摘要 |
A cooking appliance includes a heating unit (10) for cooking food. The unit has a heating element (34) to which electrical current is supplied for generating heat used to cook food such as chocolate and sauces set upon the heating unit. A programmable controller (16) controls the application of current to the heating element to control the heating element temperature as a function of a time and temperature profile established for cooking the food in a particular manner. A temperature sensor (38) senses the heating element temperature and supplies a signal (St) to the controller. The characteristics of this signal are a function of the sensed cooking temperature. The controller is responsive to this signal, and other inputs (24,26) such as desired cooking time, and the amount and quantity of food, to vary the amount of current supplied to the heating element. The appliance is particularly useful in being able to heat chocolate, sauces, and the like without scorching them. |