초록 ▼

An apparatus and method are disclosed for maintaining the crispness and sensory appeal of fried food products after they are fried, but before they are served. The invention contemplates that freshly fried food products are positioned in a product holding area which is at least partially defined by

An apparatus and method are disclosed for maintaining the crispness and sensory appeal of fried food products after they are fried, but before they are served. The invention contemplates that freshly fried food products are positioned in a product holding area which is at least partially defined by a foraminous surface, such as a perforated plate, upon which the food products are placed. The food products are subjected to forced hot air circulation provided by a suitable blower and heating arrangement so that hot air circulates about the food products to evaporate moisture from their surfaces which migrates from their moist interiors, this moisture migration otherwise tending to render the food products undesirably uncrispy or soggy within a relatively short time. The present invention is particularly suited for use in the food service industry since a consistently high quality product can be served, with desired flexibility provided in the preparation of the product.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for holding and maintaining the crispness of freshly fried food products, comprising; an upright, closed housing having an upwardly facing foraminous serving surface exposed to the surrounding atmosphere which provides an open product holding means adjacent the upper portion of the hous

An apparatus for holding and maintaining the crispness of freshly fried food products, comprising; an upright, closed housing having an upwardly facing foraminous serving surface exposed to the surrounding atmosphere which provides an open product holding means adjacent the upper portion of the housing and adapted to receive food products such that said food products are exposed to the atmosphere, and from which the food products are to be served to customers; air circulation means associated with said housing for forcibly circulating air through said housing and outwardly of the housing through said foraminous surface and about and through the food products which are exposed to the atmosphere in said product holding means; and heater means associated with said air circulation means for selectively heating the circulating air so that said heated air is forcibly circulated about and through the food products in said product holding means, said air circulation means being disposed in said housing and with said heater means being disposed within said housing in full communication with said air circulation means.