A dual function heating and toasting apparatus is provided for radiantly
heating or surface toasting bread-type food products. The apparatus
includes a housing defining a heating/toasting chamber. A generally
vertically oriented, center fixed heating platen is disposed in the
chamber. A pair of generally vertically oriented, movable heating platens
are disposed on opposite sides of the center fixed platen. A gate is
movably mounted on the housing near the bottoms of the platens for
movement between a closed position to hold a product between the platens
and an open position allowing a finished product to exit the chamber. A
product such as a bagel can be placed into the chamber onto the gate
between one of the movable platens and the fixed platen and spaced
therefrom to heat the bagel by radiant heat. Alternatively, a product
such as a bun can be placed in the chamber onto the gate and the movable
platen moved to bias the bun against the fixed platen to surface toast
the bun. The gate is movable to the open position to allow the heated
bagel or the toasted bun to exit the chamber.