Abstract: Cooking apparatus, comprising a support structure, a cooking vessel having an opening therein, a cover controlling access to the vessel, and cover actuation apparatus. The cover actuation apparatus pivots the cover, and optionally includes slide structure enabling the cover to slide out of full overlying relationship with the vessel opening to a partially overlying relationship, before the pivoting action occurs. Optional biasing structure biases the cover upwardly from a position overlying the vessel opening. Preferred structure combines both sliding action and pivoting action to displace the cover from over the vessel opening, and to present the cover to the opening for sealing over the cooking vessel.

Abstract: A unitary housing for food preparation having a plurality of types of food fryers operably connected in the unitary housing is provided. The housing is configured to integrate each of the plurality of types of food fryers into the unitary housing. A unitary housing system for food preparation having a plurality of types of food fryers are operably connected in a unitary housing system is provided. The unitary housing system further includes a filter pan operably positioned for use with each of said plurality of types of food fryers and at least one work surface; wherein housing system is configured to integrate each of the plurality of types of food fryers and at least one work surface into the unitary housing system.