Controllable temperature grid assembly for food

摘要

A controllable temperature grid assembly (1) on which food can be cooked or defrosted is provided which includes an array of spaced tubular members (3) interconnected to form a generally planar grid (4) on which food to be cooked or defrosted can be placed for cooking or defrosting, with the hollow interiors of the members (3) also being interconnected to form a circulation flow path (5) for a heat exchange medium. The assembly (1) also includes heat exchange means (6) in fluid flow communication with the heat exchange medium circulation flow path for extracting heat from or supplying heat to the heat exchange medium. A thermostat is provided in the heat exchange medium for controlling the temperature to which the heat exchange medium is heated or cooled being recirculation through the tubular members (3). When food is cooked on the grid heat is extracted from the tubular members (3) by the heat exchange medium flow to cool the members (3) and thereby reduce the tendency of food to stick to the members during cooking, the extracted heat is removed from the heat exchange medium during flow through the heat exchange means (6) and the cooled heat exchange medium recirculated along the heat exchange medium circulation flow path (5) through the tubular members (3). Frozen food is defrosted on the grid (4) by supplying heat to the tubular members (3) by the heat exchange medium flowing through the members (3) to warm the members (3) and thereby defrost the food. The cooled heat exchange medium is warmed during flow through the heat exchange means (6) and the warmed heat exchange medium recirculated along the heat exchange medium circulation flow path (5) through the tubular members (3).