A convection cooking appliance and removable utensil for air frying within the convection cooking appliance is provided herein. The utensil may include a utensil housing, a lid attached to the utensil housing, and a perforated basket. The utensil housing may define an enclosed fry chamber and a basket opening permitting access thereto. The utensil housing may include a non-permeable base wall and a sidewall. The sidewall may define an airflow passage to receive a convection airflow therethrough. The lid may be movable between a closed position restricting access to the basket opening and an open position permitting access to the basket opening. The perforated basket may be removably positioned within the enclosed fry chamber.

A method of popping popcorn in a microwave having a cooking chamber, an energy source which provides energy to the cooking chamber, a humidity sensor, and a microphone sensor, includes the steps of placing a plurality of popcorn kernels in the cooking chamber. The energy source is operated during a popcorn popping cycle. Popping sounds generated when the popcorn kernels are popped are detected, as is the humidity level in the cooking chamber. The energy source is directed to stop operating when the popping sound and the humidity level satisfy one or more end status indicators. The current disclosure also includes a microwave for carrying out the above described process.

A smoke detecting microwave assembly for inhibiting fire when cooking with a microwave oven includes a microwave oven that has an interior space. A smoke detector is coupled to the microwave oven for detecting smoke. The smoke detector is electrically coupled to the microwave oven. The microwave oven is turned off when the smoke detector detects smoke to inhibit food from combusting in the microwave oven. A carbon monoxide detector is coupled to the microwave oven for detecting carbon monoxide. The microwave oven is turned off when the carbon monoxide detector detects carbon monoxide to inhibit production of carbon monoxide from combustion.

A smoke detecting microwave assembly for inhibiting fire when cooking with a microwave oven includes a microwave oven that has an interior space. A smoke detector is coupled to the microwave oven for detecting smoke. The smoke detector is electrically coupled to the microwave oven. The microwave oven is turned off when the smoke detector detects smoke to inhibit food from combusting in the microwave oven. A carbon monoxide detector is coupled to the microwave oven for detecting carbon monoxide. The microwave oven is turned off when the carbon monoxide detector detects carbon monoxide to inhibit production of carbon monoxide from combustion.

The present invention relates to a system for preparing and/or performing an automatic cooking process. The system is adapted to at least one user. The system comprises at least one communication device (10) and at least one automatic or semi-automatic cooking appliance (12). The cooking temperatures, cooking powers and/or cooking times of the cooking process are automatically controllable. The communication device (10) and the cooking appliance (12) are interconnected via at least one signal connection. The communication device (10) includes or has access to individual personal data of the user. The individual personal data of the user relates to the nutrition, tastes and/or health situation of said user. The system comprises at least one automatic or semi-automatic conveying means, preferably a robot, for positioning and removing cookware in and/or on the cooking appliance (12) and/or for delivering food to the cookware. Further, the present invention relates to a method for preparing and/or performing an automatic cooking process.

A method for the targeted conveying of information to individuals using cooking appliances and/or to at least one cooking appliance of a cooking appliance manufacturer, the method having the following method steps: determining by the cooking appliance manufacturer the usage behavior of the customer(s) and/or the operating behaviour of the cooking appliance(s) and/or transferring to the cooking appliance manufacturer the usage behaviour of the individual(s) and/or the operating behaviour of the cooking appliance(s); saving at the cooking appliance manufacturer the determined usage behaviours of the customer or the operating behaviour of the cooking appliance(s) (GG2, GG3); receiving information sent by cooperation partners of the cooking appliance manufacturer and/or receiving information established internally at the business; evaluating by the cooking appliance manufacturer the receiving information taking into consideration the saved usage or operating behavior to determine which of the items of received information and/or information established internally at the business could be of interest for which individuals or for which cooking appliance; and conveying the determined information of potential interest to the corresponding individual(s) and/or to the corresponding cooking appliance.

An RFID tag is provided that transmits and receives a communication signal. The RFID tag includes a base material, antenna patterns provided on the base material, an RFIC package that is a feeding circuit connected to the antenna patterns, and an ignition protection member provided on the base material or the antenna patterns. Moreover, the ignition protection member contains moisture, such that ignition and combustion can be prevented even in a situation where the RFID tag is subjected to high-frequency power for heating a food item while attached to the food item or the like.

A method of heating and/or thawing using an RF heater is described. In some cases the heating differentially heats portions according to their dissipation ratios. Optionally, this avoids dissipating large amounts of energy into thawed portions while frozen portions are still extant and heat slowly. Optionally, this prevents overheating of thawed portions.

A heating cooking device includes a heater, a heating chamber, an imaging unit, a lighting unit, an image processor, and a lighting controller. The heating chamber accommodates an object to be heated. The imaging unit take images of the inside of the heating chamber. The lighting unit illuminates the inside of the heating chamber. The image processor analyzes an image to detect the brightness of the object to be heated in the image. The lighting controller controls the lighting unit in response to the brightness of the object to be heated. This aspect allows the heating cooking device to accurately determine a cooking state of the object to be heated on the basis of the image of the inside of the heating chamber taken to control the heater in response to the cooking state.

A heating cooker includes heating chamber configured to house a food, through-hole formed in a wall surface of heating chamber, an imager configured to capture an image in heating chamber through through-hole, air blower configured to blow air on an outside of heating chamber, and wind guide configured to guide wind generated by air blower. Thus, wind guide is disposed so that the wind from air blower forms an air curtain passing through space between the imager and through-hole.