Cooking device to deep fat fry foods

Abstract

A cooking device include an outer housing and a cooking cavity disposed within and separate from the outer housing. The cooking cavity accommodates a volume of cooking liquid therein. The device includes a heater positioned adjacent the cooking cavity to heat the cooking liquid. A lid is movably attached to the device and is used to form a seal with the cooking cavity. The lid includes a transparent portion positioned along a top surface to enable viewing inside of the cooking cavity. A controller can be used to heat the cooking fluid for an amount of time designated by user input. A moving mechanism can be used to move a food article into and out of the cooking liquid. The moving mechanism can be automated. The device can include a drainage system for removing the cooking liquid.

1 . A hot fluid cooking vessel comprising: 
 an enclosure having, 
 a bottom wall portion and a opening separated from one another by a curved side wall portion;  
 the opening including a rim region disposed generally perpendicularly to the side wall portion;  
   means adapted for receiving an associated resistive heating element into the opening so as to be oriented along the bottom wall portion and having a conductive path disposed along the side wall portion and through the opening;    means adapted for receiving an associated lid so as to substantially cover the opening by engagement with the rim region;    at least one overflow drain disposed in the side wall portion near the opening;    a fluid path from the overflow drain to an associated fluid overflow reservoir; and    means adapted for receiving an associated food support surface into the enclosure, which food support surface oriented so as to be interposed between the resistive heating element and food received in to the enclosure.    
   
   
       2 . The hot fluid cooking vessel of  claim 1  wherein the side wall portion defines a generally coffin-shaped cross section corresponding to a contour of fowl received therein.  
   
   
       3 . The hot fluid cooking vessel of  claim 2  further comprising a fill level indicator disposed on an exterior of the side wall portion and having at least one fluid path to an interior of the enclosure.  
   
   
       4 . The hot fluid cooking vessel of  claim 3  further comprising the associated lid inclusive of a hinged interconnection with the rim region.