Abstract: A cooking apparatus comprises a cooking chamber configured to hold a cooking medium therein, a lid configured to cover the cooking chamber, and a sealing member disposed between the lid and the cooking chamber to create a seal between the cooking chamber and the lid. The lid comprises a lid liner and a retaining member disposed on an inner surface of the lid, the retaining member configured to retain the sealing member adjacent to an edge of the lid. The sealing member comprises a lip portion comprising an upper leg and a lower leg, each disposed at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the sealing member to substantially form a V shape at one longitudinal end of the sealing member, and a ridge portion comprising an upper ridge and a lower ridge, each disposed at an opposite longitudinal end of the sealing member.

Abstract: The invention relates to a self-cleaning deadweight holder configured to hold a deadweight within a cooking apparatus. In some embodiments, the holder may comprise a top plate, an exhaust cylinder, a bottom plate, a plurality of support plates, and a plurality of guide plates. The top plate may include a through hole disposed at substantially a center of the top plate and configured to allow at least one of liquid and steam to pass therethrough. An outer diameter of the bottom plate may be less than an outer diameter of the top plate and an outer diameter of each of the plurality of guide plates, and the plurality of guide plates may be configured to permit movement of the deadweight therethrough. In some embodiments, the cooking apparatus may comprise a cooking chamber, a steam box, a vent tube, an exhaust tube, a drain tube, and a pressure relief tube.

Abstract: A system for delivering a cooking medium of a cooking apparatus includes a cooking medium tank for storing the cooking medium and a rotary valve including a rotary inlet configured to be in fluid communication with the cooking medium tank. The rotary outlet further includes a plurality of rotary outlets including a first rotary outlet in fluid communication with a first cooking vessel and a second rotary outlet in fluid communication with a second cooking vessel. Moreover, the rotary valve is configured to selectively place the rotary inlet in fluid communication with one of the plurality of rotary outlets. In other embodiments, the system further includes a motor operatively connected to the rotary valve and configured to operate the rotary valve to select one of the plurality of rotary outlets.

Abstract: A holding cabinet includes a body defining a holding space and a holding compartment disposed within the holding space for holding a product therein. The holding cabinet further includes a heating source, a steam generator, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a product detector, and a controller. The controller is configured to regulate environmental conditions of the holding compartment according to a determined setpoint, which corresponds to a predetermined temperature and relative humidity.

Abstract: Methods disclosed herein may be methods for maintaining environmental conditions in a cabinet. Such methods may comprise determining a relative humidity set point. Such methods may comprise activating a fan configured to circulate air within said cabinet. Such methods may comprise supplying humidity by activating a heater in a fluid pan or a mist generator. Such methods may comprise measuring a relative humidity, an air temperature, and a rate of airflow in said cabinet. Such methods may comprise adjusting a duty cycle of said heater and said fan in response to said air temperature, said relative humidity, and said rate of airflow to maintain said relative humidity within a predetermined range based on the relative humidity set point. Computer-readable instructions to perform such methods may be stored on non-transitory, computer-readable media. Further, a system comprising a processor and a memory storing such computer-readable instructions may implement such methods.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus comprises a heated compartment to warm cooking media that may be packaged in metal containers or the like. The heater system includes at least one heater disposed at a location to heat the bottom of the unused cooking medium container. The heater system may also include at least one heater disposed at a location to heat at least one side of the unused cooking medium container. A cooking apparatus comprises at least one supply reservoir, a fluid motive device, various enclosed cooking medium conductors or lines, a three-way valve that introduces air for purging the lines, and a cooking medium receiving system.

Abstract: A cooking medium filter system determines a quality of a cooking medium. The cooking medium filter system includes a filter container, a filter medium, a pump, a sample chamber, and a controller. The filter container receives the cooking medium from a cooking vessel. The filter medium is disposed in the filter container and removes contaminants from the cooking medium. The pump conveys the cooking medium along a filter path from the filter container to the cooking vessel. The sample chamber is disposed in the filter path downstream from the filter medium. The sample chamber includes an electrode disposed therein. The sample chamber receives therein a quantity of the cooking medium that is sufficient to immerse the electrode therein. The controller controls operations of the filter pump and controls the electrode to measure a property of the cooking medium that is associated with the quality of the cooking medium.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a cooking chamber for receiving a. cooking medium, a lid configured to cover the cooking chamber, and a lid locking system. The lid locking system includes a pressure lock pin coupled to a movable diaphragm, an electronic lock pin coupled to the lid, and a latch. The latch includes a pressure lock pin aperture formed therein to accommodate the pressure lock pin, and an electronic lock pin aperture formed therein to accommodate the electronic lock pin. The pressure lock pin engages the latch in response to pressure in the cooking chamber exceeding a predetermined threshold, and the electronic lock pin engages the latch in response to a lock signal from a controller.

Abstract: A fryer apparatus includes a cooking chamber, at least one heating element in the cooking chamber, a filter pan that filters cooking medium from the cooking chamber, a drain valve that controls flow of cooking medium from the cooking chamber, and a filter pump that pumps filtered cooking medium from the filter pan to the cooking chamber. Inlet orifices are disposed in the cooking chamber, and selectively eject filtered cooking medium into the cooking chamber. A controller controls the drain valve to adjust the rate of flow from the cooking chamber, and selectively activates at least inlet orifice of the plurality of inlet orifices to eject filtered cooking medium into the cooking chamber. The controller is configured to control the drain valve and the selective activation of the at least one inlet orifice to maintain a substantially constant level of cooking medium in the cooking chamber throughout a filtering operation.

Abstract: A holding apparatus comprises a tray configured to hold food product therein, a holding portion configured to hold the tray therein, and a cover configured to cover the tray held in the holding portion. The cover comprises a covering portion, a pair of flange portions, the covering portion being disposed between the pair of flange portions, and a channel formed in each of the flange portions. The channel comprises a first portion extending from an edge of each of the flange portions, a supporting portion, and a second portion formed between the first portion and the supporting portion. The holding apparatus further comprises a projecting portion disposed on the holding apparatus and configured to be coupled to the channel such that the cover is suspended in the holding portion via contact between the projecting portion and the supporting portion of the channel.

Abstract: Methods and systems disclosed herein may be methods for rapidly increasing pressure in a pressure fryer cooking vessel during a cooking cycle. Such methods and systems may comprise determining whether a pressure output in the cooking vessel is closed. Such methods and system may also include determining a pressure of the cooking vessel, comparing the pressure of the cooking vessel to a predetermined optimal pressure to determine whether the pressure of the cooking vessel is less than the optimal pressure, and activating a filter pump configured to supply air from a drain pan into the cooking vessel in response to determining that the pressure output is closed and the pressure of the cooking vessel is less than the optimal pressure. Such methods and systems may further include deactivating the filter pump when the pressure within the cooking vessel is equal to or greater than the optimal pressure.

Abstract: A system for delivering a cooking medium of a cooking apparatus includes one or more cooking vessels. The system also includes a drain manifold in fluid communication with the cooking vessel, and a fill manifold having input valves, and output valves in fluid communication with a corresponding cooking vessel. A first flow path is connected to the fill manifold. A filter container selectively is in fluid communication with the fill manifold. A filter pump is positioned between the filter container and the fill manifold and conveys a recycled cooking medium. An overflow pump selectively is in fluid communication with the fill manifold via a second flow path and a portion of the first flow path. The overflow pump conveys a new cooking medium to the fill manifold. The first flow path conveys one of the recycled cooking medium and the new cooking medium to the fill manifold.

Abstract: A fryer measures cooking medium quality, and includes a cooking vessel configured to store a cooking medium, an electrode plate completely immersed in the cooking medium, an insulator comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the insulator is fixed to the electrode plate, and a second side of the insulator is attached to a wall of the cooking vessel, a guard ring fixed to the cooking vessel and surrounding the electrode plate and insulator. The guard ring extends further away from the wall of the cooking vessel than the electrode plate. A size of a gap between the guard ring and the electrode plate is based on a height, a width, and a thickness of the electrode plate and substantially defines a gain of the electrode. A signal conditioning circuit measures the conductivity of the cooking medium applied to the electrode.

Abstract: An automatic cooking medium level control system for a cooking apparatus, e.g., a fryer, may include a cooking vessel having a first temperature sensor at a first level of the cooking vessel and a second temperature sensor at a second level of the cooking vessel. A reservoir holding a cooking medium, such as cooking oil, may be in fluid communication with the cooking vessel. A controller may monitor temperature data from the first and second temperature sensors to determine whether the level of cooking oil in the cooking vessel has lowered. Upon determining that the cooking oil level has lowered, the controller may actuate a supply mechanism, such as a pump, which may be disposed on a fluid communication path between the reservoir and cooking vessel, which may enable the introduction of cooking medium from the reservoir to the to the cooking vessel.

Abstract: An automatic filtering system for filtering a cooking medium in a fryer, includes a frypot; a filter manifold having removable filter; a pump, that supplies cooking medium from the filter manifold to the frypot; a pressure sensor that senses a pressure of the cooking medium supplied by the pump; and a controlling mechanism that controls an operation of the pump in response to the sensed pressure data. The control mechanism halts the operation of the pump after sensing a drop in the pressure of the cooking medium pressure that is greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure drop threshold. The systems and methods of the invention provide automatic filtering that may reduce or eliminate an incorrect refilling operation after the filtering of cooking medium, so that the filtering process may be performed correctly each time.

Abstract: An automatic cooking medium level control system for a cooking apparatus, e.g., a fryer, may include a cooking vessel having a first temperature sensor at a first level of the cooking vessel and a second temperature sensor at a second level of the cooking vessel. A reservoir holding a cooking medium, such as cooking oil, may be in fluid communication with the cooking vessel. A controller may monitor temperature data from the first and second temperature sensors to determine whether the level of cooking oil in the cooking vessel has lowered. Upon determining that the cooking oil level has lowered, the controller may actuate a supply mechanism, such as a pump, which may be disposed on a fluid communication path between the reservoir and cooking vessel, which may enable the introduction of cooking medium from the reservoir to the to the cooking vessel.

Abstract: An automatic filtering system for filtering a cooking medium in a a fryer, includes a frypot; a filter manifold having removable filter; a pump, that supplies cooking medium from the filter manifold to the frypot; a pressure sensor that senses a pressure of the cooking medium supplied by the pump; and a controlling mechanism that controls an operation of the pump in response to the sensed pressure data. The control mechanism halts the operation of the pump after sensing a drop in the pressure of the cooking medium pressure that is greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure drop threshold. The systems and methods of the invention provide automatic filtering that may reduce or eliminate an incorrect refilling operation after the filtering of cooking medium, so that the filtering process may be performed correctly each time.

Abstract: An automatic filtering system for filtering a cooking medium in a fryer, includes a frypot; a filter manifold having removable filter; a pump, that supplies cooking medium from the filter manifold to the frypot; a pressure sensor that senses a pressure of the cooking medium supplied by the pump; and a controlling mechanism that controls an operation of the pump in response to the sensed pressure data. The control mechanism halts the operation of the pump after sensing a drop in the pressure of the cooking medium pressure that is greater than or equal to a predetermined pressure drop threshold. The systems and methods of the invention provide automatic filtering that may reduce or eliminate an incorrect refilling operation after the filtering of cooking medium, so that the filtering process may be performed correctly each time.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus includes a first and second cooking vessel, a drain manifold connecting the first and second cooking vessel to a drain container for storing cooking medium, a first drain valve and second drain valve configured to connect the first and second cooking vessel with the drain container. A first drain lever selectively opens and closes the first drain valve, and a second drain lever selectively opens and closes the second drain valve. A first and second drain lever indicator indicate an operational status of the first and second drain valves, respectively. A controller monitors the first and second drain valve. When the first drain valve is open, the second drain lever indicator indicates a warning when the second drain lever is operated. When the second drain valve is open, the first drain lever indicator indicates a warning when the first drain lever is operated.

Abstract: A fryer apparatus includes a cooking chamber and a filter pan. The filter pan includes an outlet passage, formed through a bottom portion of the filter pan, configured to allow cooking media to be discharged; a groove formed in the bottom portion of the filter pan and surrounding the outlet passage; and a removable, two-sided filter screen having an adaptor configured to couple the filter screen to the bottom portion of the filter pan at the outlet passage. The adaptor includes an engaging portion protruding from the filter screen and configured to fit at least partially into the outlet passage and a raised segment configured to fit at least partially in the groove, such that the filter screen does not contact the bottom portion of the filter pan. Further, the engaging portion includes a connector configured to create a seal between the adaptor and the outlet passage.