A connecting element for providing an electrical connection in a processing space of a household appliance, includes a protruding, longitudinally displaceable contact pin configured for displacement between a rest position protruding farther and an operating position protruding less far, wherein the contact pin pushes into the rest position. The connecting element is disposed on a side wall of the processing space, particularly a cooking space. An insert module can be inserted in the processing space of the household appliance and can be operated electrically. The insert module has a mating electrical connection element for contacting the connecting element.

An oven to facilitate heating a food item is disclosed that includes an oven box one or more upper heating elements, and one or more lower heating elements. The oven box has a floor, a ceiling spaced across a height of the oven box from the floor, and at least one side wall that extends between the floor and the ceiling to at least partially delineate an interior of the oven box from an exterior thereof. The one or more upper heating elements are spaced proximate the ceiling relative to the one or more lower heating elements. The one or more lower heating elements are spaced proximate the floor relative to the one or more upper heating elements. The one or more lower heating elements are arranged in a first pattern and the one or more upper heating elements arranged in a second pattern. The first pattern is different than the second pattern.

A cooking appliance includes a heating cavity with a heat source. A cavity connector is disposed within the heating cavity and a rack is slidably coupled with a sliding structure disposed within the heating cavity. A powered accessory has a connecting plug and is engageable with the rack. The connecting plug is configured to be in selective communication with the cavity connector. A first locating assembly is configured to locate and engage the powered accessory with the rack and is coupled to the powered accessory. A second locating assembly is disposed between the sliding structure and a pair of opposing sidewalk of the heating cavity.

A method for operating a cooking system includes receiving information from a powered cooking accessory positioned within an interior cavity of an oven. The powered cooking accessory includes a body receivable within an interior of the oven, a first electronic device coupled with the body, and a device coupling extending from the body. The method further includes determining at least one characteristic of the powered cooking accessory and providing electrical power to the electronic device by an electrical coupling between the device coupling and a connection port within the interior cavity of the oven at a predetermined output level based on the at least one characteristic thereof.

A cooking appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a case having a cooking chamber formed therein; a door for opening/closing a front opening of the case; a steam generation device mounted on the exterior of the case; and a steam supply pipe for connecting the steam generation device and the cooking chamber, wherein the steam generation device can comprise: a housing fixed to the case; a drawer provided so as to be able to be withdrawn from and put into the housing, and into which water for generating steam is filled; and a heating unit mounted on the lower surface of the drawer so as to heat the water filled inside the drawer.

A cooking oven has a cooking cavity and a steam generating system. The steam generation system includes a water reservoir received and support in a reservoir-receiving space of a reservoir rack inside the cooking cavity. Thermal energy is provided to the water reservoir by a heater inside the cooking cavity. The heater can include thermal block made of a thermally conductive material in thermal communication with a heating element. The heater can be positioned such that it intimately contacts the water reservoir to deliver thermal energy thereto to convert water contained therein to steam, which can be used to cook a food item inside the cooking cavity.

A powered cooking accessory for use in an oven includes a body receivable within an interior of the oven and a first electronic device received within a portion of the body. The accessory further includes a device coupling extending from the body and having a power coupling exposed thereon and electrically connected with the electronic device. The device coupling has an identification element encoded with information regarding at least one characteristic of the accessory and is coupleable with the oven to receive electrical power from the oven and to communicate the information encoded with the identification element to the oven.

A cooking appliance includes an oven body having an interior compartment and a door panel for accessing the interior compartment, wherein the interior compartment is sized to receive a food product; a removable heated tray positionable within the interior compartment, wherein the heated tray includes a top tray surface and a first heating source positioned below the top tray surface; and a second heating source positioned within the interior compartment.

A cooking appliance is provided herein that includes a pair of opposing sidewalls and a rear wall defining a heating cavity. A heat source is in thermal communication with the heating cavity. A cavity connector is disposed within an interior surface of the heating cavity. The cavity connector is in communication with the heating cavity. A rack is coupled with a sliding structure. The sliding structure is disposed proximate the pair of sidewalls. A powered accessory has a connecting plug and is engageable with the rack. The connecting plug is configured to be in selective communication with the cavity connector. A first locating assembly is configured to locate and engage the powered accessory with the rack. A second locating assembly is disposed between the sliding structure and the opposing sidewalls. A third locating assembly is disposed on a rear portion of the rack.

A handle for a support structure in a cooking appliance. The handle may include an inner periphery and an outer periphery. The handle may include an opening defined by at least a forward member and a rearward member. The opening may extend from a top side to a bottom side of the handle. One or more inwardly facing contact surfaces of the handle may include a plurality of ribs.