Food Product Steamer and Method

Abstract

A food product steamer and method of producing a steamed food product are provided. The food product steamer includes rotatable platforms that can be covered and uncovered by one or more rotatable, concave hoods. In a first position for the platform(s), the plafform(s) supports a food product over a steam-emitting opening above a steam generator. In a first position for the hood, the hood covers the food product such that steam from the steam generator is trapped within the hood to steam the food product. In a second, open position, the hood is rotated where it can receive the food product when the food product slides or falls off the platform as the platform is rotated from its first position to a second, elevated position. At least one embodiment enables food products to be removed from either side of the steam generating base by using a double-acting hinge.

1 . A food product steamer comprising:
 a base including a top side, first and second opposing side walls defining first and second lateral sides, first and second opposing end walls, and an opening in the top side through which steam can be emitted, the opening being located between the first and second opposing side walls and between the first and second opposing end walls;   a food product platform perforated with a plurality of steam-passing holes, the platform being rotatably connected to the base and rotatable about a first axis between an acute first angle and a larger second angle with respect to the top side, the first axis being located at a first distance away from the opening toward the first side wall, wherein at the first angle, the platform is adapted to support a food product above the opening;   a steam-trapping hood rotatably connected to the base, the hood being rotatable about a second axis between an acute third angle and a larger fourth angle with respect to the top side, the second axis being located at a second distance away from the opening toward the first side wall;   wherein when the platform is rotated to the first angle and the hood is rotated to the third angle, the platform is over the opening and the hood is adapted to substantially cover a food product on the platform.   
     
     
         2 . The steamer of  claim 1 , wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance. 
     
     
         3 . The steamer of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a first hinge connecting the platform to the base, the first hinge defining the first axis; and   a second hinge connecting the hood to the base, the second hinge defining the second axis.   
     
     
         4 . The steamer of  claim 3 , at least one of the first hinge and the second hinge being a continuous hinge. 
     
     
         5 . The steamer of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second hinges are both attached to the top side of the base. 
     
     
         6 . The steamer of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second hinges are both attached to the first lateral side of the base. 
     
     
         7 . The steamer of  claim 3 , wherein the first hinge is attached to the top side of the base and the second hinge is attached to the first lateral side of the base. 
     
     
         8 . The steamer of  claim 7 , wherein the platform is configured such that the first angle is substantially equal to zero degrees above the top side of the base. 
     
     
         9 . The steamer of  claim 8 , wherein the platform is configured such that the second angle is greater than ninety degrees above the top side of the base. 
     
     
         10 . The steamer of  claim 9 , wherein the hood is configured such that the third angle is substantially equal to the first angle. 
     
     
         11 . The steamer of  claim 10 , wherein the hood is configured such that the fourth angle is greater than or equal to the second angle. 
     
     
         12 . The steamer of  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a steam generator below the opening. 
     
     
         13 . The steamer of  claim 1 , wherein the platform has a smooth surface such that a food product can slide off the platform when the platform is rotated to an angle between zero and ninety degrees. 
     
     
         14 . The steamer of  claim 1 , wherein the hood is a rigid plastic. 
     
     
         15 . The steamer of  claim 1 , wherein the hood is a flexible plastic sheet. 
     
     
         16 . The steamer of  claim 1 , wherein the hood is a water permeable membrane. 
     
     
         17 . The steamer of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the hood is concave and configured to at least partially enclose a food item to be steamed. 
     
     
         18 . The steamer of  claim 1 , wherein the hood has an interior volume, sized and shaped to receive a point-of-sale package for a food item to be steamed. 
     
     
         19 . The steamer of  claim 18 , wherein the hood includes a partition dividing the hood into two portions configured to receive the two halves of a clamshell sandwich container. 
     
     
         20 . A food product steamer comprising:
 a base including a top side having an opening through which steam can be emitted, the opening being located between first and second opposing side walls of the base;   a perforated food product platform above the opening, configured to rotate away from the opening in a first direction around a first axis and to rotate away from the opening in a second direction around a second axis.   
     
     
         21 . The steamer of  claim 20 , further comprising a double-acting hinge operatively coupling the platform to the base. 
     
     
         22 . The steamer of  claim 21 , wherein the double-acting hinge comprises:
 a first hinge connected between the base and a platform base plate, said first hinge configured to allow the platform base plate and the platform to rotate together, away from the opening, in said first direction; and   a second hinge, connected between the platform base plate and the platform, said second hinge configured to allow the platform to rotate away from the opening and the platform base plate in said second direction.   
     
     
         23 . The steamer of  claim 22 , wherein the platform base plate is perforated with at least one steam-passing hole and wherein the platform is perforated with a plurality of steam-passing holes. 
     
     
         24 . The steamer of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 a steam-trapping hood above the opening, the hood configured to rotate away from the opening about a third axis, and the hood configured to substantially cover a food product supported on the platform when the hood and the platform are each rotated to an angle above the top side of the base substantially equal to zero degrees.   
     
     
         25 . A method of producing a steamed food product comprising:
 providing a device comprising a food product platform rotatable between a food steaming position and a food removal position, and a steam source communicating with a steam outlet, the steam outlet configured to direct steam onto the food product platform when the food product platform is in the food steaming position;   rotating the food product platform to the food steaming position;   placing a food product on the food product platform;   directing steam from the steam source through the steam outlet and onto the food product to steam the food product; and   rotating the food product platform from the food steaming position to the food removal position to cause the food product to fall or slide from the food product platform.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising placing a food container adjacent to the device, so that when the food product platform is rotated from the food steaming position to the food removal position the food product falls or slides from the food product platform into the container. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising:
 providing a steam-trapping hood rotatable between a closed food steaming position and an open food placement and removal position; 
 rotating the hood to the open position to permit placing the food product on the food product platform; 
 after placing the food product on the food product platform, rotating the hood to the closed position to at least substantially enclose the food product and at least substantially retain steam; and 
 after the food product is steamed, rotating the hood to the open position to permit moving the food product platform from the food steaming position to the food removal position. 
 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising after rotating the hood to the open position, placing a food container into the open hood, so that when the food product platform is rotated from the food steaming position to the food removal position the food product is transferred from the food product platform into the container. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the food product platform is perforated with a plurality of steam-passing holes, and placing the food product comprises placing the food product over at least one hole. 
     
     
         30 . A method of transferring a steamed food product comprising:
 providing a device comprising a food product platform, a base, and a hinge connecting the food product platform to the base, wherein the food product platform is rotatable between a food steaming position and a food removal position;   providing a steamed food product on the food product platform in the food steaming position;   placing a container adjacent the food product platform; and   rotating the food product platform from the food steaming position to the food removal position to transfer the food product from the food product platform to the container.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein the device further comprises a steam-trapping hood and a second hinge connecting the hood to the base, wherein the hood is rotatable between a closed food steaming position and an open food placement and removal position, further comprising
 rotating the hood to the open position to permit placing the food product on the food product platform; 
 after placing the food product on the food product platform, rotating the hood to the closed position to at least substantially enclose the food product and at least substantially retain steam; and 
 after the food product is steamed, rotating the hood to the open position to permit moving the food product platform from the food steaming position to the food removal position. 
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  wherein placing the container comprises placing the container into the open hood.