Fluid-based devices for storing and preparing food and methods of using the same

Abstract

A method includes inserting a food item into an inner volume of a thermal container. A liquid circulating through a liquid jacket at least partially surrounding and fluidically isolated from the inner volume of the thermal container is cooled such that thermal energy from the food item is transferred to the cooled liquid. After the cooling, thermal energy from a first heating element is transferred to the liquid circulating through the liquid jacket such that thermal energy from the heated liquid is transferred to the food item. Thermal energy from a second heating element is transferred to the food item in response to a criterion being satisfied. The second heating element is different from the first heating element and is disposed in the inner volume of the thermal container.

1 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus for storing and cooking food, the apparatus comprising:
 a thermal container defining an inner volume configured to receive a food item, the thermal container including a water jacket partially surrounding and fluidically isolated from the inner volume;   a heating element disposed in the inner volume of the thermal container, the heating element configured to be energized in response to a flow of electric power to transfer thermal energy to the food item disposed in the inner volume;   a circulation system having a reservoir, a cooling portion isolated from the reservoir and in communication with the water jacket, and a heating portion in communication with each of the reservoir and the water jacket, the circulation system in a first state configured to circulate cold water through the water jacket and the cooling portion to cool the inner volume thereby refrigerating the food item disposed in the inner volume, the circulation system in a second state configured to circulate hot water through water jacket and the heating portion, the reservoir to regulate an increase in a pressure of the hot water flowing through the heating portion as a result of a portion of the thermal energy from the heating element heating the water in the water jacket.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a housing configured to house the thermal container and at least a portion of the circulation system, the reservoir being removably coupled to the housing.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the reservoir is open to the atmosphere to allow the reservoir to purge air from the heating portion of the circulation system. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the reservoir includes an inlet and an outlet, the circulation system is configured such that:
 the inlet is in communication with the heating portion of the circulation system and isolated from the cooling portion of the circulation system, and   the outlet is in communication with a pump included in the circulation system.   
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the circulation system includes at least one valve, the at least one valve is in a first valve state when the circulation system is in the first state such that water is circulated through the cooling portion of the circulation system, the at least one valve is in a second valve state when the circulation system is in the second state such that water is circulated through the heating portion of the circulation system. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the circulation system includes a heat exchanger configured to remove thermal energy from the cold water circulating in the cooling portion when the circulation system is in the first state. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 31 , wherein the circulation system includes a heater, the cooling portion of the circulation system is isolated from the heater,
 the circulation system in the second state is configured such that the heater does not transfer thermal energy to the hot water circulating through the heating portion of the circulation system; and   the circulation system in a third state is configured such that the heater transfers thermal energy to the hot water circulating through heating portion of the circulation system.   
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the circulation system in the second state is configured to circulate the hot water through each of the water jacket, the reservoir, and a first flow path of the heating portion, the first flow path being isolated from the heater, and
 the circulation system in the third state is configured to circulate the hot water through each of the water jacket, the second flow path, the reservoir, and the heater such that (i) the heater transfers thermal energy to the hot water and (ii) the hot water circulating through the water jacket transfers thermal energy to the food item disposed in the inner volume.   
     
     
         39 . An apparatus for storing and cooking food, the apparatus comprising:
 a thermal container defining an inner volume configured to receive a food item, the thermal container including a water jacket partially surrounding and fluidically isolated from the inner volume;   a heating element disposed in the inner volume of the thermal container, the heating element configured to be energized in response to a flow of electric power to transfer thermal energy to the food item disposed in the inner volume; and   a circulation system having a reservoir, the circulation system in a refrigeration state configured to circulate cold water through the water jacket to cool the inner volume of the thermal container thereby refrigerating the food item, the circulation system in a first cooking state configured to circulate hot water through the water jacket to heat the inner volume of the thermal container thereby cooking the food item, the circulation system in a second cooking state configured to circulate hot water through the water jacket while the heating element transfers thermal energy to the food item disposed in the inner volume,   the circulation system in each of the first and the second cooking states configured to circulate the hot water through the reservoir to regulate an increase in a pressure of the hot water circulating in the circulation system.   
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 a housing configured to house the thermal container and at least a portion of the circulation system, the reservoir being removably coupled to the housing.   
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the reservoir is open to the atmosphere to allow the reservoir to purge air from the circulation system when the circulation system is in the first and the second cooking states. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the circulation system includes a cooling portion in communication with the water jacket and isolated from the reservoir, the circulation system in the refrigeration state configured to circulate the cold water through the water jacket and the cooling portion of the circulation system, and
 the circulation system further includes a heat exchanger configured to remove thermal energy from the cold water circulating in the cooling portion when the circulation system is in the refrigeration state.   
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the circulation system includes a heating portion in communication with the water jacket and the reservoir, the circulation system in each of the first and the second cooking states configured to circulate the hot water through the water jacket, the heating portion of the circulation system, and the reservoir. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the heating portion of the circulation system includes a first flow path in communication with the water jacket and the reservoir, and a second flow path in communication with the water jacket and the reservoir,
 the circulation system in the first cooking state configured to circulate the hot water through the water jacket, the first flow path, and the reservoir, and   the circulation system in the second cooking state configured to circulate the hot water through the water jacket, the second flow path, and the reservoir.   
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 44 , wherein the circulation system includes a heater,
 the heater in communication with the first flow path to transfer thermal energy to the hot water circulating through the first flow path when the circulation system is in the first cooking state, and   the heater isolated from the second flow path to prevent the heater from thermal energy to the hot water circulating through the second flow path when the circulation system is in the second cooking state.   
     
     
         46 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the circulation system includes at least one valve, the at least one valve is in a first valve state when the circulation system is in the first cooking state to circulate the hot water through the first flow path, the at least one valve is in a second valve state when the circulation system is in the second cooking state to circulate the hot water through the second flow path. 
     
     
         47 . A method, comprising:
 inserting a food item into an inner volume of a thermal container of a storage and cooking device, the thermal container including a water jacket at least partially surrounding and fluidically isolated from the inner volume;   circulating cool water through the water jacket and a cooling portion of a circulation system of the storage and cooking device to cool the inner volume of the thermal container, thereby refrigerating the food item;   circulating, after the cooling, the cool water through at least a heating portion of the circulation system to produce hot water;   circulating the hot water through the water jacket and the heating portion of the circulation system to heat the inner volume of the thermal container, thereby cooking the food item;   energizing a heating element disposed in the inner volume of the thermal container to generate thermal energy operable to cook the food item independent of the cooking via the hot water circulating through the water jacket and the heating portion of the circulation system; and   circulating the hot water from the water jacket through the heating portion of the circulation system and a reservoir of the storage and cooking device such that the reservoir regulates an increase in a pressure of the hot water circulating in the heating portion of the circulation system as a result of a portion of the thermal energy from the heating element heating the hot water in the water jacket.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein a rate of thermal energy transfer from the hot water circulating through the water jacket to the food item is less than a rate of thermal energy transfer from the heating element to the food item. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the reservoir is open to the atmosphere, the method further comprising:
 purging air from the heating portion of the circulation system via the reservoir in response to the portion of the thermal energy from the heating element heating the hot water in the water jacket.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein cooling portion of the circulation system is isolated from the reservoir and the heating portion of the circulation system is in communication with the reservoir. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the circulation system includes a heater, the heating portion of the circulation system includes a first flow path in communication with the heater and a second flow path isolated from the heater. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein each of circulating the cool water through at least the heating portion of the circulation system to produce the hot water and circulating the hot water through the water jacket and the heating portion of the circulation system to heat the inner volume of the thermal container include circulating through the first flow path of the heating portion, the method further comprising:
 transferring thermal energy from the heater to water circulating through the first flow path.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein circulating the hot water from the water jacket through the heating portion of the circulation system and the reservoir includes circulating the hot water through the second flow path. 
     
     
         54 . A method, comprising:
 inserting a food item into an inner volume of a thermal container of a storage and cooking device, the thermal container including a water jacket at least partially surrounding and fluidically isolated from the inner volume;   placing the storage and cooking device in a first state in which a circulation system thereof circulates cool water through the water jacket and a cooling portion of the circulation system to transfer thermal energy from the inner volume of the thermal container, thereby refrigerating the food item;   placing the storage and cooking device in a second state in which the circulation system circulates hot water through the water jacket and a heating portion of the circulation system to transfer thermal energy to inner volume of the thermal container, thereby cooking the food item; and   placing the storage and cooking device in a third state in which (i) a heating element in the inner volume of the thermal container is energized to transfer thermal energy to the food item, thereby cooking the food item independent of the thermal energy from the hot water, and (ii) the hot water is circulated from the water jacket through the heating portion of the circulation system and a reservoir of the storage and cooking device to regulate, via the reservoir, an increase in a pressure of the hot water circulating in the heating portion of the circulation system as a result of a portion of the thermal energy from the heating element heating the hot water in the water jacket.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein a rate of thermal energy transfer from the hot water circulating through the water jacket to the food item is less than a rate of thermal energy transfer from the heating element to the food item. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the reservoir is open to the atmosphere, the method further comprising:
 purging air from the heating portion of the circulation system as a result of the hot water being circulated through the reservoir.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein cooling portion of the circulation system is isolated from the reservoir and the heating portion of the circulation system is in communication with the reservoir. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the circulation system circulates the hot water through the water jacket, the heating portion of the circulation system, and the reservoir when the storage and cooking device is in the second state. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein the circulation system circulates the hot water through a first flow path of the heating portion when the storage and cooking device is in the second state and circulates the hot water through a second flow path of the heating portion when the storage and cooking device in the third state. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the circulation system includes at least one valve, placing the storage and cooking device in the second state includes placing the at least one valve in a first valve state and placing the storage and cooking device in the third state includes placing the at least one valve in a second valve state.