An improved, modular convection/impingement oven assembly for continuously
cooking food. In certain embodiments, the assembly comprises at least one
non-recirculating impingement oven unit and at least one additional oven
unit, arranged as a series, in any sequence. A first oven has an
elongated chamber, a conveyer system, hot-air impingement units, and an
exhaust vent at the discharge end. Preferably, it has surface-treatment
burners for browning, a brander for grill marks, and/or steam nozzles for
introducing heat and moisture. Cooking vapors pass the entire length of
the unit. Each subsequent oven may be similar to the first oven (often
omitting the surface-treatment burners and brander) with its own vent.
Each subsequent oven may cook by flame, air, or steam, in any
combination. Each oven unit is independently controllable for cooking
parameters and cooking methods. An air gap may be provided between each
pair of oven units to decouple airflow between units.