The various embodiments of the present invention disclose a toaster attachment comprising a top frame, at-least four vertical slots, a pair of horizontal strips and a stopper element. The top frame comprises a primary pair of strips and a secondary pair of strips. The secondary pair of strips is orthogonally attached to the primary pair of strips. The at-least four vertical slots are attached to the primary pair of strips forming a mesh arrangement. The pair of horizontal strips are attached to two adjacent vertical strips and are parallel to each other. The stopper element is attached to the pair of horizontal strips for preventing a movement of the horizontal pairs out of the vertical slots.

A new and improved automated bun handling and toasting system and method are disclosed comprising a plurality of horizontally oriented bun storage tubes mounted upon a carousel, and an indexing system operatively connected to the carousel so as to rotate the carousel in a predetermined incremental manner and thereby dispose a particular one of the plurality of horizontally oriented bun storage tubes at a predetermined discharge position such that a bun can be discharged from the particular bun storage tube. The discharged bun has a vertical orientation, however, a bun separator separates the bun into its crown and heel bun segments which then attain horizontal orientations with the internal surface portions facing upwardly so as to pass through a toaster appliance so as to be toasted.

An accessory for efficiently melting or softening cold solid spreads using the heat emanating from a bread toaster that in turn is easy to use or clean; reduces the risk of spillage; and can be used on any conventional toaster.

A food preparation appliance includes a processing mechanism, a thermal element, a sensor positioned to acquire identifying data regarding identifying characteristics of a food product to be processed by the food preparation appliance, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive the identifying data from the sensor, identify a type of the food product based on the identifying data, and automatically set a predefined operating parameter of at least one of the processing mechanism and the thermal element to provide target processing of the food product based on the type and the identifying characteristics.

A contact baking mechanism of a toaster comprises a baking tray, a fixed bracket, and a mobile mechanism. The baking tray is provided in the fixed bracket and includes a left baking tray and a right baking tray. The mobile mechanism includes a bread tray and a mobile bracket. The bread tray is provided between the left baking tray and the right baking tray, and one end of the bread tray is clamped in the fixed bracket through a T-shaped groove. The mobile bracket is provided outside the fixed bracket and fixedly connected with the bread tray. The left and right baking trays are moved back and forth by an elastic mechanism when the bread tray moves up and down along the T-shaped groove.

A tray assembly includes a tray having a top side, an underside opposite the top side, and a plurality of protrusions extending from the underside. Each protrusion defines a recess in the top side and has a bottom wall and a contoured surface connecting the bottom wall to the top side. The tray assembly also includes a diffuser in the form of a plate with a plurality of apertures therethrough. The diffuser is couplable to the tray and positionable a spaced distance above the top side of the tray.

A cooking system positionable on a support surface includes a housing having an internal cooking compartment and an opening formed in said housing for accessing said internal cooking compartment. The housing is positionable about the support surface in both a first orientation and a second, distinct orientation. At least one heating element is associated with said internal cooking compartment. The at least one heating element is operable to heat said internal cooking compartment in both said first orientation and said second orientation.

Systems and methods of bun handling include a cassette with opposed side walls. The cassette includes a front wall, an open rear face opposite the front wall, and a floor between the opposed side walls. A cover extends between the opposed side walls above the floor. The cover is movable relative to the opposed side walls and the floor. A slot is defined through the floor from the open rear face in a direction towards the front wall.

A cooking system positionable on a support surface includes a housing having an internal cooking compartment and an opening formed in the housing for accessing said internal cooking compartment. At least one heating element is provided for heating said internal cooking compartment. The heating element is operable to heat the internal cooking compartment while the opening is at least partially exposed to an ambient environment to allow fluid transfer between the ambient environment and the internal cooking compartment. An output from said at least one heating element is variable across said internal cooking compartment during operation of the system.

An infrared toaster and a method of toasting use a support configured to hold a food product relative to an infrared source. A light source and a camera are arranged relative to the support to illuminate the food product and capture digital images of the food product. A processor receives and analyzes successive images from the camera. The processor operates the IR source to achieve a predetermined toasting level of the food product. The processor operates the IR source to terminate operation directing IR energy when the predetermined toasting level is reached.