Patent ID: 7353821

Claim:
A steam cooker comprising: a heating chamber defining a volume for holding water, the heating chamber including a water inlet and a steam outlet; a heating unit associated with the heating chamber in order to heat water in the heating chamber so as to generate steam; a steam cooking chamber formed by an insulated housing and having a door moveable between opened and closed positions; a steam path from the steam outlet to a steam cooking chamber; a heating chamber control system associated with the heating chamber for controlling water filling and heating operations of the heating chamber in order to generate steam for a cooking operation, the heating chamber control system includes a controller that operates to carry out an initial fill operation of the heating chamber such that (a) water flows into the heating chamber through the water inlet at a first flow rate until water level in the heating chamber rises to a first set water level at which point water flow into the heating chamber is stopped so long as water temperature is less than a set temperature; and (b) when water temperature reaches the set temperature, water flows into the heating chamber through the water inlet until a second set water level is reached at which point water flow into the heating chamber is stopped, the second set water level being spaced vertically from the steam outlet to inhibit liquid water from entering the steam outlet.