Patent ID: 8697166
Filing Date: 2014-04-15
Classification: A23L

Abstract:
1. A method of baking a casserole having a cheese topping using steam during a cooking cycle in an automated household oven with a cooking cavity, a heating system for heating the cooking cavity, a steam system for introducing steam into the cooking cavity, and a controller for controlling an operation of the heating system and the steam system to implement the cooking cycle, the method comprising: receiving an input to the controller of a desired level of browning for the cheese topping of the casserole; receiving an input to the controller of a cooking temperature for the casserole; determining by the controller an output of the steam system to obtain the desired level of browning based on the received input of the desired level of browning; operating the heating system to preheat the cooking cavity to a preheating temperature above the boiling point of water; after the preheating of the cooking cavity, operating the heating system to heat the cooking cavity at the cooking temperature to cook the casserole; operating the steam system to boil water and produce steam at the determined output during the cooking of the casserole to control a level of browning of the cheese topping of the casserole based on the input to the controller of a desired level of browning; and wherein the operation of the heating system at the cooking temperature and the operation of the steam system at the determined output serves to generate a casserole having a desired inner characteristic and the desired level of browning for the cheese topping of the casserole.