In an embodiment, an automatic food preparation and serving apparatus comprises: a digital electronics storage controller configured to send signals representing an order input; a storage apparatus comprising a plurality of temperature-control regions and configured to hold one or more magazines in the plurality of temperature-control regions, each of the one or more magazines configured to store a plurality of food canisters, and configured to regulate temperature of contents in the plurality of food canisters in the plurality of temperature-control regions; a canister transport mechanism configured to transport the plurality of food canisters away from the storage apparatus; a food dispensing mechanism configured to receive the plurality of food canisters transported away from the storage apparatus and to dispense one or more ingredients stored in one or more of the plurality of food canisters according to the signals from the digital electronics storage controller.

A computer receives one or more recipes related to a meal. The computer analyzes the one or more recipes using natural language processing to identify a plurality of ingredients of the one or more recipes. The computer analyzes the one or more recipes using natural language processing to identify a plurality of steps to prepare each of the one or more recipes. The computer receives sensor input to identify a kitchen layout including locations of one or more devices for preparing the one or more recipes. The computer determines a plurality of parameters of a meal preparation plan based on the identified plurality of ingredients, the identified plurality of steps, and the identified kitchen layout, wherein the one or more parameters includes an order of meal preparation. The computer outputs the meal preparation plan to a user.

Heated cabinets suitable for storing temperature-sensitive products, systems including the same, and methods of using such systems. Such a cabinet includes walls that define a cavity therebetween, a door adapted to selectively enclose the cavity and provide access to the cavity, at least one heating element embedded within one or more of the walls or mounted to interior surfaces of one or more of the walls, and a source of electrical power for the heating element.

A food locker includes a housing, a food support member, a first door, a second door, and a lock. The housing includes a front wall a front wall, a rear wall, and a chamber. The front wall includes a first opening in communication with the chamber. The rear wall includes a second opening in communication with the chamber. The food support member is disposed within the chamber. The first door is supported by the housing and is movable between a closed position and an open position. The food support member is accessible through the first opening when the first door is in the open position. The second door is supported by the housing and is movable between a closed position and an open position. The food support member is accessible through the second opening when the second door is in the open position. The lock is operatively coupled to at least one of the housing and the first door and is actuatable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. The lock is operable to (i) permit the first door to move from the closed position to the open position when the lock is in the unlocked configuration and (ii) prevent the first door from moving from the closed position to the open position when the lock is in the locked configuration.

An oven for heating food and associated components and methods. The oven includes a food heating compartment bounding a food holding space for holding food to be heated. The food holding space has an open top. A bottom wall of the food heating compartment supports food in the food holding space and has gas flow inlets. A gas supply plenum is disposed below the food holding space and is in fluid communication with the food holding space via the gas flow inlets. A gas supply duct defines a gas supply passageway disposed below and fluidly coupled to the gas supply plenum. A heater heats the gas as the gas flows through the gas supply passageway. A blower blows the gas through the gas supply passageway, into the gas supply plenum and through the gas flow inlets into the food holding space for heating the food.

A method of using a storage and cooking device having multiple thermal containers includes disposing a first food item in a first thermal container, a second food item in a second thermal container, and a third food item in a third thermal container. A volume of fluid is cooled and circulated through at least a portion of the device such that thermal energy from at least one of the first, second, or third food item is transferred to the cooled fluid. The device is transitioned from a first operating mode to a second operating mode in response to a criterion being satisfied. When in the second configuration, the volume of fluid is heated and circulated through at least a portion of the device such that thermal energy is transferred from the volume of fluid to at least one of the first, second, or third food item.

An intelligent multifunctional storage cabinet device includes a smart cabinet and a backend control terminal, wherein the smart cabinet is connected to and communicates with the backend control terminal via a network connection. The smart cabinet includes a cabinet and a monitoring device. The monitoring device is installed on the top of the cabinet, and the monitoring device is connected to and communicates with the backend control terminal via a network connection. The cabinet includes a parcel storage component comprising a plurality of parcel storage compartments, a food storage component comprising a plurality of food storage compartments, and a key storage component comprising a plurality of key storage compartments. The key storage compartment is located between the parcel storage compartment and the food storage compartment. The parcel storage compartment is located at one side of the food storage compartment.

An intelligent multifunctional storage cabinet device includes a smart cabinet and a backend control terminal, wherein the smart cabinet is connected to and communicates with the backend control terminal via a network connection. The smart cabinet includes a cabinet and a monitoring device. The monitoring device is installed on the top of the cabinet, and the monitoring device is connected to and communicates with the backend control terminal via a network connection. The cabinet includes a parcel storage component comprising a plurality of parcel storage compartments, a food storage component comprising a plurality of food storage compartments, and a key storage component comprising a plurality of key storage compartments. The key storage compartment is located between the parcel storage compartment and the food storage compartment. The parcel storage compartment is located at one side of the food storage compartment.

A system for storing food products at predetermined temperatures includes a food product receiving holding cabinet, a first storage bin in the holding cabinet for receiving a tray, a temperature control device that is in thermal communication with the tray, and a controller that transfers a selected timer by touching a user interface of the holding cabinet, thereby designating the selected timer for transfer to be associated with the first storage bin.

Disclosed herein is a cooking system for cooking food, the system including a housing having a hollow interior, a lid movable relative to the housing, at least one heating element associated with one of the housing and the lid, wherein the cooking system is operable in a plurality of modes including a conductive cooking mode and a convective cooking mode, wherein in the conductive cooking mode the cooking system is operable as a conductive cooker and in the convective cooking mode the cooking system is operable as a convection cooker.