Food thermalization device
AssigneeBEL Group LLC
InventorBenno Liebermann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A food thermalization device is provided, which permits the food to be thermalized and held for extended periods of time without causing the food to deteriorate. The device includes an electrically-resistance-heated plate, which is controlled to equilibrate at a set temperature in the range of 160.degree. F. to 185.degree. F., with a fluctuation not exceeding plus or minus 5.degree. F. The plate draws much less power than other food cooking devices and occupies much less space for the amount of food it can prepare. A browning oven is also provided for exposing unwrapped food to very high temperature radiation for a short period of time to brown the food.
Claims11
A device for thermalizing food, comprising:
- a heat-conducting plate defining an upper food-contact surface having a food contact surface area;
- an electrical resistance heater in conductive contact with said plate, wherein the resistance of the heater is selected so that the heater draws less than 200 watts per square foot of food contact surface area;
- and
- an automatic control, which maintains the temperature of the plate at an equilibrated, fixed temperature in the range of 160.degree. F. to 185.degree. F., with a temperature fluctuation within the range of .+-.5.degree. F. when equilibrium has been reached.
A food thermalization rack, comprising:
- a vertical rack;
- a plurality of thermalization plates mounted at different heights on said rack, each of said plates including a flat, heat-conducting plate;
- and an electrical resistance heater in contact with said plate;
- a control system which maintains each plate at a fixed, equilibrated temperature in the range of 160.degree. F. to 185.degree. F., with a fluctuation within the range of plus or minus 5.degree. F. once equilibrium has been reached;
- wherein the vertical spacing between two adjacent plates is less than two-and-one-half inches.
A combination food thermalization rack and browning oven, comprising:
- a vertical rack;
- a plurality of thermalization plates mounted at different heights on said rack, each of said plates including a flat, heat-conducting plate;
- and an electrical resistance heater in contact with said plate;
- a control system which maintains each plate at an equilibrated fixed temperature in the range of 160.degree. F. to 185.degree. F., with a temperature fluctuation within the range of plus or minus 5.degree. F. once equilibrium has been reached;
- wherein the vertical spacing between two adjacent plates is less than two-and-one-half inches;
- and
- a high speed browning oven, comprising:
- a housing;
- a fan mounted on said housing for drawing air through said housing;
- a food-supporting grid mounted in said housing;
- a plurality of high temperature elements mounted in said housing above and below said grid;
- and
- a control system which turns the elements off after a preset time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.