Food cartridges and carriers for use in a cooking device

A method of using a food storage and cooking device, the food storage and cooking device including a first thermal container and a second thermal container, the first thermal container and the second thermal container configured to store and cook food therein, the method comprising:

• disposing a food item in an inner volume of a food container;
• positioning the food container, with the food item disposed in the inner volume thereof, in the first thermal container of the food storage and cooking device such that the inner volume of the food container can receive a flow of fluid from the food storage and cooking device and a drain line coupled to an open outlet of the food container is separated from but substantially aligned with a drain of the food storage and cooking device;
• transferring thermal energy from the food item disposed in the first thermal container to fluid circulating through the second thermal container, the fluid circulating through the second thermal container being cooled to a storage temperature;
• conveying, via the food storage and cooking device, a first volume of fluid into the first thermal container and in contact with an outer surface of the food container;
• conveying, via the food storage and cooking device, a second volume of fluid into the inner volume of the food container;
• transferring thermal energy, via the food container, from the first volume of fluid to the second volume of fluid to maintain the second volume of fluid at a desired temperature to cook the food item disposed in the inner volume of the food container, wherein the open outlet of the food container is configured such that a portion of the second volume of fluid is disposed in a portion of the drain line while the food item is being cooked, and the second volume of fluid being sufficient to submerge the food item but insufficient to initiate a flow of the fluid through the drain line and into the drain of the food storage and cooking device;
• conveying, after a predetermined time and via the food storage and cooking device, a flow of fluid into the inner volume of the food container such that a third volume of fluid within the inner volume of the food container exceeds a threshold volume of fluid, the threshold volume of fluid being a volume sufficient to initiate the flow of the fluid through the drain line;
• and
• automatically draining the third volume of fluid from the inner volume of the food container, through the drain line, and into the drain of the food storage and cooking device in response to the third volume of fluid within the inner volume of the food container exceeding the threshold volume of fluid,
• wherein the threshold volume of fluid within the food container is such that a surface of the fluid in the inner volume of the food container is at a first height relative to the food container, a portion of the drain line being disposed in a position associated with a second height relative to the food container, the second height being greater than the first height,
• wherein the third volume of fluid exceeding the threshold volume of fluid initiates a syphoning of the inner volume of the food container to drain the third volume of fluid via the drain line without the use of a valve.