Fluid-based devices for storing and preparing food and methods of using the same

An apparatus for storing and cooking food, the apparatus comprising:

• a thermal container defining an inner volume configured to receive a food item, the thermal container including a water jacket partially surrounding and fluidically isolated from the inner volume;
• a heating element disposed in the inner volume of the thermal container, the heating element configured to be energized in response to a flow of electric power to transfer thermal energy to the food item disposed in the inner volume;
• and
• a circulation system having a reservoir, the circulation system in a refrigeration state configured to circulate cold water through the water jacket to cool the inner volume of the thermal container thereby refrigerating the food item, the circulation system in a first cooking state configured to circulate hot water through the water jacket to heat the inner volume of the thermal container thereby cooking the food item, the circulation system in a second cooking state configured to circulate hot water through the water jacket while the heating element transfers thermal energy to the food item disposed in the inner volume,
• the circulation system in each of the first and the second cooking states configured to circulate the hot water through the reservoir to regulate an increase in a pressure of the hot water circulating in the circulation system.

A method, comprising:

• inserting a food item into an inner volume of a thermal container of a storage and cooking device, the thermal container including a water jacket at least partially surrounding and fluidically isolated from the inner volume;
• circulating cool water through the water jacket and a cooling portion of a circulation system of the storage and cooking device to cool the inner volume of the thermal container, thereby refrigerating the food item;
• circulating, after the cooling, the cool water through at least a heating portion of the circulation system to produce hot water;
• circulating the hot water through the water jacket and the heating portion of the circulation system to heat the inner volume of the thermal container, thereby cooking the food item;
• energizing a heating element disposed in the inner volume of the thermal container to generate thermal energy operable to cook the food item independent of the cooking via the hot water circulating through the water jacket and the heating portion of the circulation system;
• and
• circulating the hot water from the water jacket through the heating portion of the circulation system and a reservoir of the storage and cooking device such that the reservoir regulates an increase in a pressure of the hot water circulating in the heating portion of the circulation system as a result of a portion of the thermal energy from the heating element heating the hot water in the water jacket.

A method, comprising:

• inserting a food item into an inner volume of a thermal container of a storage and cooking device, the thermal container including a water jacket at least partially surrounding and fluidically isolated from the inner volume;
• placing the storage and cooking device in a first state in which a circulation system thereof circulates cool water through the water jacket and a cooling portion of the circulation system to transfer thermal energy from the inner volume of the thermal container, thereby refrigerating the food item;
• placing the storage and cooking device in a second state in which the circulation system circulates hot water through the water jacket and a heating portion of the circulation system to transfer thermal energy to inner volume of the thermal container, thereby cooking the food item;
• and
• placing the storage and cooking device in a third state in which (i) a heating element in the inner volume of the thermal container is energized to transfer thermal energy to the food item, thereby cooking the food item independent of the thermal energy from the hot water, and (ii) the hot water is circulated from the water jacket through the heating portion of the circulation system and a reservoir of the storage and cooking device to regulate, via the reservoir, an increase in a pressure of the hot water circulating in the heating portion of the circulation system as a result of a portion of the thermal energy from the heating element heating the hot water in the water jacket.