John A Buckley

US Patent:

47458542, May 24, 1988

Filed:

Sep 24, 1986

Appl. No.:

6/911113

Inventors:

John T. Buckley - Pleasantville NY

International Classification:

A23L 300
A47J 2700

US Classification:

99360

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for the preparation of what is commonly known as "fast foods" such as french fried potatoes. These foods are generally cooked in a vat of heated oil and, as a result of such preparation, include a high concentration of polyunsaturates and cholesterol in levels which may be detrimental to the health of the consumer over long periods of time. The method of the present invention pre-cooks food in a non-fat environment such as a microwave oven. Thereafter, the food is transported by a conveyor system through different cooking stations, at least one of which sprays the pre-cooked food with closely monitored quantities and concentrations of heated oil. In this manner, the prepared food has the appearance, taste and texture as though it were cooked in the traditional way, but is not saturated with oil as it would be if it were immersed in a heated vat. In other aspects of the invention, the conveyor system may provide an oscillating or lateral movement to the food that it is transporting to uniformly distribute the sprayed oil over the surface of the food, and to shake excess oil from the food.