The present disclosure relates to a cooking device, in particular a cooking device for use during the cooking of poultry to accelerate cooking and to a spit or an oven comprising the same.

Prior to the present invention, no known device has existed to accelerate the cooking of poultry during conventional roasting. During work to develop a cooking device for such purpose, the present inventor arrived at the present invention.

According to the present invention, in a first aspect, there is provided a cooking device for accelerating the cooking of poultry, comprising a hollow elongate metal body for receipt by the cavity of a bird during cooking, wherein an outer surface of the body is at least partially covered by a coating.

The metal body is effective at drawing heat into the cavity of the bird to cook the bird from the inside, achieving more even cooking results and reducing cooking times. The metal body will protrude from the bird during cooking with the exposed portion of the metal body heated and the heat drawn into the core of the bird by virtue of the thermal conductivity of the metal. The outer surface of the body is at least partially coated to prevent the metal leaching into the flesh of the bird.

The metal is most preferably copper, due to its high thermal conductivity. It could, less favourably, comprise aluminium.

The body preferably extends along a longitudinal axis and comprises an enlarged diameter portion along its length. With such arrangement, with the enlarged diameter portion received within the cavity of a bird and one or both of the longitudinally opposed ends of the body exposed, heat will be even more effectively drawn into the cavity of the bird to accelerate cooking.

The cooking device is preferably sized such that its opposed ends protrude from opposed ends of the carcass of the bird. The cooking device may in this case be arranged to comprise a spit or a plurality of the cooking devices may be joined to one another to define a spit.

According to the present invention in a further aspect, there is provided a spit comprising a cooking device for accelerating the cooking of poultry, the cooking device comprising a hollow elongate metal body for receipt by the cavity of a bird during cooking, wherein an outer surface of the body is at least partially covered by a coating. The spit may comprise a single cooking device or multiple cooking devices. According to the present invention, in a further aspect, there is provided an oven comprising at least one spit, as detailed above.

With cooking times reduced, the power consumption of the oven can be greatly reduced as compared to a conventional oven omitting the cooking device(s).

The oven is preferably a rotisserie oven. The longitudinal axes of the cooking devices will be substantially horizontal. The cooking devices may be mounted on a rotating carousel. Further, preferable, features are presented in the dependent claims.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a side view of a cooking device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a side view of the cooking device of Figure 1 penetrating the carcass of a bird;

Figure 3 shows a partial sectional side view of a cooking device according to a second embodiment;

Figures 4a to 4c show possible constructions for the body of the cooking devices of the first and second embodiments; and

Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a carousel from a rotisserie oven, which supports a plurality of the cooking devices of the first or second embodiments; and Figure 6 shows an end view of an exemplary gear arrangement for the carousel of Figure 5;

Figure 7a shows a spit comprising a plurality of the cooking devices joined to one another;

Figure 7b shows one of the cooking devices of the spit of Figure 7a with a separation member; and

Figure 8 shows a box-type rotisserie oven comprising the spit of Figure 7a.

With reference to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a cooking device for accelerating the cooking of poultry. The cooking device comprises a hollow elongate metal body 1 for receipt by the cavity of a bird 2 during cooking, wherein an outer surface of the body 1 is at least partially covered by a coating 3. The outer surface is preferably not entirely covered by the coating. The chosen metal is not particularly limited, however, it is critical that the metal has a high thermal conductivity. The present embodiments are formed from copper, since it has a very high thermal conductivity. Aluminium represents an alternative, although is less preferable due to its reduced thermal conductivity compared to copper. Various further alternatives will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. The wall thickness may be between 1 mm and 4mm and more preferably between 2mm and 3mm. In arrangements formed from copper in accordance with the depicted embodiments, a wall thickness of 2.5mm has been effective.

The cooking device will project from the carcass of the bird during cooking. The cooking device is appropriately sized both to be received by the cavity and to project out of the cavity at one or both of the ends of the carcass with the exposed portion(s) of the metal body heated and the heat drawn into the core of the bird by virtue of the thermal conductivity of the metal. In the depicted embodiments, the cooking device is arranged such that it projects from the front and rear ends of the carcass in a longitudinal direction of the cavity, as seen in Figure 2. In alternative arrangements it could only project from the rear end of the cavity.

The cooking device may have a length of between 200mm and 450mm. It is most preferably between 250mm and 350mm in length. The dimensions may be altered to suit the cooking of different poultry. A range of cooking devices may be provided that are suited to different poultry and sizes thereof, such as ducks, chickens, turkeys, etc. For example, a larger cooking device may be provided for cooking a turkey than for cooking a chicken. For a chicken, it has been determined that a length of 300mm is suited to a cooking device projecting from both ends of the carcass of the chicken, as seen in Figure 2. For any particular cooking device recommended cooking times may be marked on the body 1 per weight of bird to be cooked. Marking may be stamping or otherwise. The coating is applied to any portion of the cooking device that is contained by the cavity of the bird during cooking. It may be applied to the entire outer surface of the body. More preferably, however, at least a portion of the outer surface of the body that lies outside the cavity during cooking is uncovered. In the depicted embodiments, opposed end portions 4, 5 of the body 1 are at least partially free from the coating and uncovered. In alternative arrangements that project from the carcass at one end only, only that end portion may be uncovered.

Any coating that is sufficiently heatproof, i.e. able to withstand temperatures of up to 230°C, is non-toxic, and will prevent the metal leaching into the flesh of the bird, may be used. A particularly preferred coating is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which has all required attributes and the added benefit of being non-stick. Numerous alternative suitable coatings will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, in dependence on the metal selected for the body. The body 1 of the cooking device is preferably substantially tubular and extends along a longitudinal axis. Whilst the cross-sectional profile is not particularly limited, it is preferably annular. The cross-sectional profile may be constant or may vary along the axial length of the body. Alternatively or additionally, the diameter of the body may be constant or, more preferably, may vary along its length as in the case of the depicted embodiments. In such case, an enlarged diameter portion may be provided along the length of the body 1 . This may be at a mid-point or at an end in dependence on whether the cooking device is arranged to project from one or both ends of the carcass of the bird or from just one end. In the depicted

arrangement, the body 1 may be considered to comprise first and second end portions 4, 5 and a middle portion 6 therebetween, wherein the middle portion 6 comprises the enlarged diameter portion.

The end portions 4, 5 of the body 1 are preferably closed, as shown in all embodiments. In some arrangements, the internal volume of the body may be utilised. For example, there may be provided an internal chamber 7 for receiving a liquid, likely water, and a plurality of holes 9 in communication with the chamber to allow for the release of steam during cooking. Such an arrangement is shown in Figure 3. A water filler input 8 is provided, which may comprises a threaded cap, or otherwise. As the water in the internal chamber boils, steam is released through a plurality of holes 9 provided in the wall of the body 1. Various sizes, shapes and numbers of holes may be provided. The holes may be in one vertical half of the body, when the longitudinal axis of the body is horizontal, or otherwise arranged so that water does not leak out of the holes 9 prior to the steam creation. The steam will infuse moisture into the flesh of the bird during cooking to prevent it drying out.

The body may be formed from a first part and a second part that are separably or hingedly connected to one another. Figures 4a and 4c show two possible arrangements. In Figure 4a, the body 1 comprises two parts that threadably engage. In Figure 4c, the body 1 comprises first and second parts that are hingedly engaged. A suitable latch will be provided to lock the body into a closed position. In Figure 4b, the body 1 is closed by a threaded end cap. In any of these arrangement a suitable sealing means may be provided. In any of these arrangements there may be a plurality of holes 9 provided, such as in the case of the arrangement of Figure 3, to allow the release of steam or otherwise.

The cooking device may comprise a spit, or, as discussed below, a plurality of the cooking devices may be joined to one another, detachably or permanently, to define a spit. In either case, the spit may be arranged to be supported at both of its ends for supporting one or more birds mounted on the spit during cooking. The spit may be rotatably supported by its ends during cooking. Opposed ends of the spit may be provided with connectors to be engaged by suitable connectors in an oven or on some other support mechanism in the case of a cooking device other than an oven. With reference to Figures 5 and 6, there is shown a rotating carousel 10, which rotatably supports a plurality of spits 1 1. The rotating carousel 10 forms part of a rotisserie oven (not shown). The rotisserie oven may take any conventional form. The spits 1 1 each comprise a cooking device in accordance with any of the above described arrangements. Aside from the introduction of the cooking devices on the spits, the carousel may be of conventional form and utilise any conventional rotation mechanism. A planetary gear system may be implemented to effect rotation of the carousel and the individual spits, as seen in Figure 6.

As mentioned above, a spit may be provided for use other than in conjunction with the rotating carousel of a rotisserie oven.

With reference to Figures 7a and 7b, there will now be described a modified spit 1 1 , suitable for use in conjunction with a rotisserie oven, or otherwise. The spit 1 1 is of a modular design, formed from a number of cooking devices 1 that are joined end to end to define the spit 1 1. In Figure 7a, the spit shown comprises 4 of the devices joined together. There could, of course, be spits 1 1 provided that comprise more or less of the cooking devices 1. Spits of any desired length may be formed. The present arrangement is not to be limited in this regard. Whatever the number of cooking devices 1 that are joined together to form the spit 1 1 , they may comprise any of the features detailed above in respect of any of the cooking devices 1 disclosed above. It should be noted that whilst in the present arrangement, the cooking devices 1 are separable from one another, which is preferred to make it easy for the attachment and removal of birds from the spit, alternative arrangements may be provided where this is not the case. The cooking devices of a spit could be permanently attached to one another.

In the present arrangement, there are preferably provided separation members 13, with one of the separation members 13 being provided between each adjacent pair of cooking devices 1 . The separation members 13 will separate birds on the spit 1 1 from one another during cooking. Such a preferable feature increases thermal efficiency. The separation members 13 may comprise discs. They may be formed from the same material as the cooking devices or from a different material. They will be thermally conductive and are most preferably copper. The copper may be coated as with the cooking devices. In the present arrangement the separation members 13 are copper disks having a thickness of 5mm and a diameter of 90mm. They may have a thickness of up to 10mm and a diameter of up to 150mm.

The cooking devices 1 that are joined together to form the spit may be joined using any suitable means, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. One preferable but non-limiting arrangement is shown in Figure 7b. The opposed axial ends of each of the cooking devices is provided with a female connector 14. The separation members are each provided with a pair of male connectors 15 to be received by the female connectors 14. By engagement of the male and female connectors 14, 15, a spit 11 as seen in Figure 7a is provided. In arrangements where the separation members are omitted, alternative connector members may be provided that each feature a pair of male connectors. Of course, in alternative arrangements, suitable alternative connecting means may be provided for joining a plurality of the cooking devices together to form a spit 11 , whether separation members are provided or not.

Figure 8 shows an exemplary box-type rotisserie oven that comprises a pair of rotating carousels 10 on which are shown mounted a single spit in accordance with Figure 7a. Whilst only a single spit is shown there will typically be a number of spits provided.

It should further be noted that an oven in accordance with the present invention need not comprise a rotating carousel, as previously discussed. As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, ovens may be provided that include a plurality of the provide spits that are mounted other than on a carousel.