An oven appliance, as provided herein, may include a plurality of chamber walls, a bottom heating element, a base panel, and a cooking plate. The plurality of chamber walls may define an oven chamber. The plurality of chamber walls may include a back wall, a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a bottom wall. The bottom heating element may be mounted above the bottom wall to heat a cooking surface within the oven chamber. The base panel may be disposed over the bottom heating element. The base panel may define an oven vent and a receiving zone spaced apart from the oven vent. The base panel may further define an enclosed region with the bottom wall about the bottom heating element. The cooking plate may be disposed on the base panel within the receiving zone. The cooking plate may define the cooking surface.

An oven appliance, as provided herein, may include a plurality of chamber walls, a bottom heating element, a base panel, and a cooking plate. The plurality of chamber walls may define an oven chamber. The plurality of chamber walls may include a back wall, a top wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a bottom wall. The bottom heating element may be mounted above the bottom wall to heat a cooking surface within the oven chamber. The base panel may be disposed over the bottom heating element. The base panel may define an oven vent and a receiving zone spaced apart from the oven vent. The base panel may further define an enclosed region with the bottom wall about the bottom heating element. The cooking plate may be disposed on the base panel within the receiving zone. The cooking plate may define the cooking surface.

Dough preparation apparatus and associated methods. The dough preparation apparatus can store and be configured to execute a plurality of dough preparation recipes. In one example, the dough preparation apparatus is configured for thawing or slacking frozen dough and conditioning the dough prior to baking. The dough preparation apparatus facilitates production of baked bread having higher and more consistent quality.

Dough preparation apparatus and associated methods. The dough preparation apparatus can store and be configured to execute a plurality of dough preparation recipes. In one example, the dough preparation apparatus is configured for thawing or slacking frozen dough and conditioning the dough prior to baking. The dough preparation apparatus facilitates production of baked bread having higher and more consistent quality.

Methods for operating an oven appliance, as provided herein, may include various steps for activating top and bottom heating elements (e.g., at overlapping times) prior to limiting activation of one of the heating elements based on one or more received temperature signals.

Methods for operating an oven appliance, as provided herein, may include various steps for activating top and bottom heating elements (e.g., at overlapping times) prior to limiting activation of one of the heating elements based on one or more received temperature signals.

An oven system to heat a moving item includes a conveyor capable of moving at more than one speed along a path of movement; a heat source positioned along the path of movement; a baseline heating profile for heating the moving item at a constant velocity; a sensor to detect energy available for the heat source at a particular moment or over a period of time; and a system to dynamically modify, based on the energy available, the baseline heating profile into a modified heating profile including a variable conveyance speed, where, when the moving item exits the oven system, the energy supplied by the heat source to the moving item equals the energy to be supplied per the baseline heating profile.

An oven system to heat a moving item includes a conveyor capable of moving at more than one speed along a path of movement; a heat source positioned along the path of movement; a baseline heating profile for heating the moving item at a constant velocity; a sensor to detect energy available for the heat source at a particular moment or over a period of time; and a system to dynamically modify, based on the energy available, the baseline heating profile into a modified heating profile including a variable conveyance speed, where, when the moving item exits the oven system, the energy supplied by the heat source to the moving item equals the energy to be supplied per the baseline heating profile.

A cooking appliance apparatus, in particular an oven apparatus, includes a first heating element, a second heating element, a control unit configured to jointly operate the first and second heating elements to heat a cooking chamber in an operating state, and a power distributor unit which is configured to divide a total power into a first output power and a second output power in the operating state and to supply the first output power to the first heating element and the second output power to the second heating element.

A method for cooking is disclosed. In response to an oven being selected to cook a food item, a determination is made whether or not any oven is being engaged in cooking. If no oven is being engaged in cooking, then temperature-control mode is utilized to control oven temperature of the selected oven. If one oven is currently being engaged in cooking, then another determination is made whether or not the total current demand by the two ovens to cook respective food items exceeds a predetermined current limitation under temperature-control mode. If the total current demand does not exceed the predetermined current limitation, then temperature-control mode is utilized to control oven temperature of the two ovens. If the total current demand exceeds the predetermined current limitation, then time-control mode is utilized to control oven temperature of the two ovens.