A cleaning chemical assembly has a collection container, a pump, two ports for storage containers that contain the same cleaning chemical, and a switchover valve that can be switched between a first state, in which the pump can pump liquid from the collection container to the storage container connected to the first one of the two ports while the second port is disconnected in a liquid-tight manner, and a second state, in which the pump can pump liquid from the collection container to the storage container connected to the second one of the two ports while the first port is disconnected in a liquid-tight manner. A sensor is provided that can be used to detect whether one of the storage containers is empty.

An improved fluid level sensor includes a radially magnetized magnet integrated into a float, and a Hall sensor adapted to monitor the magnet field emitted from the magnet. This arrangement provides a continuously variable signal across a range of travel, such that a controller receiving the signal can produce precise fluid level measurements and detect operational states of an associated device based on fluid behavior. In addition, the present fluid level sensor is suitable for use in harsh service environments, both because it is physically resilient to fouling, and because the controller is capable of detecting fouling by sensor behavior. In the context of a steam cooker, the present fluid level sensor can also sense low-water, overfill and fouling conditions, while remaining relatively insensitive to food residue, water scale buildup, corrosion and foaming.

An improved fluid level sensor includes a radially magnetized magnet integrated into a float, and a Hall sensor adapted to monitor the magnet field emitted from the magnet. This arrangement provides a continuously variable signal across a range of travel, such that a controller receiving the signal can produce precise fluid level measurements and detect operational states of an associated device based on fluid behavior. In addition, the present fluid level sensor is suitable for use in harsh service environments, both because it is physically resilient to fouling, and because the controller is capable of detecting fouling by sensor behavior. In the context of a steam cooker, the present fluid level sensor can also sense low-water, overfill and fouling conditions, while remaining relatively insensitive to food residue, water scale buildup, corrosion and foaming.

A steam valve for a cooking utensil and the cooking utensil are provided. The steam valve includes a valve base, a bonnet and a barrier member. The bonnet and the valve base form a mounting chamber. The valve base has a steam inlet, and at least one of the valve base and the bonnet has a steam outlet. The barrier member is mounted in the mounting chamber, the barrier member and a top wall of the bonnet define a first passage therebetween, steam flows from the steam inlet via the first passage to the steam outlet, and a bottom wall of the valve base corresponding to the barrier member is disposed obliquely such that liquid flows back to the steam inlet.

A steam valve for a cooking utensil and the cooking utensil are provided. The steam valve includes a valve base, a bonnet and a barrier member. The bonnet and the valve base form a mounting chamber. The valve base has a steam inlet, and at least one of the valve base and the bonnet has a steam outlet. The barrier member is mounted in the mounting chamber, the barrier member and a top wall of the bonnet define a first passage therebetween, steam flows from the steam inlet via the first passage to the steam outlet, and a bottom wall of the valve base corresponding to the barrier member is disposed obliquely such that liquid flows back to the steam inlet.

A compression chamber for a compression type ramen cooker is capable of cooking ramen by compression by blocking a discharge of air in a cooking container while cooking ramen. The compression chamber includes a lid, a chamber container having an upper portion on which the lid is mounted and a bottom surface to which the cooking container is coupled to seal the cooking container, a heater installed through the lid and mounted inside the chamber container to heat the water stored in the chamber container, a supply valve unit installed through the lid to supply water to the inside of the chamber container, a discharge valve unit installed through the lid to supply water in the chamber container to the cooking container, and a vapor discharge unit on a lower side of the chamber container to discharge compressed steam inside the cooking container.

A compression chamber for a compression type ramen cooker is capable of cooking ramen by compression by blocking a discharge of air in a cooking container while cooking ramen. The compression chamber includes a lid, a chamber container having an upper portion on which the lid is mounted and a bottom surface to which the cooking container is coupled to seal the cooking container, a heater installed through the lid and mounted inside the chamber container to heat the water stored in the chamber container, a supply valve unit installed through the lid to supply water to the inside of the chamber container, a discharge valve unit installed through the lid to supply water in the chamber container to the cooking container, and a vapor discharge unit on a lower side of the chamber container to discharge compressed steam inside the cooking container.

A dispenser of a machine for cooking a dose of pasta in a container has a nozzle body, which has at least a first opening in fluidic communication with a steam supply channel and at least a second opening in fluidic communication with a hot water supply channel; and a lid arranged around the nozzle body and configured to close the container.

A dispenser of a machine for cooking a dose of pasta in a container has a nozzle body, which has at least a first opening in fluidic communication with a steam supply channel and at least a second opening in fluidic communication with a hot water supply channel; and a lid arranged around the nozzle body and configured to close the container.

Disclosed are a steam cooking apparatus (1) and a steam cooking method. The steam cooking apparatus (1) includes a food ingredient containing chamber (10) for containing a food ingredient (11) and having a normal atmospheric pressure; a saturated vapor generating device (20) having a vapor chamber (21) and configured to generate and accumulate high-pressure saturated vapor with a pressure higher than the normal atmospheric pressure; a saturated vapor spraying device (30) communicating with the vapor chamber (21) and having an outlet communicating with the food ingredient containing chamber (10) for releasing and spraying the high-pressure saturated vapor onto the food ingredient (11); when the released and sprayed saturated vapor reaches a surface of the food ingredient (11), the released and sprayed saturated vapor stays at a point of saturated vapor and releases latent heat to the food ingredient (11) and is transformed from the point of saturated vapor to a point of saturated liquid; and a water vapor discharge device (40). When the saturated vapor reaches the point of saturated liquid due to the releasing of the latent heat, the saturated vapor is transformed into a water vapor mixture, and the water vapor discharge device (40) discharges the water vapor mixture from the food ingredient containing chamber (10). As such, an optimum cooking effect may be obtained.