Abstract: A method for making a laminated pizza crust is disclosed herein. The pizza crust is produced by resting a formulated dough mixture, cutting the dough, rolling the dough into a sheet, extruding high-melt margarine on to the sheet and folding it over the margarine to form a fatted dough, stretching the fatted dough, piling the fatted dough onto itself to create several layers, stretching the dough a second time, piling and rolling the dough again, stretching the dough a final time to a predetermined thickness, puncturing the dough sheet, cutting the dough sheet into pre-determined pizza shapes, and finally baking the shapes. The baked crust can be topped with pizza ingredients and frozen. Upon reheating by the consumer in either the microwave or a conventional oven, the crust exhibits an improved texture, flakiness, and flavor.

Abstract: Apparatus for the growing of sprouts includes a variable volume expandable chamber for containing a mass of the growing sprouts. Means for restraining expansion of the chamber as the sprouts grow and expand are provided to thereby cause compressive forces to develop in the mass of growing sprouts to promote generally thick, short sprout growth. The apparatus also includes means for fully immersing the compressed sprouts periodically for selected intervals of time in water to supply moisture to the sprouts and prevent overheating of same.

Abstract: A portable container for heating and storing pizza includes a fabric box about 20 inches long, about 20 inches wide, and about 8 inches high supported in its four vertical corners by plexiglass strips positioned inside sleeves. A lower rigid panel located at the bottom of the fabric box is used to support a heating unit. An upper rigid panel located above the heating unit forms a compartment with the sides and top of the fabric box large enough to contain two pizzas in their delivery box containers. The heating unit includes an aluminum pan which contains a block of insulation having a one-half inch depression in its upper surface. A silicon rubber heating element is positioned inside this depression. The temperature inside the portable container is maintained between 165.degree.-180.degree. F. The portable container can be carried with one hand when used for delivery of hot pizzas.

Abstract: A computerized order/delivery system for use in the food service industry includes a central computer that accepts customer food orders and, based on a customer identifier, automatically selects the store that is to prepare the food and transmits the required information to that location.

Abstract: A rotary type oven for articles of food having a broiling zone with a radiant electrical heater, a baking zone and a toasting zone having a convective electrical heater; the oven is of the helical track type with the zones being one above another.

Abstract: A food cooking sheet made of flexible metal foil is disclosed, the sheet has an imperforate annular margin forming the outer periphery of the sheet and there is a plurality of webs extending across a perforated center section, the webs structurally connect opposite sides of the margin and radiant heat may be upwardly directed between the webs for browning an item of food supported on the sheet; also disclosed is a method of cooking an item of food, the method involves the use of a perforated sheet of metal foil and a rigid open-bottomed pan for supporting the foil and an item of food atop the foil, and the application of radiant heat through the perforated foil sheet directly against the bottom of a food item, and the removal of the foil sheet and food item together from the pan after cooking.

Abstract: A method of heating a food article of the layered type having a crust and a topping of a higher specific heat than the crust, an example of which is a pizza, has the steps of placing the food while in a refrigerated state into an oven, then broiling the topping, then baking the crust and the topping, and lastly toasting the crust; also disclosed is a rotary type oven having a broiling zone with a radiant electrical heater, a baking zone, and a toasting zone having a convective hot air electrical heater; the oven may be of the helical track type with the zones being one above another.

Abstract: A rotary food oven includes a heatable oven chamber, an annular trackway of helical form inside of the chamber and a rotatable reel for advancing food packages around the trackway, the trackway is formed of a disc of sheet metal having perforations for radiant and convective passage of heat and is of a simplified construction, the reel has drive rods rotatable about a circular path and about their own axis for imparting epicyclic movement of circular food packages around the trackway, and the reel and trackway are removable from the oven chamber for cleaning and service.

Abstract: A food cooking sheet made of flexible metal foil is disclosed, the sheet has an imperforate annular margin forming the outer periphery of the sheet and there is a plurality of webs extending across a perforated center section, the webs structurally connect opposite sides of the margin and radiant heat may be upwardly directed between the webs for browning an item of food supported on the sheet; also disclosed is a method of cooking an item of food, the method involves the use of a perforated sheet of metal foil and a rigid open-bottomed pan for supporting the foil and an item of food atop the foil, and the application of radiant heat through the perforated foil sheet directly against the bottom of a food item, and the removal of the foil sheet and food item together from the pan after cooking.

Abstract: An oven is disclosed having an inner shell forming a heatable oven chamber, a conveyor within the oven chamber, a layer of insulation around the inner shell, an exterior cabinet shell spaced outward from the insulation, and a fan for moving a flow of cooling air between the insulation and the exterior shell; also disclosed in the oven is an inlet to the oven chamber having separate inner and outer doors operatively connected together, an outlet from the oven chamber having a discharge chute directed into an exterior outlet frame with insulation between the chute and the frame, and a single electric motor connected to operate both the cooling fan and a friction drive connected to drive the conveyor.