Apparatus for steaming and blending a food product

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for steaming and blending a food product, comprising: a container (14) for receiving the food product, wherein the container (14) comprises a base (16), a side wall (18) and an annular upstanding column (20) extending from the base (16) of the container (14) and surrounding an opening (22) in the base (16); a blade assembly (30, 30′) comprising (i) a first annular support member (32) which is coaxially arranged with the annular upstanding column (20) of the container (14) and (ii) at least one blade (36) which extends from the first annular support member (32), wherein the first annular support member (32) of the blade assembly (30, 30′) and the annular upstanding column (20) of the container (14) together form a first steam inlet passage (58); a drive system (38) comprising a motor (40) and a drive shaft (42, 42′) for coupling the motor (40) to the blade assembly (30, 30′); and a steam generator (48) for providing steam to the first steam inlet passage (58) via a second steam inlet passage (64, 64′) arranged within the annular upstanding column (20), wherein the drive shaft (42, 42′) comprises a hollow interior which forms at least a part of the second steam inlet passage (64, 64′) and is fluidly connected to the steam generator (48).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.