A pot support and method of use are disclosed for improving the efficiency at fuel-fired cookstoves. Heat transfer to a cooking vessel is improved by directing hot exhaust gases along the outer walls of a cooking vessel by providing a vertical lip at the outer edge of the pot support that lends to an improvement in cookstove thermal efficiency.

A pot support and method of use are disclosed for improving the efficiency at fuel-fired cookstoves. Heat transfer to a cooking vessel is improved by directing hot exhaust gases along the outer walls of a cooking vessel by providing a vertical lip at the outer edge of the pot support that lends to an improvement in cookstove thermal efficiency.

Liners for cooking vessels, cooking systems, and methods of making liners for cooking vessels are disclosed. The liner can be a multi-layer liner having a bag-like structure with a closed bottom having a bottom edge, a top opening having first and second top edges, and two sealed sides. The liner can have a first side seal extending along a first end from the top opening toward the bottom edge and a second side seal extending along a second end from the top opening toward the bottom edge. The liner material can include an aluminum foil sheet thermally laminated to a polymer film. The polymer film can include a biaxially-oriented polyethylene terephthalate layer coextruded with an amorphous polyethylene terephthalate sealant layer.

Embodiments are directed to smoking food in an outdoor grill using a customized smoking routine. In one scenario, an electronic controller of an outdoor grill receives an input to initiate smoke generation according to a specified smoke generation pattern, including: adding a specified amount of combustible pellets to a combustion area within the outdoor grill, such that the combustible pellets begin to burn, measuring a current internal temperature of the outdoor grill and, if below a threshold value, adding a specified amount of additional combustible pellets to the combustion area sufficient to raise the temperature to another threshold value, allowing the internal temperature to cool a temperature below the first threshold value and, upon determining that the temperature of the outdoor grill has cooled below the first specified threshold value, adding additional combustible pellets to the combustion area sufficient to raise the temperature to at least the second threshold value.

Embodiments are directed to smoking food in an outdoor grill using a customized smoking routine. In one scenario, an electronic controller of an outdoor grill receives an input to initiate smoke generation according to a specified smoke generation pattern, including: adding a specified amount of combustible pellets to a combustion area within the outdoor grill, such that the combustible pellets begin to burn, measuring a current internal temperature of the outdoor grill and, if below a threshold value, adding a specified amount of additional combustible pellets to the combustion area sufficient to raise the temperature to another threshold value, allowing the internal temperature to cool a temperature below the first threshold value and, upon determining that the temperature of the outdoor grill has cooled below the first specified threshold value, adding additional combustible pellets to the combustion area sufficient to raise the temperature to at least the second threshold value.

A popper includes a kettle incorporating a popping chamber, at least one inlet for the introduction of an expandable food into the popping chamber, the popper further including a burner for generating thermal energy, and the popper further including a heat exchanger for transferring said thermal energy to the popping chamber, and where the heat exchanger is configured to space apart the popping chamber from the burner.

A feeding device for an intelligent cooking machine, including a base frame, at least one ingredient box, at least one door panel, at least one door opening mechanism, at least one door opening motor, at least one door closing mechanism, and at least one door closing motor. The at least one ingredient box matches with the at least one door panel in number; at least one door panel is disposed on the base frame; the at least one door opening mechanism and the at least one door opening motor are configured to control an opening of the at least one door panel; the at least one door closing mechanism and the at least one door closing motor are configured to control a reset and closure of the at least one door panel; the at least one door opening mechanism is disposed on the base frame.

A cooking assistive device comprises a portable housing configured to be disposed on or proximate a food item. The device includes a plurality of sensors situated within the housing, a dispenser, and a utensil holder. The device has a memory storing computer-readable instructions, and a processor. The processor is configured to execute the instructions to: (a) obtain a wireless input from a mobile device; (b) access data stored in a remote database; (c) obtain a reading from at least one of the plurality of sensors; and (d) cause the dispenser to dispense a substance in response to the reading.

A cooking assistive device comprises a portable housing configured to be disposed on or proximate a food item. The device includes a plurality of sensors situated within the housing, a dispenser, and a utensil holder. The device has a memory storing computer-readable instructions, and a processor. The processor is configured to execute the instructions to: (a) obtain a wireless input from a mobile device; (b) access data stored in a remote database; (c) obtain a reading from at least one of the plurality of sensors; and (d) cause the dispenser to dispense a substance in response to the reading.

A splash guard system includes a stove that has a burner. A pot is provided and the pot may contain a liquid. The pot is positioned on the burner such that the pot is in thermal communication with the burner. Thus, the stove heats the liquid. A shield is removably coupled to the pot. The shield inhibits the liquid from splashing onto the burner when the stove heats the liquid.