A cooking apparatus and method for use of the same are disclosed that utilize forced convection and radiant heating cooking. In one embodiment, the cooking apparatus includes an oven housing defining a cooking chamber, a circulation chamber, and a catalyst chamber. The catalyst chamber is superposed to the circulation chamber and the circulation chamber is superposed to the cooking chamber. Heating elements are located in the cooking chamber and the circulation chamber. An airflow circulation loop is located between the cooking chamber and the circulation chamber. An exhaust airflow path is provided from the circulation chamber to the catalyst chamber to an exterior of the oven housing. A fan subassembly is located within the oven housing and the fan subassembly circulates convection air along the airflow circulation loop with a portion of the convection air being diverted into the exhaust airflow path.

A pocketed bun is made by placing a removable insert inside a portion of bread dough, cooking the bread dough to produce a bread bun, cutting the bread bun, and removing the insert from the bread bun. Preferably, the insert is made of a non-edible and non-stick material. The insert is at least partially or completely surrounded by the bread dough before and after cooking. The insert can also be magnetic, so that the insert and the bread dough can be magnetically suspended during cooking in an oven that has one or more suspension magnets.

Food products, apparatus, systems and methods in which a pocketed bun is produced by supplying compressed air into a portion of bread dough to produce an air pocket, cooking the portion to produce an at least partially cooked bun, and cutting the bun into at least two pieces, with each piece having a cavity. Air can be delivered directly inside the portion of bread dough through a tube or to an expandable object (e.g., a balloon). Preferably, the portion of bread dough is placed into an expandable mold controlled by at least an arm operated by a processor. Batches of pocketed buns can be produced by utilizing a device having multiple molds inside a chamber, and multiple stacked chambers or a shelf with multiple floors.

A cooking apparatus and method for use of the same are disclosed that utilize forced convection and radiant heating cooking. In one embodiment, the cooking apparatus includes an oven housing defining a cooking chamber, a circulation chamber, and a catalyst chamber. The catalyst chamber is superposed to the circulation chamber and the circulation chamber is superposed to the cooking chamber. Heating elements are located in the cooking chamber and the circulation chamber. An airflow circulation loop is located between the cooking chamber and the circulation chamber. An exhaust airflow path is provided from the circulation chamber to the catalyst chamber to an exterior of the oven housing. A fan subassembly is located within the oven housing and the fan subassembly circulates convection air along the airflow circulation loop with a portion of the convection air being diverted into the exhaust airflow path.

A mold assembly including at least three pieces that are joined together by a seal. Once joined together, the mold assembly defines an interior cavity defining a shape for a baked comestible product. A comestible substance is injected into the interior cavity through an opening in the mold assembly that is either defined by one of the three pieces or by an opening in the seal between two or more of the three pieces. After baking, the pieces of the mold can be peeled away from the comestible product by breaking the seal.

A mold assembly including at least three pieces that are joined together by a seal. Once joined together, the mold assembly defines an interior cavity defining a shape for a baked comestible product. A comestible substance is injected into the interior cavity through an opening in the mold assembly that is either defined by one of the three pieces or by an opening in the seal between two or more of the three pieces. After baking, the pieces of the mold can be peeled away from the comestible product by breaking the seal.

A serving container and associated ring element that includes a serving dish and a ring element having a ring element lip with a shape that substantially corresponds to a shape of a serving dish lip, wherein portions of the ring element lip are formed to be positionable around at least a portion of the serving dish lip to provide frictional engagement between portions of said ring element lip and at least a portion of said serving dish lip, such that said ring element is capable of securing a foil pan within said serving dish.

A serving container and associated ring element that includes a serving dish and a ring element having a ring element lip with a shape that substantially corresponds to a shape of a serving dish lip, wherein portions of the ring element lip are formed to be positionable around at least a portion of the serving dish lip to provide frictional engagement between portions of said ring element lip and at least a portion of said serving dish lip, such that said ring element is capable of securing a foil pan within said serving dish.

A crimped strip of thin sheet metal (such as aluminum foil) or metal composite material that surrounds a pie crust from the body of the pie to the under edge of the pie crust. and protects it from burning or over-browning while cooking. The two outer edges of the strips width are crimped so that the final product, when viewed from the side, assumes a circular appearance. The crimped and moldable strip accommodates a variety of pie diameters and pie crust heights and designs because of its easily adjustable and moldable qualities. The crimped and moldable pie baking strip is malleable, the length can be cut to size, and the ends can be folded together to secure its position. It is designed primarily as a single use item to address an unmet market need.

The present invention relates to an apparatus (100) and method for shaping a food product comprising: an open container (102) for receiving food mix, the container (102) being divided into a plurality of open container chambers (104) in which each container chamber (104) has a side wall forming an opening for receiving the food mix; a mould insert (114) comprising a plurality of mould chambers (116), each mould chamber (116) having a side wall which cooperates with the side wall of one of the container chambers (104) to define a plurality of interior mould cavities (120) when the container (102) and the mould insert (114) are joined. The side wall of each mould chamber (116) forms a cutting edge operable during compression to simultaneously and slidingly engage against the side wall of each container chamber (104) to cut into and fully separate food mix contained within the interior mould cavity (120) from any excess food mix remaining outside the interior mould cavity (120) to thereby form and shape a food product within each interior mould cavity (120).