Example methods and systems are directed to moving a quantity of a bulk food item within an automated cooking system. A quantity of the bulk food item may be provided from a bulk food dispenser. The quantity of the bulk food item may be received at a lower transfer component from the bulk food dispenser. The quantity of the bulk food item may be transferred from the lower transfer component to a dump bin at a first location. The dump bin may move vertically from the first location to a second location above the first location. The quantity of the bulk food item may be provided or dispensed to the automated cooking system while the dump bin is located at the second location.

An improved outdoor cooking apparatus features a pot with multiple cooking inserts and burner frame that supports a burner element. One insert can be used for cooking an entire poultry carcass. Other inserts are perforated baskets that can be used to fry items.

A sous-vide rack system is disclosed. The system is to be used for supporting sous-vide food items inside sous-vide heating containers and comprises a bottom grating (20) with at least one mounting rail (23), each rail comprising at least one mounting arrangement. The system further comprises at least one separator with at least one separator foot (22) to be inserted into one of the at mounting arrangements. Finally, the system comprises a locking device (24) for at least one of the mounting rails to be used in the mounting rail to lock all into the mounting rail inserted separators by their separator feet to the mounting rail and thus the bottom grating.

An electrical cooking appliance, notably a deep fat fryer, includes a vat, an electrical heating device and a cooking accessory including a perforated basket and a removable insert including a perforated cooking support, the insert including two opposed support members resting on a top edge of the basket when the cooking support is arranged in the basket, each support member being extended by a member for grasping extending away from the basket when the cooking support is placed in the basket. Each member for grasping stands up above the level of the top edge of the basket when the cooking support is placed in the basket.

The present invention can provide a frying apparatus having an oil recycling and purifying function and a frying oil separating function including: a main body casing, at least one oil tank, a cooking heater, an oil purifying and circulating unit, a rotary drive unit, and an oil-outflow preventive cover, whereby a cooking oil used for cooking fried foods can periodically or continuously purified and recycled to have a constant purity, thus cooking the fried foods hygienically and also improving the taste of the fried foods, minimizing the consumption of the cooking oil to reduce costs.

Example embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to food preparation systems and associated automated gantry systems. An example automated food preparation system may include a housing that supports one or more baskets therein and a gantry system. The gantry system may include a retrieval arm and a drive system operably coupled with the retrieval arm. The drive system may cause movement of the retrieval arm in at least two directions relative to the housing. In operation, the retrieval arm may engage a basket and cause movement of the basket about the housing. In some instances, an ejection mechanism is provided that receives the basket from the retrieval arm and causes removal of the contents of the basket.

A stand alone container for housing dehydrated foodstuff and for use in a foodstuff machine has a continuous sidewall with first and second ends forming a storage area. A piston is complementarily positioned within the sidewall proximate the first end and is slidable with respect to the sidewall. The container contains dehydrated foodstuff located in the storage area and a removable cover positioned proximate the second end. The foodstuff machine includes a machine housing having an access opening for receiving the container having dehydrated foodstuff therein. A hydrating and positioning system moves from a loading position when the container is in the access opening to a hydrating position with the container second end above the first end and then to a transfer position where the first end is positioned above the second end. A liquid dispenser is positioned above the container when the container is in the hydrating position. The foodstuff machine has a transfer arm having an operative end for receiving the container and is movable from a first position that supports the container in the transfer position to an extrusion position where the container is located over a cooking station. A piston rod is operatively associated with the piston in the container and moves to force the piston toward the second end of the container to force hydrated foodstuff through the die to form uncooked strips which drop into the cooking station.

A cooking system (1), particularly suitable for a sous vide cooking process of at least one piece of foodstuff (9), particularly vacuum packaged foodstuff (9), comprising a cooking pot (2), and an insert (3) suitable for positioning of said foodstuff (9), wherein the insert is arrangable in said cooking pot (2), wherein said insert (3) comprises at least one positioning element (4) for positioning a foodstuff (9) spaced to at least one wall (7) and/or lid (10) of said cooking pot (2) and/or spaced to a surface of a fluid fillable or filled into the cooking pot (2), and wherein the insert (3), particularly the at least one positioning element (4) comprises a fluid circulation enhancing means, suitable for enhancement of circulation of said fluid (5) in said cooking pot (2).

The present invention is an apparatus comprising a disposable frying oil filter and a filter securing element, and a method of using the same. The disposable filter is adapted to cover the sides and base of a fryer basket and allow oil to pass though at a substantially similar rate to a filterless fryer basket, while trapping virtually all small particles released from a cookable item. The filter securing device is preferably a frame attached to the fryer basket, and is adapted to hold the disposable filter in place and allow for easy replacement when the disposable filter becomes saturated with small particles.

Basket apparatuses for use in food product preparation are provided that can be placed in cooking apparatuses. The basket apparatuses can include a plurality of side walls of one or more base sheets forming unitary side wall lattice-like portions and forming side wall component connection portions. The basket apparatuses can include a bottom wall of a base sheet forming a unitary bottom wall lattice-like portion and forming bottom wall component connection portions. The bottom wall is attached to the side walls to define a food product receiving space. The basket apparatuses includes a plurality of shelves with each shelf being pivotally connected to opposing side walls and movable between a stackable horizontal position and a stackable vertical position in the food product receiving space. Each shelf includes a base sheet forming a unitary shelf lattice-like portion having apertures therein forming substantially flat surfaces on which food products are placeable.