Convection food heating

Abstract

Disclosed are an improved method and apparatus for heating which enables rapid heating of foods to obtain any one of a number of textures. A fried taste, texture and appearance can be achieved without using large amounts of oil or encountering the other disadvantages of frying. According to a preferred embodiment, the form of the apparatus is employed to fry foods using a heat exchange fluid comprising air containing dispersed cooking oil or fat, which performs the disclosed method. A cooking chamber is provided having a reservoir at a low point capable of holding cooking oil. The oil is dispersed into the closed heating chamber as a convective air flow is established within the heating chamber. A rotating support holds the food about an axis accentrically positioned from the axis of an impeller means which disperses the oil or fat and creates a positive flow of air within the chamber, to uniformly contact and fry the food.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.