Apparatus for cooking meat

Abstract

An apparatus and methods for cooking meat are provided. The apparatus preferably includes a base having at least one liquid container connected to an upper surface of the base and a liquid collecting cavity formed in the upper surface of the base between outer walls of the liquid container and outer peripheries of the base. The apparatus also preferably includes at least one separate meat infusor positioned to receive steam from the liquid container. The meat infusor preferably has an infusor body and a plurality of openings positioned in peripheries of the infusor body so that when liquid positioned in the liquid container heats, steam from the liquid travels through the infusor body, through the openings therein, and toward meat positioned to overlie the infusor body.

1 . An apparatus for cooking meat, the apparatus comprising: 
 a base having at least one liquid container connected to an upper surface thereof and a holding cavity positioned in the base between outer wall portions of the liquid container and outer peripheries of the base, the base also having a plurality of handle members associated with outer peripheries of the base, the outer wall portions of the liquid container forming an inner peripheral wall of the holding cavity formed in the base; and    at least one separate meat infusor adapted to be positioned to receive steam from the liquid container, the meat infusor having an infusor body having a proximal end portion with a greater circumference than a distal end portion to enhance insertion of the meat infusor into an inner cavity of a fowl to be cooked and to enhance stability of the fowl upon insertion of the meat infusor into the inner cavity of the fowl, the meat infusor also including a plurality of openings positioned in peripheries of the infusor body so that when liquid positioned in the liquid container heats, steam from the liquid travels through the infusor body, through the openings therein, and toward meat positioned to overlie the infusor body.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the distal end portion of the infusor body includes outer wall portions that extend in a direction that traverses the outer wall portions of the liquid container, and the proximal end portion of the infusor body includes outer wall portions that extend in a direction that substantially parallel to the outer wall portions of the liquid container.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of openings are positioned in the distal end portion of the infusor body.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the circumference extending around the distal end portion of the infusor body decreases as the outer wall portions of the distal end portion of the infusor body extends distally away from the proximal end portion of the infusor body.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of openings are positioned in the distal end portion of the infusor body.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the decreasing circumference extending around the distal end portion of the infusor body as the outer wall portions of the distal end of the infusor body extends distally away from the proximal end portion of the infusor body enhances the reception of the closing off of the inner cavity of the fowl when the meat infusor is positioned to receive steam from the liquid container after being inserted into the fowl cavity.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the liquid container is substantially symmetrical about a substantially vertical axis, and the outer wall portions of the distal end portion of the infusor body extend in a direction traverses to the substantially vertical axis of the liquid container.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the liquid container includes an infusor body seat associated with the outer walls of the liquid container, the seat engaging the outer wall portions of the proximal end portion of the infusor body to impede lateral movement of the infusor body in relation to the liquid container.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the proximal end of the infusor body is placed in the seat and the distal end of the infusor body is inserted into the fowl.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of the vents that are formed between the outer walls of the liquid container and the outer peripheries of the base.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the infusor body extends upward from the base when positioned to receive steam from the liquid container and the base is positioned on a horizontally extending cooking surface.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus for cooking meat, the apparatus comprising: 
 a base having an upper surface and upwardly extending outer peripheries defining a holding cavity, the upper surface being adapted to have a liquid container supported thereon between the upwardly extending outer peripheries, the base also having a plurality of handle members associated with the outer peripheries of the base; and    at least one separate meat infusor adapted to overlie at least a portion of a liquid container supported by the upper surface of the base and receive steam therefrom, the meat infusor having an infusor body and a plurality of openings positioned in peripheries of the infusor body so that when liquid in the liquid container heats, steam from the liquid container travels through the infusor body, through the openings therein, and toward meat positioned to overlie the infusor body.    
   
   
       13 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the infusor body has a proximal end portion with a greater circumference than the distal end portion to enhance insertion of the meat infusor into an inner cavity of a fowl to be cooked and to enhance stability of the fowl upon insertion of the meat infusor into the inner cavity of the fowl.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the distal end portion of the infusor body includes outer wall portions that extend in a direction that traverses the outer wall portions of the liquid container, and the proximal end portion of the infusor body includes outer wall portions that extend in a direction that substantially parallel to the outer wall portions of the liquid container.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 14 , wherein: 
 the circumference extending around the distal end portion of the infusor body decreases as the outer wall portions of the distal end portion of the infusor body extends distally away from the proximal end portion of the infusor body; and    the plurality of openings are positioned in the distal end portion of the infusor body.    
   
   
       16 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 15 , wherein the decreasing circumference extending around the distal end portion of the infusor body as the outer wall portions of the distal end of the infusor body extends distally away from the proximal end portion of the infusor body enhances the reception of the closing off of the inner cavity of the fowl when the meat infusor is positioned to receive steam from the liquid container after being inserted into the fowl cavity.  
   
   
       17 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the infusor body is substantially symmetrical about a substantially vertical axis, the outer wall portions of the distal end portion of the infusor body extend in a direction traverses to the substantially vertical axis of the infusor body, and the outer wall portions of the distal end portion of the infusor body extend substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the infusor body.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus for cooking meat, the apparatus comprising: 
 a base having an upper surface and upwardly extending outer peripheries defining a holding cavity, the upper surface being adapted to have a liquid container supported thereon between the upwardly extending outer peripheries, the base also having a plurality of handle members associated with the outer peripheries of the base; and    at least one separate meat infusor adapted to overlie at least a portion of a liquid container supported by the upper surface of the base and receive steam therefrom, the meat infusor having an infusor body and a plurality of openings positioned in peripheries of the infusor body so that when liquid in the liquid container heats, steam from the liquid container travels through the infusor body, through the openings therein, and toward meat positioned to overlie the infusor body, the infusor body has a proximal end portion with a greater circumference than the distal end portion to enhance insertion of the meat infusor into an inner cavity of a fowl to be cooked and to enhance stability of the fowl upon insertion of the meat infusor into the inner cavity of the fowl, the circumference extending around the distal end portion of the infusor body decreases as the outer wall portions of the distal end portion of the infusor body extends distally away from the proximal end portion of the infusor body.    
   
   
       19 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the distal end portion of the infusor body includes outer wall portions that extend in a direction that traverses the outer wall portions of the liquid container, and the proximal end portion of the infusor body includes outer wall portions that extend in a direction that substantially parallel to the outer wall portions of the liquid container.  
   
   
       20 . An apparatus as defined in  claim 18 , wherein: 
 the infusor body is substantially symmetrical about a substantially vertical axis, the outer wall portions of the distal end portion of the infusor body extend in a direction traverses to the substantially vertical axis of the infusor body, and the outer wall portions of the distal end portion of the infusor body extend substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the infusor body; and    the plurality of openings are positioned in the distal end portion of the infusor body.