A cooking support method for a cooking support system, for supporting cooking by a user, connected through a network to a thermal image camera installed to take, from obliquely above the cookware, a thermal image of a region including a cookware during cooking and to a notification device capable of notifying the user of information includes: acquiring a thermal image of the region including the cookware at predetermined time intervals from the thermal image camera through the network; calculating a value indicating a change in level of a content in the cookware from the acquired thermal image; and determining whether the calculated value is not less than a predetermined threshold, determining that the content will possibly boil over the cookware when the calculated value is determined as not less than the predetermined threshold, and transmitting notification information to notify the user of the possibility of boil-over to the notification device.

A cooktop appliance or electric resistance heating coil assembly, as provided herein, may include a shroud cover, a thermostat, and a heat transfer disk. The shroud cover may define an axial hole. The thermostat may be positioned radially inward from the shroud cover. A continuous circumferential thermal break may be defined as a radial gap within the axial hole between the thermostat and the shroud cover. The heat transfer disk may be attached to the thermostat at the distal end of the thermostat and extend radially outward above the shroud cover.

A cooktop includes a knob assembly coupled to a control panel and configured to control a heating part. The knob assembly includes: a knob body disposed at a front surface of the control panel and rotating with respect to a rotation shaft extended in a front-rear direction, a knob ring disposed at a rear side of the knob body and having a diameter greater than a diameter of the knob body, and a light source part disposed at the rear side of the knob body and including one or more light sources irradiating light to the rear side of the knob body. A portion of a rear surface of the knob body includes a first reflective surface reflecting light, and a portion of a surface of the knob ring includes a second reflective surface reflecting light, the portion of the surface of the knob ring facing the knob body.

A portable kitchen assembly for cold storage and cooking of food items includes a housing, which defines an interior space. A power module is engaged to the housing. A cooktop is engaged to an upper facet of the housing and is operationally engaged to the power module. An oven is engaged to the housing and is positioned in the interior space so that a door of the oven is accessible from a front of the housing. Food items can be heated on the cooktop or baked or cooked in the oven. A cooling unit is engaged to the housing and is positioned in the interior space so that a door of the cooling unit is accessible from the front of the housing. The cooling unit provides cold storage for a food item. A set of wheels is engaged to a lower facet of the housing allows for locomotion of the housing across a surface.

A stove controller starts an unattended timer when a cooking process is started. The controller monitors whether motion is detected in the kitchen prior to the unattended timer expiring and resets the unattended timer each time motion is detected. If the unattended timer expires without any motion being detected, the controller disables the heating elements of the stove and starts a return timer. The controller monitors whether motion is detected in the kitchen prior to the return timer expiring. When motion is detected, the controller automatically re-enables the heating elements of the stove so that cooking can continue. If motion is not detected and the return timer expires, the controller locks the stove until a reset procedure is performed. Alerts of the stove activity are sent to external devices over the Internet, and the reset procedure may be performed on the controller or on one of the external devices.

A system for heating and/or cooking food whose upper heating limit is adjustable. An energy setting assembly is provided with the system that includes a knob, a restrictor plate, and a limit pin. The limit pin is selectively inserted into openings formed along multiple locations in the restrictor plate, where the openings follow a generally curved path. The knob rotatably mounts over and is generally coaxial with the restrictor plate. Rotating the knob regulates heat output of the system. Web members are formed on the knob and that project in a radial direction from a receptacle in the knob. The web members come into interfering contact with the limit pin when knob is rotated to a designated orientation, so that strategically locating the limit pin, limits angular movement of the knob to the designated orientation, thereby limiting a maximum energy input to the system.

An appliance includes a cabinet and a user interface. The user interface includes an illuminable indicator. The appliance also includes a circuit board with an LED mounted on the circuit board. The appliance further includes a flexible light guide extending from the LED to the illuminable indicator. The flexible light guide provides optical communication from the LED to the illuminable indicator, such that the LED is operable to illuminate the illuminable indicator when the LED is activated.

A terminal includes a storage in which control method information is stored, the control method information indicating a relationship between each of a plurality of heating methods of an ingredient and each of a plurality of corresponding control methods for reducing heating power of a cooking appliance; and a controller that, in a case where the absence of a user of the cooking appliance from a kitchen is detected for a predetermined period of time during execution of one of the plurality of heating methods, determines a first control method corresponding to the one of the plurality of heating methods based on the control method information stored in the storage and then causes the cooking appliance to execute the first control method. The first control method is a method for reducing the heating power used in the one of the plurality of heating methods.

The invention is an automatic heat-source shut-off system for cooking stoves. When a burner's flame is turned on, or an electric stove's heating element is turned on, the invention begins a timed sequence that upon expiring causes the heat-source control shaft to be returned to the heat-off position.

A modular kitchen-connected indoor stationary solar cooking device (102) is disclosed. The solar cooking device (102) includes a housing (202), a thermal battery (204) disposed in the housing (202) and adapted to store thermal energy, and a first heater (206) disposed to be in contact with the thermal battery (204). The first heater (206) is coupled to a solar array (104) and adapted to receive solar energy for charging the thermal battery (204). The solar cooking device (102) includes a second heater (208) disposed to be in contact with the thermal battery (204). The second heater (208) is coupled to a mains supply and adapted to receive electrical supply for charging the thermal battery (204). The solar cooking device (102) includes a heat control assembly (210) disposed on a cooktop (802) and adapted to accommodate a cooking vessel. The heat control assembly (210) is adapted to rotate for controlling a heat supply for cooking in the cooking vessel.