Countertop puffing oven for pelletized foodstuffs

A countertop puffing oven for expanding food pellets, said oven comprising a container with an internal chamber for receiving pellets, said chamber having an open mouth, a housing removably receiving said container, said housing including means for sealing said open mouth to said housing, heater means for rapidly heating air to a sufficient degree to puff food pellets, said heater means being mounted in said housing in communication with said chamber through said mouth thereof, high speed air flow generating means for discharge of air across said heater means and into said chamber through said mouth at sufficient force to entrain and move pellets with said air flow to enhance heat transfer from the air to the pellets, and flow directing means in said chamber for directing air flow and entrained pellets about the interior of said chamber and generally centrally therein to maximize contact of said air flow with the pellet surfaces, said heater means, upon activation, achieving a puffing temperature of at least approximately 375.degree. Fahrenheit within approximately 8 to 10 seconds, and maintaining said temperature for approximately 10 to 15 seconds, means for activating said air flow generating means when said puffing temperature is reached, means for deactivating said heater means, and means for deactivating said air flow generating means subsequent to deactivation of said heater means and reduction of said puffing temperature.

A countertop puffing oven for expanding food pellets, said oven comprising a container with an internal chamber for receiving pellets, said chamber having an open mouth, a housing removably receiving said container, said housing including means for sealing said open mouth to said housing, heater means for rapidly heating air to a sufficient degree to puff food pellets, said heater means being mounted in said housing in communication with said chamber through said mouth thereof, high speed air flow generating means for discharge of air across said heater means and into said chamber through said mouth at sufficient force to entrain and move pellets with said air flow to enhance heat transfer from the air to the pellets, and flow directing means in said chamber for directing air flow and entrained pellets about the interior of said chamber and generally centrally therein to maximize contact of said air flow with the pellet surfaces, said chamber mouth being upwardly opening, said heater means being positioned immediately above said mouth, said air flow moving through said heater means and downwardly into said chamber through said mouth, said chamber having a bottom and a peripheral wall, said flow directing means extending upwardly from said chamber bottom along an arcuate path for a directing of said flow along a generally reversing direction toward said mouth whereby under the continuing action of the flow generating means, a circuitous flow of hot air and pellets is achieved.