A modular appliance apparatus is disclosed for use in the preparation of food products. The modular appliance apparatus may have a housing to contain internal components. The housing may contain a motor, a controller, and electronic circuitry. On a bottom portion of the housing, at least one base contact may be present. An attachment may secure to the bottom portion of the housing and contain at least one attachment contact. An electronic connection between the at least one base contact and at least one attachment contact may be interpreted by the controller to determine a speed of operation by the motor. Depending on the type of attachment secured to the housing, various different combinations of electronic connections may be made to operate the motor at different speeds to meet the requirements for food preparation by the specific attachment.

A modular appliance apparatus is disclosed for use in the preparation of food products. The modular appliance apparatus may have a housing to contain internal components. The housing may contain a motor, a controller, and electronic circuitry. On a bottom portion of the housing, at least one base contact may be present. An attachment may secure to the bottom portion of the housing and contain at least one attachment contact. An electronic connection between the at least one base contact and at least one attachment contact may be interpreted by the controller to determine a speed of operation by the motor. Depending on the type of attachment secured to the housing, various different combinations of electronic connections may be made to operate the motor at different speeds to meet the requirements for food preparation by the specific attachment.

The cooking coordination method includes: determining a menu S110; determining available resources S 120; determining a cooking schedule based on the menu S130; and instructing the resources according to the cooking schedule S140. The method can optionally include: monitoring cooking progress S150; and determining instruction completion S160. The method functions to automatically coordinate a set of resources to cooperatively cook a menu (e.g., recipe set). Invariants, the method functions to coordinate the set of resources such that cooking is completed at the same time.

The cooking coordination method includes: determining a menu S110; determining available resources S 120; determining a cooking schedule based on the menu S130; and instructing the resources according to the cooking schedule S140. The method can optionally include: monitoring cooking progress S150; and determining instruction completion S160. The method functions to automatically coordinate a set of resources to cooperatively cook a menu (e.g., recipe set). Invariants, the method functions to coordinate the set of resources such that cooking is completed at the same time.

A portable kitchen assembly for cold storage and cooking of food items includes a housing, which defines an interior space. A power module is engaged to the housing. A cooktop is engaged to an upper facet of the housing and is operationally engaged to the power module. An oven is engaged to the housing and is positioned in the interior space so that a door of the oven is accessible from a front of the housing. Food items can be heated on the cooktop or baked or cooked in the oven. A cooling unit is engaged to the housing and is positioned in the interior space so that a door of the cooling unit is accessible from the front of the housing. The cooling unit provides cold storage for a food item. A set of wheels is engaged to a lower facet of the housing allows for locomotion of the housing across a surface.

A portable kitchen assembly for cold storage and cooking of food items includes a housing, which defines an interior space. A power module is engaged to the housing. A cooktop is engaged to an upper facet of the housing and is operationally engaged to the power module. An oven is engaged to the housing and is positioned in the interior space so that a door of the oven is accessible from a front of the housing. Food items can be heated on the cooktop or baked or cooked in the oven. A cooling unit is engaged to the housing and is positioned in the interior space so that a door of the cooling unit is accessible from the front of the housing. The cooling unit provides cold storage for a food item. A set of wheels is engaged to a lower facet of the housing allows for locomotion of the housing across a surface.

An on-demand automated aseptic fryer may be used to prepare multiple types of fried foods without requiring vats of hot oil. The fried foods that may be prepared include, for example, donuts or potatoes, or any other fried foods that can be prepared from a dry mixture that produces a dough when mixed with water. Alternatively, the dry mixture may include a dried, powdered or reconstituted fruits or vegetables that are subsequently mixed with water. The entire process is automated once the process is initiated by a user and thus does not require an attendant during the frying process, which in some implementations can be completed in less than about 1.5 minutes once initiated.

An on-demand automated aseptic fryer may be used to prepare multiple types of fried foods without requiring vats of hot oil. The fried foods that may be prepared include, for example, donuts or potatoes, or any other fried foods that can be prepared from a dry mixture that produces a dough when mixed with water. Alternatively, the dry mixture may include a dried, powdered or reconstituted fruits or vegetables that are subsequently mixed with water. The entire process is automated once the process is initiated by a user and thus does not require an attendant during the frying process, which in some implementations can be completed in less than about 1.5 minutes once initiated.

A combined food cutting and rounding machine comprises a supply opening through which edible material passes, a stator located adjacent the supply opening and a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator. The stator includes a stator forming channel. The rotor includes a plurality of rotor forming channels and a plurality of blades, at least one of the plurality of blades being located adjacent to each of the plurality of rotor forming channels. The stator forming channel and each of the plurality of rotor forming channels are arcuate in length. The supply opening, stator and rotor are configured such that, during operation as the rotor rotates relative to the stator, edible material exiting the supply opening is cut by one of the plurality of blades and formed into a ball by simultaneous contact with the stator forming channel and one of the plurality of rotor forming channels.

A combined food cutting and rounding machine comprises a supply opening through which edible material passes, a stator located adjacent the supply opening and a rotor configured to rotate relative to the stator. The stator includes a stator forming channel. The rotor includes a plurality of rotor forming channels and a plurality of blades, at least one of the plurality of blades being located adjacent to each of the plurality of rotor forming channels. The stator forming channel and each of the plurality of rotor forming channels are arcuate in length. The supply opening, stator and rotor are configured such that, during operation as the rotor rotates relative to the stator, edible material exiting the supply opening is cut by one of the plurality of blades and formed into a ball by simultaneous contact with the stator forming channel and one of the plurality of rotor forming channels.