Steam generator and heating cooking apparatus having the same

A heating cooking apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• a cooking compartment;
• an electric equipment chamber provided in the housing;
• and
• a steam generator provided in the electric equipment chamber to supply steam into the cooking compartment,
• the steam generator comprising:
• a steam container to store water therein and having at least one steam ejection hole formed at an upper location thereof,
• a heater to boil the water stored in the steam container, so as to generate steam, and
• a barrier unit provided below the steam ejection hole to prevent air bubbles generated in the course of boiling the water stored in the steam container by the heater from entering the steam ejection hole.

A method comprising:

• generating steam;
• ejecting the generated steam to a cooking compartment through a hole;
• and
• passing the steam through a barrier unit prior to the ejecting to prevent air bubbles from entering the hole.