Steam generating assembly

A steam generating assembly for steam heating pre-processed food products comprising:

• a steam module housing comprising:
• a first steam generating heating element;
• and
• a first target area in fluid communication with said first steam generating heating element over which the food product may be positioned;
• and
• a second steam generating heating element;
• and
• a second target area in fluid communication with said second steam generating heating element over which the food product may be positioned;
• and
• actuation means for initiating a steam delivery cycle to at least one of said first or said second target areas so as to selectably heat the food product positioned over said first or said second target areas.

A method for heating or boosting the temperature of a pre-processed food product comprising:

• a) placing the food product on a perforated target area;
• b) initiating a predetermined quantity of water on to a heated steam generating surface to generate and release steam through said target area and into the food product;
• and
• c) removing the food product from said target area.

An assembly method for preparing multi-ingredient, heated, fast-food sandwiches by employees working at sandwich assembly stations proximate to and on opposite sides of a steam generating assembly comprising:

• providing sandwich ingredients at the sandwich assembly stations;
• steaming at least one heated ingredient of a first sandwich and at least one heated ingredient of a second sandwich on the steam generating assembly, wherein said heated ingredients of said first and said second sandwiches are placed on the steam generating assembly by a first employee who actuates the steam generating assembly;
• pre-assembling the remaining ingredients of said first sandwich at one assembly station while said at least one heated ingredient of said first sandwich is being steamed, wherein said pre-assembly is carried out by the first employee;
• pre-assembling the remaining ingredients of said second sandwich at another assembly station while said at least one heated ingredient of said second sandwich is being steamed, wherein said pre-assembly is carried out by a second employee;
• removing said at least one heated ingredient of said first sandwich from the steam generating assembly and assembling a first sandwich by placing said at least one heated ingredient of said first sandwich with said pre-assembled ingredients of said first sandwich, wherein said removal and assembly is carried out by the first employee;
• removing said at least one heated ingredient of said second sandwich from the steam generating assembly and assembling a second sandwich by placing said at least one heated ingredient of said second sandwich with said pre-assembled ingredients of said second sandwich, wherein said removal and assembly is carried out by the second employee;
• wrapping a fully-assembled first sandwich, wherein said first sandwich is wrapped by the first employee;
• wrapping a fully-assembled second sandwich, wherein said second sandwich is wrapped by the second employee;
• and
• moving said wrapped fully-assembled said first and second sandwiches to a holding station, wherein said first and second sandwiches are moved by the second employee.