coupleable to said containment means (3) in order to block said generating unit (2) between said supporting plane (25) and said containment means (3) in an assembled configuration, or to disengage said supporting plane (25) and/or said generating unit (2) from said containment means (3) in a disassembled configuration.

8. Cooking apparatus for cooking sport fishing baits (100) comprising:

- at least one steam-generating unit (2);

- supporting means (4) for supporting said containment means (3) and housing said generating unit (2) under said containment means (3) and at a respective opening (21) thereof in order to allow said steam to diffuse inside said containment means (3);

(i);

characterized in that said supporting means (4) comprise a supporting plane (25) on which said generating unit (2) is positionable and connecting means (26) connected to said supporting plane (25) and reversibly coupleable to said containment means (3) in order to block said generating unit (2) between said supporting plane (25) and said containment means (3) in an assembled configuration, or to disengage said supporting plane (25) and/or said generating unit (2) from said containment means (3) in a disassembled configuration, respectively.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said connecting means comprise a plurality of connecting arms (26) rotatably fixed to said supporting plane (25) and connected to said containment means (3) by means of respective couplings (27).

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said reservoir (6) comprises a tub, in particular a tub open on the top, that is fixed to a side of said containment means (3) and is fillable with water by an user, said reservoir (6) having a bottom (6a) provided with at least one supply hole (31) connected to said supply means (7) that comprise pipe means (11) to connect said reservoir (6) to said generating unit (2) and tap means (12) connected to said pipe means (11) to adjust a quantity of water flowing by gravity from said reservoir (6) to said steam-generating unit (2).

11. Apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 10, comprising two steam-generating units (2) that are arranged side-by-side and coupled to said supporting means (4) under said containment means (3) at respective openings (21).

12. Apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 11, wherein said basket means comprise at least one basket (5) provided with a bottom wall (15) and with lateral walls (16, 17), said walls (15, 16, 17) being provided with a plurality of respective passage openings to let said steam pass through.

13. Apparatus according to any of claims 8 to 12, wherein said lid (8) comprises a plurality of holes (18) to let the steam come out, said holes (18) being provided at perimeter portions of said lid (8) to facilitate an uniform distribution of said steam inside said containment means (3) during the operation.

14. Cooking system for cooking sport fishing baits (100) comprising a cooking apparatus (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7 or according to any of claims 8 to 13 and a holding unit (40; 50) to removably receive said cooking apparatus (1) and basket means (5) of said cooking apparatus (1).

15. Cooking system according to claim 14, wherein said holding unit (40; 50) includes frame means (41; 51) comprising first holding means (42; 52) for receiving and supporting said cooking apparatus (1) and second holding means (43 : 53) for slidably receiving said basket means (5).

16. Cooking system according to claim 15, wherein said frame means (41) are fixable to a vertical wall.

17. Cooking system according to claim 15, wherein said frame means (51) are provided with wheels (57) and are movable to move said cooking apparatus (1) and said basket means (5).

18. Cooking system according to any of claims 14 to 17, wherein said first holding means comprise a couple of first holding arms (42; 52) to receive and support said cooking apparatus (1) and said second holding means comprise a plurality of second holding arms (43; 53) to slidably and removably receive a plurality of baskets (5) of said basket means that are arranged one on the top of the other.