An automatic fryer apparatus and method of frying food products includes a cooking chamber, a heating mechanism disposed in the cooking chamber, and a pump disposed at an end of the cooking chamber to circulate cooking medium within the cooking chamber. Food product is added to the cooking chamber and flows along with the cooking medium in a flow direction. A controller controls a plurality of gates by individually actuating each gate. The controller stores data regarding predetermined time periods, which regulate when to raise and lower each gate. Food product moves downstream of each gate along a flow direction when each respective gate is raised. Food product is automatically transferred to a holding station when it reaches an outlet end of the cooking chamber.

A fryer includes a cooking chamber for holding a cooking medium at least one heating element positioned within the cooking chamber, and a chain conveyor for selectively advancing food product through the cooking chamber along a movement path. The chain conveyor includes first and second chains coupled together by a plurality of baskets extending therebetween. The movement path includes a series of legs, including a first leg wherein the food product moves substantially vertically from above the cooking medium to a greatest depth within the cooking medium and including a second leg subsequent to the first leg wherein the food product moves substantially horizontally at the greatest depth within the cooking medium. Automated filtering systems and methods for removing debris from cooking medium are also provided.

A turkey cooking device comprises a base, a burner, a gas supply device, a turkey pot, a temperature control device disposed on the base or the burner, and a safety valve disposed on the burner. The burner and the turkey pot are disposed on the base. The burner is located below the turkey pot and connected to the gas supply device. The temperature control device comprises a temperature controller, which abuts against the outer circumferential wall of the turkey pot, is electrically connected to the safety valve and controls the burner to open or close through the safety valve. The temperature control device controls the safety valve to close to cut off a gas source when detecting that the temperature of the outer circumferential wall of the turkey pot reaches a preset temperature, so that the situation that food is affected under an excessively-high oil temperature and consequentially the health of eaters is affected is prevented; user attendance is not needed, and the device can be easily and conveniently operated by users; and fire accidents caused by spontaneous combustion of cooking oil under an excessively-high temperature can be prevented.

A robotic kitchen system for preparing food items in combination with at least one kitchen appliance such as a fryer comprises an automated bin assembly, a robotic arm, and a basket held by the robotic arm. The automated bin assembly comprises at least one automated bin for holding the food items. A camera or sensor array collects image data of the food items in the bin(s). A central processor is operable to compute and provide directions to the first robotic arm and automated bin assembly based on the image data and stored data to (a) move the robotic arm to the bin; (b) actuate the bin to drop the food items from the bin into the basket; (c) and to move the basket into the fryer all without human interaction. Related methods are also described.

A deep fryer and related methods of frying a whole turkey in a reduced cooking oil volume. A frying basin can have a rounded profile avoiding dead spaces within the frying basin. The frying basin can include a recessed channel at a bottommost portion of the frying basin to accommodate a heating element, such that the heating element does not project above a floor of the frying basin. The deep fryer can have a rotisserie assembly for mounting and rotating the whole turkey such that only a lower half of the whole turkey is submerged within the cooking oil at any one time. The deep fryer can include a kick-stand feature that allows a user to lower and raise the rotisserie assembly including the whole turkey using only one hand such that a user need not lean over or otherwise put their hands or body above the frying basin.

An apparatus and method for controlling the movement of a food product in a container is described. The apparatus can be cleanable, portable, and fully automated. It can include a main container for holding the food product and one or more other containers for holding a substance, such as liquid. The main container can be moved between the one or more other containers so that the food product is immersed in the substance (e.g., liquid) in the one or more other containers. Any of the containers can be heated to heat the food product. This movement of the main container can be used run fully automated cycles (e.g., sprouting, rinsing, soaking, cooking, cleaning, etc.) that do not require user interaction.

Embodiments teaching appliance base constructions which increase stability, using both static and dynamic base extending elements. Methods to enhance coloring of the fried foods. Food support structures which utilize two-hand manipulation to increase safety and control. Removable handle construction, which decreases storage space. Peripheral feet on appliance base, to increase safety and stability. Various means for securing unitary food items, including fowl, during cooking. Structures which help prevent accidental deep fryer oil overflow onto supporting surfaces. Lid constructions, which keep a lid in place to protect the user, even while loading oversized, vertically extending foods. Food drainage opening assist device, to help drain fowl cavities after deep frying. Collapsible food support devices, used for cooking, serving, carving, and other purposes. Movable partitions within a food support, to compartmentalize, contain, cap, and space apart foods being cooked. Structures to help align over-extending food during their loading into a cooking vessel.

A frying machine for efficiently placing ingredients into a frying basket and removing fried food from the frying basket. Ingredients are placed into, and fried food is removed from, a frying basket by moving the frying basket and a frying tank cover to above the frying tank using a first transfer mechanism, moving the frying basket and frying tank cover to a predetermined position using a second transfer mechanism, and causing the frying basket to descend to an ingredient input position or fried food output position using the first transfer mechanism, and the ingredients are placed into the frying basket and the fried food is removed from the frying basket efficiently at the ingredient input position or fried food output position separated in the horizontal direction from a position above the frying tank in a configuration equipped with the frying tank cover adapted to open and close the frying tank.

The present invention belongs to the field of food processing, and particularly to an oil barrel and an electric fryer having the same; wherein, the oil barrel comprises an outer shell shaped as a barrel, an inner shell shaped as a barrel, disposed in a barrel cavity of the outer shell, and having a distance from the outer shell, and a shell connector configured to connect the outer shell with the inner shell and connected between a lip edge of the outer shell and a lip edge of the inner shell; the outer shell, the inner shell and the shell connector cooperatively define a thermal insulation chamber; the outer shell of the oil barrel is provided with a vacuuming interface structure, which is configured to cooperate with a vacuuming device to evacuate air from the thermal insulation chamber and make the thermal insulation chamber become a vacuum chamber.

A robotic system for cooking food products, including: (a) a robotic arm, wherein the robotic arm includes a pair of opposing gripping members, and wherein the robotic arm is horizontally displaceable within a first plane, vertically displaceable within a second plane, and pivotally displaceable about a first axis; (b) a cooking reservoir basin for containing oil, wherein the cooking reservoir basin includes a basket flipping plate, and one or more basket holders; (c) a cooked food products basin for containing cooked food products; (d) means for heating oil in the cooking reservoir basin; (e) an optional hopper for supplying food products; and (f) a control panel for controlling/directing the robotic arm.