A multi-zone food holding bin has a continuous food supporting surface with multiple food holding zones. Each food holding zone is independently controllable so that different food temperatures may be maintained in adjacent food holding zones.

A heating unit includes a housing defining a thermal cavity, a reflector assembly disposed within the thermal cavity, and a heating element disposed within the thermal cavity. The reflector assembly includes a first reflector coupled to an interior surface of the housing and a second reflector coupled to the first reflector. The first reflector is spaced from the interior surface forming a first air gap therebetween and the second reflector is spaced from the first reflector forming a second air gap therebetween. The heating element is at least partially surrounded by the reflector assembly.

A heating unit includes a housing defining a thermal cavity and has a first longitudinal edge and an opposing second longitudinal edge, a reflector assembly disposed within the thermal cavity, a heating element, and a lighting element. The housing defines a vent positioned at least one of laterally between a central longitudinal plane of the housing and the first longitudinal edge and laterally between the central longitudinal plane and the opposing second longitudinal edge. The reflector assembly is coupled to an interior surface of the housing. A spacer is positioned between the reflector assembly and the interior surface forming an air gap therebetween. The heating element extends within the central longitudinal plane and is at least partially surrounded by the reflector assembly. The lighting element is positioned along at least one of the first longitudinal edge and the opposing second longitudinal edge such that the vent is positioned laterally between the lighting element and the heating element.

The present disclosure provides a system, apparatus, and method for a modular food tray system having a plurality of food trays that can be used for heating, cooling, or a combination thereof. The system can include a first food tray for heating and a second food tray for cooling, generally mounted at a different elevation from the first food tray. Alternatively, one or both of the food trays can be designed for cooling through temperature elements coupled thereto and the tray can be heated by overhead radiant heating elements for dual temperature capabilities. The first food tray can be mounted above the second food tray. The first food tray can include a thermal shield between a heating element in the first food tray and the second food tray. In other embodiments, the second food tray can be mounted above the first food tray with a thermal shield therebetween.

Provided is a grill apparatus having a foldable heat generating unit and a grill unit, in which a plurality of heat sources are folded on each other or unfolded from each other, to radiate heat downward from the plurality of heat sources, and cook food through the plurality of heat sources, thereby controlling the amount and the time of cooking the food according to user's necessity by folding or unfolding the plurality of heat sources on each other or from each other. The grill apparatus includes: the foldable grill unit on which a food is put and cooked, in which a plurality of grill plates can be mutually unfolded or folded; and the foldable heat generating unit disposed on a support pillar disposed vertically from the grill unit and in which a plurality of heaters can be mutually unfolded or folded while applying infrared rays to the grill unit.

The invention provides stirring and/or mixing utensils such as pots, pans and the like, for preparing foodstuffs for consumption by mixing and possibly also heating them in an environment in which they can be tumbled or otherwise moved in three-dimensions. Utensils in accordance with some embodiments of the invention comprise cooking or frying utensils incorporating a food chamber that is mounted for rotation about three orthogonal axes. Utensils in accordance with other embodiments of the invention use, in combination, a food chamber mounted for rotation about two mutually orthogonal axes and a stirring device driven about the third axis.

A multi-zone food holding bin has a continuous food supporting surface with multiple food holding zones. Each food holding zone is independently controllable so that different food temperatures may be maintained in adjacent food holding zones.

A multi-zone food holding bin has a continuous food supporting surface with multiple food holding zones. Each food holding zone is independently controllable so that different food temperatures may be maintained in adjacent food holding zones.

A multi-zone food holding bin has a continuous food supporting surface with multiple food holding zones. Each food holding zone is independently controllable so that different food temperatures may be maintained in adjacent food holding zones.

A multi-zone food holding bin has a continuous food supporting surface with multiple food holding zones. Each food holding zone is independently controllable so that different food temperatures may be maintained in adjacent food holding zones.