Abstract: For making a cooked waffle from batter, a waffle maker comprises a pair of opposing heater grids configured to be closed together when batter is placed therebetween for cooking, and a controllable power supply with an output coupled to the grids for supplying power thereto to heat the grids. The power supply has a cooking mode wherein a high level output is supplied to the grids during a cooking cycle and a standby mode wherein a lower level output is supplied to the grids upon completion of the cooking cycle for preventing overheating of the grids. The temperature of the grids is controlled to provide optimum cooking and to prevent overheated grids between cooking cycles.

Abstract: A cooking device including a lower cooking plate which is positioned at an angle to the horizontal plane of the device has grilling members supported in heat conducting relation and an upper cooking plate movable to a closed position forming a cooking chamber which substantially restrains the escape of vapors and permits the cooking and removal of small pieces or ground foodstuffs. In one embodiment, the device includes a collecting member positioned beneath a downwardly extending portion of the lower cooking plate, which can have an opening and through which liquids emitted from the foodstuffs during cooking can be removed, and into which the foodstuffs after cooking can be collected for removal from the device.

Abstract: Apparatus for cooking a food product, for example a hamburger, comprises a mould assembly for cooking the hamburger. The mould assembly is formed from first and second moulds (3,3') formed on upper and lower bodies (1,2). Each mould is formed with a pair of radially opposed arcuate side wall portions (5,6). The side wall portions (5, 6) on respective moulds (3,3') are so located and dimensioned that when they are brought together they define a substantially continuous side wall. When the moulds are moved apart spaces between the side wall portions allow the hamburger to be easily removed.

Abstract: In a hinge for pivotally connecting the tongs of a pair of baking tongs, the hinge pin is rotatably mounted by means of at least one sliding surface bearing, which comprises sliding surfaces, which are in sliding contact with each other and are respectively provided on the hinge pin and on one of two members which are pivotally connected. One of said sliding surfaces comprises a sliding surface segment and is formed with openings adjoining said sliding surface segment on opposite sides thereof and with scraping edges, which are in sliding contact with the other of said sliding surfaces and define said openings and said sliding surface segment on opposite sides thereof.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing tart shells uses a manually operated hinged die and press arrangement in which the die is shaped with a female receptacle for receiving a foil tart case and the press has a male portion for compressing dough into the tart case and squeezing the dough to form a continuous constant thickness layer across the inside of the tart case. To prevent adhesion of the male portion in the dough, a sheet of plastic film is placed over the tart shell and the dough ball when inserted into the case. The plastic film prevents adhesion of the dough to the male portion and the plastic film can be readily removed after the compression is complete.

Abstract: A multiple baker for confectionery items such as waffles and pancakes having multiple baking irons vertically mounted between vertical heating partitions of a base and pivotally hinged to the base for rotation in a vertical plane, between a baking position and an offset position. Each baking iron has separatable shell members for receiving the food items and a flanged mouth positioned atop each baking iron when in the baking position. The position of the flange mouth allows steam to escape vertically during the baking process and distance the user from the steam.

Abstract: A pizza base unit of crust has a plurality of waffle-type depressions in its upper surface that receive pizza toppings and serve to anchor such toppings on the upper surface of the pizza. In the method of forming the pizza, raw pizza dough is formed into a pizza size portion and is subjected to a first cooking step to form a crust while simultaneously providing a plurality of the waffle-like depressions in its upper surface. Pizza toppings are then placed on the upper surface of the cooked crust and in the depressions and this assembly is then subjected to a second heating step to complete the pizza for consumption. Apparatus for carrying out the method includes a hot plate with cooking areas arranged to receive raw pizza dough for cooking into a pizza crust.

Abstract: A pizza crust cooking utensil for use with a pizza crust batter to partially precook a pizza crust. The use of the utensil provides a more uniformly producible, less porous and more stable pizza crust which has better handling characteristics for home or commercial cooking, especially for cooking in a conveyor-type toaster or oven. The utensil includes two cooking plates which align to form a hollow cooking chamber in which the crust is formed as the batter is cooked. The invention is adaptable for use in a cooking appliance or a variety of ovens and has a transition region from the crust center to the rim to assure a well-defined rim and to stiffen the crust toward the rim for better handling. Channels extending between the center region to the rim area of the utensil enhance batter flow. Preferably, the generally planar center of the lower cooking plate is thicker to assure more complete, uniform and thorough cooking of the top surface of the crust.

Abstract: A method of making a waffle in a press having closable top and bottom halves comprises first spraying a relatively thin pattern batter in a pattern on one of the halves of the press and then heating the pattern batter sufficiently to at least partially cook it but insufficiently to make it peel off the one press half. A thick body batter of a color different from that of the pattern batter is then poured onto the bottom half and the halves of the press are closed together. Then the press halves and batters are heated so as to thoroughly cook the batters together into a waffle.

Abstract: A cooking utensil with a generally platelike structure and a recessed or raised image respectively defined in or above the griddle surface for providing an image at the surface of a fried foodstuff.

Abstract: An electric appliance for cooking and especially toasting food products such as ham-and-cheese sandwiches has two cooking plates (1, 2) which are hinged together. Each cooking plate is formed of die-stamped sheet metal and attached to a sheet-metal support plate (15, 16) forming a reflector, an electric heating resistor (13) being placed between the support plate and the cooking plate. The support plates (15, 16) are provided on one side with elements (3, 4) for joining them together in hinged relation and on the opposite side with elements for attaching handles.

Abstract: Baking tongs for producing edible wafers from wafer dough in a wafer baking oven or an automatic wafer baking machine consist of a wafer baking mold comprising baking mold parts in respective tong parts which are moved toward each other and away from each other in order to open and close the wafer baking mold. For a rigid interlocking of the two tong parts when the wafer baking mold is closed, the tong parts are provided with cooperating closure sections. The closure section of one tong part is provided with a rigid locking pin, which protrudes from the inside surface of that closure section. The closure section of the other tong part is formed with a through opening, which constitutes a passage for the locking pin, and is provided with a hook which is engageable with the locking pin. The hook is pivoted on the outside of the closure section and has an engaging surface for engaging an engaging surface of the locking pin. The hook is provided with an actuating element for pivotally moving the hook.

Abstract: A baking or roasting oven is provided with a transfer apparatus by which the pieces of edible material which is to be roasted, such as slices of white bread, soft wafers, etc., are fed into the oven and the roasted toasts are removed from the oven. The oven comprises an endless chain of hinged tongs, which can be opened and closed and are adapted to hold the pieces of edible material which are to be roasted. The chain of tongs moves in the oven in two superimposed planes. A transfer station is provided adjacent to the upper plane in which the upper course of the chain of tongs extends. The tongs move in an open position through that transfer station, which contains two sets of drums, which are closely spaced one behind the other in the direction of travel of the upper course of the chain of tongs and are disposed above the bottom plates of the open tongs of said upper course.

Abstract: A confectionery grill having upper and lower hinged heating elements in which the upper heating element or grill unit can be adjustably spaced at its hinge from the lower heating element or grill unit during the cooking cycle.

Abstract: A baking plate is provided, which is adapted to cooperate with a second baking plate to define a cavity for receiving dough to be baked. The baking plate has on one side a generally flat dough-treating surface and on the opposite side a rear surface. The rear surface of the baking plate is formed with at least one channel by which the flexural stiffness of the baking plate is reduced. At least one adjustable stressing device is connected to said rear surface of said baking plate on opposite sides of said channel and operable to subject said baking plate to an adjustable initial bending stress in such a manner that said channel is contracted to an adjustable extent transversely to the longitudinal direction of said channel and that an adjustable convex camber is imparted to said dough-treating surface.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooking or otherwise heating food held in a container which includes upper and lower housing portions. Heating elements are located in the respective housing portions, and the opposed inner walls of the housing portions are adapted to be moved into contact with the food container. The heating elements are positioned immediately adjacent these walls, and these elements are substantially insulated from other portions of the housing. The intimate contact between the inner walls and the associated heating elements causes the food to act as a heat sink whereby the food is rapidly heated in a highly effective manner. The apparatus is particularly useful for the cooking of frozen food located in an appropriate container. Means are provided for retaining the upper housing in spaced apart relationship with the lower housing to permit baking and similar heating.

Abstract: A baking press or baking tongs having a pair of baking plates which are clamped together with dough treating sides facing each other. The baking tongs produce sheets of wafers from a filling of dough disposed between the dough treating sides when the baking plates are in a heated condition. One or more of the dough treating sides are convexly cambered into a space between the dough treating sides of the pair of clamped baking plates.

Abstract: A portable grill device of the type including a first bowl and a second bowl hingedly connected together. The bowls are movable between a closure position where the bowls overlie one another, a generally right angular use position where the second bowl is disposed substantially normal to the first bowl, and a generally horizontal use position where the first bowl and second bowl are fully opened. Novel leg bail structure is provided that offers three-legged support to both bowls when the bowls are in the horizontal use position, and that offers a support base substantially wider than the width of the first bowl when the second bowl is in the generally right angular use position relative to the first bowl. Further, the portable grill device includes novel latch structure which retains the two bowls in the generally right angular position, that latch structure cooperating with spit holder arms for restraining those spit holder arms in an elevated position over the first bowl.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus, for simultaneously cooking a number of products, each a filling between two slices of bread buttered on their outer faces and toasted, has two oppositely arranged but otherwise similar cooking units mounted in frames, the lower one fixed, the upper one hinged to the lower. Each unit is a metal casting with a face plate and a series of hot plates, each with a rim extending from the face plate and with a peripheral cutting bead, and a concavity within the rim. The cooking units are simultaneously heated by electric heating elements on their reverse faces, and when the upper one is brought down onto the lower one, in the hot plates of which the products to be cooked are placed, the cutting beads of corresponding hot plates of upper and lower units coact to cut through the bread slices to trim excess, and to seal the edges of the slices together.

Abstract: A food warming appliance having base and cover structures defining a portable case. A pair of opposed heating panels are mounted, one in each of the structures, and biased toward each other so as to firmly engage food positioned therebetween when the structures are closed. Foods and food trays of a wide variety of sizes, shapes and thicknesses can be positioned between the panels and firmly gripped so as to be warmed through a gentle conductive heat transfer. The heating compartment is well insulated and has the capability of serving as a cold food storage area to keep frozen foods frozen for substantial periods of time. A safety electrical interlock system normally de-energizes the heating panels when the appliance is open. An interlock by-pass plug and cord permit open case operation where the appliance is to be used to keep foods warm during serving.