FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to food devices. More particularly, the present invention is a cheese-making countertop cooking appliance which includes a touch-screen display that allows the user to choose from various default recipes of cheese. Additionally, the present invention can be synced to a software application to share and receive custom recipes with other users.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The human species would never have survived through winter without harnessing the preservative power of natural fermentation and enjoying the consequent nutritional improvements. Through processes that typically involve the addition and use of salts, acids, and temperature-controlled environments, vegetables, meats, and dairy products could develop into krauts, cured meats, and cheeses, each of which contains a wide array of probiotic benefits. Trends in mass food manufacturing, however, have borne the elimination of such methods due primarily to their reliance on complicated bacterial processes. While fermentation done properly is harmless and nutritionally beneficial, improper fermentation can lead to the development of various molds and bacteria that are dangerous for humans to consume. Therefore, mass-produced foods are now often developed with artificial preservatives, thus depriving the resultant foods of not only their beneficial probiotic benefits but also much of their flavor.

In response to the challenges presented by mass food production, social trends indicate a reversion to the old methods of fermentation, with a few modern improvements. Sauerkrauts, kimchis, pickles, beers, and many other foods and drinks can be created by an individual with little expertise and a small amount of equipment. Unfortunately, a simple process for making cheese at home consistently and safely remains elusive. Purchasing pre-made cheese means the user has no control in taste, freshness, or quality; however, with lack of a better option, this is often standard practice. Among the many challenges present in the cheese-making process, the maker has to worry about managing heat, adding appropriate amounts of ingredients, timing, draining whey, and, in many cases, applying constant pressure. Cheese-making devices are large and expensive, typically being designed for commercial as opposed to individual use. What is needed is a countertop device that can accept ingredients and instructions and can automatically deliver homemade cheeses. Further desirable is a device that provides a variety of cheese-making instructions for different cheeses.

The present invention addresses these issues. The present invention utilizes a touch-screen interface to allow the user to input instructions or select from a variety of existing recipes online. Additionally, the present invention can be synchronized with a software application to share and receive custom recipes with other users. The present invention includes a heating element for heating the ingredients of the cheese at appropriate times, temperatures, and durations during the cheese-making process. A specialized grid cutter is used to both mix ingredients during the liquid stages and to cut the curd in the later stages of the cheese-making process. A pressing assembly can be added to allow the user to provide constant, even pressure to their cheese for the formation of hard cheeses. The present invention pumps excess whey byproduct into a tank for disposal or subsequent processing by the user. Due to the controlled environment created by the present invention, the present invention can further be utilized for the creation of tofu, and even as a sous vide.

