Method for Baking a Casserole Using Steam

Abstract

A method of operating a household oven to bake a casserole with the introduction of steam and controlling the steam to maintain a predetermined level of humidity to control the level of browning of the casserole.

1 . A method of operating a household oven to bake a casserole using steam during a cooking cycle in an automated household oven with a cooking cavity, a heating system for heating the cooking cavity, and a steam system for introducing steam into the cooking cavity, the method comprising:
 a preheating step comprising operating the heating system to heat the cooking cavity to a temperature greater than the water vapor phase change temperature in the cooking cavity;   a cooking step comprising heating the cooking cavity at a predetermined cooking temperature for a predetermined time; and   after the preheating step, a humidifying step comprising introducing steam into the cooking cavity to maintain a predetermined relative humidity to control the level of browning of the casserole during the cooking step.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the humidifying step comprises selecting a duty cycle for the steam system to control the output of the steam system and maintain the predetermined relative humidity. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the selecting of the duty cycle comprises selecting the duty cycle based on the difference between dry bulb temperature and wet bulb temperature for the predetermined cooking temperature. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the cooking temperature is selected by the user. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the cooking time is selected by the user. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a second preheating step, after the first preheating step and before the cooking step, wherein the cooking cavity is heated to a uniform temperature greater than the water vapor phase change temperature in the cooking cavity. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the second preheating step heats the cooking cavity to the cooking temperature. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the humidifying step begins during the second preheating step. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising a third preheating, after the second preheating step and before the cooking step, wherein the cooking cavity is heated to the cooking temperature. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the steam humidifying step reaches the predetermined relative humidity at during the third preheating step. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined cooking time and predetermined cooking temperature are selected for cooking all areas of the casserole. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined relative humidity is set by a controller to control the level of browning based on the predetermined cooking time and predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the user selects the predetermined cooking temperature and predetermined cooking time. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the level of browning is a predetermined level of browning. 
   
   
       15 . A method of operating a household oven to bake a casserole using steam during a cooking cycle in an automated household oven with a cooking cavity, a heating system for heating the cooking cavity, and a steam system for introducing steam into the cooking cavity, the method comprising:
 setting a cooking time and a cooking temperature for a casserole;   heating the cooking cavity at the cooking temperature for the cooking time;   determining a level of browning for the casserole;   setting a relative humidity based on the level of browning; and   maintaining the relative humidity within the cooking cavity for at least a portion of the cooking time.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the relative humidity is set by a controller of the household oven. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the level of browning is determined by one of the user and the controller setting the level of browning. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the cooking time and cooking temperature is set by a user of the household oven. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein a controller of the household oven sets a duty cycle for the steam system to maintain the relative humidity. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the duty cycle is set based on at least one of the cooking time and cooking temperature in addition to the level of browning. 
   
   
       21 . A method of operating a household oven to bake a casserole using steam during a cooking cycle in an automated household oven with a cooking cavity, a heating system for heating the cooking cavity, and a steam system for introducing steam into the cooking cavity, the method comprising:
 a cooking step comprising heating the cooking cavity at a predetermined cooking temperature for a predetermined time; and   a humidifying step comprising introducing steam into the cooking cavity to maintain a predetermined relative humidity to control a level of browning during the cooking step and after the preheating step.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the predetermined relative humidity is constant during the cooking step. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the level of browning is a predetermined level of browning selected by the user. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the predetermined relative humidity is determined based on the predetermined level of browning. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein a duty cycle for the steam system is set to achieve the predetermined relative humidity.