Abstract: A microwave appliance includes a cabinet defining a cooking chamber, a magnetron, a temperature sensor directed toward the cooking chamber, and a controller. The controller is configured to measure a raw temperature of the cooking chamber, determine a calibrated temperature from the raw temperature and a conversion model, determine a preheat power level for the magnetron, and operate the magnetron at the preheat power level. The controller is further configured to determine a calibrated chamber temperature using a chamber temperature and a preheat conversion model and determine the calibrated chamber temperature has reached a target temperature. The controller is further configured to monitor a calibrated cooking temperature, based on a cooking temperature and a cooking conversion model, and operate the magnetron to a cooking power level to maintain the calibrated cooking temperature at the target temperature. A method of operating a microwave appliance with a temperature sensor is also disclosed.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooking cavity, a microwave module, a convection module, an upper heater module and a lower heater module. A turntable is rotatably mounted in the cooking cavity. The cooking appliance is operable for, and related methods may include, activating at least one of the microwave module, the upper heater module, the lower heater module, and the convection module, while also rotating the turntable within the cooking cavity within the cooking cavity. The cooking appliance is further operable for, and related methods may also include rotating the turntable in a back-and-forth motion during at least a portion of a cook cycle.

Abstract: A sous vide assembly for use in a microwave oven includes an outer tank and an inner tank positioned inside the outer tank to define a heating gap therebetween. The inner tank and the outer tank are filled with water and are in fluid communication with each other through one or more apertures. One or more vertical dividers are positioned within the inner tank and extend along the vertical direction to define a plurality of food chambers and a cover is mounted over the one or more vertical dividers and is movable between an open position and a closed position to provide selective access to the plurality of food chambers and keep food submerged during the sous vide cooking process.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooking cavity, a microwave module, a convection module, an upper heater module and a lower heater module. A turntable is rotatably mounted in the cooking cavity. The cooking appliance is operable for, and related methods may include, activating at least one of the microwave module, the upper heater module, the lower heater module, and the convection module, while also rotating the turntable within the cooking cavity within the cooking cavity. The cooking appliance is further operable for, and related methods may also include rotating the turntable to a predetermined position at a predetermined time.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooking cavity, and a plurality of heater modules. A turntable and an upper pan are rotatably mounted in the cooking cavity. The turntable and the upper pan are configured for positioning a plurality of food items thereon in a predetermined food arrangement. The plurality of food items collectively make up a meal. The cooking appliance is operable for, and related methods may include, rotating the turntable and the upper pan within the cooking chamber and activating at least one of the plurality of heater modules while the turntable and the upper pan are rotating within the cooking cavity, such that differing amounts of energy are provided to each food item of the plurality of food items based on a spatial location of each food item in the predetermined food arrangement on the turntable and the upper pan during a meal cook cycle.

Abstract: A cooktop appliance and heating element, as provided herein may define a heating zone having a thermostat positioned therein. The thermostat may include a base, a bimetallic disk, and a conductive spring. The base may extend axially between a first end and a second end. The bimetallic disk may be disposed within the base. The conductive spring may be disposed within the base in biased engagement with the bimetallic disk to motivate the bimetallic disk towards the first end within the base. The conductive spring may include a first layer and a second layer. The first layer may extend from a contact end proximal to the bimetallic disk to a joinder end connected to the first terminal. The second layer may extend from a biasing end proximal to the bimetallic disk to a secured end fixed within the base.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooking cavity, a microwave module, and a turntable rotatably mounted in the cooking cavity. An upper pan is mounted above the turntable. The cooking appliance also includes a motor operatively coupled to the turntable to rotate the turntable and the upper pan within the cooking cavity.

Abstract: A method of operating cooking appliance includes activating a motor to rotate a turntable within a cooking cavity defined in a casing of the cooking appliance. The methods also includes activating a cooking lamp in response to the turntable reaching a first angular position after activating the motor to rotate the turntable and deactivating the cooking lamp in response to the turntable reaching a second angular position after the first angular position.

Abstract: A method of operating cooking appliance includes activating a motor to rotate a turntable within a cooking cavity defined in a casing of the cooking appliance. The methods also includes activating a microwave module for delivering microwave energy into the cooking cavity in response to the turntable reaching a first angular position after activating the motor to rotate the turntable and deactivating the microwave module in response to the turntable reaching a second angular position after the first angular position.

Abstract: A method of operating a cooking appliance includes receiving, by a controller of the cooking appliance, an input indicating that the cooking appliance is to operate in a meal cook cycle. The method also includes activating at least one heater module of a plurality of heater modules during the meal cook cycle. The method also includes activating a motor to rotate a turntable through a complete revolution within the cooking cavity. The turntable is rotated at a first speed during a first portion of the complete revolution and at a second speed different from the first speed during a second portion of the complete revolution.

Abstract: A cooktop appliance and heating element, as provided herein may define a heating zone having a thermostat positioned therein. The thermostat may include a base, a bimetallic disk, and a conductive spring. The base may extend axially between a first end and a second end. The bimetallic disk may be disposed within the base. The conductive spring may be disposed within the base in biased engagement with the bimetallic disk to motivate the bimetallic disk towards the first end within the base. The conductive spring may include a first layer and a second layer. The first layer may extend from a contact end proximal to the bimetallic disk to a joinder end connected to the first terminal. The second layer may extend from a biasing end proximal to the bimetallic disk to a secured end fixed within the base.

Abstract: A method of operating cooking appliance includes receiving, by a controller of the cooking appliance, an input indicating a time of a cooking operation. The method also includes activating a motor to rotate a turntable within a cooking cavity defined in a casing of the cooking appliance throughout the time of the cooking operation and activating a microwave module to deliver microwave energy into the cooking cavity during at least a portion of the rotation of the turntable. The method further includes varying at least one of a speed of the rotation of the turntable and a duty cycle of the microwave module during the cooking operation.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooking cavity, and a plurality of heater modules. A turntable and an upper pan are rotatably mounted in the cooking cavity. The turntable and the upper pan are configured for positioning a plurality of food items thereon in a predetermined food arrangement. The plurality of food items collectively make up a meal. The cooking appliance is operable for, and related methods may include, rotating the turntable and the upper pan within the cooking chamber and activating at least one of the plurality of heater modules while the turntable and the upper pan are rotating within the cooking cavity, such that differing amounts of energy are provided to each food item of the plurality of food items based on a spatial location of each food item in the predetermined food arrangement on the turntable and the upper pan during a meal cook cycle.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooking cavity, a microwave module, a convection module, an upper heater module and a lower heater module. A turntable is rotatably mounted in the cooking cavity. The cooking appliance is operable for, and related methods may include, activating at least one of the microwave module, the upper heater module, the lower heater module, and the convection module, while also rotating the turntable within the cooking cavity within the cooking cavity. The cooking appliance is further operable for, and related methods may also include rotating the turntable to a predetermined position at a predetermined time.

Abstract: A method of operating cooking appliance includes activating a motor to rotate a turntable within a cooking cavity defined in a casing of the cooking appliance. The methods also includes activating a cooking lamp in response to the turntable reaching a first angular position after activating the motor to rotate the turntable and deactivating the cooking lamp in response to the turntable reaching a second angular position after the first angular position.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooking cavity, a microwave module, and a turntable rotatably mounted in the cooking cavity. An upper pan is mounted above the turntable. The cooking appliance also includes a motor operatively coupled to the turntable to rotate the turntable and the upper pan within the cooking cavity.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a cooking cavity, a microwave module, a convection module, an upper heater module and a lower heater module. A turntable is rotatably mounted in the cooking cavity. The cooking appliance is operable for, and related methods may include, activating at least one of the microwave module, the upper heater module, the lower heater module, and the convection module, while also rotating the turntable within the cooking cavity within the cooking cavity. The cooking appliance is further operable for, and related methods may also include rotating the turntable in a back-and-forth motion during at least a portion of a cook cycle.

Abstract: A cooking appliance such as a microwave oven is provided with a sacrificial region for repairing damage caused by arcing and related failure modes. The sacrificial region incorporates a component that, when damaged, is removable from the cooking appliance for replacement by another component of similar construction. In one implementation, a sacrificial component is utilized in a microwave oven with a heated cavity subject to microwave radiation from a magnetron. The sacrificial component in this example includes an aperture that communicates with an opening in the cavity, and through which the radiation impinges into the heated cavity.

Abstract: A cooking appliance such as a microwave oven is provided with a sacrificial region for repairing damage caused by arcing and related failure modes. The sacrificial region incorporates a component that, when damaged, is removable from the cooking appliance for replacement by another component of similar construction. In one implementation, a sacrificial component is utilized in a microwave oven with a heated cavity subject to microwave radiation from a magnetron. The sacrificial component in this example includes an aperture that communicates with an opening in the cavity, and through which the radiation impinges into the heated cavity.

Abstract: A microwave oven and methods are presented in which the duty cycle of the current to the primary winding of a transformer in a half-wave voltage doubler feeding the magnetron is controlled according to the current drawn by auxiliary devices in the microwave oven to control the average current consumption of the microwave over time during a heating operation so an associated protection device will not trip.