METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COOKING AND SEARING A FOOD PRODUCT IN A SHORT DURATION
A system and process for cooking a consumable food product for an accelerated time period is described. The a system and process for cooking a food product comprising selectively heating primarily the interior of a food product, and searing the exterior of the food product using a radiative oven, wherein the radiative oven operates at greater than 900° Fahrenheit and reaches the operating temperature from an ambient temperature in a duration that is less than 30 seconds. A vending machine including the system and process of cooking is also described.
1 . A method of cooking a food product comprising:
providing a radiative oven comprising a heating element and a stored energy element to power the heating element;
selectively heating primarily an interior of a food product; and
searing an exterior of the food product using the radiative oven.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the heating element operates at greater than 800° Fahrenheit and reaches the operating temperature from an ambient temperature in a duration that is less than 30 seconds.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the radiative oven operates at greater than 1100° Fahrenheit and reaches the operating temperature from an ambient temperature in a duration that is less than 5 seconds.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a vending machine including the radiative oven;
dispensing the food product into the radiative oven; and
dispensing to the consumer.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the vending machine further comprises a microwave oven for the selectively heating of primarily the interior of the food product.
6 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising packaging the food product in a plastic pouch prior to cooking.
7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the dispensing of the food product into the radiative oven is by a user.
8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the dispensing of the food product into the radiative oven is by an automated dispenser.
9 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising removing the food product from a pouch prior to dispensing the food product into the radiative oven.
10 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising dispensing bread in the radiative oven along with the food product.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the searing comprises heating an exterior of the food product to char an exterior surface of the food product.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the selectively heating partially cooks the food product.
13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising breading the food product after the selectively heating of the food product.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the selectively heating of the food product is done at a food preparation center and the searing is done at a location remote to the food preparation center.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the food product is a ground hamburger patty, a salmon filet, a chicken filet, a French fry, or a vegetable.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the food product is a ground hamburger patty, a microwave oven selectively heats primarily the interior of the ground hamburger patty for 60 seconds; and
a radiative oven sears the exterior portion of the hamburger patty for 60 seconds.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the food product is a salmon fillet, a microwave oven selectively heats primarily the interior of the salmon filet for 40 seconds; and
a radiative oven sears the exterior portion of the salmon filet for 45 seconds.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the food product is a chicken breast, a microwave oven selectively heats primarily the interior of the chicken breast for 140 seconds; and
a radiative oven sears the exterior portion of the chicken breast for 80 seconds.
19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the food product is an asparagus spear, a microwave oven selectively heats primarily the interior of the asparagus spear for 40 seconds; and
a radiative oven sears the exterior portion of the asparagus spear for 12 seconds.
20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises a wire mesh element.
21 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the heating element comprises a lamp.