An apparatus includes a press configured to compress at least a portion of a food item to deform the food item and form a flattened food product. The press includes a movable portion and a lift arm pivotally attached to the movable portion, where the lift arm is configured to raise or lower the movable portion. The movable portion includes a punch projecting from the movable portion. The punch is configured, when the movable portion is moved by the lift arm, to reshape the food item such that the flattened food product has at least a flattened central portion.

A welding ground detection system and method are provided. In one embodiment, a switch actuator is interconnected to a grounding device and operatively associated with a switch. The switch is electrically connected to an electrical circuit that is operatively associated with the welding equipment. The switch is normally in an open state in which the switch opens the electrical circuit, thereby preventing welding. Upon connection of the grounding device to a workpiece, the switch actuator actuates the switch to a closed state, thereby permitting welding. In one embodiment, detection of a voltage, a current, a resistance, or an impedance of a ground connection is not required to actuate the switch.

A welding ground detection system and method are provided. In one embodiment, a switch actuator is interconnected to a grounding device and operatively associated with a switch. The switch is electrically connected to an electrical circuit that is operatively associated with the welding equipment. The switch is normally in an open state in which the switch opens the electrical circuit, thereby preventing welding. Upon connection of the grounding device to a workpiece, the switch actuator actuates the switch to a closed state, thereby permitting welding. In one embodiment, detection of a voltage, a current, a resistance, or an impedance of a ground connection is not required to actuate the switch.

An apparatus for cooking tamales includes a lid, a base, and a hinge. The lid comprises a semi-rigid, food safe material. It may have an elongated shape and a plurality of perforations to allow steam to pass through the lid. The base comprises a semi-rigid, food safe material. It may also have an elongated shape and a plurality of perforations to allow steam to pass through the base. The hinge connects the lid and the base such that the lid and the base define a cavity when closed against each other. The cavity defined by the lid and the base is shaped to hold a tamale for cooking.

An apparatus for cooking tamales includes a lid, a base, and a hinge. The lid comprises a semi-rigid, food safe material. It may have an elongated shape and a plurality of perforations to allow steam to pass through the lid. The base comprises a semi-rigid, food safe material. It may also have an elongated shape and a plurality of perforations to allow steam to pass through the base. The hinge connects the lid and the base such that the lid and the base define a cavity when closed against each other. The cavity defined by the lid and the base is shaped to hold a tamale for cooking.

A flexible polymer cooking utensil includes a body of the cooking utensil and at least one tab extending outwardly from a perimeter of the body of the cooking utensil. The body of the cooking utensil includes a first flat face surface, a second flat face surface, and a batter cavity formed in the second flat face surface comprising a decorative pattern formed in the batter cavity.

A flexible polymer cooking utensil includes a body of the cooking utensil and at least one tab extending outwardly from a perimeter of the body of the cooking utensil. The body of the cooking utensil includes a first flat face surface, a second flat face surface, and a batter cavity formed in the second flat face surface comprising a decorative pattern formed in the batter cavity.

A cooking mat comprised of a flat surface containing at least one opening having a lip along the periphery forming a desired shape or shapes enabling users to prepare food items having traditional or unique shapes with ease. The cooking mat also enables users to prepare multiple shaped food items simultaneously, thus cutting down on meal preparation time.

A cooking mat comprised of a flat surface containing at least one opening having a lip along the periphery forming a desired shape or shapes enabling users to prepare food items having traditional or unique shapes with ease. The cooking mat also enables users to prepare multiple shaped food items simultaneously, thus cutting down on meal preparation time.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus for making edible containers which includes a hollow female mold for holding a flowable food product and a male mold insertable into the hollow female mold. The two molds when assembled define a gap of preselected thickness so that when assembled with the food product in the female mold, the gap is filled with the food product in the shape of the final edible container produced once the food product is cooked or baked. An alignment and positioning mechanism is provide that keeps the two mold sections aligned but allows them to move with respect to each other during heating so that when the food product expands, the two molds can move with respect to each other while still keeping the two mold sections aligned with each other so the final edible container keeps its same general shape before and after cooking.