A steam generating system for an oven includes an upper tank having an upper water outlet and a lower water outlet. A lower tank is positioned at a vertical position that is lower than a vertical position of the upper tank. A first hose is coupled to the upper water outlet of the upper tank and further coupled to the lower tank. A second hose is coupled to the lower water outlet of the upper tank and further coupled to the lower tank. A valve assembly is positioned along the second hose and operable between open and closed conditions. An inlet pump is coupled to the upper tank and an outlet pump is coupled to the lower tank to provide and discharge water from the system. A method of filling and emptying the steam generating system and generating steam is also provided.

A domestic microwave oven is provided having an oven cavity, a water reservoir, a piping system coupling the reservoir and the oven cavity, and a pump for pumping a predetermined amount of water into the oven cavity. The pump is a mono-directional positive displacement pump and the piping system includes a by-pass coupled in parallel to the pump and an on/off electro valve configured to allow a drainage of the piping system when the pump is idle.

A domestic microwave oven is provided having an oven cavity, a water reservoir, a piping system coupling the reservoir and the oven cavity, and a pump for pumping a predetermined amount of water into the oven cavity. The pump is a mono-directional positive displacement pump and the piping system includes a by-pass coupled in parallel to the pump and an on/off electro valve configured to allow a drainage of the piping system when the pump is idle.

This disclosure relates to the field of energy recovery systems, and more particularly to exhaust heat recovery devices and exhaust flow control devices.

This disclosure relates to the field of energy recovery systems, and more particularly to exhaust heat recovery devices and exhaust flow control devices.

A commercial oven, such as a combination oven providing steam and convection heating, may provide an equipment cabinet holding electronic equipment and having an external wall abutting other heating apparatus. The external wall includes an interior plenum through which air is circulated to provide compact virtual insulation from external heat sources.

A commercial oven, such as a combination oven providing steam and convection heating, may provide an equipment cabinet holding electronic equipment and having an external wall abutting other heating apparatus. The external wall includes an interior plenum through which air is circulated to provide compact virtual insulation from external heat sources.

An apparatus and related method for operating a cooking appliance comprising a convection oven, a hot-air steamer, or a convection steamer, which includes a cooking chamber which can be closed by a door, a heating device, at least one steam injection device, at least one flow-generating device such as a blower, at least one temperature sensor, which detects the temperature in the cooking chamber, and an electronic appliance control unit with memory, in which cooking programs comprising the cooking sequences for specific food products are stored. Based on the time extending from a starting to a target temperature value, it is determined on the basis of the detected temperature curve in the cooking chamber whether and possibly to what extent it will take extra time to reach the target temperature. On this basis the appliance control unit calculates a cooking time extension, by which the cooking program step is extended.

An apparatus and related method for operating a cooking appliance comprising a convection oven, a hot-air steamer, or a convection steamer, which includes a cooking chamber which can be closed by a door, a heating device, at least one steam injection device, at least one flow-generating device such as a blower, at least one temperature sensor, which detects the temperature in the cooking chamber, and an electronic appliance control unit with memory, in which cooking programs comprising the cooking sequences for specific food products are stored. Based on the time extending from a starting to a target temperature value, it is determined on the basis of the detected temperature curve in the cooking chamber whether and possibly to what extent it will take extra time to reach the target temperature. On this basis the appliance control unit calculates a cooking time extension, by which the cooking program step is extended.

A cooking appliance with an integral drain is disclosed that has at least one burner and an inclined surface adjacent to the burner that terminates with a strainer and drain pipe. This allows one to drain a pot of hot liquid without the dangers of transporting the pot of hot liquid from the stovetop to the sink. A novel drain pot may also be used with the cooking appliance with an integral drain. The drain pot is a cooking vessel with a drain valve. The drain valve can be opened to allow hot liquid in the vessel to drain directly into the integral drain of the cooktop without the need to move or lift the pot. The cooking appliance with an integral drain serves to drastically reduce the risk of burns from mishandled, dropped or spilled pots full of boiling hot liquids such as water.