Abstract: A food preparation apparatus and method, including an inventive shelving system, is provided. In accordance with some embodiments, an exemplary embodiment of a food preparation apparatus of the present invention includes at least, but is not limited to, a frame assembly including a permanent shelf secured to the frame assembly, a multiplicity of selectable shelf features vertically offset from the permanent shelf and attached to the frame assembly, and a first non-permanent shelf vertically offset from the permanent shelf and supported by a select number of the multiplicity of selectable shelf features. In an exemplary embodiment of a food preparation apparatus of the present invention, the permanent shelf provides a flavor infusion region.

Abstract: A combination for preparing a food product and method of using the combination are disclosed. The combination includes a housing supporting a cooking chamber, which communicates with a flavor enhancement chamber. The cooking chamber and the flavor enhancement chamber are selectively and independently controlled by an automated controller. In using the combination, a user provides the food product, places a flavor enhancement substance within the flavor enhancement chamber, arranges the food product on a preparation rack, and position the rack with the food within the cooking chamber. With the food positioned within the combination, the user programs parameters for a food preparation cycle into an operating code resident in the automated controller. Upon activation by the user, the controller executes the operating code. In response, the flavor enhancement chamber releases a flavor enhancement for impregnation into the food product, and the cooking chamber completes preparation of the food product.

Abstract: An automatic circuit controller for cooking food interposed between electrodes connected with a source of AC by electrical resistance in which the resistance increases until the food is cooked and rapidly declines is formed by a current switching element in series in one wire of the AC source and a current sensing element in series in another wire of the AC source. The sensed current is rectified, reduced in voltage, converted from analog to digital and applied to a microprocessor connected with the switching element for controlling the current applied to the food by delaying the time into every half cycle in response to current measuring circuitry and a zero crossing detector for triggering the switching element on. The microprocessor detects the current peak of electrical resistance of the food and stops the cooking action when the current declines to a predetermined percent of the peak.

Abstract: In an electric direct energy transfer cooker for quickly cooking food, particularly fowl such as chicken, contactably interposed between electrodes, a food doneness control circuit is connected with the supply current. The control circuit senses and stores, for reference, the peak value of the root mean square of current through the food as a function of its cooked condition and stops current to the electrodes in response to a decline in current value through the food equal to a predetermined percentage of the current peak.

Abstract: In an electric resistance cooker for quickly cooking food, such as ground meat, contactably interposed between electrodes, a food doneness control circuit is connected with the supply circuit. The control circuit senses the rate of change of the root mean square of current through the food as a function of its cooked condition and stops current to the electrodes in response to a predetermined rate of change of the root mean square value of the current through the food.