Improvements in and relating to a cooking apparatus A container (201) for storing and steaming food is disclosed, together with a packaged food product, a method of packaging food items and a method of cooking food items. The container (201) comprises a first compartment (202) for containing a steam source and a second compartment (203) for containing at least one food item. The second compartment (203) is disposed above the first compartment (202). Preferably, the first compartment (202) is separated from the second compartment (203) by a partition (221) and an adjustable barrier (240), the partition (201) comprising at least one opening (223) for admitting water vapour into the second compartment (203) from the first compartment (202). Preferably, the adjustable barrier (240) is movable from a) a food storing configuration in which the adjustable barrier (240) prevents flow of at least one of i) liquid and ii) gas from the first compartment (202) to the second compartment (203), to b) a food steaming configuration in which at least one of i) liquid and ii) gas is able to flow between the first and second compartments (202, 203).

The present disclosure provides a rice cooking device, which includes a base, a water storage assembly, a heating assembly, a steaming assembly, and a pressure regulating assembly. The water storage assembly includes a shell, a water storage container, and an energy gathering cover. The shell is disposed in the base, the water storage container is disposed in the shell, and the energy gathering cover is disposed in the water storage container. The energy gathering cover divides the water storage container into a first chamber positioned outside the energy gathering cover and a second chamber positioned inside the energy gathering cover. A water flow channel is formed between the first chamber and the second chamber. The heating assembly is disposed between the shell and the water storage container. The steaming assembly includes a steaming container and a steaming rack, wherein the steaming container is disposed in the water storage assembly, and a guide channel is formed between the steaming container and the energy gathering cover. The guide channel respectively communicates with the steaming container and the energy gathering cover. A steaming chamber is formed between the steaming rack and the steaming container. The pressure regulating assembly is disposed in the base and communicates with the water storage container. The pressure regulating assembly regulates the pressure in the first chamber to press water in the water storage container into the steaming container through the water flow channel or the guide channel or suck water in the steaming container back into the water storage container.

The present disclosure provides a rice cooking device, which includes a base, a water storage assembly, a heating assembly, a steaming assembly, and a pressure regulating assembly. The water storage assembly includes a shell, a water storage container, and an energy gathering cover. The shell is disposed in the base, the water storage container is disposed in the shell, and the energy gathering cover is disposed in the water storage container. The energy gathering cover divides the water storage container into a first chamber positioned outside the energy gathering cover and a second chamber positioned inside the energy gathering cover. A water flow channel is formed between the first chamber and the second chamber. The heating assembly is disposed between the shell and the water storage container. The steaming assembly includes a steaming container and a steaming rack, wherein the steaming container is disposed in the water storage assembly, and a guide channel is formed between the steaming container and the energy gathering cover. The guide channel respectively communicates with the steaming container and the energy gathering cover. A steaming chamber is formed between the steaming rack and the steaming container. The pressure regulating assembly is disposed in the base and communicates with the water storage container. The pressure regulating assembly regulates the pressure in the first chamber to press water in the water storage container into the steaming container through the water flow channel or the guide channel or suck water in the steaming container back into the water storage container.

The present disclosure provides a pot assembly and a cooking appliance, the pot assembly comprising an inner pot and a food steamer. The inner pot defines a cooking chamber; the food steamer is placed in the cooking chamber, the food steamer is provided with communication holes communicating with the cooking chamber, the food steamer comprises a bottom wall; the inner pot and/or the food steamer is provided with a draining-steaming-cooked rice waterline, and the draining-steaming-cooked rice waterline is higher than the bottom wall of the food steamer. In the pot assembly provided by the present disclosure, by arranging the draining-steaming-cooked rice waterline to be higher than the bottom wall of the food steamer and determining the amount of a solution and the amount of a material to be cooked according to the information of solution and the information of material to be cooked indicated by the draining-steaming-cooked rice waterline.

The present disclosure provides a pot assembly and a cooking appliance, the pot assembly comprising an inner pot and a food steamer. The inner pot defines a cooking chamber; the food steamer is placed in the cooking chamber, the food steamer is provided with communication holes communicating with the cooking chamber, the food steamer comprises a bottom wall; the inner pot and/or the food steamer is provided with a draining-steaming-cooked rice waterline, and the draining-steaming-cooked rice waterline is higher than the bottom wall of the food steamer. In the pot assembly provided by the present disclosure, by arranging the draining-steaming-cooked rice waterline to be higher than the bottom wall of the food steamer and determining the amount of a solution and the amount of a material to be cooked according to the information of solution and the information of material to be cooked indicated by the draining-steaming-cooked rice waterline.

The present disclosure relates to a heating container for cooking food including an outer container, a heating agent container which provides an internal space for receiving a heating agent, an inner container which is received in an internal space of the outer container, and a lid which is separably connected with the outer container to close an open top of the inner container, wherein the outer container includes an outer container bottom having a bottom opening, and an outer container sidewall which extends upward from the outer container bottom, and the heating agent container is separably connected to the outer container such that at least part extrudes outward through the bottom opening.

The present disclosure relates to a heating container for cooking food including an outer container, a heating agent container which provides an internal space for receiving a heating agent, an inner container which is received in an internal space of the outer container, and a lid which is separably connected with the outer container to close an open top of the inner container, wherein the outer container includes an outer container bottom having a bottom opening, and an outer container sidewall which extends upward from the outer container bottom, and the heating agent container is separably connected to the outer container such that at least part extrudes outward through the bottom opening.

The present application discloses a new steamer and steamer baskets that can be used with the new steamer. The new design provides a water-level window for observing the water level in the bottom tray of the steamer and an aperture for adding water to the bottom tray when the water level is low. Unlike a traditional multi-tier steamer in which food trays must be removed in sequence from top to bottom, the new design disclosed herein allows each streamer basket to be individually removed and placed.

The present application discloses a new steamer and steamer baskets that can be used with the new steamer. The new design provides a water-level window for observing the water level in the bottom tray of the steamer and an aperture for adding water to the bottom tray when the water level is low. Unlike a traditional multi-tier steamer in which food trays must be removed in sequence from top to bottom, the new design disclosed herein allows each streamer basket to be individually removed and placed.

A cooking apparatus has a cooking chamber and a heating chamber adjacent the cooking chamber used for heating air laden with steam. Air and steam is circulated between the cooking chamber and the heating chamber, through a vent arrangement. A food support is provided for mounting in the cooking chamber, having at least perforated basket and a lid plate for mounting over the basket. This enables two different cooking characteristics, at different height in the cooking chamber.