Abstract: A steam cooking device includes an endless conveyor arranged in a spiral path surrounding a cage. The cage is rotatable on a vertical axis to drive the endless conveyor, thus to move food along the helical path as it is cooked. A cleaning system for the device includes a fixed manifold of nozzles for spraying the conveyor, a whirling nozzle within the cage, and a spray bar. The spray bar moves along the helical path as the cage rotates, and carries a plurality of nozzles that spray a cleaning fluid onto the structure that supports the endless conveyor. Leading and trailing nozzles spray radially disposed cantilevered carrier rods, while pairs of nozzles, along the top of the moving bar, spray opposite sides of rails mounted on the carrier bars and supporting the conveyor. After the cleaning cycle, the spray bar is removed and the device is ready for food preparation.

Abstract: A method is provided for uniformly heating chilled pizza within an oven by supporting the pizza in a horizontal position, directing a stream of hot air upwardly onto the center of the pizza while shielding its periphery from radiation emanating from the oven heat source. An oven appliance is provided including a grill composed of openwork for supporting the pizza and a base spaced below the grill and composed of a baffle having a central vent opening for funneling a stream of hot air upwardly onto the middle of the lower surface of the pizza. The baffle also acts as a shield interposed between the infrared radiating heat source and the periphery of the pizza.

Abstract: A device is provided for uniformly heating chilled pizza within an oven by supporting the pizza in a horizontal position, directing a stream of hot air upwardly onto the center of the pizza while shielding its periphery from radiation emanating from the oven heat source. An oven appliance is provided including a grill composed of openwork for supporting the pizza and a base spaced below the grill and composed of a baffle having a central vent opening for funneling a stream of hot air upwardly onto the middle of the lower surface of the pizza. The baffle also acts as a shield interposed between the infrared radiating heat source and the periphery of the pizza.

Abstract: A method is provided for uniformly heating chilled pizza within an oven by supporting the pizza in a horizontal position, guiding or directing a stream of hot air upwardly onto the center of the pizza while shielding its periphery from radiation emanating from the oven heat source. An oven appliance is provided including a grill portion at the top composed of openwork for supporting the pizza and a connected, usually integral base spaced below the outer, i.e. periferal portion of the grill and a baffle having a central vent opening for funneling a stream of hot air upwardly onto the middle of the lower surface of the pizza. The baffle also acts as a heat shield interposed between the infrared radiating heat source and the periphery of the pizza. The grill portion preferably comprises a plurality of vertically disposed radially arranged flanges or webs extending upwardly from the baffle and having coplanar upper edges defining a food support surface.