Multifunction steam cooker with improved unattended operation capability

A steam cooker comprising:

• a water reservoir for water that is to be converted into steam by a steam generator;
• a cooking enclosure for receiving at least one of a cooking vessel and a support provided with flow passages, said cooking enclosure being arranged to be supplied with steam from the steam generator;
• an intermediate collecting receptacle associated with said cooking enclosure and disposed for collecting liquid that appears in said cooking enclosure during a cooking operation, said intermediate collecting receptacle having pouring means via which liquid can flow from said intermediate collecting receptacle into said water reservoir;
• and
• a removable closing means associated with said pouring means for selectively blocking flow of liquid via said pouring means,
• wherein said closing means comprises:
• a valve having a closing surface and a shank engaged in said pouring means;
• and a lever to which said shank is coupled for pivotal movement with respect to an off-center pivot axis, said lever having a curved bearing surface that includes first and second zones at respectively different distances from said pivot axis, and said bearing surface engaging a support surface and being movable relative to the support surface such that when said first zone is in contact with the support surface, said closing surface is positioned to open said pouring means to allow liquid to flow from said intermediate collecting receptacle to said water reservoir, and when said second zone is in contact with the support surface, said closing surface is positioned to close said pouring means to block flow of liquid from said intermediate collecting receptacle to said water reservoir.