WO2014063170A1

WO2014063170A1 - Gas cooker for grilling food

Info

Publication number: WO2014063170A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2013/000048
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luis Fernandes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-10-18
Filing date: 2013-07-02
Publication date: 2014-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 2015-04-18

Abstract

The invention provides a cooking apparatus which includes an open topped heat resistant housing, and means for supporting foodstuffs to be cooked inside the housing, and including at least one gas burner mounted in a sidewall of the housing for cooking the foodstuffs.

Description

GAS COOKER FOR GRILLING FOOD

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a gas cooker for grilling food. BACKGROUND ART

Grilling, also sometimes referred to as broiling, is a dry-heat cooking method that relies on heat being conducted through the air from an open flame. This type of cooking produces browning reactions on the surface of the food, thus encouraging the development of complex flavours and aromas.

Food to be grilled is usually cooked on an open wire grid, also called a gridiron with the flame commonly situated above or below the food.

Because air is a poor conductor of heat, broiling and grilling require the food to be quite close to the open flame. This means that the surface of the food cooks very quickly, while the inside of the food may still be raw.

In addition, because the flame is usually only situated above or below the food, it is important to turn the food to allow it to cook on both sides.

Grilling is often presented as a healthy alternative to cooking with oil, but the fat and juices lost by grilling can contribute to drier food. Because of the extremely hot and dry nature of this cooking method, it is customary to marinate items that will be broiled or grilled.

Many restaurants incorporate an indoor grill as part of their cooking apparatus. These grills are made up of a grid suspended over a heat source. Indoor grills usually use electric or gas-based heating elements. However, in order to speed up cooking time, a number of food outlets resort to precooking the food by some other means such as by boiling or microwave cooking the food, and then merely searing the cooked food over the grill to give it a grilled appearance. This leads to the food losing the grilled flavour, and becoming dry.

It is an object of this invention to provide a gas cooker for grilling food which, at least partially, alleviates some of the abovementioned problems. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a cooking apparatus including an open topped heat resistant housing, having means for supporting foodstuffs to be cooked inside the housing and including at least one gas burner, characterised in that the at least one gas burner is mounted in a sidewall of the housing.

The cooking apparatus preferably includes at least two gas burners, each mounted on opposing side walls of the housing.

The gas burners are further preferably ceramic gas burners.

The support means may include a removable metal grid such as a grid iron, on which the foodstuff may be placed.

The grid is preferably a double sided grid, hinged together along one side, so that food to be cooked may be secured between the two grids.

The grid may be rotatably supported in the housing, rotation of the grid optimising the exposure of the food secured in the grid to the burner flame.

A slot may be located in the front wall of the housing for receiving a handle extending from the end of the metal grid, out of the housing.

A removable tray may be located on the base of the housing.

An additional grid may be located in the housing.

The foodstuffs may include any cookable foodstuffs, not limited to Meat, Poultry, fish, seafood and vegetables.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an isometric projection of one embodiment of the cooking apparatus,

Figure 2 is a cross sectional side view of the cooking apparatus,

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the cooking apparatus,

and

Figure 4 is an isometric projection of the cooking apparatus showing the grid in a rotated position. Figure 5 is an isometric projection of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to figures 1 to 4 in which like features of the invention are indicated by like numerals.

The cooking apparatus 10 consists of a metal housing 12, including ceramic gas burners 4 mounted along the side walls 16 of the housing 12.

A removable metal grid 18 is located inside the housing 12 and supports the foodstuffs to be cooked by the cooking apparatus 10.

The grid 18 is double sided and hinged along one side, so that food to be cooked is secured inside the grid 18.

The grid 8 is rotatably supported in the housing 12, with rotation of the grid 18 maximising the exposure of the food thereon to the flames of the ceramic burners 14.

Referring to figures 1 and 3, a slot 20 located in the front end wall 21 of the housing receives a handle 22 extending from the metal grid 18 to allow manual rotation of the grid by the handle 22 without the operator's hand being burnt.

Referring to figure 2, an aperture 24 located along the back wall 26 of the housing 12 receives a protrusion 25 from the end of the grid 18.

A removable drip tray 28is located on the base of the housing 12. Gas nozzles 30 allow for the connection of the ceramic gas burners 14 to a gas source. Lighter knobs 32 allow for lighting of the ceramic burners.

The foodstuffs to be cooked may include any cookable foodstuffs, examples of which are Meat, Poultry, seafood and vegetables.

In use, the relevant foodstuffs, such as a flattened chicken, are encased in the metal grid

18.

The gas burners 14 are lit, and the grid 18 is placed in the housing 12, with the one end of the grid being supported in support means 24 and the handle 22 extending out of the housing through the slot 20.

Referring to figure 4, the grid 18 is rotated so that both sides of the foodstuff (in this instance the chicken) are exposed to the flames from the side gas burners 14. In this manner the chicken cooks on both sides simultaneously, and the time required for grilling is substantially shortened. This results in the chicken retaining its juices.

Figure 5 depicts a long version of the cooking apparatus 50, in which it is possible to cook more food, for example two chickens alongside each other. In this embodiment, the cooking apparatus 50 still includes a metal housing 52, with ceramic gas burners 54 mounted along the side walls 56 of the housing 52.

A removable metal grid 58 is located inside the housing 52 and supports the foodstuffs to be cooked by the cooking apparatus 50.

The grid 58 is rotatably supported in the housing 52, rotation of the grid 58 maximising the exposure of the food on the grid to the flames of the ceramic burners 54.

The invention therefore provides a novel cooking apparatus.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A cooking apparatus.characterised in that the cooking apparatus includes an open topped heat resistant housing and having means for supporting foodstuffs to be cooked inside the housing and including at least one gas burner, in which the at least one gas burner is mounted in a sidewall of the housing.

2. A cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the apparatus includes at least two gas burners, each mounted on opposing side walls of the housing.

3. A cooking apparatus as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 characterised in that the gas burners are ceramic gas burners.

4. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the means for supporting the foodstuff to be cooked includes a removable metal grid such as a grid iron, on which the foodstuff may be placed.

5. A cooking apparatus as claimed in claim 4 characterised in that the grid is a double sided grid, hinged together along one side, so that food to be cooked is secured between the two grids.

6. A cooking apparatus as claimed in either of claims 4 or 5 characterised in that the grid is rotatably supported in the housing, rotation of the grid optimising the exposure of the food secured in the grid to the burner flame.

7. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6 characterised in that a slot is located in the front wall of the housing for receiving a handle extending from the end of the metal grid, out of the housing.

8. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that a removable tray is located on the base of the housing.

9. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8 characterised in that an additional grid issupported in the housing.

0. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9 characterised in that the foodstuffs include any cookable foodstuffs, including but not limited to Meat, Poultry, fish, seafood and vegetables.