Restaurant Technology Inc.

Mcdonald's Corporation

Mcdonald's Corporation, a Delaware Corporation

Paul G Simmons

Henry Thomas Ewald

Glenn Schackmuth

Gerald A Sus

Manuel Calzada

William J Reimann

Jerry Sus

John J Mazurkiewicz

Robert C Fortmann

David W Kirby

James E Johanson

James C Purgatorio

Michael S Tucker

Scott G Peterson

Peter Rivera-Pierola

Russell V Plum, Jr

William C Mulkey

A device for cooking food on a grill has opposed upper and lower platens wherein a gap spacing between the platens is automatically adjusted in an initial stage and in subsequent stages of the cooking time for the food. The food is caused to be located between two opposed platens, the opposed platens each having opposed cooking surfaces and the opposed cooking surfaces defining a gap spacing that is adjustable. A controller and drive mechanism adjust the gap spacing between the platens so that during an initial stage of the cooking the gap spacing is equal to or less than the nominal initial uncooked thickness of the food, and during one or more subsequent stages of the cooking, after the initial stage, the gap spacing between the platens is varied.

Two-surface grill with adjustable gap and multi-stage method for cooking food

The present invention relates to a device for cooking food on a grill having opposed upper and lower platens wherein a gap spacing between the platens is automatically adjusted in an initial stage and in subsequent stages of the cooking time for the food. The food is caused to be located between two opposed platens, the opposed platens each having opposed cooking surfaces and the opposed cooking surfaces defining a gap spacing that is adjustable. A controller and drive mechanism adjust the gap spacing between the platens so that during an initial stage of the cooking the gap spacing is equal to or less than the nominal initial uncooked thickness of the food, and during one or more subsequent stages of the cooking, after the initial stage, the gap spacing between the platens is varied.

A cooking device is provided for steaming food items and transferring steamed food items from the device to a work surface. The device includes a platform for placing food items thereon mounted to a support for movement to and from food steaming and food removal positions. The food items can be transferred from the device without being individually handled by an operator. A method of steaming food items is provided using the cooking device. The food items do not need to be individually handled after they are steamed. A method of transferring steamed food items from the cooking device to a container or a work surface is also provided. The steamed food items are transferred without individual handling.

Table top bun steamer and method

In accordance with the invention, a device and method for steaming and toasting food items is provided. The device is particularly suited for steaming and toasting hamburger sandwich bun heels and crowns. The device in accordance with the invention may include a steam outlet for steaming food items by impinging steam onto the food item. A conveyor moves the food item along a toasting pathway in which the food item is toasted by a heated platen extending along at least a portion of the toasting pathway.

Steam and platen toasting device

An device and method are provided for steam injection heating to melt a cheese component of a food item of a food product. The device includes a housing for a steam generator and a steaming chamber. Generated steam is injected into the steaming chamber to melt the cheese component of the food item held in a container inserted into the steaming chamber. The device is configured to rest on a counter so that the counter provides an interior support surface in the steaming chamber. The counter also provides an exterior support surface for the container and a work surface. The container is inserted into the steaming chamber by sliding it on the exterior surface and is received and supported by the interior support surface. A food product having a melted cheese component is assembled, produced and packaged while the container is supported in the single plane of the counter.

Device and method for melting cheese

A dispenser for granular materials and a method of seasoning using the dispenser is provided. The dispenser has multiple deflectors. The deflectors can deflect granular materials in tangential and radial directions. The dispenser has a dispensing mechanism actuated by a user-manipulable lever connected to a yoke in which a pin is received for rotating a member of the dispenser. The dispenser achieves consistent quantities with each dispense with three different features. One feature is having a rim partially raised around the first member aperture. Another feature is pushing elements that cooperate with the partially raised rim. A third feature is radially staggered dispensing apertures.

Measuring dispenser for granular seasoning material and method of seasoning

A commercial cooking apparatus is provided for simultaneous steaming and two-sided grilling of food items having non-uniform thickness and/or variations in nominal thickness. The apparatus includes a compressible, heat-resistant ring member, and optionally a flexible, non-stick, heat-resistant film material associated with the ring member to form a cavity defined by the inner perimeter of the ring member. A cooking method is also disclosed, wherein a food item and a quantity of water are introduced into the cavity, and the food item is simultaneously cooked by the heated upper and lower platens of a conventional clamshell grill or similar apparatus and by steam generated by heating the water.

Chicken ring cooking device and method

A cooked food staging device and method are provided. The device and method are particularly suited for storing breaded, battered or bread food items for extended periods of time without becoming soggy. A heated compartment having a slot has a flexible member covering at least a portion of the slot to restrict airflow and to permit access to the food items contained therein, which may be contained on trays, without the necessity of removing the tray to view and remove selected food items therefrom.

Food staging device

A method is provided for storing a cooked food in a flexible-walled container having an opening. The method includes placing a quantity of food in a flexible-walled container and submerging at least a portion of the container in a liquid with the opening being located so that liquid does not enter the opening. At least the lower portion of the container is maintained in the liquid and the food is maintained in the container below the surface of the liquid. The liquid collapses the container to seal the container. The temperature of the liquid may be maintained at a non-ambient temperature to heat or cool the food as it is stored. The method may also include storing the food adjacent a work surface, or at a remote main vat and transporting the rack to the work surface at which a serving that includes the food is prepared.

Temperature controlled fluid bath food holding device

A food tray adapted for holding previously cooked food items is provided. The food tray has one or more sidewall structure openings to allow venting of the interior volume of the tray through the tray sidewall structure openings. The food tray allows food items contained in the volume of the food tray to be stored over an extended period of time at an elevated temperature without significant deleterious effects to the appearance, taste and texture of the food. The food tray may also include a slide member for adjusting the amount of venting through the sidewall structure openings. Also provided is a method of storing food within a food tray to be contained in a heated compartment.

Food tray and method

The present invention relates to a device and a method for cooking food on a grill having opposed upper and lower platens wherein a gap spacing between the platens is adjusted in an initial stage and in subsequent stages of the cooking time for the meat. The method includes causing the food to be located between two opposed platens, the opposed platens each having opposed cooking surfaces and the opposed cooking surfaces defining a gap spacing that is adjustable, and adjusting the gap spacing between the platens so that during an initial stage of the cooking the gap spacing is equal to or less than the nominal initial uncooked thickness of the food, and during one or more subsequent stages of the cooking, after the initial stage, the gap spacing between the platens is varied.

An apparatus and method of treating eggs and other food products and a method and apparatus for releasing an egg and other food products from a food-retaining ring are provided. The apparatus includes one or more food-retaining rings suitable to be disposed on a treating surface; and a ring shaped release tool, the exterior perimeter of the release tool being adapted to fit closely to the inside perimeter of the ring. The method of treating eggs and other food products comprises: adding a food product to a volume defined by an interior of a ring disposed on a cooking surface; treating the food product to form a self-supporting mass; and inserting a complementary-shaped release member within the ring containing the self-supporting mass, the release member being adapted to fit closely to an inside perimeter of the ring.

Device and method for treating and releasing food products

Temperature controlled fluid bath food holding device and method

A container holder adapted to hold a container between two spaced apart prongs is provided herein. The prongs clamp the container with a clamping force large enough to hold the container, but small enough to avoid damaging the container. The prongs may be spaced apart to fit different-sized containers, while the clamping force still meets these criteria. The clamping force may be provided by a substantially constant-force spring or a variable-force spring. In a method according to the present invention, a stack of nested containers is held in a container holder as described, for subsequent removal of a selected container from the stack.

Growing community of inventors

Glen Ellyn, IL, United States of America

Paul G Simmons