A device (2) for preparing foods held in a vessel includes a preparation chamber (4) for holding the vessel, a steam-generating assembly (10), including at least one first steam-conducting path (18) and at least one cold-fluid-conducting path (54), a steam supply unit (62) having at least one steam dispensing opening into the preparation chamber (4), which steam supply unit is connected to the at least one steam-conducting path (18) for steam conduction, and a condensate supply unit (60) having at least one condensate dispensing opening into the preparation chamber (4), which condensate supply unit is connected to the steam-conducting path (18) and to the cold-fluid-conducting path (54). The device (2) can carry out preparation in which food held in the vessel can be prepared by the steam supply unit (62), and to carry out a rinsing operation, in which the preparation chamber (4) can be cleaned by the condensate supply unit (60).

A cooking system is provided. The cooking system includes a housing, a lid, a heating element, a vent tube, and a piston. The housing has a hollow interior. The lid is movable relative to the housing, where the lid and housing cooperate to form a cooking chamber. The heating element is mounted within the lid. The vent tube is arranged within the lid and extends between the cooking chamber and an external environment. The vent tube includes an inlet channel, an outlet channel, and a central channel arranged between the inlet and outlet channel. A piston is arranged within the central channel and configured to alternate between a venting and a non-venting position such that a low-moisture fluid is drawn through the inlet channel into the cooking chamber from the external environment, and a high-moisture fluid is evacuated through the outlet channel into the external environment from the cooking chamber.

A cooking system is provided. The cooking system includes a housing, a lid, a heating element, a vent tube, and a piston. The housing has a hollow interior. The lid is movable relative to the housing, where the lid and housing cooperate to form a cooking chamber. The heating element is mounted within the lid. The vent tube is arranged within the lid and extends between the cooking chamber and an external environment. The vent tube includes an inlet channel, an outlet channel, and a central channel arranged between the inlet and outlet channel. A piston is arranged within the central channel and configured to alternate between a venting and a non-venting position such that a low-moisture fluid is drawn through the inlet channel into the cooking chamber from the external environment, and a high-moisture fluid is evacuated through the outlet channel into the external environment from the cooking chamber.

A water pretreatment system connected to a water supply pipe for supplying water that has been preheated to a home appliance, including: a mixing valve having an inlet connected to the water supply pipe, and a pair of outlets; a water filter having an inlet communicated with one of the pair of outlets of the mixing valve, and having an outlet communicated with the home appliance; a bypass line having an inlet end connected to the other of the pair of outlets of the mixing valve, and having an outlet end connected to the home appliance, the mixing valve being configured to at least one of direct water to the water filter or direct water to the bypass line; and a controller configured to control the mixing valve such that preheated water supplied to the home appliance is one of unfiltered, mixed, or fully filtered by the water filter.

A water pretreatment system connected to a water supply pipe for supplying water that has been preheated to a home appliance, including: a mixing valve having an inlet connected to the water supply pipe, and a pair of outlets; a water filter having an inlet communicated with one of the pair of outlets of the mixing valve, and having an outlet communicated with the home appliance; a bypass line having an inlet end connected to the other of the pair of outlets of the mixing valve, and having an outlet end connected to the home appliance, the mixing valve being configured to at least one of direct water to the water filter or direct water to the bypass line; and a controller configured to control the mixing valve such that preheated water supplied to the home appliance is one of unfiltered, mixed, or fully filtered by the water filter.

A configuration for an autonomous food preparation and meal production machine receives a menu order. A computer system of the machine retrieves from a database an automated recipe for fulfilment of the menu order and determines an availability of a threshold of ingredients to fulfill the menu order. The computer system transmits preparation instructions to fulfill the menu order to stations having controllers in a production line. The production line de-nests a vessel and moves it along a production line. The production line, in response to the controllers receiving the preparation instructions, automatically dispenses ingredients of the menu order into the vessel from dispensers, steams and heats the ingredients and places the vessel with the fulfilled menu order into a locker. The computer system transmits to a device a signal corresponding to the fulfillment of the menu order.

A configuration for an autonomous food preparation and meal production machine receives a menu order. A computer system of the machine retrieves from a database an automated recipe for fulfilment of the menu order and determines an availability of a threshold of ingredients to fulfill the menu order. The computer system transmits preparation instructions to fulfill the menu order to stations having controllers in a production line. The production line de-nests a vessel and moves it along a production line. The production line, in response to the controllers receiving the preparation instructions, automatically dispenses ingredients of the menu order into the vessel from dispensers, steams and heats the ingredients and places the vessel with the fulfilled menu order into a locker. The computer system transmits to a device a signal corresponding to the fulfillment of the menu order.

The apparatus for cooking food with superheated steam includes an external casing (2) comprising inside a cooking chamber (4), suitable for containing one or more foods; a steam generating device (30), capable of vaporizing a liquid; a superheating device (31) of said steam associated with said steam generating device (30), said superheating device (31) being configured to heat said steam up to an operating temperature (T) higher than the boiling temperature of said liquid and to enable said superheated steam to come out towards said cooking chamber (4).

The apparatus for cooking food with superheated steam includes an external casing (2) comprising inside a cooking chamber (4), suitable for containing one or more foods; a steam generating device (30), capable of vaporizing a liquid; a superheating device (31) of said steam associated with said steam generating device (30), said superheating device (31) being configured to heat said steam up to an operating temperature (T) higher than the boiling temperature of said liquid and to enable said superheated steam to come out towards said cooking chamber (4).

A cleaning insert for removable arrangement in a cooking space of a cooking appliance includes a receiving device for receiving a cleaning unit with a cleaning composition in a reversibly fixed manner, and a supporting body connected to the receiving device for positioning the receiving device relative to the cooking space.