Abstract: An oven structure (1) comprises a casing (2) provided with walls (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) defining a cooking chamber (4) open on one side (4A) of said casing (2), and below said casing (2) an element (20) provided with a cavity (19) defined by walls (21, 22, 23, 26) rising from the lower wall (24) of said element (20), said cavity (19) facing the lower wall (8) of said casing (2). At least part (26) of said element (20) is removable to allow connection to a gas heating member (29), said cavity (19) being able at choice either to receive an electrical heating member (60) or become the seat of a hot air stream generated by the gas member (29), the lower wall (8) of said casing (2) being provided with apertures (16) which are preferably closed when the cavity (19) of the lower element (20) contains the electrical heating member (60) and are open when said lower element (20) is connected to the gas heating member (29).

Abstract: A glass ceramic cooktop includes a free surface on which containers containing food to be prepared are placed, below surface there being provided a light and heat generator, such as a halogen lamp at which there is positioned a reflecting element having at least one face facing the generator and an opposing face facing an external environment. This latter face is exposed to an air flow generated by a cooling member positioned below the reflecting element, the air flow cooling the reflecting element, which heats up during the operation of the halogen lamp.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the weight of foods contained in a microwave oven and for controlling their treatment in accordance with that weight. The apparatus determines the weight by measuring the heating of a body of microwave-sensitive material disposed in the chamber and not shielded by the food during a stage of operation of the magnetron at a predetermined power for a predetermined time, wherein the heating of the body disposed in the cooking chamber is measured. Thereafter, cold is administered to the body so as to return its temperature to a constant value and maintain it thereat until another weight determination is to be made. The method is implemented by an apparatus including a body constructed of microwave-sensitive material positioned on a wall of the cooking chamber, a temperature sensor for sensing the rise in temperature of the material when exposed to microwave energy, and a cold generator for returning the temperature of the material to a constant temperature.

Abstract: A method and device for determining when a food (9) has thawed in a microwave oven (1) are provided. The food (9) is placed above an element (14) constructed of a microwave sensitive material and shields the element (14) from the microwaves to a different extent according to its degree of thawing. The temperature increase in the material resulting from its absorption of the microwaves is measured by a transducer (18) which receives a signal operationally related to the temperature and which on the basis for the signal halts the thawing when the temperature has reached a suitable value. The element (14) is associated with a food support (8) which thermally isolates it from the food (9), the element being in direct or indirect contact with the transducer (18). The transducer (18) can be disposed either in the food support (8) or in the bottom wall (7) of the oven thawing chamber (4) below the support (8).

Abstract: A method for treating, i.e. thawing, thawing and heating, or thawing and cooking, a frozen food (9) in a microwave oven (1) is provided comprising a microwave generator or magnetron (2), characterized in that the food (9) is interposed between the magnetron (2), initially operating at constant power, and an element (14) of microwave-sensitive material, the temperature (T) of the element (14) varying during the thawing of the food (9), the temperature (T) variation being monitored by a microprocessor circuit (21) which on the basis thereof evaluates the weight of the food (9). The microprocessor (21) then, on the basis of this evaluated weight and fed information regarding the type of food (9) and required type of treatment, determines the operating power of the magnetron (2) and the treatment duration.