Steam cooker and related superheater

A steam cooker comprising:

• a steam generator including
• a heating chamber defining a volume for holding water;
• a heat exchanger associated with the heating chamber, the heat exchanger configured to have hot gases pass therethrough in order to heat water in the heating chamber so as to generate steam;
• an exhaust stack arranged to receive hot gases from the heat exchanger;
• and
• a steam flow path downstream of the heating chamber that receives steam from the heating chamber, the steam flow path arranged in a heat exchange relationship with the exhaust stack such that, in use, steam moving along the steam flow path is superheated by heat from hot gases traveling along an exhaust path, wherein temperature of the steam that has exited the heating chamber increases at least about ten percent as a result of being superheated wherein steam traveling along the steam flow path is heated to a temperature of at least about 240 degrees F. and steam is generated in the heating chamber under a pressure of between about three psi and five psi;
• and
• a steam cooking chamber for receiving superheated steam from the steam flow path;
• wherein the exhaust path comprises the exhaust stack and at least part of the steam flow path is formed by a space between an outer surface of the exhaust stack and an inner surface of a conduit disposed about the exhaust stack;
• wherein the steam is introduced to the space at a location remote from the heating chamber such that the steam travels along the space toward the heating chamber while being superheated by heat from the hot gases traveling along the exhaust path.

A method of cooking using superheated steam, the method comprising:

• generating steam from water disposed in a boiler comprising a heating chamber and a heat exchanger disposed in the heating chamber where hot gases pass through the heat exchanger, the steam being generated in the heating chamber under pressure conditions of at least about three psi;
• outputting steam from the heating chamber via a heating chamber outlet;
• superheating the steam in a superheater to a temperature of at least about 240 degrees F., the superheater having a first passageway in communication with the heating exchanger for receiving hot gases and a second passageway in communication with the heating chamber outlet for receiving steam, the first and second passageways being in thermal communication such that steam traveling from the heating chamber along the second passageway is superheated by hot gases traveling along the first passageway;
• and
• introducing superheated steam from the superheater into a cooking chamber;
• wherein superheating the steam in the superheater includes directing hot gases through a steam conduit, the first passageway being defined in part by an exhaust conduit located in the steam conduit, the second passageway defined in part by a space between an outer surface of the exhaust conduit and inner surface of the steam conduit;
• wherein the steam is introduced to the space at a location remote from the heating chamber such that steam travels along the space toward the heating chamber while being superheated by the hot gases traveling along the first passageway.