Abstract: A cooking pan includes guidelines configured to aid in precisely cutting a food product into slices with desired shapes. The cooking pan includes a flat base, at least one raised wall surrounding the flat base, and a rim at a top of the raised wall. The pan further includes a plurality of the guidelines formed upon the pan, each guideline comprising a depressed groove, wherein each guideline extends contiguously from the flat base, up the raised wall, and onto the rim.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a pan formed from a base plate, a housing, a divider and an ejection plate. Together, the pan is shaped to form a pocket bun. The constituent parts of the pan nest together when baking, and disassemble when removing the bun from the pan. The pocket bun has an open-mouth design to allow ingredients to be retained in the bun while the sandwich is being consumed. The open-mouth design is formed having either a single cavity or a plurality of cavities, with each cavity adapted for carrying a filling. The pan is designed having one or more chambers, with each chamber adapted for baking a bun. Adjacent chambers optionally include openings therebetween such that adjacent buns will have a baked connection therebetween.

Abstract: A food product press having a mold base, a press assembly having a plurality of press bodies, and blade spaces between the press bodies, a plurality of blades slidable within the blade spaces, and a blade operating mechanism for moving the blades relative to the press bodies.

Abstract: Food preparation systems and methods for quickly and conveniently preparing filled food items. The system may comprise a pan having at least one formed pocket, perimeter track(s), one or more dividing ribs, and dividing track(s). A dough cutting tool may be inserted into and guided along the perimeter track(s) and dividing track(s) to slice excess dough away from the filled food item. The present invention may further comprise a roller tool that simultaneously cuts through the dough as well as flutes or crimps the dough along both sides of the cutting edge. One or more tactile indicators may also be provided on the underside of the pan to allow a user to easily locate the perimeter track(s) and dividing track(s) when the pan is covered with dough. Filled food items may then either be baked within the inventive pan or moved to a conventional baking pan or sheet.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of treating eggs and other food products and a method and apparatus for releasing an egg and other food products from a food-retaining ring are provided. The apparatus includes one or more food-retaining rings suitable to be disposed on a treating surface; and a ring shaped release tool, the exterior perimeter of the release tool being adapted to fit closely to the inside perimeter of the ring. The method of treating eggs and other food products comprises: adding a food product to a volume defined by an interior of a ring disposed on a cooking surface; treating the food product to form a self-supporting mass; and inserting a complementary-shaped release member within the ring containing the self-supporting mass, the release member being adapted to fit closely to an inside perimeter of the ring.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing a jerky food product. The method comprises: (a) preparing a raw meat to obtain a moldable meat dough; (b) contacting at least a portion of the meat dough with a jerky mold apparatus having a pre-determined geometric configuration, wherein a plurality of sectors are spatially separated and defined by supported partitions arranged in a pre-determined pattern; (c) causing at least one of the partitions of the jerky mold to impale the meat dough to dispose portions of the meat dough into at least one of the sectors, thus separating the meat dough into a plurality of meat segments having a size and shape corresponding to that of the sectors; (d) removing the meat segments from the jerky mold; and (e) treating the meat segments to produce a plurality of jerky pieces.

Abstract: A system and/or method for making a pizza pie having an outer cheese portion comprises a cutting tool and/or a cutting guide to enable formation of at least one opening at an outer crust region of a pizza pie to cause an inner cheese portion embedded within the outer crust to flow through the at least one opening, thereby forming the outer cheese portion at the upper surface of the outer crust. A cutting tool of the system comprises a rotatable disc with notches in its cutting surface to enable formation of the at least one opening in the outer crust. A cutting guide of the system comprises a generally disc shaped member with a support surface at its outer edge for supporting and guiding application of a cutting device against an outer crust region of a pizza dough.

Abstract: A system and/or method for making a pizza pie having an outer cheese portion comprises a cutting tool and/or a cutting guide to enable formation of at least one opening at an outer crust region of a pizza pie to cause an inner cheese portion embedded within the outer crust to flow through the at least one opening, thereby forming the outer cheese portion at the upper surface of the outer crust. A cutting tool of the system comprises a rotatable disc with notches in its cutting surface to enable formation of the at least one opening in the outer crust. A cutting guide of the system comprises a generally disc shaped member with a support surface at its outer edge for supporting and guiding application of a cutting device against an outer crust region of a pizza dough.

Abstract: A food slicer 10 of the present invention contains a hollow body 12 having an inner wall 13 defining an interior 17 and an outer wall 15 for containment of a food product therein. A plurality of blades 32 extends across the interior 17 of the body thereby cutting a food product biased against the blades 32 into a plurality of portions.

Abstract: A product branding apparatus and methods as disclosed relate to a branding element having indicia configured in the shape of a desired design to be branded onto a product and a heating conductor for transferring heat from a heating apparatus to the branding element.

Abstract: An automated broiling and cutting device for the production of cooked Doner meat. A rotating unit carries meat containers for holding Doner meat to be cooked. The meat containers rotate about the broiling units and the cutting unit. Automated control of cooking and cutting is performed via a central control and adjustment panel.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for cooking, cutting and preparing the doner meat automatically and without any human intervention in the same amount and form for service and an integrated instrument for cooking and cutting doner. This invention relates to a method for cooking the front sides of the meat boxes which are filled and frozen beforehand, by rotating said meat boxes around a center arranged circularly or with multi sides having 4, 5 or 7 cookers (radiant or LPG), cutting the cooked meat part and sending the cooked meat part for cooking again by rotating around itself and carrying out of these operations at a pre-determined amount and speed without human intervention controlled from a central command and turning table and a integrated doner cooking and cutting instrument for performing this method.

Abstract: A method for flame-grilling patties, including the steps of cooking the patties, coating the patties, and branding the patties. The invention also includes apparatus for performing the method.

Abstract: An article and method of making sandwiches. The article has a floor and a pair of side walls and is open along the top and at least one end and is sized to have a floor width which is equal substantially to the width of a sandwich to be made therewith and a side wall height which is at least equal to about the height of a sandwich to be made therewith. A bread portion of a sandwich is placed on the floor and between the side walls, and additional sandwich portions are stacked on the bread portion and between the side walls whereby the side walls constrain the sandwich over its height from falling apart as it is being stacked so that sandwiches may be made faster and with greater efficiency.

Abstract: A pizza pan system includes a pizza pan including a bottom wall, a side wall circumferentially about the bottom wall such that the bottom wall and side wall cooperate to define an area for containing pizza dough, and a rim circumferentially about the outer edge of the side wall; and a lid-like member mating with said rim enabling pizza dough to be compressed between said lid-like member and said rim to produce single-crusted, fold-over or double-crusted pizzas. The system allows storage of panned pizza dough within a substantially air tight chamber. The pans of the system can be stacked to economize on countertop or storage space. The area for confining pizza dough allows, in conjunction with a trimming means, consistent reproduction of aesthetically pleasing pizza shapes. A method of preparing pizza includes rolling dough, placing the dough in a pizza pan, and placing a lid over the pizza pan to compress, shape, conform and trim dough about a rim area of the pizza pan and lid.

Abstract: The invention is an expandable volume food preparation tool for precisely and quickly forming a quantity of dough into a plurality of uniform dough blocks having a predetermined volume and shape. Included therein is a base plate having a base opening disposed therethrough. The base opening is defined by a continuous substantially vertical interior base sidewall arranged to define a predetermined outline shape. A base volume is defined by the void enclosed by the base sidewall. To enable the user to manipulate the base plate, a handle is mounted to the base plate. Additionally, a removable primary extension plate is mounted to the base plate. The primary extension plate includes an extension opening defined by a continuous, substantially vertical, interior extension sidewall arranged to define an outline shape substantially identical to the outline shape of the base opening. An extension volume is defined by the void enclosed by the extension sidewall within the primary extension plate.

Abstract: A baking pan and method of use for baking plural stuffed pizzas and/or plural stuffed sandwiches therein. Each of the pizzas and/or sandwiches includes a dough shell and a stuffing within the shell. The pan basically comprises a base panel and four cavities. The base panel is a planar sheet of circular profile and having a rounded flanged peripheral edge. Each cavity is frusto-conically shaped and includes a generally planar bottom wall and a frusto-conical side wall flaring upward and outward therefrom. Each sidewall terminates at its upper end in a rounded top peripheral edge which is disposed slightly above the base panel. The rounded top edge of each cavity is arranged for joining a respective portion of baking dough disposed within its associated cavity to a sheet portion of baking dough disposed over the base panel and on top of its cavity along the periphery of the rounded top peripheral edge to form a stuffed dough shell having a joined seam extending about the periphery of the shell.

Abstract: A method and device for docking a rimmed crust carried on an intermittently moving conveyor is provided. The device has a vertical reciprocating piston positioned above the rimmed crest, a plate supported by the piston, a plurality of pins protruding downwardly from the plate in a predetermined docking pattern, a stripper plate supported from and below the plate wherein the stripper plate has a plurality of holes arranged to allow the pins to penetrate therethrough, resilient springs positioned between the stripper plate and the plate to force the stripper plate and the plate apart, and a controller to operate the piston to move the plate toward the conveyor and to lift the plate away from the conveyor. A method of perforating a plurality a rimmed crust of dough is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an edible container, its production process and its production apparatus, and its object is to easily and reliably form a bottom surface for said edible container that enables it to be set down. This object is achieved by kneading wheat flour, sugar, an oil or fat and other raw materials with water to form a dough, forming this dough into a flat sheet having an arc-shaped side (a) that is formed by opening up a conical shape from which the tip has been cut, and a plurality of parabolic pieces (c) separated on the side opposing arc-shaped side (a), and together with sequentially folding these parabolic pieces from their base ends followed by overlapping and adhesion, both right and left sides (b) of arc-shaped side a are overlapped and adhered to form a cup in the shape of an inverted cone with a bottom.

Abstract: A sausage cutter comprised of a cutting block having two portions. Each of the two portions has an upper surface, a lower surface, an inner surface, and an outer surface. The two portions are hingedly secured together at the lower surface thereof. Each inner surface has a longitudinally oriented concave recess formed therein. When the two portions are closed together each concave recess forms a containment chamber. Each of the two portions has a plurality of transversely oriented slots extending downwardly through the upper surface thereof to a position below the longitudinally oriented concave recess. The two portions serve to contain a sausage within the containment chamber formed by the longitudinally oriented concave recesses as the two portions are closed together.

Abstract: A device for forming cakes and the like into three-dimensional structures, including a geometric grid of cutter blades arranged with a particular desired contour along their outer edges, wherein the cutter blades are formed into two identical half sections. The half sections may then be embedded into a pre-cooked cake to form the cake into slices confined within the half sections, and the half sections may then be affixed together and frosting applied to the exterior surface of the cake.

Abstract: A cooking utensil with a generally platelike structure and a recessed or raised image respectively defined in or above the griddle surface for providing an image at the surface of a fried foodstuff.

Abstract: A cooking grill having dual heating platens for cooking meats, poultry, fish and like products; the grill having a stationary lower grill platen superposed by a top grill platen selectively moveable to and between four operating positions about one or two pivotal axes; the grill platens being formed with longitudinal lands and grooves to facilitate speed of cooking and moisture release from the cooking products; the lands serving to char spaced areas of the cooked product to emulate charcoal broiling thereof.

Abstract: Machine for the automatic production of meat and/or vegetable kebabs threaded onto skewers.The object of the invention relates to the sector involving the shaping or treatment of food products.According to this addition, the arrangements taking the skewers (20) are made up of a plurality of tubes (38) corresponding to the perforations of the container lid, the said tubes (38) being fixed at one end into holes made out in the thickness of a coupling plate (38b) making up a guiding and positioning assembly for the said skewers.

Abstract: A device for poaching and serving eggs, whereby the egg is kept compact and picture perfect by minimizing the spreading of the egg white while the raw egg is being totally immersed in a poaching liquid 60. Said liquid usually means water, however, a variety of poaching liquids may be used to impart various flavors at a minimum of cost. The egg poaching device FIG. 1 comprises a body member 20 to partially contain the egg. This body member 20 handle 32 for easy removal from the serving plate 36. Said plate 36 is used to partially contain the egg also has a handle 52, attached, to facilitate easy serving of the egg FIG. 9.

Abstract: An apparatus to facilitate producing scrambled eggs on a heated grill surface comprises a frame. At least one egg ring having a lower edge portion is adapted to be disposed in intimate contact with the grill surface for movement therealong and to define with the grill surface an enclosed region within the egg ring for confining liquid eggs. An interceptor member extends across the egg ring in position to engage the liquid eggs therewithin in response to moving the apparatus to and fro over the grill surface. Complementary interengaging portions between the interceptor means and the egg ring properly positions the egg ring on the frame as a function of mounting the interceptor on the frame. Cushion means are provided between the egg ring and the frame to bias the egg ring into intimate contact with the grill surface.

Abstract: A decorative fish head mold for use as a replacement for a fish's head when serving and/or cooking a fish includes a hollow elongate body defining an interior compartment. The body has a forward or distal end configured to the appearance of a fish head, and an open rear end communicating with the interior compartment for receiving a body of a fish therein. In accordance with the method of this invention, the head of a fish is removed, and if desired, the body of the fish is filled with a stuffing. Thereafter the body of the fish, either stuffed or unstuffed, is inserted into the open rear end of the decorative fish head mold, and is thereafter cooked and/or served as a unit with the fish head mold.

Abstract: A taco boat fryer in which foldable product carrier sections are linked together and pushed sequentially through a vat containing hot cooking oil. Each product carrier has a pair of hinged plates that are pushed together as the carrier section enters the vat at one end and are pulled apart as the carrier section leaves the vat at the other end. Mating male and female porous mold sections mounted on the respective plates receive a tortilla before the plates are pushed together, the mold sections shaping the tortilla during the movement of the carrier section through the cooking oil.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing pastry comprises a plate having a plurality of mold cavities arranged in a regular pattern. Each of the cavities has at its upper rim an upwardly projecting cutting edge. A sheet of dough is laid over the plate and pressed toward it by a flat plate or rolling pin so that the cutting edges cut out individual dough pieces, one in each mold cavity. The dough pieces are pressed into the cavities by cup-shaped elements carried by a rigid support and arranged in the same pattern as the mold cavities so that a cup-shaped element enters each cavity. The distance the cup-shaped elements enter the mold cavities is limited by adjustable screws on the support. The cup-shaped elements are of material having good heat conductivity and thermal capacity and are left in the mold cavities during baking to assure uniform baking of the pastry.

Abstract: A cooking and cutting kitchen implement apparatus has a hollow cylindrical ring member having one edge thereof formed into an angular cutting edge for cutting circular shapes, and a flat edge on the other edge thereof adapted to be placed on a grill for cooking an egg, or the like, therein. The ring member has a handle attached thereto with a spring clip connected into a pair of openings in the exterior of the ring and positioned so that the handle will be supported on the edge of the ring member to keep the handle off the grill when used for cooking. The handle may also be used on opposite side after turning the ring over. The ring may be lined with a solid lubricant polymer to prevent an egg, or the item therein, from sticking to the inside of the ring and the flat edge of the ring may have an annular groove therein.

Abstract: Apparatus for the production of a new and novel English muffin on a mass production basis is provided wherein the English muffin is produced by the use of a conventional bun oven. The apparatus for use in the production of the English muffin provides an insulated baking pan which prevents an overbaking of the bottom of the English muffin and a perforated cover plate which permits an even baking of the top surface and imparts a pattern effect on the top surface of the English muffin corresponding to the perforations in the cover plate.

Abstract: An improved one piece cooking pan designed especially for use in baking pizza pies or like food products in a pre-heated oven, the pan having a substantially flat bottom portion with a plurality of perforations uniformly distributed over the entire extent thereof for directly exposing a substantial portion of the lower dough layer of a pizza pie or the like food product to the cooking heat of the oven. The perforations preferably have filleted upper edge portions and are uniformly distributed over the pan surface such that the ratio of the perforated surface area of the bottom portion of the cooking pan to the total surface area thereof is in the range from approximately 15 to 40 percent. The filleted upper edge portion of each perforation allows the heat to be distributed relatively more uniformly over the exposed areas of the product being cooked and avoids undesireable concentration of the cooking heat.

Abstract: A sandwich toasting apparatus having two mould halves which form at least one cavity between them when brought together to receive and compress the peripheral edges of a sandwich consisting of two slices of bread having a filling therebetween, and an electric heater associated with said mould halves to heat said sandwich and toast the exterior thereof. Each mould half has at least one transverse rib extending into the mould cavity with a flat face which is positioned so as to be adjacent the flat face of the rib in the other mould half when the mould halves are closed, whereby said ribs act as scissor blades to progressively sever the sandwich and seal the severed edges.