Food preparation apparatus and associated appliance modules and methods. Appliances modules can be selectively docked at docks of an appliance interface of a base. An appliance module includes a food container support surface movable between cooking and holding positions. An appliance module includes a receptacle having a holding well that can be selectively configured in a generally horizontal position or an inclined position.

A cooking unit includes a cooktop, a hood assembly, a duct assembly, and a fan. The cooktop defines a slot at least partially extending along a peripheral edge of the cooktop. The hood assembly includes a hood support extending upward from the cooktop and a hood coupled to the hood support. The hood support defines a conduit. The hood defines an intake and a hood chamber connecting the intake to the conduit of the hood support. The duct assembly includes ducting extending beneath the cooktop. The ducting connects the conduit to the slot. The fan is positioned to drive air into the intake, through the hood chamber, through the conduit, through the ducting, and out of the slot. At least a portion of the air exiting the slot returns to the intake such that an air curtain is generated between the slot and the intake.

A vending machine system for loading and dispensing pre-baked unpackaged food including a fixed cartridge disposed in a refrigerator of a vending machine, and a transport cartridge adapted to removably attach to the fixed cartridge, the transport cartridge operable for holding trays of unpackaged food and loading the trays of unpackaged food from the transport cartridge into the fixed cartridge, wherein, when the transport cartridge is removably attached to the fixed cartridge, a front opening of the transport cartridge aligns with a front opening of the fixed cartridge, and wherein the rack of the transport cartridge aligns with the conveyor system of the fixed cartridge such that trays of unpackaged food within the transport cartridge can simultaneously be transitioned from the rack to the conveyor system.

A cubby unit includes a plurality of cubbies and a thermal management system. Each of the plurality of cubbies includes a cubby housing defining an internal compartment. The thermal management system is configured to facilitate thermally regulating at least one of (i) a food product selectively received within the internal compartment of at least one of the plurality of cubbies or (ii) the internal compartment of the at least one of the plurality of cubbies.

A cooling and heating cabinet according to an embodiment of the present invention may comprise: an inner case having a storage space provided therein; an outer case which is disposed surrounding the inner case and forms an insulation cavity between the outer case and the inner case; a thermoelectric element module disposed in the insulation cavity; a separation panel disposed inside the inner case and having a plurality of through-holes; an agitating part disposed between the separation panel and the bottom surface of the inner case, and having a magnet and an agitating fan that rotates with the magnet; and a magnetic field-generating part disposed outside the outer case, and generating a magnetic field to rotate the magnet.

A food delivery container including a plurality of insulated walls that form a food chamber, and a climate control system. The climate control system includes an air flow pathway and a heating and/or cooling element positioned within the air flow pathway. A fan is in air flow communication with the food chamber through a first inlet opening and a first outlet opening in the one of the plurality of insulated walls. The fan is configured to draw in air from the food chamber through the first inlet opening and push air into the food chamber through the first outlet opening such that air travels through the air flow pathway and over the cooling and/or heating element to circulate heated/cooled air within the food delivery container. The climate control system also includes a power supply configured to supply electrical power to the fan and the cooling/heating element.

Disclosed herein is a cooking system for cooking food, the system including a housing defining a hollow chamber configured to receive a food container. The housing has an upper portion defining an opening to the hollow chamber. A lid is movable relative to the housing. The lid contacts the housing in a closed position about the upper portion of the housing to close the opening to the hollow chamber. At least one heating element is associated with at least one of said housing and said lid. The cooking system is operable in a plurality of cooking modes including a pressure cooking mode and a dry cooking mode. In the pressure cooking mode, the cooking system is operable as a pressure cooker and in the dry cooking mode, the cooking system is operable as a dry cooker.

Disclosed herein is a cooking system for cooking food, the system including a housing defining a hollow chamber configured to receive a food container. The housing has an upper portion defining an opening to the hollow chamber. A lid is movable relative to the housing. The lid contacts the housing in a closed position about the upper portion of the housing to close the opening to the hollow chamber. At least one heating element is associated with at least one of said housing and said lid. The cooking system is operable in a plurality of cooking modes including a pressure cooking mode and a dry cooking mode. In the pressure cooking mode, the cooking system is operable as a pressure cooker and in the dry cooking mode, the cooking system is operable as a dry cooker.

Disclosed herein is a cooking system including a housing defining a hollow chamber. An upper portion of the housing defines an opening to the hollow chamber. A food container is receivable within said hollow chamber. A lid configured to cover the upper portion of the housing and the opening in a closed position, is moveable to an open position where the lid does not cover the opening. At least one heating element is associated with the housing or the lid. The cooking system is operable in a conductive cooking mode and a convective cooking mode. In said conductive cooking mode, the cooking system is operable as a conductive cooker and in said convective cooking mode, the cooking system is operable as a convection cooker. The cooking system is operable in the conductive cooking mode and then the convective cooking mode without removing said food container from said hollow chamber.

Disclosed herein is a cooking system including a housing defining a hollow chamber. The housing has an upper portion defining an opening to the hollow chamber. A food container is receivable within said hollow chamber. A lid, movable relative to said housing, contacts the upper portion of the housing in a closed position to close the opening to the hollow chamber. At least one heating element is associated with at least one of said housing and said lid. The cooking system is operable in a conductive cooking mode and a convective cooking mode. In the conductive cooking mode, the cooking system is operable as a conductive cooker and in said convective cooking mode, the cooking system is operable as a convection cooker. The cooking system is operable in the conductive cooking mode and then is operable in said convective cooking mode without removing said food container from said hollow chamber.