An automated food preparation apparatus configured to provide a completed provision, such as a bagel, optionally toasted, and optionally with a spread. The automated food preparation system includes a food placement and pickup station, a cutting station assembly, a toasting station assembly and a spread applying station assembly. The provision is directed between the station assemblies through a grasping, locating and moving system. The system includes a plurality of food engaging forks that are configured to releasably grasp the food preparation, and, in turn, to locate and move the food preparation therethrough.

Use of stick deodorant technology as a container for spreading butter, peanut butter, jelly, jam, cream cheese and other spreadable food products.

A device for distributing melted butter flavoring, or other toppings intended for popcorn, homogenously throughout a mass of popcorn which comprises: a) a perforated tubular component and, preferably, b) a funnel component integral with an upper end of the perforated tubular component, wherein, when the perforated tubular component is inserted into the mass of popcorn, and liquid flavoring is poured into the upper end of the tubular component; e.g., the funnel component, it will flow out through the perforations in the tubular component and be distributed homogenously throughout the mass of popcorn.

A roller spreading device for spreading a butter substance over a food product is provided. The device includes a basin structure and a roller member. The basin structure is sized to hold the butter substance for melting therein, the basin structure including a lower floor surface extending with an arcuate structure. The roller member includes a cylindrical outer surface with multiple recesses therein sized to capture the butter substance along the multiple recesses. The roller member, suspended within the basin structure, rotates about an axis such that the roller member rotates through the butter substance pooled along the arcuate structure.

A device is provided for holding a butter-like product packaged as an elongate solid or semi-solid stick or bar. The device has a base with opposed first and second sides. At least one anchor extends from the first side of the base, and an elongate handle extends from the second side of the base. The at least one anchor is configured for insertion into the butter-like product such that the device can hold and support the butter-like product. The handle is configured to be gripped or otherwise held by a user's hand for moving and maneuvering the device with a butter-like product secured thereto during use. The base is configured to interface to an end part of the butter-like product supported by the at least one anchor during use and also functions as a drip guard during use. Other aspects are described and claimed.

A roller spreading device for spreading a butter substance over a food product is provided. The device includes a basin structure and a roller member. The basin structure is sized to hold the butter substance for melting therein, the basin structure including a lower floor surface extending with an arcuate structure. The roller member includes a cylindrical outer surface with multiple recesses therein sized to capture the butter substance along the multiple recesses. The roller member, suspended within the basin structure, rotates about an axis such that the roller member rotates through the butter substance pooled along the arcuate structure.

A roller spreading device for spreading a butter substance over a food product is provided. The device includes a basin structure and a roller member. The basin structure is sized to hold the butter substance for melting therein, the basin structure including a lower floor surface extending with an arcuate structure. The roller member includes a cylindrical outer surface with multiple recesses therein sized to capture the butter substance along the multiple recesses. The roller member, suspended within the basin structure, rotates about an axis such that the roller member rotates through the butter substance pooled along the arcuate structure.

A housing has a first end and a second end, an inner surface of the housing defining a channel that is configured to slidably receive therein a food product. A food product motivating mechanism is configured to engage a food product, the food product motivating mechanism being slidably receivable in the first end of the housing, the food product motivating mechanism and the housing being configured to cooperatively slidably urge a food product from the first end of the housing toward the second end of the housing. A rotating cutting mechanism is removably attachable to an outer surface of the second end of the housing, the rotating cutting mechanism being configured to rotate about the second end of the housing, the rotating cutting mechanism being further configured to cuttingly engage a food product.

A roller spreading device for spreading a butter substance over a food product is provided. The device includes a basin structure and a roller member. The basin structure is sized to hold the butter substance for melting therein, the basin structure including a lower floor surface extending with an arcuate structure. The roller member includes a cylindrical outer surface with multiple recesses therein sized to capture the butter substance along the multiple recesses. The roller member, suspended within the basin structure, rotates about an axis such that the roller member rotates through the butter substance pooled along the arcuate structure.

A system includes a hopper, a permeable seal, a gas supply, and a receiver. The hopper includes an elongated housing holding a row of food products. The elongated housing defines a pressurized end opposite a discharge end through which the food products are dispensed. The permeable seal is interposed between an interior wall of the hopper and a surface of the piston. The permeable seal cooperates with the hopper and the piston to define a closed volume between the piston and the pressurized end. The permeable seal is configured to bleed gas from the closed volume toward the discharge end. The gas supply selectively supplies gas into the closed volume to displace the piston toward the discharge end. The receiver receives food products dispensed from the elongated housing and is positioned to allow the food products to move along at least partially by gravity.