Methods for heat treating food products include controlling a temperature of a heating element to a maximum temperature correlated to a desired temperature for the food product. A sensed temperature of the heating element may be used to control the maximum temperature. An oven includes a heating element and a temperature sensor configured to sense the temperature of the heating element, and a controller that limits the temperature of the heating element based on output from the temperature sensor.

A control system for use with an outdoor cooking apparatus may include a hub and an axle housing adapted to slidably couple with a hub. The control system may also include a motor mounted at or near the upper end of the axle housing and an axle mechanically coupled to the motor and extending through the axle housing to a free end emerging from the lower end of the axle housing. The control system may also include a support coupling attached to the free end of the axle, the support coupling being adapted to support a food support below the axle housing. The axle housing may be selectively arranged and secured relative to the sleeve to position the height of the support coupling relative to the lower end of the axle housing and the axle may rotate about its longitudinal axis when the motor is turned on.

Food preparation includes utilizing food immersion into low temperature cooking fluids, high temperature cooking fluids, or a combination of applications thereof. Foods are generally closely wrapped in vented, pliable, formidable outer skins. An example construction of such an outer skin is provided, as are examples of food preparation processes.

A commercial-scale fresh sous vide cooking method includes searing food using infrared radiation, positioning the seared food in a water-impermeable package and vacuum sealing the water-impermeable package using a packaging machine, and positioning the vacuum-packaged food in a wet-steam cookhouse to fresh sous vide cook the food in the wet-steam cookhouse.

The invention relates to a pressure cooking utensil comprising a vessel, a lid with an annular skirt, and a gasket interposed between the lid and the vessel, said gasket including a ring and a first lip in sealing contact with the top wall of the lid, said utensil being characterized in that it includes a leakage opening formed through said top wall, the annular skirt forming a stop abutment for the ring, said first lip presenting flexibility that is suitable, when the pressure that exists inside the enclosure exceeds a safety threshold, for causing the inside of the enclosure to communicate with the outside through the leakage opening.

A system and method for controlling the humidity in a cooking chamber of an oven appliance is provided. The oven appliance includes a cooking chamber, a cooling air flow passageway positioned outside the cooking chamber, a cooling fan positioned in the cooling air flow passageway, and a vent enabling flow communication between the cooking chamber and cooling air flow passageway. One or more humidity sensors may be placed in or around the oven appliance to measure the humidity of the ambient air and the humidity of the air in the cooking chamber. A controller may achieve improved humidity control of the cooking chamber by selectively operating the cooling fan to adjust the humidity within the cooking chamber based on the measured humidity of the ambient air and the air in the cooking chamber.

A method of preparing meals in a computerized kitchen workspace is set forth. The computerized kitchen workspace includes one or more robots for preparing and cooking food in the kitchen workspace. Kitchen appliances may be automatically controlled according to a recipe. The one or more robots may access kitchen items necessary for meal preparation by rotating automated shelves. The meal may then be automatically prepared by the one or more robots. Automated storage shelves may be provided with electrical power for powering kitchen appliances found on the shelves.

Disclosed herein is a cold smoke smoker for cold smoking foods using materials heated to a controlled temperature for use in food service, commercial, and residential environments. The cold smoke smoker comprises a blower fan which blows smoke up through a vent, past an ignition plate smoking the materials, and through tubing into a food package containing food. The materials that are smoked can include natural wood chips, herbs, spices, or blends of the fore mentioned materials.

Embodiments of an outdoor cooking station with a cooking chamber configured to be heated with smoke. The outdoor cooking station includes a pivoting hood to move the hood between closed and open positions. In one embodiment, upon the hood being in the closed position, the hood includes a vertically oriented surface with openings to vent the heated smoke.

A viscous sauce suitable for use in a multifunction pressure cooker is provided. The sauce comprises a starch, a low temperature viscosity agent, and a high temperature viscosity agent. The sauce provides desirable viscosity at ambient temperature and after cooking in a pressure cooker. A method of preparing the viscous sauce is also provided. A method of preparing a preparing a meal in a pressure cooker utilizing the viscous sauce is also provided.