Convection steamer apparatus and method for processing food items or the like

A convection steamer apparatus having improved heat-transfer characteristics for processing food items or the like comprising,

• at least one steam chamber defined by a bottom, top, rear and oppositely disposed side walls adapted to receive food items in supported relation therein,
• steam generator means for supplying regulated amounts of steam under pressure into said chamber,
• distribution means including a plurality of spaced-oppositely disposed pipe means disposed adjacent associated of said side walls adapted to deliver substantially dry steam in a generally orbital path around food items to be processed within said chamber,
• diffuser means operably connected to said steam generator means and directly communicating with said distribution means for introducing substantially dry steam into said distribution pipe means, and
• pressure differential generator means communicating with said chamber exteriorly thereof for inducing a substantially zero pressure in said chamber by removing air and unused steam from said chamber by condensing said steam with liquid pressure thereby to induce turbulent flow of said substantially dry steam in said orbital path during the processing of said food items.