Various examples are related to making flatbreads such as, e.g., a compact machine for making flatbread in a residential kitchen-type environment or other countertop, tabletop, or space limited applications. In one example, a machine includes a hopper including a mixing chamber configured for bulk addition of raw materials for preparation of flatbread pieces; a mixing assembly configured to blend the raw materials into a flatbread dough mixture; a dough piecing assembly configured to generate a dough piece from an extruded portion of the flatbread dough mixture; a lower platen configured to transfer the pressed flatbread dough piece to a cooking zone on the dough contacting surface for cooking; and a flatbread ejection station configured to remove a cooked flatbread piece from the machine. A second cooking zone can be included to further cook the pressed flatbread dough piece prior to ejection from the machine.

The present invention relates to a dispensing unit for baked products, in particular, baguettes, and to a device for dispensing baked products which comprises a dispensing unit. Such dispensing units can be found, for example, in supermarkets, with a continuous baking oven being connected upstream of said dispensing units. At a customer's request by pushing on a button it is possible for various, freshly baked or crisped-up baked products to be dispensed from the dispensing unit.

An automated pizza making system, comprising: a computer-based controller; an ordering system; automated food handling devices; racks; toppings stations; ovens; cutting stations, and packaging stations. Conveyors and/or automated food handling devices move the pizzas between the racks, the topping stations, the ovens, the cutting stations, and the packaging stations, such that made to order pizzas are created without being handled by human hands. The toppings stations may comprise sauce stations, cheese stations, and meat/veggie topping stations. The ordering system may be configured to allow a plurality of customer orders and the computer-based controller is configured to process the orders, such that the automated pizza ordering system produces made to order pizzas that are picked up or delivered.

An automated pizza making system, comprising: a computer-based controller; an ordering system; automated food handling devices; racks; toppings stations; ovens; cutting stations, and packaging stations. Conveyors and/or automated food handling devices move the pizzas between the racks, the topping stations, the ovens, the cutting stations, and the packaging stations, such that made to order pizzas are created without being handled by human hands. The toppings stations may comprise sauce stations, cheese stations, and meat/veggie topping stations. The ordering system may be configured to allow a plurality of customer orders and the computer-based controller is configured to process the orders, such that the automated pizza ordering system produces made to order pizzas that are picked up or delivered.

A method for translating cooking time and temperatures for prepackaged food products. The sous-vide program allows users to cook to a food manufacturer recommended doneness based on the size, shape and fat content of the food. The program also lets user adjust setting if the users modified the food product like cut it in half. The program can be located on the sous vide cooking device or on person computing device.

Apparatuses and methods for preparation of breads are described. The apparatuses include a press unit that can receive a dough ball and flatten the dough ball. The press unit includes a top plate and a bottom plate, each of which is in an inclined arrangement. The top plate swivels towards and away from the bottom plate. A dough ball is flattened between the top plate and the bottom plate. The bottom plate is heated, thereby heating a first face of the flattened dough in contact with the bottom plate. A flipper connected to at least one of the top plate and the bottom plate guides the flattened dough to a heated cooking surface. The guiding enables a second face of the flattened dough to come in contact with the cooking surface, thereby heating the flattened dough and forming the bread.

A method of making precooked meat pieces using a hybrid cooking system comprises preheating meat pieces to a temperature of at least approximately 140 F. to create preheated meat pieces. The preheated meat pieces are transferred to an oven heated with an external heating source. The oven includes internal surfaces, and the external heating source assists in keeping the internal surfaces at a temperature below a smoke point of fat from the meat pieces. The preheated meat pieces are cooked in the oven to a water activity level of 0.92 or less to create precooked meat pieces. Optionally, flavoring could be applied to the precooked meat pieces after the precooked meat pieces have been removed from the oven and before the precooked meat pieces have cooled.

A method of making precooked meat pieces using a hybrid cooking system comprises preheating meat pieces to a temperature of at least approximately 140 F. to create preheated meat pieces. The preheated meat pieces are transferred to an oven heated with an external heating source. The oven includes internal surfaces, and the external heating source assists in keeping the internal surfaces at a temperature below a smoke point of fat from the meat pieces. The preheated meat pieces are cooked in the oven to a water activity level of 0.92 or less to create precooked meat pieces. Optionally, flavoring could be applied to the precooked meat pieces after the precooked meat pieces have been removed from the oven and before the precooked meat pieces have cooled.

Devices and methods for automating the process of making flatbread, such as roti. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a housing, an ingredient metering assembly, a mixing bowl assembly, a mixing actuator assembly, a cooking assembly, and an electronic assembly. The housing defines an interior volume and has several access openings with corresponding lids and/or covers. The ingredient metering assembly includes a flour container assembly, a flour delivery system, a water reservoir, and an oil reservoir. The mixing bowl assembly includes two bowls and a measurement system. The mixing actuator assembly includes a mixing mount, a mixing motor, a mixing paddle assembly, and a lower motor. The cooking assembly includes two platens and an actuator assembly. The electronic assembly includes a power source, a control module, and a LCD input/output screen. All components are integrated within the housing such that the apparatus is a consumer grade countertop appliance.

Various examples are related to making flatbreads such as, e.g., a compact machine for making flatbread in a residential kitchen-type environment or other countertop, tabletop, or space limited applications. In one example, a machine includes a hopper including a mixing chamber configured for bulk addition of raw materials for preparation of flatbread pieces; a mixing assembly configured to blend the raw materials into a flatbread dough mixture; a dough piecing assembly configured to generate a dough piece from an extruded portion of the flatbread dough mixture; a lower platen configured to transfer the pressed flatbread dough piece to a cooking zone on the dough contacting surface for cooking; and a flatbread ejection station configured to remove a cooked flatbread piece from the machine. A second cooking zone can be included to further cook the pressed flatbread dough piece prior to ejection from the machine.