Bowls and attachments for food processing apparatuses

1 . An accessory for a food processing apparatus, comprising:

a wall having an inner and outer surface;

an enclosed space at least partially defined by the inner surface of the wall;

a phase change material filling at least a portion of the enclosed space and in thermal communication with at least a portion of the inner surface the wall, wherein the phase change material changes phases at a predetermined temperature; and

a phase change indicator that provides an indication whether a temperature of the phase change material or a temperature of the portion of the wall in thermal communication with the phase change material is above or below the predetermined temperature, wherein the phase change indicator is a thermochromatic material and the indication is a color change, and wherein the thermochromatic material is admixed with the phase change material and the wall includes a window disposed therethrough which allows observation of the color change.

2 . The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the phase change material is selected from the group consisting of water, polymers with long chain molecules, hydrated salts, alcohol solutions, and Glauber's salt.

3 . The accessory of claim 1 , further comprising an insulating material filling at least another portion of the enclosed space and in thermal communication with at least another portion of the inner surface of the wall.

4 . The accessory of claim 1 , wherein the thermochromatic material is adhered to the outer surface of the wall.

5 . A method of maintaining a predetermined temperature of a food being manipulated by a food processing apparatus while in use comprising:

a) providing an accessory for a food processing apparatus comprising

a wall having an inner and outer surface,

an enclosed space at least partially defined by the inner surface of the wall, and

a phase change material filling at least a portion of the enclosed space and in thermal communication with at least a portion of the inner surface the wall, wherein the wall comprises a transparent portion for observing the phase change material; and

b) bringing the food into contact with at least a portion of the outer surface of the wall adjacent to the portion of the inner surface of the wall in thermal contact with the phase change material while being manipulated by the food processing apparatus.

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising

c) charging the phase change material prior to bringing the food into contact with the accessory.

7 . A container for use with a food processing apparatus, comprising:

an inner wall having a first and a second opposing surfaces;

an outer wall having a first and a second opposing surfaces;

an enclosed space at least partially defined by the first surface of the inner wall and the first surface of the outer wall, and adjacent to the first surfaces of the inner and outer wall;

a phase change material filling at least a portion of the enclosed space and in thermal communication with at least a portion of the first surface of inner wall, wherein the phase change material changes phases at a predetermined temperature;

a phase change indicator that provides an indication whether a temperature of the phase change material or a temperature of the portion of the inner wall in thermal communication with the phase change material is above or below a predetermined temperature at which the phase change material changes phases, wherein the phase change indicator is a thermochromatic material and the indication is a color change, and wherein the thermochromatic material is admixed with the phase change material and the wall includes a window disposed therethrough which allows observation of the color change; and

an insulating material filling at least a portion of the enclosed space and in thermal communication with at least a portion of the first surface of outer wall.

8 . The container of claim 7 , wherein the phase change material is selected from the group consisting of water, polymers with long chain molecules, hydrated salts, alcohol solutions, and Glauber's salt.

9 . The container of claim 7 , wherein the thermochromatic material is adhered to the second surface of the inner wall.

10 . A method of maintaining a predetermined temperature of a food being manipulated by a food processing apparatus while in use comprising:

a) providing a container for use with a food processing apparatus comprising:

an inner wall having a first and a second opposing surfaces,

an outer wall having a first and a second opposing surfaces,

an enclosed space at least partially defined by the first surface of the inner wall and the first surface of the outer wall, and adjacent to the first surfaces of the inner and outer wall,

a phase change material filling at least a portion of the enclosed space and in thermal communication with at least a portion of the first surface of inner wall, wherein one of the inner wall or the outer wall comprises a transparent portion for observing the phase change material, and

an insulating material filling at least a portion of the enclosed space and in thermal communication with at least a portion of the first surface of outer wall; and

b) bringing the food into contact with at least a portion of the second surface of the inner wall adjacent to the portion of the first surface of the inner wall in thermal contact with the phase change material while being manipulated by the food processing apparatus.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising

c) charging the phase change material prior to bringing the food into contact with the container.