Abstract: An apparatus for treating food, the apparatus includes a housing having a lid, a base and a cavity defined therein. The cavity is separated into an upper chamber and lower chamber by a divider. Upper chamber is for holding food placed upon the divider. One or more steam sources provide steam to the upper and lower chambers. One or more infrared sources are position within the upper and lower chambers to directly heat the steam, the food or the divider. A pressure-controlled environment may be provided in the upper chamber. Uniformity and increased speed of heating the food is facilitated by direct heat transfer in the upper chamber and by indirect heat transfer from the conduction of heat through the divider from the lower chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating steam comprised of a water reservoir chamber for holding a source of water, a steam chamber and a vertical partition there between. A water communication port is located at a vertical height within the vertical partition. The water communication port allows the source of water to pass from the water reservoir chamber to the steam chamber. A pair of electrodes is located in the steam chamber, the electrodes arranged to provide an electric current through water fed to the steam chamber. The vertical height determines a set level of water contacting the electrodes as the source of water is fed from the reservoir chamber to the steam chamber. Water feeding occurs as gas in the steam chamber is passed through the water communication port at periodic intervals and replaced by the source of water in the reservoir chamber to equalize pressure difference between the two chambers.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating steam comprised of a water reservoir chamber for holding a source of water, a steam chamber and a vertical partition there between. A water communication port is located at a vertical height within the vertical partition. The water communication port allows the source of water to pass from the water reservoir chamber to the steam chamber. A pair of electrodes is located in the steam chamber, the electrodes arranged to provide an electric current through water fed to the steam chamber. The vertical height determines a set level of water contacting the electrodes as the source of water is fed from the reservoir chamber to the steam chamber. Water feeding occurs as gas in the steam chamber is passed through the water communication port at periodic intervals and replaced by the source of water in the reservoir chamber to equalize pressure difference between the two chambers.