A fryer apparatus is disclosed herein for rapidly increasing pressure in a pressure fryer cooking chamber during a cooking cycle. Such fryer apparatus may determine whether a pressure output in the cooking chamber is closed. The fryer apparatus also determines a pressure of the cooking chamber, compares the pressure of the cooking chamber to a predetermined optimal pressure to determine whether the pressure of the cooking chamber is less than the optimal pressure, and activates a filter pump that supplies air from a drain pan into the cooking chamber in response to determining that the pressure output is closed and the pressure of the cooking chamber is less than the optimal pressure. The fryer apparatus further deactivates the filter pump when the pressure within the cooking chamber is equal to or greater than the optimal pressure.

A pressurized oven is provided having a fully sealed cavity, reduces heat lost, shortens cooking time and saves energy of oven operation. The pressurized oven includes a cavity component, a door assembly, heating elements and a control system that includes a relief valve on top of the cavity. The relief valve includes a valve weight and a venting stub, wherein the valve weight sits on the top of the venting stub. The valve weight disposed on top of the venting stub remains closed and the gas is not released when the pressure is not sufficient to lift the valve weight. When the pressure inside the oven is sufficient to lift the valve weight, the valve weight block is lifted to open the valve, the gas is released and the pressure is decreased. Once the pressure becomes less than the valve weight, the valve closes and gas is no longer released.

A cooking appliance has a pivotable pot having a pot pivot axle and a pivotable lid having a lid pivot axle, and includes a common drive for pivoting the pot and the lid.

A pressurized oven is provided having a fully sealed cavity, reduces heat lost, shortens cooking time and saves energy of oven operation. The pressurized oven includes a cavity component, a door assembly, heating elements and a control system that includes a relief valve on top of the cavity. The relief valve includes a valve weight and a venting stub, wherein the valve weight sits on the top of the venting stub. The valve weight disposed on top of the venting stub remains closed and the gas is not released when the pressure is not sufficient to lift the valve weight. When the pressure inside the oven is sufficient to lift the valve weight, the valve weight block is lifted to open the valve, the gas is released and the pressure is decreased. Once the pressure becomes less than the valve weight, the valve closes and gas is no longer released.

A combination pressure and open frying apparatus includes at least one selectively closeable frypot and a cover configured to selectively close the frypot. The selectively closeable frypot is configured to operate as a pressure frying platform when the cover is closed and configured to operate as an open frying platform when the cover is open. The apparatus includes a clamping mechanism with a spindle that includes a shaft and a handle that is configured to be selectively mounted to the shaft in a plurality of positions relative to the shaft. The apparatus may also include at least one second frypot that can operate at least as an open frying platform, with a common filtration system for the frypots having a selector valve and a failsafe valve, which prevents flow of cooking medium into at least one selectively closeable frypot when the selectively closeable frypot is pressurized.

A combination pressure and open frying apparatus includes at least one selectively closeable frypot and a cover configured to selectively close the frypot. The selectively closeable frypot is configured to operate as a pressure frying platform when the cover is closed and configured to operate as an open frying platform when the cover is open. The apparatus includes a clamping mechanism with a spindle that includes a shaft and a handle that is configured to be selectively mounted to the shaft in a plurality of positions relative to the shaft. The apparatus may also include at least one second frypot that can operate at least as an open frying platform, with a common filtration system for the frypots having a selector valve and a failsafe valve, which prevents flow of cooking medium into at least one selectively closeable frypot when the selectively closeable frypot is pressurized.