Abstract:
A food container is covered by a foil to enclose food to be steam cooked. A holding chamber has a lid configured to be opened so that the food container can be placed within the chamber. When the lid is closed, the food container is enclosed within the holding chamber. A plurality of first nozzles extending from the lid into the holding chamber wherein when the lid is closed, the plurality of nozzles penetrate through the foil of the food container. A shower of superheated steam is introduced into the food container through the nozzles to cook the food. Steam is pulled from the food container through a centrally located exhaust port in the lid, and is reheated and recirculated back into the food container through the nozzles.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Steam can be used for cooking vegetable and meat selections. While traditional ovens cook using hot air generated by heating elements in the oven walls, a steam oven cooks using steam generated within a cooking chamber. Archaeological excavations have uncovered pottery cooking vessels known as Yan steamers. A modern conventional steam oven can be equipped with a reservoir that is filled with water, and heating the water to boil generates steam. The generated steam may be introduced into the cooking chamber to cook food placed into the chamber. 
     Steam-cooked foods can retain more of their flavor, texture and color. Conventional dry heat cooking tends to rely on added fat to keep food from drying out. Food cooked with steam generally does not dry out, so supplementary fat is not required. Also, fewer vitamins, minerals and nutrients may be lost with steam cooking rather than with dry-heat cooking. 
     Dry or superheated steam has been applied to a wide range of fields including food preparation. Superheated steam is generated by heating ordinary steam from 100° C. to a higher temperature. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to apparatus and methods for cooking or heating food in a container using steam including superheated steam. 
     In one embodiment, a steam cooking apparatus comprises a holder chamber; a food container having a bottom and a top, wherein the top is covered by a foil to enclose food to be steam cooked within the food container, the food container sized to fit within the holder chamber; a lid configured to engage the top of the food container within the holder chamber; a plurality of first nozzles extending from the lid into the holder chamber wherein when the lid is engages the food container in the holder chamber, the plurality of first nozzles penetrate through the foil of the food container; a steam source; and the plurality of first nozzles being in fluid communication with the steam source such that steam is introduced into the food container through the plurality of first nozzles. 
     Another embodiment of a steam cooking apparatus further comprises a second holder chamber; a second container covered by a second foil to enclose flavoring within the second container, the second container sized to fit within the second holder chamber; a second lid configured to engage the top of the second container within the second holder chamber; and a plurality of second nozzles extending from the second lid into the second holder chamber wherein when the second lid is closed, the plurality of second nozzles penetrate through the second foil of the second container; wherein at least one of the plurality of second nozzles being in fluid communication with the reheated steam such that reheated steam is introduced into the second container through the at least one second nozzle, and the reheated steam exits the second container through the remaining second nozzles, wherein the remaining second nozzles are in fluid communication with the plurality of first nozzles. 
     In another embodiment, the first lid and the second lid are coupled together such that when the first lid opens, the second lid opens, and when the first lid closes and the plurality of first nozzles penetrate through the foil of the food container, the second lid closes the plurality of second nozzles penetrate through the second foil of the second container. 
     In another embodiment, a food container has a top covered by a foil to enclose food to be steam cooked within the food container; and a perforated floor within the food container wherein the perforated floor separates an upper portion of the food container from a lower portion of the food container, and the food occupies the upper portion of the food container adjacent the foil. 
     In another embodiment, an RFID tag is located in the bottom of the food container wherein the RFID tag contains cooking information regarding the food in the food container. 
     An embodiment of a method of steam cooking comprising the steps of inserting a food container into a holder chamber, wherein the food container is covered by a foil to enclose food to be steam cooked within the food container; closing the holder chamber with a lid having a plurality of first nozzles in fluid connection with a steam source, wherein the plurality of first nozzles penetrate through the foil of the food container when the holder chamber is closed by the lid; and introducing steam through the plurality of first nozzles into the food container to produce a steam shower for cooking the food within the food container. 
     Another embodiment of a method of steam cooking further includes the steps of inserting a second container into a second holder chamber, wherein the container is covered by a foil to enclose a flavoring compound within the second container; closing the second holder chamber with a second lid having a plurality of second nozzles, wherein the plurality of second nozzles penetrate through the second foil of the second container when the second lid is closed upon the second holder chamber; and applying steam through at least one of the second nozzles into the second container and the steam exits the second container through the remaining second nozzles wherein the remaining second nozzles are in fluid communication with the plurality of first nozzles to provide flavoring steam through the plurality of first nozzles into the food container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing the outer appearance of a steam cooking apparatus with a food plate container and flavor pod container. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the steam cooking apparatus with the upper housing removed to show the interior of the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of a portion of the apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic view of the steam cooking apparatus. 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged schematic view of a portion of the apparatus of  FIG. 4   
         FIG. 6  is a top elevation view of the apparatus of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along the line B-B of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along the line C-C of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram of a control unit for a steam cooking apparatus. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the steam cooking apparatus of  FIG. 1  without a food plate container and flavor pod container. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the steam shower plates for the cooking apparatus. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In a preferred embodiment, a steam cooker delivers superheated steam into a food container via a plurality of nozzles to create a steam shower to cook food within the container. For convenience, in a food container covered by a foil, food is cooked by a steam shower from nozzles that penetrate through the foil. Referring now to the drawings, like parts are designated by like reference numbers or characters. 
       FIG. 1  shows an embodiment of a steam cooker  1  with a barrel-shaped housing  2  configured to accept a food plate container  5  and a flavor pod container  7 . The cooker  1  has a food container holder  4  that may be part of plate drawer  3  that is opened by an ejection mechanism. The food plate holder  4  in  FIG. 1  is shown in an ejected position. Thermal insulation for the holder may achieved by using a surrounding vacuum or by using insulation material. The food container holder  4  is configured to accept the food plate container  5 . The holder  4  may be configured to accept food plate containers of different volumes. The extended brim of the food plate container  5  may support the food container  5  in the holder  4  so that the holder  4  may accept food containers of different volumes. 
     The cooker  1  also may have a pod holder  6  configured to accept the flavor pod container  7 . The flavor pod holder  6  is shown in an ejected position. 
     The housing  2  also may have a touch screen display  100  to control the operation of the cooker  1 . Similar to the operation of a CD player, both the plate drawer  3  and the pod holder  6  can be motor-motion-controlled or be manually pushed by hand inside the apparatus. 
     As will be discussed later,  FIG. 11  shows the steam cooker  1  of  FIG. 1  without a food plate container or a flavor pod container. The food container holder  4  of the plate drawer  3  is in the open or ejected position. The flavor pod holder  6  also is shown in an ejected position. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the steam cooker  1  with the upper portion of the housing removed to show the interior of the apparatus. The plate drawer  3  and the food container holder  4  with the food plate container  5  is in what ordinarily would be closed or unejected position. The pod holder  6  with the flavor pod container  7  also is in what ordinarily would be closed or unejected position. 
     Water enters the system through supply pipe  36  and exits through exhaust pipe  35 . Steam is generated within the boiler  10 . Steam is introduced into the food plate container  5  by the steam shower plate  11 . Steam is evacuated from the food plate container  5  by the steam blower  12  powered by the motor fan  115 . Steam can recirculated and channeled to the pod steam shower  13  for the flavor pod container, and to the steam shower plate  11  for the food plate container  5 . Steam returned from the pod steam shower  13  also can be channeled to the steam shower plate  11 . Spent steam can be channeled through an exhaust pipe  35 . 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of a portion of the apparatus of  FIG. 2  without the plate drawer, the food container holder, and the flavor pod holder. A water supply pipe  36  delivers water that is used to generate the steam. The boiler  10  may generate steam by flash evaporation or throttling from high to low pressure, instead of conventional boiling by heating a reservoir of water. The heating elements  113  of the boiler  10  heats the water to the boiling point, and a superheating element  114  is used to superheat the steam. The heating element  113  may include a heat exchanger, and superheating element  114  further heats the steam from the boiler to generate superheated steam. The operation of heating element  113  and superheating element  114  of the heating system may be controlled based on feedback from temperature, humidity and/or pressure sensors. Thermal insulation for the heating element  113  and superheating element  114  of the heating system may be achieved by using a vacuum surrounding the heating system or by using an insulation material. 
     Dry or superheated steam is at a temperature higher than water&#39;s vaporization (boiling) point. Superheated steam has a temperature state of above 100° C. by boiling water and overheating it further to the vapor state. Superheated steam may be produced by taking steam at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100° C.) which is then further heated to a higher temperature such as 272 degrees Fahrenheit (133° C.). 
     Superheated steam is delivered to the steam shower plate  11  which has a plurality of nozzles  20 . The pod steam shower  13  has a plurality of nozzles  21 . The pod steam shower  13  is linked to the steam shower plate  11 . The pod steam shower  13  mechanically moves in conjunction with the steam shower plate  11 , and the pod steam shower  13  is in fluid communication with the steam shower plate  11 . 
     Pressing the start button on the display (or starting the cycle remotely using a WiFi or Bluetooth connection with a personal digital device such as a smartphone or tablet), the steam shower plate  11  and the pod steam shower  13  performs a Z-axis motion and the nozzles  20  and  21 ,  24  and  25  simultaneously perforates the foil  22  covering the food plate container  5  and the foil  23  covering the flavor pod container  7 , respectively. The foil may be made from aluminum. 
     A plurality of nozzles  20  of steam shower plate  11  delivers steam to the food plate container  5 . The steam introduced by the nozzles  20  preferably has an absolute vapor pressure from 1 to 3 bars. The bottom of the food plate container  5  can have an RFID tag which may be energized by a coil  108  in the cooker housing or otherwise read by an RFID reader. The RFID may contain cooking information about the food contained in the plate container  5 . One or more nozzles  21  of the pod steam shower  13  deliver steam recirculated from the steam shower for the food container  5  to the flavor pod container  7 , and flavored steam is delivered from the flavor pod container through the remaining nozzles of the pod steam shower  13  to the food container through the nozzles of steam shower plate  11 . 
       FIGS. 4 and 5  are schematic views of the steam cooker.  FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a portion of  FIG. 4 . The position of the flavor pod container  7  and food plate container  5  can be detected by a position sensor  106  and  107  (see  FIG. 5 ). The properties of the food contain inside the plate may be factory-recorded on a RFID tag incorporated as part of the food plate container  5 . Information on the RFID tag can be used by the control unit  101  to control the cooking parameters of the apparatus. The RFID tag may be accessed using an energizing coil  108  where the content is read by a RF antenna/chip part of the control unit  101 , or by another suitable RFID reader system. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , when water is added into a reservoir  30 , the water level in the reservoir  30  is detected by a water level sensor  109 . If the water level in the reservoir is low, the cooker may emit a warning (audio, visual, or both) to prompt a user to refill the reservoir with additional water. 
     When the pump  111  is activated, water flows through a filter  32 , a check valve  37 , and a heat exchanger  33  which is heated to warm the water before it is sent to the boiler  10 . The warmed water is then delivered through pipe  36  to heating system H further heated to produce steam including dry or superheated steam. The operation of the heating and superheating elements of the heating system H may be controlled based on feedback from temperature, humidity and/or pressure sensors S. Thermal insulation for the heating and superheating elements of the heating system H may achieved by using a vacuum surrounding the heating system or by using an insulation material. 
     Waste or drain steam is exhausted by the control valve  116  through the pipe  35  and transferring heat inside the condenser into a waste water tank  34  whose water level is detected by a sensor  110  (and warns the user when the waste water tank is full). An overpressure or steam relief valve  40  may be employed to keep the system within safe operating parameters. 
     Referring in particular to the enlarged view of  FIG. 5 , water is heated inside the boiler chamber  61 . Water is then directed through hot vaporization tubes  62 . The water vaporizes inside the tube  62  and enters dry steam distribution chamber  63 . The steam generator process is conducted at a constant temperature above 100° C. controlled by a temperature sensor S. Humid steam flows through pipe  64  into the dry steam distribution chamber  41  where it is heated to 120° C. or higher. The steam is superheated and flows through the nozzle  20  that has perforated the foil  22  covering the food plate container  5  into the cooking chamber  42  of the food plate container  5  where the food  43  to be cooked may consist of a meat selection, a vegetable selection, a fruit selection, a grain selection, or a combination. The meat selection may include fish, poultry or rabbit. The selection of food also may include pasta, crustaceans, egg, scallops, and other foods. 
     As energy of the dry steam is transferred to cook the food, the steam becomes humid and may condensed and flow on the side of the plate through the perforated floor  46  within the container  5  so that the water may collect along the bottom interior of the container away from the food being cooked within the container above the perforated floor. A moisture-absorbent material  45  may be placed under the perforated floor  46  to absorb the water that has condensed and collected along the bottom interior of the container  5 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a top view of the internal mechanisms of the steam cooker showing the water supply pipe  36  to the boiler  10 , the exhaust drain pipe, the pod steam shower  13  for the flavor pod container, and the steam shower plate  11  for the food plate container  5 . The steam blower  12  is mounted atop the steam shower plate  11 . Heating and superheating elements  113  and  114 , respectively, also are shown. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A of  FIG. 6 . As previously discussed, warmed water is delivered through pipe  36  into the boiler chamber  61  where the water is then directed through hot vaporization tubes  62  which vaporizes the water. The vaporized water collects in a humid steam chamber  63  and is conveyed through a steam channel  64  to the dry steam distribution chamber  41  where the steam is superheated. The superheated steam flows into the cooking chamber  42  of the food container  5  through the delivery nozzles  20  that have perforated the foil  22  of the food plate container  5 . 
       FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines B-B of  FIG. 6 . Near the bottom of the food plate container there is an interior perforated floor  46  upon which the food sits. As the steam circulates and cooks the food within the cooking chamber  42  of the food container, moisture and condensation that forms on the food, and on the interior walls of the food container, can pass through the perforated floor  46  and away from the food. A moisture-absorbing material can be placed under the perforated floor  46 . 
     As the steam cooks the food and becomes spent, steam is drawn out of the food chamber  42  of the food container  5  through centrally located exhaust or return nozzles  24  by the blower  57  powered by fan motor  115 . If the cooking process is completed, or if relief of pressure is needed, the appropriate valves (not shown) may be opened to allow exhausted steam to travel through pipe  35  to the waste water tank. Otherwise, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the drawn steam is directed back in part into the distribution chamber  41  through pipe  56 , and the heated chamber  41  keeps the drawn steam superheated. Drawn steam also is directed in part through pipe  54  to the steam shower for the flavor pod container and delivered into the flavor pod container through the delivery nozzle  21  that has pierced the foil  23 . The delivery nozzle  21  may be one or more nozzles offset from the center of the shower lid  13 . Having the delivery nozzle located at the periphery creates a cyclonic or centrifugal effect within the flavor pod container when the steam is delivered into the flavor pod container, which helps mix the flavoring with the incoming steam. 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines C-C of  FIG. 6 . The flavor pod container may hold spices and herbs, whose flavor may be transferred to the steam, and this flavored steam flows out of the flavor pod container through the exhaust or return nozzles  25  in fluid communication with the chamber  53  and back through pipe  55  to the steam shower plate  41  for distribution into the food container to flavor the food being cooked within the food container. 
     As previously discussed, moisture absorbent material  45  may be placed under the perforated floor  46  to absorb the water that has condensed and drained through the perforated floor and collected along the interior bottom of the food container. The perforated floor  46  may be press fit to engage a projection formed from the bottom of the food container so that it is mechanically secured in place. 
     The properties of the food contained inside the food container, including cooking instructions, may be factory-recorded on a RFID tag  44  placed in an exterior recess formed in the bottom of the food container. The RFID tag may be accessed using an energizing coil  108  (where the content is read by an RF antenna/chip part of the control unit), or another suitable RFID reader system. 
       FIG. 10  is a block diagram of a control unit for the steam cooking apparatus. The control unit  101  preferably consists of a CPU  102 , memory unit  103 , RFID reader  104 , and a WiFi/Bluetooth module  105 . The control unit  101  also may include a transceiver for an Internet connection. The control unit  101  receives and sends signals to devices such as the pod support presence detector  106 , plate support presence detector  107 , energizing coil  108 , supply water tank level sensor  109 , waste water tank level sensor  110 , pump  111 , temperature, pressure and/or humidity sensors  112 , the water heater  113 , the steam heater  114 , circulation motor fan  115 , and exhaust valve  116 , to control the steam cooking process of the apparatus. The control unit  101  may issue instructions for the cooking apparatus based on feedback from these sources. The user interface for the control unit  101  preferably is a touch screen LCD display  100 . The touch screen display  100  may be mounted on the housing of the steam cooking apparatus or may be part of a remote device. A user may use the touch screen display  100  to control the operation of the steam cooking of the apparatus, or to order additional containers of food for steam cooking over an Internet connection. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the steam cooking apparatus of  FIG. 1  without a food plate container and flavor pod container. The cooker  1  has a food container holder  4  as part of plate drawer  3  that is shown in an ejected position. The food container holder  4  is configured to accept a sealed food plate container (not shown) where the food-containing portion of the container is placed within a holder chamber  8  below an extended support area  9 . The chamber of the food container holder  4  can accept food plate containers of different volumes where the containers have enlarged brims for engaging the extended support area of holder  4 . Thermal insulation for the holder may achieved by using a vacuum or insulation material. The cooker  1  also may have a flavor pod holder  6  configured to accept a flavor pod container (not shown). The flavor pod holder  6  is shown in an ejected position, and flavor pod holder also may be configured to have a holder chamber below an extended support area, where the holder chamber is configured to accept a flavor pod container. A touch screen display  100  may be used to control the operation of the cooker  1 . 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the steam shower plate lids in another embodiment of the cooking apparatus. The plate lids  11  and  13  are coupled together such that when the food plate lid  11  closes and its associated plurality of nozzles for delivery and return of steam penetrate through the foil of the food container, the flavor pod lid  13  also closes and its associated plurality of nozzles penetrate through the foil of the flavor container. In this embodiment, there are four return nozzles  24  centrally located on the food plate lid  11  to act as an exhaust port for drawing spent steam from the food container. For the flavor pod container, the delivery nozzle  21  is at the periphery and offset from the center (so the delivery nozzle for the flavor pod container is not centrally located on the flavor pod lid  13 ), and the remaining nozzles  25  operate as return nozzles through which flavored steam is conveyed back to the food lid  11  for the food container. The delivery and return nozzles may have different configurations. For example, the size, shape and openings (size, shape and number) for the delivery and return nozzles may differ from one another. 
     Although embodiments of the invention are described, it is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive modifications and/or variations to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. Any such modifications or variations that fall within the purview of this description are intended to be included therein as well. Unless specifically noted, the words and phrases in the specification and claims are intended to be given the ordinary and accustomed meanings to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art(s). It is, therefore, evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention.