Abstract: A system for indicating status of a food item in a kitchen includes a food preparation appliance having at least one shelf. A countdown timer operatively communicates with the food preparation appliance for counting a food processing time period of a food item in the at least one shelf. A processor receives a count from the countdown timer. A visual indicator provides a visual indication at the at least one shelf. The processor communicates with the visual indicator and causes the visual indicator to indicate a current status of a food item in the at least one shelf as a function of the count from the countdown timer.

Abstract: A programmable food cooking appliance having a display includes a control panel. One or more control buttons for controlling operation of the food cooking appliance are disposed on the control panel. One or more displays, each one of the two or more displays are disposed on the control panel adjacent a respective control button. A database stores two or more recipes. A processor communicates with the database and assigns a recipe to a respective one of each control button, and transmits a display signal to the display adjacent the respective one control button to display a description of the recipe associated with the respective one control button.

Abstract: A system for facilitating the preparation of food comprising a database, a database storing recipe information regarding the process for preparing a particular food item in accordance with the recipe, and the database storing a visual cue corresponding to the performance of a server communicating with the database.