Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080276808 | Thin film cooking devices and methods - Improved cooking devices and methods of achieving intimate heat transfer contact between a low-friction, non-stick release sheet material and a heated platen are provided. In particular, improved intimate heat transfer contact may be achieved by providing a very thin release sheet, providing a layer of heat transfer enhancing material forming an intimate heat transfer contact interface between the release sheet and the platen, and/or providing a release sheet that is gas-permeable and liquid-impermeable. A dynamic tensioning system is also provided for mounting a release sheet to a heated platen and maintaining even, bidirectional tension on the release sheet to keep it taut against the platen. Illustrated embodiments of the invention include a clamshell grill and conveyorized contact toaster. | 11-13-2008 |
20090049996 | Thin film cooking and food transfer devices and methods - Improved cooking devices and methods of achieving good adherence contact between a low-friction, non-stick release sheet material and a heated food-supporting platen or cooking surface are provided. The adherence of the release sheet to the lower platen is sufficiently good to permit removal of cooked items such as hamburger patties with a spatula without significantly adversely disturbing the release sheet. In addition, good heat transfer is achieved to permit good sear (good carmelization and good browning) on the bottom surface of foods, including hamburger patties. In addition, inventive cooking utensils and methods are provided that incorporate or use release sheets in the utensils themselves, so that the benefits of a release sheet on the food-supporting platen or cooking surface are achieved. | 02-26-2009 |
20090214736 | Chicken ring cooking device and method - A commercial cooking apparatus is provided for simultaneous steaming and two-sided grilling of food items having non-uniform thickness and/or variations in nominal thickness. The apparatus includes a compressible, heat-resistant ring member, and optionally a flexible, non-stick, heat-resistant film material associated with the ring member to form a cavity defined by the inner perimeter of the ring member. A cooking method is also disclosed, wherein a food item and a quantity of water are introduced into the cavity, and the food item is simultaneously cooked by the heated upper and lower platens of a conventional clamshell grill or similar apparatus and by steam generated by heating the water. | 08-27-2009 |
20110154638 | Food tray - A food tray adapted to be removably located in a predetermined position in a compartment is provided having a tray body and a fixed movable stop member. The tray body includes a first end and a second end, a bottom and a sidewall structure defining a volume. The fixed movable stop member is located at one end of the tray body and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. When the tray is inserted in the compartment in the predetermined position, the fixed movable stop member is in the extended position and restrains further insertion of the tray into the compartment. A method of making a food tray in accordance with the invention is provided. Also provided is a method of storing food within a food tray to be contained in a pass-through compartment. | 06-30-2011 |
20110177222 | Automated dual cooking surface grill and method - A dual-sided cooking device is provided that determines whether the upper and lower cooking platens are substantially parallel to each other when in a cooking position. In addition, the method and device in accordance with the invention are capable of identifying a type of food item placed on a lower cooking platen of a two-sided cooking grill. | 07-21-2011 |
20140033930 | Two-Surface Grill With Adjustable Gap and Multi-Stage Method For Cooking Food - The present invention relates to a device for cooking food on a grill having opposed upper and lower platens wherein a gap spacing between the platens is automatically adjusted in an initial stage and in subsequent stages of the cooking time for the food. The food is caused to be located between two opposed platens, the opposed platens each having opposed cooking surfaces and the opposed cooking surfaces defining a gap spacing that is adjustable. A controller and drive mechanism adjust the gap spacing between the platens so that during an initial stage of the cooking the gap spacing is equal to or less than the nominal initial uncooked thickness of the food, and during one or more subsequent stages of the cooking, after the initial stage, the gap spacing between the platens is varied. | 02-06-2014 |
20140272060 | Chicken Ring Cooking Device and Method - A commercial cooking apparatus is provided for simultaneous steaming and two-sided grilling of food items having non-uniform thickness and/or variations in nominal thickness. The apparatus includes a compressible, heat-resistant ring member, and optionally a flexible, non-stick, heat-resistant film material associated with the ring member to form a cavity defined by the inner perimeter of the ring member. A cooking method is also disclosed, wherein a food item and a quantity of water are introduced into the cavity, and the food item is simultaneously cooked by the heated upper and lower platens of a conventional clamshell grill or similar apparatus and by steam generated by heating the water. | 09-18-2014 |
20150305554 | TWO-SIDED GRILL AND METHOD - Two-sided grills are provided having a positively controlled vertical gap between two opposed cooking surfaces, means for detecting initial contact of an upper cooking surface on a food item placed on a lower cooking surface, means for measuring the gap between the cooking surfaces at the initial contact position to determine a thickness of the food item and a food-item type, and a control system for automatically initiating a pre-programmed cooking routine based on the food-item type. The cooking routine includes varying the gap dimension between the platens while cooking the food item, the range or sequence of gap dimension variation being based on either the measured thickness of the food item or a nominal thickness associated with the identified food item type. In other aspect, grills according to the invention may include a lower platen mounted for vertical movement and an upper platen mounted only for pivoting. | 10-29-2015 |