Abstract: This invention relates to a roaster having smoke exhaust means to introduce smoke which is produced at a cooking plate for cooking material such as meat, fish and/or vegetables into a collecting exhaust duct having sucking means under a floor without making full indoors.

Abstract: Food articles are heated by radiation in the near infrared wavelength range of 0.72 .mu.m to 2.5 .mu.m. Food articles can be thawed, heated or fully cooked direct from the frozen condition in this way. Hamburger patties are cooked in a conveyor cooker between rows of sources of such radiation. The sources are energized at half voltage during standby periods so that the conveyor is held at a temperature such that it has a searing effect on patties cooked by exposure to the radiation. Full energization is effected by operation of a switch in response to placement of a patty on the conveyor through a flap connected with the switch. A separate conveyor carries hamburger bun halves beneath a third row of the sources. In a static area employing sources of the radiation, reflector and screening arrangements provide even diffuse radiation in the heating zone and control of the heating effect is obtained by selective energization of the sources for selectively variable periods.

Abstract: A pan-type cooking utensil comprising a pan-shaped main body, a dome-shaped cover detachably fitted on the main body and having an exhaust cylinder integrally extending upwardly from the cover in the center thereof, a lid pivoted to the exhaust cylinder for opening and closing the exhaust cylinder, a rope extending through the exhaust cylinder and having one end secured to the cover and the other end connected to a lift mechanism. The main body is provided with hot air inlets.

Abstract: An electric cooking unit, a gas-fired cooking unit, and a burner assembly usable with the gas-fired unit for rapidly grilling food in a controlled manner. The cooking unit includes side walls defining a heating enclosure, a plurality of food holding members supported by top surfaces of the side walls for positioning food within the heating enclosure, a coal grate assembly mounted within the heating enclosure for supporting a bed of refractory coals below the food holding members, and gas-fired or electric heating elements for heating the bed of refractory coals to incandescent temperatures. When the cooking unit is gas-fired, the unit incudes a plurality of individually controllable burner assemblies, each assembly having a flame guard assembly releasably mounted on a tubular member having a plurality of apertures for distributing a cooking gas within the heating enclosure.

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.

Abstract: A barbecue oven is provided for cooking and smoking food. The oven includes a grease control system for the door of the oven comprising an inset portion and a door grease deflector cooperating to direct grease and moisture deposited on the inner door surface during cooking to the bottom interior surface of the oven. The oven also includes an electrical heating element support and wood tray assembly. An electrical heating element is supported within the assembly and protected from contact with grease or moisture within the oven. The heating element support confines heat generated by the heating element to create an area beneath the top surface of the heating element support having a relatively elevated temperature. This elevated temperature enhances the natural convection within the oven to uniformly heat the cooking area and also causes the wood within the wood tray assembly to smoulder. Multiple apertures in the assembly aid the convection flow for efficient heat transfer to the oven.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus for barbecuing or smoking includes a cooking container, a support collar, and a support base which are removably secured together. The support base and the cooking container are each provided with a central air opening, and the cooking container and the support base are clamped against the support collar by a stud which extends through the air openings. The clamping force provided by the stud is transmitted to the cooking container and to the support base by compressible and resilient spring plates within the cooking container and the support base, and each spring plate is provided with an air passage to permit air to flow from the base, through the central air openings, and into the cooking container. A burner assembly may be removably secured to the spring plate in the cooking container by the stud.

Abstract: An apparatus for cooking food outdoors has features that allow it to be folded compactly and allow it to be permanently mounted to the owner's home. The cooking apparatus includes a housing adapted to be mounted to the wall of the building. The housing has a front opening and pivotally carries a tray. The tray has a grill and an energy source for cooking. The tray is foldable into the housing for storage. A grease container is located in the bottom of the tray. The grease container has a sloping top for catching grease, and also for containing the grease when the tray is tilted into the vertical storage position. A safety lock device prevents the tray from being moved from the cooking position to the storage position when the temperature in the tray is above a selected minimum, and also when the energy source is turned on. The apparatus includes folding doors that fold into a configuration for open cooking, a configuration for smoking, and also into a flat position for storage.

Abstract: Barbeque structure free of internal compartmentation which would block free movement of heated gases and passage of radiant heat is disclosed. Vertically oriented walls define an open pit with firebox heat source and rendering collection surface arranged in a predetermined manner contiguous to floor level. A removable, open framework provides stable support for meat sections at a working level above the heat source without obstructing heat passage. An open-space rack supports elongated meat sections, such as whole hams, with elongated dimension vertically oriented above the rendering collection surface. A movable cover means is positioned to span the vertical walls at their upper ends to close the pit and confine heat. The dome-like configuration cover means extends above and about the meat sections being barbequed presenting a solid surface which redirects heat toward the meat sections.

Abstract: A toaster comprises a housing having a pair of heating elements for toasting a slice of bread. A pair of openings is provided in the bottom of the housing for the admission of air to effect cooling of the respective heating elements following a toasting cycle. A flap is associated with each opening for closing the same during the toasting cycle. A bread-slice support movable between a rest position and a toasting position effects closing of the flaps when it is moved into such toasting position.

Abstract: An oven for cooking and heating foodstuffs comprising an elongated, substantially rectangular, heat insulated housing having an entrance end, an exit end, first and second sides, a top and bottom. The housing interior defines a chamber having a first section adjacent the entrance end, a second intermediate section and a third section adjacent the exit end. A continuous, driven conveyor having an upper cooking flight and a lower return flight is supported at its ends beyond the oven housing entrance and exit ends by sprockets and extends longitudinally throughout all three sections of the oven chamber, the upper cooking flight constituting a continuously moving cooking surface intermediate the height of the oven chamber with means to vary its speed. The first and third sections of the oven chamber have upper and lower radiant heating element assemblies located above and below the upper cooking flight of the conveyor.

Abstract: Cooking apparatus for preparing meats to suit individual tastes of different consumers. The meat is subjected to electric current heating to cook the meat and to radiant broiling to char its surface. The cooking current passing through the meat is regulated in response to a comparison of an input corresponding to the desired degree of cooking and an indication of the interior temperature of the meat as it is being cooked. The apparatus are particularly suited to handle effectively a variety of individual orders at substantially the same time.

Abstract: A structure for cooking in a microwave oven strips of food such as bacon that gives off liquid in the cooking process. The structure comprises (1) a nonmetallic base portion having a top surface and a cavity recessed from the top surface of a size adapted to contain the liquid released from the strips; and (2) a nonmetallic support portion defining a narrow support surface positioned directly over the cavity over which the strips of food can be hung as they are cooked so that liquid from the strips drains into the cavity.

Abstract: A toaster including a cooking chamber with upper and lower heating elements. A conveyor of the walking beam type to transfer articles to be cooked through the cooking chamber between the elements is provided. The conveyor comprises a non-moving grid and a moving grid, the arrangement being such that the advance of each article to be cooked is such that at each advance the article comes to rest on the non-moving grid at a position different to that which engaged the non-moving grid prior to that advance movement.

Abstract: Apparatus for cooking food in strip form including a base, a first support rigidly affixed to the base, a second support hingedly affixed to the base and a drip tray. Both support means include heating means and integral mesh means for supporting the food to be cooked.

Abstract: An energy conserving broiler has a frame supporting a housing having a patty opening and a bun opening therein. The upper run of an endless conveyor is disposed adjacent the patty opening. Two arrays of spaced heater elements are on the frame above and below the upper run of the conveyor. Radiant heat reflecting partitions are disposed between the elements of each array and double wall radiant heat reflectors are disposed above and below the two arrays. A deflector wall is positioned between one of the arrays and the patty feed opening. A bun conveyor is on the frame near the bun feed opening. A bun heater is above the bun conveyor. A patty receiving device for reflecting heat upwardly is disposed between the heater element array below the upper run of the conveyor and the bun heater.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting strips of bacon to be cooked in a conventional toaster including wire mesh means to support the strips on each face thereof and a grease trap along the lower edge of the support means to catch grease cooking out of the bacon. The wire mesh permits the bacon to be heated by the toaster's heating elements directly while causing the grease to drain into the grease trap and preventing it from splattering.

Abstract: A device especially adapted for use in connection with an oven, for facilitating the cooling of bacon therein by providing for a rack for holding the same during the cooking operation.

Abstract: Grill appliance which has a central vertical column supporting at the top a cover with grill heater beneath it and disposed beneath and at a distance below the grill heater is a grill carrier around the central column. This permits ready access to the article to be grilled on the grill carrier. Provision is also made for convenient removal and attachment of the cover and heater and grill carrier as well as adjustment of the distance between the heater and carrier. Framework for disposing a removable reflecting foil is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a utensil for cooking foods, more particularly meat in the oven in a humid atmosphere and preventing fat being splashed onto the oven walls. This can involve cooking joints of meat remaining stationary on a supporting grill or cooking pieces of meat by infra-red radiation.The cooking utensil comprises a box having a base serving as a water container and a collector for cooking fat and gravy, provided with a lid having at least a hole, whereby the box and lid are associated with a frame for assembling them and clamping them together and for supporting a support for the joints to be cooked.

Abstract: A multipurpose foldable electric stove comprises a tray of heat-conductive metal that has an electrical-resistance heating element disposed thereacross between opposite walls of the tray and in spaced relation to a grill having support legs supported by the tray and foldable legs that are hingedly foldable from position substantially flush with the top of the grill and position in unfolded upstanding position in excess of 90.degree. from the plane of the grill, stop means being provided which is adapted to prevent unfolding beyond said upstanding position so that when foldable legs are unfolded to upstanding position and said tray is inverted said heating element is held spaced from the support on which the foldable legs rest for heating something placed underneath the heating element while at the same time something may be heated that is resting in the inverted bottom of said tray. A pan also is provided for placing underneath said tray when in inverted position for holding something to be heated therein.