Had the same thought. Who's to say that the AI will see humanity as "an interesting part of the universe"? For all we know it might be the exact opposite and it thinks we need to be eradicated.
Mesh basket in pot of oil on a linear actuator to put the basket in and out of the oil. Slap on some thermometers and when the oil is hot enough tell the arduino to drop the good stuff in the oil. Easy.