Apparatus for thawing frozen food items

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for thawing a frozen food item, including a chamber dimensioned to receive the frozen food item, a heat exchanger operable to either heat air in the chamber or to cool the air in the chamber, a fan for creating a flow of the air within the chamber; and a tray disposed in the chamber and having an upper surface adapted to receive and support a lower surface of the frozen food item. The tray is adapted to receive a portion of the flow of air and to provide the portion of the flow of air to the lower surface of the food item such that the portion of the flow of air is distributed across the lower surface of the food item and directed upwardly about the food item.

1 . An apparatus for thawing a frozen food item, comprising: 
 a chamber dimensioned to receive the food item;    a heat exchanger operable to selectively heat or cool the chamber;    a fan configured to create a flow of air in the chamber; and    a support structure comprising one or more surfaces configured to support a lower surface of the food item in the chamber, and to restrict and to direct at least a portion of the flow of air to the lower surface of the food item.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of clam  1  wherein the support structure comprises a plurality of ridges selected from the group consisting of substantially flat top ridges, rounded top ridges, and substantially triangular top ridges.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of clam  1  wherein at least one of the surfaces comprises one or more openings, through which at least a portion of the flow of air is directed.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of clam  1  further comprising a drain pan configured to catch moisture dripping from the support structure.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus for thawing a frozen food item, comprising: 
 a chamber dimensioned to receive the food item;    a fan for creating a flow of air in the chamber; and    a heat exchanger operable to selectively heat or cool at least a portion of the flow of air, wherein the heat exchanger is disposed in at least a portion of the flow of air, upstream of the fan.    
   
   
       6 . An apparatus for thawing a frozen food item, comprising: 
 a chamber dimensioned to receive the food item;    a fan for creating a flow of air in the chamber;    a partition configured to separate the flow of air from the chamber and direct the flow of air through at least a portion of the heat exchanger prior to reaching the fan; and    a heat exchanger operable to selectively heat or cool at least a portion of the flow of air.