Briquet designs that facilitate close packing and improve burn efficiency are provided herein. Such designs can include scaled down briquet size and close packing shapes, which can include pyramidal shaped portions, such as rectangular pyramids and tetrahedron shapes, as well as oblate spheroid and hexoid shapes, to facilitate closer random packing when the briquets are randomly arranged in a pile when poured from a bag. Some briquet shapes can further include special surface features, such as flattened or rounded portions or depressions, such as dimples, that reduce volume without increasing the bulk density in order to further improve burn performance and efficiency.

A self-contained system for grilling including a non-combustible tray, a mesh insert within the tray, defining an air-flow portion below the insert, and a fuel portion above the insert for supporting fuel (e.g., charcoal briquets), with the fuel suspended above the air-flow portion. A plurality of holes may or may not be provided through a lower portion of the tray (e.g., in a lower portion of the sidewall of the tray) to draw combustion air into the air flow portion, below the mesh insert. The system may pre-arrange the fuel in the tray during manufacture, so the user is not required to spread or even touch the briquets, or may be for use with fuel provided by a user. Clean up is very simple, as the entire system can be discarded after a single use, once cooled, as the ash is automatically collected in the bottom of the tray.

The invention relates to a disposable grill (1) comprising a base tray (2) as an outer grill cover made in a flammable material, a fuel (3) shaped in a combustible biomass material, and an insert structure (4) made in a heat insulating material for holding said fuel (3) and being partly or fully covered by said base tray (2), wherein at least one wall thickness of at least one location in said insert structure (4) being defined by one or more characteristics of said fuel (3) and said base tray (2). The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a disposable grill.

A grill accessory creates a steaming chamber on a grill that has a heat source and a rack of spaced-apart bars over the heat source. The grill accessory includes a cover configured that covers a food item and forms a steaming region below the cover. The cover operates in connection with a vapor generator that receives and holds fluid beneath the cover. The vapor generator has at least one vent opening to release steam into the steaming chamber. The grill accessory is configured so that it can rest upon the grill rack of spaced-apart bars, and so that the vapor generator transmits heat to the fluid in the vapor generator to convert the fluid to steam. The vapor generator releases the steam through the vent opening(s) into the steaming region below the cover. The steam can help melt toppings and/or introduce moisture into food items cooked on the grill.

A flammable tube has a plurality of air passages formed along the length of the flammable tube. A support member is positioned in an interior of the flammable tube. The support member is spaced apart from the lower end of the flammable tube. Solid fuel is positioned on the support member. A flame is introduced to the solid fuel which is within the interior of the tube which ignites the solid fuel, such as charcoal. The charcoal burns away the flammable tube and the support member. The flammable tube may be placed within a grill of the type used to cook food or other container that is nonflammable, and which provides a receptacle for the burning solid fuel without the need of a specialized grilling apparatus.

A deep fryer with oil and water comprises an upper container that is adapted to contain oil; a lower container that is adapted to contain oil and water, wherein the lower container is fluid-communicated with the upper container; a heater that heats the oil contained in the upper container; an oil temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the oil contained in the upper container; an oil, water interface sensor that measures amount of impurities in an oil and water interface inside the lower container; a controller that receives data from the oil temperature sensor and the oil water interface sensor and controls the heater; and a housing that encloses the upper container, the lower container, the heater, the oil temperature sensor, the oil water interface sensor and the controller.

A barbecue oven that enables operator control of the combustion process through selective control of gas flow through and/or around a hot, oxygenated bed of coals and further enables automatic control of oven temperature through thermostatic regulation of forced draft.

A portable grilling assembly for cooking outdoors includes a stake that can be driven into the ground. The stake is comprised of a plurality of connectable sections such that the stake has an adjustable length. A grill is provided and the grill is removably coupled to the stake. The grill is slidably positioned on the stake such that the grill is positionable at a selected point along the stake. In this way the grill can be spaced a selected distance from the ground. A basket is removably coupled to the stake and the basket is slidably positioned on the stake such that the basket is positionable at a selected point along the stake. Moreover, the basket is comprised of a fire resistant material to contain a heat source for cooking on the grill.

A portable, lightweight, disposable kettle-type barbecue grill, a fuel disc for use with the grill, and methods for fabricating, packaging, assembling, and using such a grill and fuel disc, are presented. The grill's components are made of lightweight materials and are configured to be nested inside one another to maximize space efficiency and durability for shipping and storage, and configured for easy unpacking and assembly by the user. Adjustable air vents control the cooking heat and speed. The fuel disc is made from charcoal and optionally includes hardwood chips and lighter fluid. Apertures in the fuel disc work together with the shape of the air vents and the grill to promote even airflow and temperature throughout the grill, resulting in consistent cooking. The grill is inexpensive and is entirely or partly made of recyclable materials, so the user may choose to dispose of the grill after a single use.

A barbecue oven that enables operator control of the combustion process through selective control of gas flow through and/or around a hot, oxygenated bed of coals and further enables automatic control of oven temperature through thermostatic regulation of forced draft.