Abstract: An apparatus employing directed infrared radiation emitted by two spaced sources delimiting a baking space for a plate receiving food to be baked. The two sources are separated by a space of 5 to 10 centimeters. The lower source is preferably located less than one millimeter from the bottom of the support, which is constituted by a circular removable plate. The plate is supported and guided rotationally with respect to the floor of the apparatus and is made of an infrared-permeable material and cooperates by its periphery with a constant-speed positive rotational drive arrangement. The drive confers a sequential character on the strong radiation energy of the infrared sources.

Abstract: An infrared cooking oven is provided with a rotatable spit which is hollow and is connected to a boiler producing steam which is fed into the spit and through orifices of the latter into meat mounted on the spit. The internal steam cooking coupled with the combined infrared and steam cooking of the exterior, reduces substantially the cooking time while ensuring that the meat will not dry out.

Abstract: A method of and a device for cooking foodstuff in which an infrared transparent receptacle having a central rise on which the food is positioned has a peripheral trough in which water can be provided. The food is cooked by a combination of direct infrared irradiation and repeated evaporation/condensation cycles which ensure optimum penetration of heat contributed by latent heat of condensation, directly to the interior of the food.

Abstract: Nonpressurized steam cooking is effected utilizing an instantaneous steam generator which intermittently feeds steam to a container for the foodstuff in an enclosure. The space between the enclosure and the container is heated by heating means independently of the steam boiler so that the walls of the container are at a temperature above 100.degree. C. so that steam condenses substantially exclusively on the food rather than on the container walls and steam wastage is minimized.

Abstract: An autoclave, to be used as a pressure cooker or a sterilizer, has a cylindrical vessel centered on a horizontal axis with open ends rimmed by radially inwardly projecting shoulders reinforced by rings with axially outwardly converging resilient external flanges and axially inwardly diverging resilient internal flanges forming small-diameter outer annular seats and large-diameter inner annular seats. A carriage, axially slidable along a base supporting the vessel, rigidly interconnects an upright internal lid and two upright external lids which are axially separated by a distance corresponding to the spacing of the two end flanges of the vessel, the internal lid coming to rest against one or the other inner seat while a respective external lid lies against the opposite outer seat to seal the vessel, the development of steam pressure within the vessel exerting upon these lids a differential force holding them firmly in their closure position.