Systems, methods, and devices may include a toaster device. The toaster may include a toaster body having a housing having a top outer surface, a bottom outer surface, and a side outer surface extending between the top and bottom outer surfaces. The toaster device may include a control system comprising a power supply and a switch configured to cut power to the heating element when in a cut-power state. The toaster device may include a toaster cover comprising an actuation element. The toaster cover may be alterable between a detached state in which the toaster cover is separated and remote from the toaster body and an assembled state in which the toaster cover rests atop the toaster body to cover the bread slot and the actuation element of the toaster cover actuates the switch into the cut-power state.

A toaster oven includes a housing having an internal heating compartment, at least one heating element within the internal heating compartment, a vent associated with at least one wall of the internal heating compartment, the vent being moveable between an open position where air is permitted to pass into the internal heating compartment through the vent, and a closed position where passage of air into the internal heating compartment through the vent is inhibited. The vent is configured to move from the closed position to the open position in response to a biasing force exerted by a food support tray received within the internal heating compartment.

A cooking appliance, such as a toaster or oven, has a lifting arm including ribs that form a support surface for a food product in a cooking cavity of the appliance. Each rib can include an opening configured to permit infrared radiation from a heating assembly to pass through the rib to the food product supported by the lifting arm and/or to reduce a thermal mass and capacitance of the lifting arm. The heating assembly can include a support and/or heating element with a curved shape having a concave side facing a cooking cavity. The support and/or heating element can have a planar shape when unstressed and a curved shape when stressed. The heating element may be coupled to the support so as to be slidably movable relative to the support, e.g., so the heating element can slide relative to the support.

A cooking appliance, such as a toaster or oven, has a lifting arm including ribs that form a support surface for a food product in a cooking cavity of the appliance. Each rib can include an opening configured to permit infrared radiation from a heating assembly to pass through the rib to the food product supported by the lifting arm and/or to reduce a thermal mass and capacitance of the lifting arm. The heating assembly can include a support and/or heating element with a curved shape having a concave side facing a cooking cavity. The support and/or heating element can have a planar shape when unstressed and a curved shape when stressed. The heating element may be coupled to the support so as to be slidably movable relative to the support, e.g., so the heating element can slide relative to the support.

A vertical grill for cooking food items is disclosed wherein the vertical grill is comprised of a body containing at least one vertical grilling area disposed between at least two sources of radiant heat energy, and wherein the body is adapted to direct fats and breakaway solids generated during the cooking of the food into an external receptacle via the external opening . It achieves this by including evacuation slides which are contained within the body of the grill and arranged in various shaped assemblies such that food and fats falling on the evacuation slide travels down until it is collected by evacuation slide guide which delivers the food and fats to the external receptacle where they are not in any danger of catching fire.

An infrared toaster and a method of toasting use a support configured to hold a food product relative to an infrared source. A light source and a camera are arranged relative to the support to illuminate the food product and capture digital images of the food product. A processor receives and analyzes successive images from the camera. The processor operates the IR source to achieve a predetermined toasting level of the food product. The processor operates the IR source to terminate operation directing IR energy when the predetermined toasting level is reached.

A.

i. A toaster component is incorporated into a conventional countertop toaster oven to create a countertop Toaster Oven/Toaster combo, a single structure. The toaster and toaster oven components of this appliance can be used individually or both at the same time.

ii. A toaster component is incorporated into a conventional countertop microwave oven to create a countertop Microwave Oven/Toaster combo, a single structure. The toaster and microwave oven components of this appliance can be used individually or both at the same time.

iii. A toaster component is incorporated into a conventional over-the-range microwave oven to create an Over-The-Range Microwave Oven/Toaster combo, a single structure. The toaster and microwave oven components of this appliance can be used individually or both at the same time.

B.

i. A toaster oven is incorporated into the countertop Microwave Oven/Toaster combo, above A.ii, to create a countertop Microwave Oven/Toaster Oven/Toaster combo, a single structure. The toaster, toaster oven and microwave oven components of this appliance can be used individually, two or three at the same time.

ii. A toaster oven is incorporated into the Over-The-Range Microwave Oven/Toaster combo, above A.iii, to create an Over-The-Range Microwave Oven/Toaster Oven/Toaster combo, a single structure.

The toaster, toaster oven and microwave oven components of this appliance can be used individually, two or three at the same time.

A container for heating tortillas, quesadillas, pitas, or similar food articles in a toaster. The food articles have a moisture content by weight ranging from 30% to 52% prior to heating in the toaster. The container comprises an upright structure adapted to removably fit into the vertical slot of a conventional toaster and be supported by the toaster during a toaster heating cycle. The upright structure has a front and back connected to a hinged or metal ring bound bottom. The sides consist of a stainless-steel wire frame with vertical grate front and back which provides apertures for passing heat from the toaster to the food article located inside the container. The container is openable to permit removal of the food article after heating.

The magnetic toaster cover adheres to the sides of most metal and stainless-steel toasters. It only covers the open toaster slots and hangs approximately 2 inches on the right and left sides of a toaster. It will not fall off, but can be repeatedly and easily removed and placed back on the toaster once it cools off as needed.

A toaster includes a housing that defines one or more cooking cavities. Each cooking cavity has a lift to lower and raise a food product inside the cooking cavity depending on food product type, and heating elements to cook the food product arranged inside the cooking cavity. The toaster includes a user interface operable to control a cooking cycle inside the one or more cooking cavities. The user interface can be used to select a combination of food product, cooking mode, and doneness level, and to initiate a cooking cycle performed by the toaster.