Liquid movement and control within a rotatable container for food preparation

A portable apparatus for preparing and cooking a dry food product, comprising:

• a main container for receiving holding a dry food product;
• a liquid inlet container connected to the main container for storing liquid to be added to the dry food product;
• a liquid inlet opening from the liquid inlet container for controllably providing liquid into the main container with the dry food product;
• an inlet valve connected to the liquid inlet opening for automated regulation of inflow of liquid into the main container;
• a liquid inlet/outlet opening in the main container for controllably receiving liquid from the liquid inlet container through the inlet valve into the main container holding the dry food product;
• a heater in contact with the main container for automated heating of the dry food product with the liquid received in the main container from the liquid inlet container;
• a display for receiving user input from a user regarding a desired time for completion of cooking of the dry food product in the main container;
• a control unit comprising:
• a controller in communication with the inlet valve for controlling opening and closing of the inlet valve based on the user input;
• and
• a computer-readable storage medium that stores recipe instructions executable by the controller for operating the apparatus according to the user input, the instructions stored on the computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions to the controller for:
• determining a specified time to begin a soaking cycle of the dry food product based on the user input such that a cooking cycle is completed at the desired time for completion of cooking specified by the user,
• instructing the inlet valve to open at the specified time to allow liquid to flow from the liquid inlet container through the inlet valve into the main container holding the dry food product to begin the soaking cycle, the dry food being kept separate from liquid in the liquid inlet container until the opening of the inlet valve,
• instructing the heater to cook the dry food product in the liquid during the cooking cycle, and
• instructing the display to indicate the cooking cycle is complete at or near the desired time for completion of cooking specified by the user.