Apparatus and method for defrosting and/or cooking foods

Abstract

An apparatus for defrosting and/or cooking foods, comprising both radio frequency dielectric heating means (15) and induction heating means (21); the radio frequency dielectric heating means (15) comprises at least two electrodes (16) positioned at a treatment zone (4), and a device (17) for applying between the electrodes (16) a difference in electric potential which is variable with a frequency of between 1 MHz and 300 MHz, while the induction heating means (21) are electromagnetic ally coupled to at least one of the electrodes (16) which is at least partly made of ferromagnetic material, for, in use, heating it in such a way that the electrode (16) transmits heat to the food (5). A method for defrosting and/or cooking foods comprising the operating steps of subjecting a food (5) to radio frequency dielectric heating, applying a variable difference in electric potential with a frequency of between 1 MHz and 300 MHz, between at least two electrodes (16), and, during said dielectric heating, subjecting at least one of the electrodes (16), which is at least partly made of ferromagnetic material, to induction heating, in such a way that the electrode transmits heat to the food (5) from the outside of the food (5).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.