Abstract: A commercial oven, such as a combination oven providing steam and convection heating, may provide an equipment cabinet holding electronic equipment and having an external wall abutting other heating apparatus. The external wall includes an interior plenum through which air is circulated to provide compact virtual insulation from external heat sources.

Abstract: A ventless fume hood is integrated with an oven to anticipate a conclusion of the cooking schedule executed by the oven and in this way to provide direct venting of the oven cavity before the oven door is opened. Proper venting of a multimode combination oven may be thereby performed and the door may be opened up immediately upon conclusion of the cooking schedule without the delay otherwise required to collect cooking fumes escaping through the partially open door.

Abstract: A commercial oven, such as a combination oven providing steam and convection heating, may provide an equipment cabinet holding electronic equipment and having an external wall abutting other heating apparatus. The external wall includes an interior plenum through which air is circulated to provide compact virtual insulation from external heat sources.

Abstract: A commercial oven, such as a combination oven providing steam and convection heating, may provide for motorized dampers allowing the oven to move automatically between a closed-state high humidity operating mode and an open-state low humidity operating mode according to user input reflecting a desired cooking process. The dampers operate with a conventional steam trap and may provide integrated bypass valves preventing over or under pressure of the cooking volume.

Abstract: A commercial oven, such as a combination oven providing steam and convection heating, may provide an equipment cabinet holding electronic equipment and having an external wall abutting other heating apparatus. The external wall includes an interior plenum through which air is circulated to provide compact virtual insulation from external heat sources.

Abstract: A commercial oven, such as a combination oven providing steam and convection heating, may provide for two different peak power modes and for steam cooking. A temperature sensor sampling temperature from a region of the oven may be used to detect a complete filling of the oven with steam. The temperature of the temperature sensor is compared against different temperature thresholds depending on the selected peak power so that temperature may be used to discriminate steam filling for different peak power levels.

Abstract: A combination oven for cooking with heat and steam provides a boiler system for creating steam and includes a smoker appliance for generating smoke flavor during the cooking process. An oven controller detecting the use of the smoke appliance institutes a flushing and filling of the boiler after such use to reduce the transfer of smoke flavors to food that is subsequently cooked in the oven.

Abstract: A spray hose and spray nozzle for a commercial oven may be retracted on a spring-loaded reel. A position and recent movement of the spring-loaded reel may be used to deduce likely intent of the user with respect to use of the spray nozzle and to electronically activate or deactivate water flow to the spray hose based on the deduced intent.

Abstract: A ventless fume hood is integrated with an oven to anticipate a conclusion of the cooking schedule executed by the oven and in this way to provide direct venting of the oven cavity before the oven door is opened. Proper venting of a multimode combination oven may be thereby performed and the door may be opened up immediately upon conclusion of the cooking schedule without the delay otherwise required to collect cooking fumes escaping through the partially open door.

Abstract: A combination oven for cooking with heat and steam provides a boiler system for creating steam and includes a smoker appliance for generating smoke flavor during the cooking process. An oven controller detecting the use of the smoke appliance institutes a flushing and filling of the boiler after such use to reduce the transfer of smoke flavors to food that is subsequently cooked in the oven.

Abstract: A spray hose and spray nozzle for a commercial oven may be retracted on a spring-loaded reel. A position and recent movement of the spring-loaded reel may be used to deduce likely intent of the user with respect to use of the spray nozzle and to electronically activate or deactivate water flow to the spray hose based on the deduced intent.

Abstract: A commercial oven, such as a combination oven providing steam and convection heating, may provide for two different peak power modes and for steam cooking. A temperature sensor sampling temperature from a region of the oven may be used to detect a complete filling of the oven with steam. The temperature of the temperature sensor is compared against different temperature thresholds depending on the selected peak power so that temperature may be used to discriminate steam filling for different peak power levels.

Abstract: A commercial oven, such as a combination oven providing steam and convection heating, may provide for motorized dampers allowing the oven to move automatically between a closed-state high humidity operating mode and an open-state low humidity operating mode according to user input reflecting a desired cooking process. The dampers operate with a conventional steam trap and may provide integrated bypass valves preventing over or under pressure of the cooking volume.

Abstract: A commercial oven, such as a combination oven providing steam and convection heating, may provide an equipment cabinet holding electronic equipment and having an external wall abutting other heating apparatus. The external wall includes an interior plenum through which air is circulated to provide compact virtual insulation from external heat sources.

Abstract: An oven is disclosed which includes a heating cavity having a smoker and a steamer in communication with the heating cavity. The smoker and the steamer are operable either alone or in combination for preparation of a food product. The steamer is separately operable to produce steam for cleaning the heating cavity.

Abstract: An oven is disclosed having a first food preparation apparatus in the form of a convection heat source and/or a steam production assembly and/or a radiating heat source, and a second food preparation apparatus in the form of a smoking assembly. The oven can operate at least one of the food preparation apparatus simultaneously with the smoking assembly or separately from the smoking assembly.

Abstract: A grease collection system is provided that may be connected to an oven for the real-time removal of grease from the heating chamber while maintaining a closed system. In particular, one end of a grease removal conduit is placed in communication with a drain in the cooking chamber, and the other end of the conduit is placed in a portable reservoir for the disposal of grease having a predetermined fluid level to prevent ambient air from entering the heating chamber during the preparation of food product.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a cooking apparatus. A self-cleaning cooking apparatus can include a cooking chamber having a plurality of surfaces a food preparation assembly configured to prepare food product within the cooking chamber, a water nozzle positioned to direct water into cooking chamber, a holder configured to hold a detergent packet in a position configured to allow the water to dissolve the detergent from the detergent packet. The holder can be positioned in a drain tank or within the cooking chamber. The liquid within the drain tank can be re-circulated from the drain tank to the nozzle.

Abstract: A grease collection system is provided that may be connected to an oven for the real-time removal of grease from the heating chamber while maintaining a closed system. In particular, one end of a grease removal conduit is placed in communication with a drain in the cooking chamber, and the other end of the conduit is placed in a portable reservoir for the disposal of grease having a predetermined fluid level to prevent ambient air from entering the heating chamber during the preparation of food product.

Abstract: An oven is disclosed having a first food preparation apparatus in the form of a convection heat source and/or a steam production assembly and/or a radiating heat source, and a second food preparation apparatus in the form of a smoking assembly. The oven can operate at least one of the food preparation apparatus simultaneously with the smoking assembly or separately from the smoking assembly.