Apparatus and method for cooking food with a controlled spectrum
AssigneeQuadlux, Inc.
InventorEugene R. Westerberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lightwave oven for cooking with light having wavelengths in the visible, near visible, and infra-red spectral ranges uses one or more quartz halogen tungsten lamps or quartz arc bulbs positioned above and below the food item and delivers light energy in select ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum during select portions of the cooking cycle.
Claims11
A method of cooking using radiant energy having a controlled spectrum, comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing a food item into an oven chamber having at least one cooking lamp therein;
- (b) using the cooking lamp, generating radiant energy having components in the infrared, visible and near-visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum;
- (c) cooking deep portions of the food item by selectively impinging a portion of the visible and near-visible component of the radiant energy onto a food item;
- and
- (d) after at least partially cooking deep portions of the food item, cooking shallow portions of the food item by selectively impinging a portion of the infra-red component of the radiant energy onto the food item.
A method of defrosting using radiant energy having a controlled spectrum, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating radiant energy having components in the infrared, visible, and near-visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum;
- (b) filtering at least a portion of the infra-red component out of the radiant energy to produce a deep penetrating visible and/or near-visible component of the radiant energy;
- (c) delivering the deep penetrating visible and/or near visible component to a substantially frozen food item to substantially defrost the food item.
An apparatus for cooking using radiant energy having a controlled spectrum, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one lamp for generating radiant energy having components in the infrared, visible, and near-visible regions of the electromagnetic spectrum;
- first delivery means for selectively delivering a portion of the radiant energy having wavelengths in the visible and near-visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum to a food item for cooking deep regions of the food item;
- and
- second delivery means for selectively delivering a portion of the radiant energy having wavelengths in the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum to the food item for cooking shallow regions of the food item, the first and second delivery means operable to initiate cooking of deep regions of the food item prior to the cooking of shallow regions of the food item.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.