Impingement and steam oven apparatus for preparing food products

A food preparation apparatus comprising:

• a first oven chamber;
• first means for supporting a food product in said first chamber;
• air impinging means disposed in said first chamber for impinging columnated jets of heated air onto discrete points of a surface of a food product being supported on said first food supporting means;
• a second oven chamber in communication with said first oven chamber;
• second means for supporting a food product in said second chamber;
• steam impinging means in said second chamber for impinging jets of steam onto discrete points of a surface of a food product being supported on said second food product supporting means;
• a third oven chamber in communication with said second chamber;
• third means for supporting a food product in said third chamber;
• air impinging means disposed in said third chamber for impinging columnated jets of heated air onto discrete points of a surface of a food product being supported on said third food supporting means;
• and
• means for conveying a food product serially from said first supporting means to said second and third supporting means.

A food preparation apparatus comprising a first oven chamber;

• first means in said first oven chamber for supporting a food product container;
• means in said first oven chamber for forming columnated jets of steam and for impinging said steam jets onto the top surface of a food product received in a container supported on said first supporting means;
• means in said first oven chamber for forming columnated jets of heated air and for impinging said heated air jets onto a bottom surface of said food product container supported on said first supporting means;
• a second oven chamber disposed in serial communication with said first oven chamber;
• second means in said second oven chamber for supporting a food product container;
• means for moving a food product container from said first supporting means to said second supporting means whereby said container moves serially through said chambers;
• and
• means in said second chamber for forming columnated jets of heated air and for impinging said heated air jets onto both a surface of a food product disposed in a container supported on said second means and a surface of said container.

A method for cooking a food product comprising the steps of:

• supporting a food product in an open container;
• forming a plurality of columnated jets of heated air;
• directing said columnated jets of heated air onto an outside surface of said container so that the jets of heated air impinge against discrete points of said outside surface of said container;
• forming a plurality of columnated jets of steam;
• directing said columnated steam jets against a surface of said food product so that said steam jets impinge against discrete points of said food product surface;
• and
• moving said food product relative to said air jets and steam jets.

A method for heating a food product comprising the steps of:

• supporting a food product in an open container;
• providing an oven cavity including a plurality of serially connected oven chambers;
• moving said food product through said plurality of chambers;
• forming a plurality of columnated jets of heated air;
• impinging said jets of heated air onto a bottom surface of said container and a top surface of said food product as said food product moves through one of said chambers;
• forming a plurality of columnated jets of steam in one of said chambers;
• and
• impinging said jets of steam onto a top surface of said food product as said food product moves through a second one of said chambers.