Temperature gauge for displaying the temperature of a cooking surface of cookware

Abstract

The present invention provides, in at least one embodiment, a convenient temperature gauge for measuring and displaying the temperature of a cooking surface, i.e., the heated place where a food substance is cooked, in cookware. The temperature gauge may be a standalone device and placed directly in cookware of any type. The temperature gauge includes a digital or analog display at one end. A sensor is provided at the other end, which is placed in direct contact with or in close proximity to the cooking surface in order to measure the temperature of the surface. Alternatively, the temperature gauge may be included within a cookware vessel such as a lid of a pan.

1 . A device comprising:
 a top portion, wherein the top portion comprises a heat insulator;   a temperature display on a surface of the top portion; and   a bottom portion coupled to the top portion, wherein the bottom portion comprises a removable skirt surrounding a temperature probe, wherein the bottom portion contacts a cooking surface when the device is placed on the cooking surface.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature display comprises color coded sections. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the color coded sections comprise sections for vegetables and poultry. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the color coded sections comprise sections for beef and fish. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature display is an analog display. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature display is a digital display. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the top portion comprises plastic or silicon. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion is removed to check the temperature of a food. 
     
     
         9 . A device comprising:
 a top portion;   a bottom portion attached to the top portion;   a temperature probe within the top portion and the bottom portion; and   a temperature display on the top portion, where the temperature display comprises a cooking surface temperature and an indicator of the meaning of the cooking surface temperature.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the indicator comprises color coded sections. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the color coded sections comprise sections for vegetables and poultry. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the color coded sections comprise sections for beef and fish. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the temperature display is an analog display. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the temperature display is a digital display. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the top portion comprises plastic or silicon. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the bottom portion is removed to check the temperature of a food. 
     
     
         17 . A cookware device comprising:
 an open container;   a lid for enclosing the open container; and   a temperature gauge affixed to the lid, wherein the temperature gauge comprises a temperature display on one side of the lid and a temperature probe on the opposite of the lid, and the temperature probe is configured to measure the temperature of a cooking surface of the open container.   
     
     
         18 . The cookware device of  claim 17 , wherein the temperature probe comprises an infrared sensor.