Provided is a heating cooker that can efficiently apply steam to the entire food and can also cook the food quickly. A heating cooker (1A) includes a toasting grill (16) provided within a cooking chamber (10) and a lower heater (17b) provided at a lower section within the cooking chamber (10). Steam is blown between the toasting grill (16) and the lower heater (17b) from a steam outlet (25) provided in at least one sidewall of the cooking chamber (10).

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 removable device is provided to prevent food from touching the back wall of a grill during cooking. The device comprises a bottom panel which rests atop the grates of a grill, and a rear panel which provides a clean surface for food items to contact. From the perspective of a food item being grilled, the rear panel effectively replaces the back wall of the grill when the food item is pushed towards the back of the grill. The device thus can eliminate a food item touching the back wall of the grill.

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.

A cooking system positionable on a support surface including a housing having an internal heating compartment and an opening formed in said housing for accessing said internal heating compartment. The housing is movable between a first position and second position. The opening is arranged within a first plane when said housing is in said first position, and the opening is arranged within a second plane when said housing is in said second position, said first plane and said second plane being distinct.

A heating assembly for a cooking appliance, such as a toaster or oven, has a support and/or heating element with a curved shape having a concave side facing a cooking cavity. The support and/or heating element may be flexible, e.g., having a planar shape when unstressed and a curved shape when stressed. The support and/or heating element may define a sheet, e.g., having a length and width. The heating element may have openings in the sheet. The heating element may be coupled to the support so as to be slidable movable relative to the support, e.g., so the heating element can slide relative to the support when the support and heating element are bent into a curved shape.

A modular system comprising electrical consuming units and an electrical connection unit. The connection unit has a contact plug for plugging into a power outlet and for electrical connection with a particular cable connecting an electrical terminal and distribution strip as well as one connecting the terminal and distribution strip to the contact plug. The consuming units have first connection elements for mechanical and electrical connecting to second connection elements on the terminal and distribution strip. The first connection elements are geometrically different depending on a maximum electrical power consumption of the respective consuming unit. The second connection elements are likewise geometrically different such that selected first connection elements cannot be connected to selected second connection elements. The type and number of second connection elements are determined such that a total maximum electrical power consumption of all electrical consuming units connected simultaneously is limited to a predefined maximum value.

An automated bun feeding and toasting system is disclosed wherein the system is to be utilized in restaurants, particularly fast-food restaurants, in order to quickly and accurately prepare food products, such as, for example, conventional hamburger sandwiches which require two buns, or Big Mac sandwiches which require three buns, in accordance with specific patron orders. The system comprises a plurality of bun storage tubes, discharge mechanisms for discharging bun segment into a bun separator, a chute conveyor, a bun rotator, and at least one toaster appliance whereupon completion of a toasting operation, the bun segments are picked up and conveyed downstream toward a food or sandwich preparation station. All operations are automated and are under the control of a master control unit such as, for example, a programmable logic controller (PLC).

Embodiments of an outdoor cooking station having a main body and a griddle with a hood pivotably coupled to the griddle are provided. For safety purposes, the griddle is removably secured to an upper portion of the main body with the legs of the griddle positioned within apertures defined in an upward facing surface of the upper portion of the main body.

A culinary utensil which may be for use to retain a food product and may be for a toaster. The culinary utensil may include a body having a first side face and a second side face facing opposite the first side face, and a bottom face. A clip may extend longitudinally along the bottom face and be positioned from the bottom face to define a slot configured to receive the food product between the clip and the bottom face.