A high efficiency heating apparatus for heating fluids and cooking mediums, such as oil or shortening within a fryer, includes a natural draft (non powered) combustion chamber that is affixed to an exterior surface of a fry tank.

A high efficiency heating apparatus for heating fluids and cooking mediums, such as oil or shortening within a fryer, includes a natural draft (non powered) combustion chamber with internal baffles that is affixed to an exterior surface of a fry tank.

Provided is a method of cooking for a food-cooking appliance having a reception means designed to receive the food products, a motion-inducing means positioned inside the reception means, and at least one main heating means. The method includes: a first cooking step during which the relative rotation of the reception means and of the motion-inducing means is neutralized and at least one main heating means is operated in order to regulate the temperature to a first set-point value; and a second cooking step during which the relative rotation of the reception means and of the motion-inducing means is active and at least one main heating means is operated in order to regulate the temperature to a second set-point value higher than the first.

Systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for controlling a fryer. In response to determining a filtration cycle is scheduled to occur after a current cooking cycle, a temperature set-point for a cooking medium is increased to pre-heat the cooking medium prior to the end of the cooking cycle. A heating element used to heat the cooking medium may be deactivated prior to entering the filtration cycle, and reactivated during the filtration cycle in response to the filtered cooking medium in the fry pot reaching a predetermined level. Activating the heating element during the filtration cycle may further heat the cooking medium prior to starting the next cooking cycle, thereby reducing the total time needed for filtration and reheating for a subsequent cooking cycle.

Provided is an electrical fryer including an inner pot configured to contain oil, an oil filter configured to filter oil and drain oil contained in inner pot, an electrical heater. The electrical fryer further includes: a knob mechanism comprising a knob presenting an oil filtering position and at least one heating position; an oil filtering control mechanism connected between the knob mechanism and the oil filter; a temperature control mechanism comprising a switch assembly being drivingly connected with the knob mechanism; wherein, the knob is turned so as to switch between the oil filtering position and said at least one heating position, and when the knob is turned to the oil filtering position, the knob mechanism drives the oil filtering control mechanism to open the oil filter and the knob mechanism controls the switch assembly to switch it off so that the electrical heater is not energized, and when the knob is turned to said at least one heating position, the knob mechanism controls the switch assembly to switch it on so that the electrical heater heats the inner pot.

A robotic kitchen assistant for frying includes a robotic arm, a fryer basket, and a robotic arm adapter assembly allowing the robotic arm to pick up and manipulate the fryer basket. The robotic arm adapter includes opposing gripping members to engage the fryer basket. A utensil adapter assembly is mounted to the handle of the fryer basket, and the opposing gripper members are actuated to capture a three-dimensional (3D) feature of the utensil adapter assembly. The robotic arm adapter assembly can include an agitator mechanism to shake the fryer basket or another utensil as desired. Related methods are also described.

The present invention is a cooking-oil filtration system for automated cooking apparatus which has a solids-removing filter for cleaning cooking oil from the food-fryer and returning oil to the cooking apparatus. The system comprises a solids-removing filter enclosure which includes a plurality of doors having electronically controlled locks with lock-state feedback, a controller including memory and software for controlling the system and a user interface, a number of electrically-controlled pumps, valves, actuators and sensors, the user interface comprising screens with icons representing system set-up, status, and actions. The screens include a main screen, an operator controls screen with controls including door-lock controls displaying door-lock status and controls to lock and unlock the doors, such unlocking permitted only when at least one pump is off and the filter-chamber pressure is below a predetermined pressure, one or more status screens displaying filter operation status, and one or more setup screens.

A cooking device is for cooking food on a support (e.g. in a basket) within a cooking chamber. A required cooking time is determined based only on the time-evolution of the cooking chamber temperature and a power of the heating device. A first, less accurate, estimate of the required cooking time is determined within a first period, e.g. 90 seconds, of the turning on of the heating device and a second, more accurate, estimate of the required cooking is determined later, but e.g. within five minutes of the turning on of the heating device.

A portable cooking oil distribution device for filling remote fryers with fresh cooking oil. In other embodiments the device can also collect used cooking oil from the fryer. In one embodiment, a portable device includes a fresh oil tank, a three-way valve connected by piping to the fresh oil tank, a pump connected by piping to the three-way valve, and a nozzle connected by piping to the pump, the nozzle having an outlet tube connected to the piping between the pump and the nozzle. The device may also include a used oil tank, a second three-way valve connected by piping to the used oil tank, a second pump connected by piping to the three-way valve, and piping connecting the second pump to the nozzle, where the nozzle includes a inlet tube connected to the piping between the pump and the nozzle.

The present application discloses an automated kitchen system comprising a first computer and a plurality of second computers which are connected so that the first computer may communicate with any of the second computers. The automated kitchen system also comprises: a plurality of ingredient containers each configured to contain or store food ingredients; caps configured to close on the ingredient containers; a storage apparatus comprising compartments each configured to store a plurality of ingredient containers and refrigeration mechanism configured to cool the food or food ingredients in the containers of the storage apparatus; transport boxes each configured to contain capped ingredient containers; a transportation apparatus configured to move the transport boxes wherein the transportation apparatus comprises motors and sensors; a cap opening apparatus configured to remove a cap from a capped container wherein the cap opening apparatus comprises motors and sensors; a first transfer apparatus configured to move a capped ingredient container from a transport box to the storage apparatus, and also configured to move a capped ingredient container to a location on the cap opening apparatus, wherein the first transfer apparatus comprises motors and sensors; a cyclic transport apparatus comprising a cycle of container holders each configured to hold an ingredient container; a transfer apparatus configured to move an ingredient container from the location of cap opening apparatus to a position on a container holder of the cyclic transport apparatus wherein the second transfer apparatus comprises motors and sensors; and a plurality of cooking systems. Each cooking system comprises a cooking container configured to hold food or food ingredients during a cooking process, a stirring motion mechanism configured to produce a motion in the cooking container as to stir, mix or distribute food or food ingredients held in the cooking container, wherein the stirring motion comprising motors, sensors, and a stove; a cyclic transport apparatus comprising a cycle of container holders each configured to hold an ingredient container; an unloading apparatus configured to unload food ingredients from an ingredient. The above mechanisms and apparatuses comprise electrical or electronic devices and sensors, which are configured to be connected to the second computers. The first computer is configured to store various sub-programs and other lists that are useful to control the electric or electronic devices in the mechanisms, apparatuses or systems in the kitchen system.