FAQ
biēm (pronounced beam)
QUICK START GUIDE
Chocolate Spray Recipe
Sprayable Chocolate Ingredients
- 1 ounce of chocolate, or six chocolate kisses
- 3 ounces of butter or 2 ounces of coconut oil
Sprayable Chocolate Recipe
- Microwave chocolate on medium for two minutes or until melted.
- In a separate bowl, pour butter or coconut oil into chocolate and mix thoroughly.
- Pour directly into the biēm.
- Spray away!
How to place the lid on the biēm
How is the biēm stored? On the counter or in the refrigerator?
The guidelines issued by the USDA state butter can be left out covered & unrefrigerated for a week.
Butter storage life on the counter or in the refrigerator is shortened by light and circulating air. Have you ever noticed when butter is left uncovered it picks up the flavor of food in the refrigerator or odors in the room? The biēm helps in both of those ways by eliminating light exposure and circulating air, once the cap is sealed.
That being said, locations and room temperatures for storage and use vary. We recommend leaving the biem out while in use during the day or simply storing in the refrigerator when not in use (with the butter still inside the biēm). Start up times can be different depending on the temperature of where you store the biēm but we do not recommend storing in direct sunlight. If you don't refrigerate overnight, it won't be a problem, but if you store it in a warm place and have kept it out for a few weeks, the butter might need to be replaced and the unit cleaned.
Can I use Coconut or Olive oil in the biēm?
Absolutely, they work great! In fact, any food oil will work just fine.
Can I use margarine in the biēm?
Yes, you can use margarine sticks, but not tubs. (It's not mandatory but, we really want you to switch to butter!)
What about butter stick size?
The biēm is designed to work with butter sticks commonly used across the U.S.! Yes, there are actually two sizes. One is short and stubby and the other is long and skinny, but both sizes are 4 ounces. We thought it was weird too but it happened because of the evolution of butter stick making equipment as it was first developed across the country.
How does the biēm melt butter?
As butter is loaded into the biēm, it travels down from the product’s middle carriage into a reservoir. There, the biēm has layers of ultra-thin heaters that melt the butter. Once melted, butter moves up from the reservoir to spray.
How does the biēm know when to melt butter?
The biēm has a level sensor that knows when to turn the unit on and off, based on its position. In a nutshell, this sensor tells the biēm when it needs to melt more butter, based on how full-with-butter the biēm’s reservoir is. When it gets down to a certain point, it tells the biēm to melt more butter.
How much butter does the biēm spray at one time?
It sprays an estimated .4g of butter per second of spray.
How long does biēm take to go from stick to spray?
The melt to spray time depends on the initial temperature of the biēm at the time of use. If the biēm has been in use and you are adding more butter, it is quicker than if it was stored in the refrigerator. If you're just starting to use the unit which has been stored on the counter at room temperature, it will take longer than if the unit was just in use. Just "out of the refrigerator" stored start times will also vary depending on temperature of the refrigerator.
Does the biēm clog?
The biēm has a patent-pending nozzle design that's designed not to clog. Here’s how it works: It takes the butter it melts through its reservoir and sends it to the nozzle, where it emerges as a single separate butter stream. Air, not flammable propellants, from another stream, then atomizes it as it meets the butter stream and converts it into a spray.
Most sprays send the product and the propellant, (in many cases propellant that is flammable and will catch fire if used near flames), through the same path. What happens is, any foreign object that gets in that path can be too large and clog the nozzle. We separated that path into two isolated streams where we push butter through one and air (the biēm's propellant) through the other, thus allowing the pathway to remain open when some foreign matter gets in. Conventional old-fashioned "manual pump oil sprays" have this problem and can clog with just a spec of pepper, while the biēm does not.
Does the biēm automatically turn itself off?
Yes, the biēm will turn itself off after a few minutes of non-use.
Does the biēm use flammable propellants?
The biēm uses no flammable propellants, just heat and air. Store bought non-stick cooking sprays, like Pam®, use butane or propane in order to spray. They also operate at/under high pressure (often at or near 95 PSI), while the biēm operates at 4.5 PSI. What’s more, the biēm will not burn users because it’s designed to melt butter at a temperature of just 95 degrees. The butter comes out cool because there are microscopic air holes all around the nozzle that cool the spray as it comes out.
How long does the biēm take to charge? How long does the charge last?
It takes approximately 90 minutes to fully charge. If you choose to keep the biēm in the refrigerator, the battery won't lose the charge. However, the amount of energy to heat the biem from refrigerator temperature to spraying temperature is exponentially more than if you keep the biēm at room temperature. If you plan on storing the the biēm in the refrigerator at all times, you might want to have two batteries so one will always be charged and ready to go. The biēm’s charge is subjective based on your personal use. It can last anywhere from an estimated week (for a family of four, using it at every meal) to four weeks (for a single person). The biēm comes with a proprietary, high-density battery pack. There is an LED located at the bottom of the biēm, which turns red as the biēm’s batteries start getting low indicating it's time to charge.
The battery can be recharged at least 500 times or 10 years of normal use charging on average once a week before replacement.
The indicator light on the charger will stay green until a battery is placed in it to charge and will then turn red to indicate charging. Once charging is completed It will change to green. At that time the charger is no longer charging and will stay green indicating the battery is ready for use.
How do you clean the biēm?
Open the top of the biēm, fill the butter chamber halfway with HOT water and a drop of dish soap, then close securely. Shake the unit vigorously for at least 5 seconds. Press the on/off button once and wait for the blue light to begin pulsing. Then, press and hold the on/off button for five seconds to initiate the cleaning cycle, which is indicated by the power light turning solid blue. Spray for at least 10 seconds, then open the top of the biem to empty the extra soapy water. Repeat the cycle using fresh water and no soap. Spray any remaining water out if desired before inserting a stick of butter, and you are ready to biēm away!
How often should I clean my biēm?
We recommend a quick hot water rinse and spray before replenishing the biēm with a fresh stick of butter. A monthly cleaning using soap and hot water (see HOW do you clean the biēm section above) is also recommended. After cleaning it is highly recommended that you fill with a small amount of butter or coconut oil and spray for a few seconds, leaving some in the biem. This step is important if you are not going to use the biem right away as it will help keep internal parts lubricated and functioning at their optimum performance levels.