Abstract: A sandwich press or food holder for use with a cooking appliance, such as a toaster or oven. Sidewalls of the press that define a space in which a food item is received can have one or more ridges that define a convex surface inside the cavity and a concave surface on an exterior of the sidewall. The concave surface can be positioned adjacent a heating element when the press is received in a cooking cavity of the appliance. One or more openings can be provided in the sidewall, e.g., to allow radiant energy to pass and/or steam to escape. A handle can permit two-handed manipulation of the press and can have a gripping portion that is offset from an area directly above the press.

Abstract: A removable, retrofit, and/or rotatably attached handle is attached to a top wire of a wire chafing stand in embodiments of the disclosed technology. The handle can be rotated upwards such that a curved bend within the handle locks in place a first pan resting on the top wire of the wire chafing stand. A second pan, oriented upside down compared to the first pan, can be placed thereover, as a lid, on the first pan and held in place by the curved bend within the handle. The top and bottom pan are held in place by the same curved bend or bends of one or more such handles.

Abstract: An accessory for efficiently melting or softening cold solid spreads using the heat emanating from a bread toaster that in turn is easy to use or clean; reduces the risk of spillage; and can be used on any conventional toaster.

Abstract: A multifunctional cooking and baking assembly, which comprises an upper housing and a lower housing hinged mutually, wherein the upper housing and the lower housing are respectively provided with a chamber, a griddle plate is arranged inside the chamber, the chambers of the upper housing and the lower housing are connected through a connecting passage in which the griddle plate can be placed. The multifunctional cooking and baking assembly of the invention can integrate the functions of closed baking and open broiling by rotating the upper housing and the lower housing to a preset angle to match with the type switch of the griddle plates, and also has the functions of pan baking, frying, deep frying, stir frying, heating, and unfreezing when an overall griddle plate is used.

Abstract: A wire rack apparatus which fits on top of a shallow flat baking sheet pan and oven that supports a plurality of bacon slices vertically during roasting so that grease and fat and particular water within the body of bacon slices runs onto the shallow baking sheet pan. The bacon rack has a series of spaced upright wire mesh racks extending from a main support base rack. The upright wire mesh racks are positioned in elevated relation to a shallow baking sheet pan during cooking. The mesh racks are removably secured by U-shaped bend inserted slots to the main support base rack. Bacon slices are placed in the upright rack during roasting.

Abstract: A manual grate case barbecuing device facilitates turning food items while cooking. The device includes a base panel having a pair of planar outer sections and a planar medial section extending between the planar outer sections. The outer sections form respective obtuse angles relative to the medial section. Each of a pair of end bars is coupled to the base panel and positioned to extend between the outer sections wherein the base panel and the end bars define an interior space configured for holding food items. A cover panel is provided having a pair of planar outer portions and a planar medial portion extending between the outer portions. The cover panel is pivotally coupled to the base panel and positioned to selectively cover and enclose the interior space. A base handle is coupled to and extends from the base panel.

Abstract: A grate assembly for cooking food products and a grilling apparatus which uses the grate assembly for supporting the food during cooking. The grate assembly comprises: (a) a lower grate element having a series of parallel peak structures with valleys therebetween and (b) an upper grate element having a series of parallel food support ribs which are sized and spaced such that each rib will be positioned over the top of a corresponding peak structure. The upper food contacting surfaces of the ribs will remain substantially rust-free at atmospheric and cooking conditions.

Abstract: A removable toaster basket assembly to be removably received in a toasting slot of an electric pop-up toaster facilitates inserting and removing food articles in the toasting slot for toasting of the food article. The removable toaster basket assembly includes an elongate substantially planar frame for resting on an upper surface of the toaster and defines a rectangular slot therethrough. A handle extends from one end of the frame. An elongate basket is slidably received in the slot, the basket having ends and sides which define an open top for receiving a food article. A stop on the basket limits translation of the basket with respect to said frame to maintain the basket captive within the frame.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus particularly arranged for cooking toasted sandwiches and the like comprises a toasting iron including a pair of hingedly connected platens (21, 22) arranged to receive a food product to be cooked therebetween, the apparatus further comprising an oven (12) for receiving and heating the iron to cook the food product therein, wherein the iron is slidably mounted to a guide member which extends into the cooking station. The platens (21, 22) may be heated by an induction coil (60) disposed inside the oven (12).

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a food cooking installation comprising numerous cooking tanks which are used to receive the food items to be cooked; means of loading/unloading the food items into/from said cooking tanks; and means of conveying, driving and storing liquids, which are used to connect a heated liquid container, a cooled liquid container and a piped water delivery point with the aforementioned cooking tanks. In this way, the tanks can be filled and emptied independently and the food items contained therein can be subjected to successive baths for different periods of time and at different temperatures, at least one of the baths being a cooking bath and the other a cooling bath. According to the Invention, each of the aforementioned cooking tanks comprises at least one lateral opening which is equipped with impervious sealing means and which is used to load/unload the food items using the above-mentioned loading/unloading means.

Abstract: Apparatus comprising a hot dog cooker having a rack with flat faced bars configured to move above and along a cooking surface so as to cause hot dogs to rotate along heated ridges of the surface. The ridges mark the hot dogs circumferentially as they are rolled along the cooking surface by the moveable rack. Methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A jerky dehydrator comprises several baskets for receiving and retaining the product to be dehydrated and a racking grid for retaining several baskets in a vertical orientation. The racking grid is inserted into a metal tray, and the tray is inserted into the oven of a household range. The oven is preheated, prior to inserting the tray and its contents. Subsequently, the oven is maintained at a low temperature, about 200°, and the door of the oven is held open, slightly, to allow moisture to escape. Each basket comprises a first grate and a second grate, retained in pivotal relation by a pair of hinge clips. Tension springs, secured to an anchor on one grate and an extension on the other grate, urge the grates togther to form a basket and retain the jerky therebetween during the dehydration process. Receptacles at the trailing edge of one grate slip over upstanding pins on the racking grid and lock each basket in its vertical orientation.

Abstract: An automatic barbeque assembly is provided having a cooking oven, a conveyor mechanism mounted in the oven, a sauce tank mounted in the oven for holding sauce, a food carrying mechanism connected to the conveyor mechanism for carrying food products in the oven and into the sauce, and a bypass mechanism for preventing the food carrying mechanism from dipping into the sauce wherein the bypass mechanism can be activated from the exterior of the cooking oven using only one hand. The bypass mechanism includes a by-pass lever and a bypass lever rod wherein the bypass lever is permanently affixed at points along the length of the bypass lever rod. The bypass lever rod is rotatably mounted within the oven. The bypass lever and bypass lever rod together form a trapezoidal shape. The bypass lever rod extends through an aperture in the oven and rotates within the aperture. An activation rod is mounted to an end of the bypass lever rod on the exterior of the oven.

Abstract: An oven cavity, having an associated width defined by a lateral distance spanning side walls thereof, is provided with an oven rack that has a maximum lateral dimension which is substantially less than the width of the oven cavity and is directly supported by the oven cavity. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, the oven rack includes a platform portion, as well as first and second support portions. The first support portion is attached to a rear wall of the cavity and the second support portion is adapted to engage a runner provided on one of the side walls of the cavity, at least when the platform portion is weighted down by an item to be cooked. In the preferred embodiment, the first support portion projects rearwardly and upwardly from the platform portion and has an uppermost section provided with a pair of spaced retaining clips that are received within lanced tabs formed in the rear wall of the oven cavity.

Abstract: A container supporting French fries to be heated in a toaster. The toaster has an article receiving slot. The container comprises an upright structure having a closed bottom and a front and a back parallel to the front which are held together along adjacent side edges by mechanical means. The upright structure has an openable top for access to heated French fries. The front and back have apertures located above the closed bottom. The apertures provide an open area in the front and the back to pass toaster radiation heat into the container to heat the food article and for steam from heated French fries to exit the container. The upright structure has a portion extending sufficiently above the toaster which is cool-to-the-touch and electrically non-conductive to enable a user to lift the container from the toaster without a finger burn or electrical shock. The closed bottom of the container forms a drip trough.

Abstract: A combination heating and cooking apparatus that can be used by campers and sportsmen to provide warmth as well as to provide a convenient means for cooking a wide variety of foods at any selected location within the campground. The apparatus is completely self contained with the heating unit being connected directly to a source of heating gas, such as a small propane tank, and with the cooking accessory being removably connected to the heating unit. The cooking accessory adjustably supports the food being cooked directly in the path of the heat radiating from the burner so that the food can be initially seared to seal in its natural juices and can be progressively moved away from the burner to accomplish slow, uniform, no-flare grilling.

Abstract: A combination heating and cooking apparatus that can be used by campers and sportsmen to provide warmth as well as to provide a convenient means for cooking a wide variety of foods at any selected location within the campground. The apparatus is completely self contained with the heating unit being connected directly to a source of heating gas, such as a small propane tank, and with the cooking accessory being removably connected to the heating unit. The cooking accessory adjustably supports the food being cooked directly in the path of the heat radiating from the burner so that the food can be initially seared to seal in its natural juices and can be progressively moved away from the burner to accomplish slow, uniform, no-flare grilling.

Abstract: A food product carrier for use in an automatic food cooking machine having opposed integral retaining wire arch members for accepting retractable pins thereby locking a pivotal wire lid to a wire basket in a closed position which is mounted to the cooking machine and further including an external latch for securing the lid in a closed position while removed from the cooking machine.

Abstract: A self-contained cooker and grill having quadrilateral doors with a separate cooking grate attached to each door. Closure of all doors provide a conventional barbecue type cooker or smoker with a full sized grate and a common area for support of solid fuels. The multiple door cooker allows the operator to vary cooking times and heating of four different cooking surfaces. Each door can be opened independently allowing the operator to access the immediate cooking surface without disrupting the remaining cooking surfaces. An upper grate is provided in a fixed, movable, or rotational arangement for adaptation to various cooking requirement.

Abstract: This invention relates to a toaster and in particular to one including a body portion, a holding mechanism, a linking mechanism and baking panels whereby the bread may be provided with brown pattern on the surface thereby stimulating one's appetite and increasing the additional value thereof.

Abstract: An automatic food cooker machine having a plurality of food product carriers attached to an endless conveyor. The food carriers are attached and detached from the conveyor at opposite ends of the cooker. A plate having side rails is provided between the heat source and conveyor to catch grease and other debris falling from the food products. A pair of vents are formed at each end between the cooker doors and top wall to provide a safe escape for steam and promote the proper ignition of the flammable gas exiting the gas burner ports. A pair of dip tanks are positioned at each end of the conveyor so that as the food product is pulled through the cooker it is immersed in a flavored sauce.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus capable of barbecuing and steaming food which includes a steam generating chamber and a heat source to both generate steam and brown the cooked food. In a preferred manner, the steam generating chamber is connected to a water supply source and a lid on the chamber is of the floating type. The cooking apparatus lends itself to the usual heat sources and can be accommodated in a modular cooking unit.

Abstract: The elevated, open-topped housing of a solid fuel-burning barbecue grille is provided with a hinged top lid and upper and lower swing-out doors which respectively carry horizontally disposed food and solid fuel-supporting grate structures that are moved out of and into the housing interior, through framed housing side wall openings, as the doors are opened and closed, thereby permitting food items to be placed on the upper grate, and charcoal to be placed on the lower grate, externally of the housing and without lifting the housing lid. To prevent cooking heat escape from the housing interior when the upper door is opened, a hinged flap automatically pivots downwardly to cover the upper door opening when the upper door is opened. When the upper door is closed, an interior tab member theaid vent pipe in a selected one of said open and closed positions thereof.

Abstract: A device for producing designs on a slice of bread during toasting of the bread comprises a bread holding member removably received within the toast well of an electric toaster. The bread holding member is of lightweight heat resistive material having a bottom portion resting on the bread carriage member of the toaster and side panels which receive and carry a slice of bread to be toasted. Either or both of the side panels has a template cut out defining a framed central opening with a design therein. The design shields the bread slice from the heat of the toaster such that the design will be reproduced on the bread slice in toasting. An insulated handle provides for inserting and removing the bread holder from the toast well and to protect the user from accidental burns or electrical shock. The bread holding member is isolated from direct contact with electrical conduit and heating elements of the toaster. A modification of the device includes removable side panels.

Abstract: A vertical grille is disclosed, in which at least two heating elements are arranged in spaced facing relationship in substantially parallel and substantially vertical planes, defining grilling areas between them. Removable racks are associated with each grilling area for suspending the articles of food to be grilled. The rack assembly has two racks, one side of one rack detachably engaging in brackets attached to the corresponding side of the other rack, the other sides of the racks having post and post-engaging slider rods for clamping the racks together in spaced facing relationship to thereby clamp the article of food between them. A water-holding tray is positioned beneath each grilling area for holding a small quantity of water so that fat and the like falling from the articles of food falls into water in the tray and is thereby prevented from being further heated to the point of smoking. Grilling units may be ganged together in side-to-side fashion, so as to produce an array of grilling areas.

Abstract: In a grill basket, two mutually adjustable wire basket halves are provided. These wire basket halves comprise two longitudinal rods, the ends of which are bent-over in a hook-like manner. The two longitudinal rods are connected by transverse wires which are spaced at intervals from one another. End plates are provided for the adjustable connection of the two wire basket halves, and parallel, spaced-apart rows of holes are formed in each plate. The wire basket halves are hookable into said plates by their bent-over ends on the longitudinal rods, in the same way as perforate hooks are hooked into perforate walls. The spindles are disposed on their respective plates so that the grill basket is rotatably mounted on the appropriate means of a grill.

Abstract: A vertically oriented fuel bed elongate in the vertical direction provides a vertical radiant source of heat for cooking food in cooking zones on either side of the bed. A portable and collapsible grill frame is formed by light weight end rods and elongate cross rods assembled in three tiers, a top tier, a lower tier, and base level. The vertical radiant heat source is supported in the center of the frame removeably suspended from the top tier without extending below the lower tier. An ash tray is removeably suspended from the lower tier below the fuel bed and above the base level. First and second drip trays are removeably suspended from the lower tier below the cooking zones on either side of the ash tray. The ash tray and drip trays form a substantially continuous surface across the grill frame for reflecting heat upward and protecting a surface on which the grill may be placed. A plurality of removeable and replaceable panels provide greater or lesser enclosure of a cooking zone.

Abstract: The present invention is an automatic food cooking machine comprising a frame supporting a housing having an unobstructed opening with an adjustable heating surface at the bottom thereof. Mounted in the opening of the housing are a pair of spaced parallel endless conveyor chains supported on sprockets connected to a pair of spaced shafts--one driven by a motor, and one used for adjustment of conveyor chain tension. Mounted between these shafts are idler sprockets used to support the conveyor chain.A plurality of spaced angles are connected to the conveyor chains, and a retainer fastened to the spaced angle is used to secure each food basket comprised of a bottom, four sides, and a hinged lid. A sauce dispenser is supported by a bracket fastened to a slide rail at the top of the housing. As the actuating tab fastened to a retainer moves slowly toward the sauce dispenser and makes contact, it automatically rotates said dispenser 90.degree. allowing sauce to drip directly on the food product.

Abstract: A cooking device (10) disposable above a heating means for cooking an article of food (32) comprises a grill assembly (12) comprising first and second grills (16, 18) and means (44, 48) for releasably securing the grills (16, 18) together in confronting spaced relation whereby the article (32) to be cooked is releasably securable in the space between the grills (16, 18), a post (80) having one end secured to the grill assembly (12), a frame (14) having an opening (58) for receiving the grill assembly (12), the frame (14) defining a channel (66) along one side thereof for slidably receiving the other end of the post (80), a pivot arm (90) rotatably secured at one end to the frame (14) and at the other end to a side of the grill assembly (12) substantially at the midpoint thereof, and handle means (34) secured to the grill assembly (12) for rotating the assembly substantially 180.degree.

Abstract: A base is provided including opposite ends and opposite side guide assemblies extending between the opposite ends. A pair of grill panels are provided and include first and second corresponding remote marginal portions and pivot structure is provided pivotally connecting the first marginal portions together for relative angular displacement of the grill panels. In addition, a first marginal portion of one of the grill panels includes follower structure slidably engaged with the opposite side guide assemblies of the base for sliding and pivotal movement relative thereto and the opposite side guide assemblies include elongated guide members extending generally normal thereto with which corresponding side portions of the second grill panel are slidably engaged.

Abstract: An oven in a cooking machine has a pair of spaced parallel endless conveyor chains mounted therein and driven by a motor. Pivotally supported baskets for holding food are connected normal to the conveyor chains. Electrical heating elements disposed between and above the baskets are supported in the oven for cooking the food products. Guide rails maintain the baskets horizontally disposed as the baskets move adjacent to the heating elements. A sauce tank disposed in one end of the oven receives the baskets containing the food products. Each of the baskets is immersed in the sauce once during each cycle of operation. To remove the cooked food products from the oven, spaced runners are shifted over the sauce tank to prevent the baskets of food products from being dipped into the sauce. A movable collar connects and disconnects the conveyor chains to the motor. A door at the front of the oven has counterweights to facilitate opening and closing of the door by an operator.

Abstract: A food support device has first and second planar grill members between which food items are positioned with clamping members being positioned along opposite side edges of the grill members for urging said grill members toward each other for clamping food items; each clamping member has first and second side hooks each facing in one direction and fitted over one edge of one grill member with a center hook positioned equidistantly between the first and second side hooks and facing in an opposite direction being fitted over an edge of the other of said grill member; spring means connecting the side hooks and the center hook for urging the hooks in their facing directions so that the grill members are urged toward each other.

Abstract: A barbecue in which there is a deep box with means in the base to hold burning coals and means to effect continuous turning of a food holding means arranged so that food is held in pieces and is balanced in symmetrical manner about the pivot axis and the food is carried deep within the box for part of the rotational path so as to provide jointly for basting and for secondary heating by radiation from the sides of the box.

Abstract: A mobile barbecue apparatus is disclosed which comprises a firebox having wheels thereon with turnable receptacles for holding items to be cooked mounted above the firebox. The food containing receptacles are adjustable in width to accommodate different sized items such as steaks, chickens, ribs, etc., which are to be cooked. Preferably the top of the apparatus comprises a removable table having legs positioned at the edges which can be rotated into storage position or into table defining position.

Abstract: A toaster accessory is provided in the form of a pair of hinged foraminous panels forming a holder adapted to hold one or several slices of bread therebetween. In its preferred use, a sandwich is placed between the two panels and the holder, when closed, is dimensioned to fit into a conventional toaster so that a pre-made sandwich may be conveniently toasted therein. The hinge connection between the two panels is self-adjusting and a locking device at the opposite end is able to lock at different thicknesses. Decorative inserts may be added to the panels for making designs on the surface of the toasted bread.

Abstract: An automated cooker for sandwiches and the like. The automated cooker includes a pair of heating elements spaced one from the other so as to provide passage therebetween. A motor drives a conveyor which carries a plurality of individual sandwich holders through the passage between the heating elements. Each sandwich holder consists of a handle which can be attached to the conveyor and a top portion which encloses the sandwich to be cooked. A bar is placed below the heating elements and extends along the length of the cooker. The bar is used to trigger a switch which activates the heating elements and which turns on a motor that drives the conveyor. The bar may be activated by the handle of any sandwich holder placed on the conveyor. The bar is deactivated so as to turn off the heating elements and the motor which drives the conveyor when the handle of the last sandwich holder reaches a notch placed in the end of the bar.

Abstract: A holder for food as it is barbecued over an open charcoal bed, the holder consisting of a clamp comprising a pair of open grids linked pivotally together at their forward edges and having elongated handles projecting from their rearward edges whereby they may be opened for the insertion of food therebetween, and closed to clamp the food therebetween, and a sliding connector joining the handles and movable to close the grids forcibly together to clamp the food securely, and to secure them in the closed position.

Abstract: An accessory (1) for holding toast, muffins and other food articles includes two sections (2,3) which are hinged along their bottom edges to form a carrier to be inserted into one slot of a pop-up toaster. The carrier is formed of two complimentary sections, each of which includes a handle (10) of heat resistant material at its top, a metal support plate (12) attached to the underside of the handle, a plurality of support wires (13) attached to the ends of the support plate, and a plurality of guide wires (16) also attached to the support plate intermediate the support wires. Both the guide wires and the support wires have circular loops (21) at their bottom ends so that a hinge (4) can be inserted within and retained by the circular loops. The hinge which is inserted in the circular loops consists of a hollow tubular cylindrical metal member (14) and a pin (15) which is inserted within the tubular member.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting strips of bacon to be cooked in a conventional toaster including wire mesh means to support the strips on each face thereof and a grease trap along the lower edge of the support means to catch grease cooking out of the bacon. The wire mesh permits the bacon to be heated by the toaster's heating elements directly while causing the grease to drain into the grease trap and preventing it from splattering.

Abstract: A portable barbecue unit the housing of which is a case fitted with a hinged cover inside of which are a pair of containers which serve as charcoal burner units, each fitted with one side formed as a grate. The burner units may be mounted, with the cover opened, so that the grates of the two burner units face each other in spaced vertical array. A hinged grill may be fixed to a handle that is rotatably mounted in attachable brackets to the housing between the erected burner units. Alternately the burner units may be mounted side by side in the container with the grates forming a continuous surface on which the grill may be rested. Each burner unit is shaped as a box with one side hinged to the burner unit for replacement of charcoal.

Abstract: A rotating cooking spatula for use in the cooking and turning of items of food such as eggs, hamburgers, and the like. When cooking and/or frying foods, the rotating spatula device of this invention would be used to pick up the food item. The user then by operating appropriate control mechanism rotates in turn the especially configured spatula receptacle with cover top approximately 180.degree. in order to turn the food item over. The item of food then can be slid out of the spatula tray back on to the frying surface. However, the spatula tray itself may be used to retain the food item and also to effect the cooking thereof. One embodiment uses a rotatable knob together with a 180.degree. limit stop structure. Another embodiment employs a slide and helical thread structure to effect the 180.degree. turning of the spatula tray structure. The third embodiment employs a slide knob together with rack and pinion structure connected to the slide knob by a flexible cable in order to effect the turning function.

Abstract: A device for toasting bread or other toastable food items over a fire or camping stove, particularly over butane type burners, consisting of two hinged plates with a series of various size holes therethrough with the plates designed to rest over the stove or fire in the shape of a triangle, with the plates being provided with grids to support the toasted item near but away from the plates, with each plate also being provided with a flange to support the toasted item at a predetermined distance above the heat. The toaster is also provided with a heat shield on each side of the toaster consisting of a metal plate which is hingably attached to one of the toasting plates and is snapped onto the other toasting plate to maintain the toasting plates in an open position during toasting, with the heating plates diverting the heat from the stove or fire to the inside surfaces of the toasting plates.