A method includes inserting a food item into an inner volume of a thermal container. A liquid circulating through a liquid jacket at least partially surrounding and fluidically isolated from the inner volume of the thermal container is cooled such that thermal energy from the food item is transferred to the cooled liquid. After the cooling, thermal energy from a first heating element is transferred to the liquid circulating through the liquid jacket such that thermal energy from the heated liquid is transferred to the food item. Thermal energy from a second heating element is transferred to the food item in response to a criterion being satisfied. The second heating element is different from the first heating element and is disposed in the inner volume of the thermal container.

Pasta cooking appliance (1) comprising: a self-supporting cabinet (2); an open-top cooking basin (3) which is recessed on the top of the cabinet (2) and is dimensioned to contain several liters of water; heating device (4) which is adapted to selectively heat up the water contained in the cooking basin (3) so as to bring the same water to boil; an overflow drain line (15) which is structured to drain out of the cooking basin (3) the water exceeding a given maximum level (l) inside the cooking basin (3); a sensor device (20) capable of determining when a boil-over phenomenon is taking place in the cooking basin (3); and an electronic control unit (21) which communicates with said sensor device (20) and is adapted to control the heating device (4) for selectively reducing the heat-output of the same heating device (4) when a boil-over phenomenon is taking place in the cooking basin (3).

Pasta cooking appliance (1) comprising: a self-supporting cabinet (2); an open-top cooking basin (3) which is recessed on the top of the cabinet (2) and is dimensioned to contain several liters of water; heating device (4) which is adapted to selectively heat up the water contained in the cooking basin (3) so as to bring the same water to boil; an overflow drain line (15) which is structured to drain out of the cooking basin (3) the water exceeding a given maximum level (l) inside the cooking basin (3); a sensor device (20) capable of determining when a boil-over phenomenon is taking place in the cooking basin (3); and an electronic control unit (21) which communicates with said sensor device (20) and is adapted to control the heating device (4) for selectively reducing the heat-output of the same heating device (4) when a boil-over phenomenon is taking place in the cooking basin (3).

An automated one touch cooker device that automatically cooks food items in a pot and the same pot can be used as a serving container. The automated one touch cooker comprises of a cooking vessel, a water reservoir and a body frame wherein the cooking vessel is used for cooking a food item, the water reservoir holds fresh water for cooking, and the body frame houses the water reservoir and the cooking vessel. The body frame further holds a water pump, a water heater, and other elements required to run the cooker device.

An automated one touch cooker device that automatically cooks food items in a pot and the same pot can be used as a serving container. The automated one touch cooker comprises of a cooking vessel, a water reservoir and a body frame wherein the cooking vessel is used for cooking a food item, the water reservoir holds fresh water for cooking, and the body frame houses the water reservoir and the cooking vessel. The body frame further holds a water pump, a water heater, and other elements required to run the cooker device.

A water-based cooking apparatus onboard a vehicle includes a cooking bay and a controller. The cooking bay can be sealed with a lid so that water does not escape the cooking bay when the vehicle is in motion. The controller receives, from a computing device onboard the vehicle, cooking instructions including commands operable to perform one or more of filling the cooking bay with water, setting a temperature for the cooking bay, and adjusting a salinity of water in the cooking bay. The computing device can display cooking instructions on a display and can send status reports to a remote command center.

A water-based cooking apparatus onboard a vehicle includes a cooking bay and a controller. The cooking bay can be sealed with a lid so that water does not escape the cooking bay when the vehicle is in motion. The controller receives, from a computing device onboard the vehicle, cooking instructions including commands operable to perform one or more of filling the cooking bay with water, setting a temperature for the cooking bay, and adjusting a salinity of water in the cooking bay. The computing device can display cooking instructions on a display and can send status reports to a remote command center.

Predictive cooking systems and methods. A representative system can include a cooking device submergible in a container of fluid and a memory device storing instructions for causing a processor to receive information and determine heater set point temperature and on time. The processor can receive information indicative of one or more characteristics of a food item to be cooked in the fluid and a desired food temperature. The processor can perform a control process that can include sending instructions for controlling a heater, obtaining a temperature measurement of the fluid from a temperature sensor, determining a measurement of power delivered to the heater, determining constants related to corresponding physical characteristics of the fluid and/or the container based on at least one of the temperature measurement and the measurement of power, and determining a food temperature of the food item.

A method of using a storage and cooking device having multiple thermal containers includes disposing a first food item in a first thermal container, a second food item in a second thermal container, and a third food item in a third thermal container. A volume of fluid is cooled and circulated through at least a portion of the device such that thermal energy from at least one of the first, second, or third food item is transferred to the cooled fluid. The device is transitioned from a first operating mode to a second operating mode in response to a criterion being satisfied. When in the second configuration, the volume of fluid is heated and circulated through at least a portion of the device such that thermal energy is transferred from the volume of fluid to at least one of the first, second, or third food item.

A method of using a storage and cooking device having multiple thermal containers includes disposing a first food item in a first thermal container, a second food item in a second thermal container, and a third food item in a third thermal container. A volume of fluid is cooled and circulated through at least a portion of the device such that thermal energy from at least one of the first, second, or third food item is transferred to the cooled fluid. The device is transitioned from a first operating mode to a second operating mode in response to a criterion being satisfied. When in the second configuration, the volume of fluid is heated and circulated through at least a portion of the device such that thermal energy is transferred from the volume of fluid to at least one of the first, second, or third food item.