Food Tumbler

Abstract

A counter-top appliance has a food container with internal fins extending inward from the outer wall at an angle offset from radial. The food container is coupled to a motor for rotation in either of two directions. One direction of rotation produces a scooping, elevating and subsequent discharge of liquid and fluent materials such as might be useful for washing or breading, while the second direction of rotation presents a surface adapted for massaging meat during marinating. The food container is preferably sealed through vacuum, and has a simple geometry which greatly facilitates thorough cleaning of the container. Meats, produce, pasta, and other diverse foods are processed using the counter-top appliance, and a method for processing one or a sequential set of foods is disclosed.

1 . A method of tumbling food comprising the steps of: 
 placing a generally cylindrical food tumbling container closed on a first end and having an open end distal thereto on a work surface with said closed end resting on said work surface and said open end up, to receive and retain said food therein;    adding food and ingredients to said container;    covering said container;    attaching a vacuum apparatus to said container and drawing a vacuum therein;    selecting a food treatment function and duration of treatment;    lifting said container from said work surface subsequent to said adding, covering and vacuuming steps;    coupling said container to a rotary drive subsequent to said lifting step by rotating said container and resting said container upon said rotary drive;    tumbling said container responsive to said selecting step;    standing said container on said closed end subsequent to said tumbling;    opening said container subsequent to said standing; and    removing tumbled food and ingredients from said container.    
   
   
       2 . The method of tumbling food of  claim 1  further comprising the step of: 
 inserting a basket interior of said container; and    passing a fluent component of said food and ingredients through at least one opening in said container.    
   
   
       3 . The method of tumbling food of  claim 2  wherein said fluent component comprises a sterilizing solution.  
   
   
       4 . The method of tumbling food of  claim 3  wherein said sterilizing solution further comprises a mixture of acetic acid and water.  
   
   
       5 . The method of tumbling food of  claim 1  wherein said selecting step further comprises selecting a direction of rotation of said container, wherein said food is treated differently responsive to said direction of rotation.  
   
   
       6 . The method of tumbling food of  claim 1  further comprising the step of inserting a mechanical cleaning member on an internal periphery of said container prior to said tumbling step, and subsequently tumbling said food with said mechanical cleaning member.  
   
   
       7 . The method of tumbling food of  claim 1  further comprising the step of inserting a chiller adjacent a periphery of said container prior to tumbling.  
   
   
       8 . The method of tumbling food of  claim 1  wherein said step of covering further comprises the step of pressing a cover against said container; and said step of attaching a vacuum apparatus and drawing a vacuum further comprises retaining said cover to said container primarily by said vacuum drawing.  
   
   
       9 . The method of tumbling food of  claim 1  wherein said step of covering further comprises the step of pressing a cover against said container; and said step of attaching a vacuum apparatus and drawing a vacuum further comprises retaining said cover to said container essentially entirely by said vacuum drawing.  
   
   
       10 . A method of tumbling food comprising the steps of: 
 adding food and ingredients to a container;    covering said container;    attaching a vacuum apparatus to said container and drawing a vacuum therein;    selecting a food treatment function and duration of treatment;    coupling said container to a rotary drive;    tumbling said container responsive to said selecting step about a rotary axis further comprising preferentially transporting said various solid and liquid foods and food ingredients adjacent said cylindrical side walls during said spinning in a first direction about said rotary axis above a horizontal center of said retaining means and subsequently releasing said various solid and liquid foods to accelerate said effective amount of said various solid and liquid foods through the force of gravity when said tumbler spins, said transporting means ineffective at said preferential transporting of said various solid and liquid foods and food ingredients when spinning in a second direction about said rotary axis opposite said first direction;    opening said container subsequent to said tumbling; and    removing tumbled food and ingredients from said container.