The electrically powered butter storage device is adapted for use in storing butter. The electrically powered butter storage device is designed to cool and warm butter while it is being stored within the electrically powered butter storage device. The electrically powered butter storage device is adapted to use one or more commonly available butter dishes that may or may not have a lid. Each of the one or more butter dishes are placed upon one or more electrically controlled heating and cooling elements which can be used to chill or warm the individual butter dishes as desired. The electrically powered butter storage device comprises a housing, one or more temperature elements, a control system, a fan, and a power connection.

Methods, ovens, and associated apparatus. Ovens and methods are adapted for maintaining the quality of a pre-cooked food product. Rapid temperature and/or relative humidity restoration may be used. Ovens may include a partition movable to vary sizes of oven cavities. Ovens may include removable interior panels. Humidification mechanisms are adapted for generating water vapor which may be used to maintain the quality of a pre-cooked food product.

A food holding cabinet having at least one heating chamber for holding at least one food tray therein, the cabinet comprising: a housing that defines the heating chamber and a heating chamber opening for access to the heating chamber, wherein the heating chamber comprises an top portion, front portion, a rear portion, and at least one tray location for receiving a food tray; a jet plate including a plurality of apertures, the jet plate is disposed between the heating chamber and an upper plenum, wherein the upper plenum is formed between an upper surface of the jet plate and a lower surface of the top portion of the heating chamber; and a blower positioned to provide heated gas into the upper plenum, wherein the gas exits the upper plenum through the apertures into the heating chamber such that it is direct substantially toward the food tray.

One variation of a food production system includes a module housing: supporting a food preparation surface located at work surface height; configured to transiently house a food-dispensing module configured to dispense an ingredient toward the first autonomous assembly zone; including a positioner module arranged within the autonomous assembly zone and configured to transiently locate a food container below the food-dispensing module for dispensation of the ingredient into the food container; including a window arranged on a front side of the module housing and configured to enable user access to the autonomous assembly zone. The food production system further includes a controller configured to: receive a food order; coordinate motion of the positioner module to locate the food container below the food-dispensing module; and selectively trigger the food-dispensing module to dispense the ingredient into the food container to assemble a unit of a food product according to the food order.

Systems, apparatus, and methods for heating food. In one embodiment, an oven includes a heating compartment sized for receiving food to be heated. A heater system of the oven heats gas for heating the food. A blower system of the oven blows heated gas into the heating compartment. A gas flow inlet and a gas flow exhaust are arranged for providing a flow of heated gas in the heating compartment. In one embodiment, a filter is used for filtering gas from the heating compartment.

A food storage container is provided. The container includes a housing with a bottom, a first side wall, and a second side wall fixed to the first side wall that defines a food storage volume therewithin. The first side wall extends from a first end portion that includes a first peg that extends therefrom in a direction parallel with a plane through the first side wall. A third side wall is removably mounted to the first peg, wherein when mounted to the first peg, the third side wall establishes a barrier of the food storage volume different than barriers of the food storage volume provided by the bottom, the first side wall, and the second side wall. When the third side wall is removed from the first peg, the food storage volume may be accessed through a void left by the removal of the third side wall.

The present invention relates to an open fronted food storage cabinet. The cabinet has a top, rear, base and opposed sides. The top, rear, base and opposing sides define an interior space of the cabinet which is accessible through an opening to the front of the cabinet. The opening is defined between edges of the top, base and opposing sides of the cabinet. The cabinet includes an interior chassis structure comprised of a base panel, a rear panel and a top panel which are mechanically connected to one another. The base, rear and top panels are each formed from a structural sandwich composite material having thermal insulation properties. The rear panel includes an aperture to which a mechanism operable to alter the temperature within interior space of the cabinet is mounted.

One variation of a food production system includes a module housing: including a food preparation surface located at work surface height; configured to transiently house a food-dispensing module configured to dispense an ingredient toward an autonomous assembly zone located below the food preparation surface; including a positioner module arranged within the autonomous assembly zone and configured to transiently locate a food container below the food-dispensing module for dispensation of the ingredient into the food container; including a window arranged on a front side of the module housing and configured to enable user access to the autonomous assembly zone. The food production system further includes a controller configured to: receive a food order; coordinate motion of the positioner module to locate the food container below the food-dispensing module; and selectively trigger the food-dispensing module to dispense the ingredient into the food container to assemble a unit of a food product according to the food order.

A cabinet for storage of a heated food item has a base, top and opposing sides, the base, top and opposing sides defining an interior space which is accessible through opposing access apertures, An air movement means and air heating means draw air from the interior space of the cabinet, heat said air and produce an air curtain across a first one of the access apertures of the cabinet. A door is operable to reversibly close a second one of the access apertures to prevent ambient air from entering the interior space and heated air from egressing through said second access aperture. The air movement means circulate air within the interior space from the first one of the access apertures to one or more of: the opposing sides, and the top and the base of the cabinet.

A food locker includes a housing, a food support member, a first door, a second door, and a lock. The housing includes a front wall a front wall, a rear wall, and a chamber. The front wall includes a first opening in communication with the chamber. The rear wall includes a second opening in communication with the chamber. The food support member is disposed within the chamber. The first door is supported by the housing and is movable between a closed position and an open position. The food support member is accessible through the first opening when the first door is in the open position. The second door is supported by the housing and is movable between a closed position and an open position. The food support member is accessible through the second opening when the second door is in the open position. The lock is operatively coupled to at least one of the housing and the first door and is actuatable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration. The lock is operable to (i) permit the first door to move from the closed position to the open position when the lock is in the unlocked configuration and (ii) prevent the first door from moving from the closed position to the open position when the lock is in the locked configuration.