Induction cooking apparatus and method of use

Abstract

A method of forming a cooking apparatus includes providing a vessel having an inside surface, an outside surface, and a hollow area that is configured to receive food. The method also includes forming a first plurality of ferrous elements to be disposed on an outside of the vessel. The method also includes forming a second plurality of ferrous elements to be disposed in the hollow area of the vessel. The first plurality of ferrous elements and the second plurality of ferrous elements are configured to be heated by electromagnetic radiation from an electromagnetic radiation source, and the first plurality of ferrous elements and the second plurality of ferrous elements are configured to transfer heat to food located in the vessel. The method further includes providing a controller to control movement of at least the first plurality of ferrous elements.

1 . A method of forming a cooking apparatus comprising:
 providing a vessel having an inside surface, an outside surface, and a hollow area that is configured to receive food via an opening in the vessel;   forming a first plurality of ferrous elements to be disposed on an outside of the vessel;   forming a second plurality of ferrous elements to be disposed in the hollow area of the vessel; and   forming a third plurality of ferrous elements to be disposed over the opening of the vessel, wherein the first plurality of ferrous elements, the second plurality of ferrous elements, and the third plurality of ferrous elements are configured to be heated by electromagnetic radiation from an electromagnetic radiation source, and wherein the first plurality of ferrous elements, the second plurality of ferrous elements, and the third plurality of ferrous elements are configured to transfer heat to the food located in the hollow area of the vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to independently control movement of the first plurality of ferrous elements, the second plurality of ferrous elements, and the third plurality of ferrous elements. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising mounting the first plurality of ferrous elements on a support column. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the support column is configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising mounting the second plurality of ferrous elements on a wall of the inside surface. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising mounting the second plurality of ferrous elements on a support column. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising mounting the third plurality of ferrous elements on a support arm disposed over the opening of the vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation source comprises a first electromagnetic radiation source configured to provide electromagnetic radiation to the first plurality of ferrous elements, a second electromagnetic radiation source configured to provide electromagnetic radiation to the second plurality of ferrous elements, and a third electromagnetic radiation source configured to provide electromagnetic radiation to the third plurality of ferrous elements. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel is configured to rotate about a longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel is made from a ferrous material. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the vessel is made from a non-ferrous material. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming at least one heat sensor in the hollow area, the at least one heat sensor in communication with a controller and configured to detect areas of the vessel that are cooler relative to other areas of the vessel, and wherein the controller is configured to control movement of at least the first plurality of ferrous elements to direct the heat to the areas of the vessel that are cooler. 
     
     
         13 . A cooking system comprising:
 a cooking vessel having an inside surface, an outside surface, and a hollow area configured to receive food via an opening of the vessel;   a first plurality of ferrous elements configured to be positioned outside the cooking vessel;   a second plurality of ferrous elements configured to be positioned within the hollow area;   a third plurality of ferrous elements configured to be positioned over the opening of the vessel; and   at least one electromagnetic radiation source configured to heat the first plurality of ferrous elements, the second plurality of ferrous elements, and the third plurality of ferrous elements to transfer the heat to the food located in the hollow area of the cooking vessel.   
     
     
         14 . The cooking system of  claim 13 , further comprising a motor configured to move the first plurality of ferrous elements relative to the cooking vessel. 
     
     
         15 . The cooking system of  claim 13 , further comprising a heat sensor located within the hollow area, wherein the heat sensor is configured to detect areas of the cooking vessel that are cooler relative to other areas of the cooking vessel, and wherein the heat sensor is in communication with a controller that is configured to control movement of at least the first plurality of ferrous elements to direct the heat to the areas of the cooking vessel that are cooler. 
     
     
         16 . The cooking system of  claim 13 , further comprising a controller configured to control the heat transferred to the food by the first plurality of ferrous elements, the second plurality of ferrous elements, and the third plurality of ferrous elements. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 positioning a first plurality of ferrous elements relative to a cooking vessel;   delivering electromagnetic radiation, by an electromagnetic radiation source, to heat the first plurality of ferrous elements and to transfer the heat from the first plurality of ferrous elements to food within the cooking vessel;   detecting, by a heat sensor positioned within the cooking vessel, areas within the cooking vessel that are cooler relative to other areas within the cooking vessel; and   causing, by a controller in communication with the heat sensor, movement of the first plurality of ferrous elements for directing targeted heat from the first plurality of ferrous elements to the food within the cooking vessel.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising causing rotation, by the controller, of the first plurality of ferrous elements relative to the cooking vessel for directing the targeted heat to the food. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first plurality of ferrous elements are located outside the cooking vessel. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a portion of the first plurality of ferrous elements are disposed over an opening of the cooking vessel, wherein the opening is configured to receive the food into the cooking vessel.