The present invention relates to an air-based flyer (10) apparatus comprising a food preparation chamber (140) comprising an outer wall (11), an inner wall (14) defining a food receiving space (141) with an air inlet (142) and an air discharge opening (145), and a circulation channel (113) defined between the outer wall (11) and the inner wall (14). The apparatus also comprises an air heater (13) for heating air in the food preparation chamber (140), a fan (192) for moving a flow of hot air successively through the air inlet (142), the food receiving space (141), the discharge opening (145), and the channel (113). The apparatus also comprises a steam generator (12) comprising at least one nozzle (127) extending into the food receiving space (141) for spraying temperature-controlled steam (18) onto the food; and a controller (15) adapted to control the steam generator to spray steam to food placed in the food receiving space (141) for a first predetermined period, and to control the air heater (13) and the fan (192) to circulate hot air to the food for a subsequent second predetermined period. This apparatus allows keeping the tenderness or crunchiness of the food during subsequent hot air cooking.

A smoking device can include one or more walls defining, at least in part, a combustion cavity, a lower inlet connecting the combustion cavity to an air source, a first flange defining, at least in part, a first recirculation channel open to an upper side of the combustion cavity, a second flange defining, at least in part, a second recirculation channel open to the upper side of the combustion cavity, and an upper inlet connecting the upper side of the combustion cavity to the air source and disposed between the first recirculation channel and the second recirculation channel. While a flame is generated within the combustion cavity, a convection flow from the flame can be directed to the first recirculation channel and the second recirculation channel and past the upper inlet to reduce the upper flow of air from the upper inlet until the flame is reduced.

The present invention relates to a cooking device, including a housing, a base, an inner, a lid and a heating module. The housing is arranged on the base and is provided with a storage chamber, the inner pot is arranged inside the storage chamber, and the lid is arranged on the housing matching with the opening of the storage chamber. The cooking device further includes a control module and an exhaust module, the control module consists of a processor and an input panel connected with the processor; the heating module includes a bottom heating unit inside the storage chamber, the bottom heating unit is connected with the processor; and the exhaust module includes an air-filled element, an air-extraction element, an inlet passage and an exhaust passage, the air-filled element and the air-extraction element are respectively connected with the processor.

A system includes a first food compartment and a second food compartment configured to be disposed in a first portion and a second portion, respectively, of a fluid immersion device. The first food compartment defines an inner volume and is configured to fluidically isolate a first food item in the inner volume and to transfer thermal energy between a fluid in the first portion of the fluid immersion device and the first food item. The second food compartment is configured to receive a second food item and is at least temporarily coupled to a carrier configured to be disposed in the second food compartment. At least a portion of the second food compartment is fluid permeable and is configured to receive a flow of fluid from the second portion of the fluid immersion device to transfer thermal energy from the fluid to the second food item.

A food package comprising a container having a sealed top layer and comprising a fresh, preservative-free food product comprising chickpeas, such as hummus, which includes no preservatives and exhibits a total yeast and mold counts of less than 10 CFU/g at 28 days after production when stored at 2° C. to 8° C. The package includes a headspace between the fresh hummus and the top sealing layer, the headspace comprising a modified atmosphere which is nitrogen rich, such as 70% N.sub.2:30% CO.sub.2.

A coffee roasting apparatus (100) is disclosed comprising a compartment (110) for holding coffee beans (10); a roasting element (140) for roasting the coffee beans in said compartment; and a controller (130) for controlling the roasting element. The controller is adapted to control the roasting element as a function of a change in the volume of the coffee beans residing in the compartment. A coffee brewing apparatus including such a coffee roasting apparatus and a coffee roasting method are also disclosed.

A method of cooking food arranged in a sealed package including a one-way valve that opens at an overpressure of 20-200 mbar, including: heating the sealed package in an oven at approximately atmospheric pressure for a first time period; and after the first time period, subjecting the package to a sub-atmospheric pressure such that gas leaves the sealed package through the valve.

The present specification provides fruit and vegetable products. Also described are methods for producing the fruit and vegetable products.

In one aspect, a spiral cooking device includes a first cooking zone with air configured to move horizontally therethrough in a first direction, a second cooking zone with air configured to move horizontally therethrough in a second direction different than the first direction, and a spiral conveyor belt at least partially positioned in the first and second cooking zones and configured to transport food product thereon through the first and second cooking zones. In one aspect, a spiral cooking device includes a spiral conveyor belt providing a central opening inside the belt and a conveyor belt drive member positioned externally of the central opening. In one aspect, a conveyor belt cleaning device is provided. In one aspect, a cooking device includes a frame including a plurality of coupled pipes for providing structural support to the device and at least one of the pipes is configured to have liquid pass therethrough.

A method for cooking a batch of chicken pieces is disclosed including the steps of: (1) providing a plurality of chicken pieces at about 40° F., (2) submerging the plurality of chicken pieces in a first heated water bath until a portion of the outer surface of the chicken pieces is denatured, (3) placing the plurality of opaque chicken pieces into a flexible pouch; (4) applying vacuum to the flexible pouch and sealing the pouch to form a sealed container, and (5) submerging the sealed container in a second heated water bath at a temperature of from about 135° F. to about 195° F. for an effective period of time to fully cook the chicken pieces.