An oven system for pressed food items, comprising: an oven housing comprising a cooking cavity; a frame supporting a first platen and a second platen, wherein the frame is configured to be removable from and positionable within the cooking cavity, wherein the first and second platens (12, 14) are mounted on the frame via at least one hinged connector, wherein the second platen is configured to be raised with respect to the first platen via movement of the at least one hinged connector, and wherein at least one end of the at least one hinged connector comprises a rotatable element; an actuating arm comprising a handle shaft, and a rotation actuator, wherein the rotation actuator comprises an oven-side connection that is configured to cooperate with the rotatable element of the at least one hinged connector, wherein the frame is configured to be positioned within the cooking cavity by sliding the frame into the cooking cavity such that the oven-side connection of the rotation actuator engages with the rotatable element of the at least one hinged connector, connecting the frame with the actuating arm, wherein the handle shaft of the actuating arm is mounted to the oven housing such that it extends outside the cooking cavity, wherein manual activation of the actuating arm from outside the oven cooking cavity causes rotation of the rotation actuator that allows movement to be transferred to the at least one hinged connector via the rotatable element, and movement of the second platen. an oven housing comprising a cooking cavity; a frame supporting a first platen and a second platen, wherein the frame is configured to be removable from and positionable within the cooking cavity, wherein the first and second platens (12, 14) are mounted on the frame via at least one hinged connector, wherein the second platen is configured to be raised with respect to the first platen via movement of the at least one hinged connector, and wherein at least one end of the at least one hinged connector comprises a rotatable element; an actuating arm comprising a handle shaft, and a rotation actuator, wherein the rotation actuator comprises an oven-side connection that is configured to cooperate with the rotatable element of the at least one hinged connector, wherein the frame is configured to be positioned within the cooking cavity by sliding the frame into the cooking cavity such that the oven-side connection of the rotation actuator engages with the rotatable element of the at least one hinged connector, connecting the frame with the actuating arm, wherein the handle shaft of the actuating arm is mounted to the oven housing such that it extends outside the cooking cavity, wherein manual activation of the actuating arm from outside the oven cooking cavity causes rotation of the rotation actuator that allows movement to be transferred to the at least one hinged connector via the rotatable element, and movement of the second platen. wherein the frame is configured to be removable from and positionable within the cooking cavity, wherein the first and second platens (12, 14) are mounted on the frame via at least one hinged connector, wherein the second platen is configured to be raised with respect to the first platen via movement of the at least one hinged connector, and wherein at least one end of the at least one hinged connector comprises a rotatable element; an actuating arm comprising a handle shaft, and a rotation actuator, wherein the rotation actuator comprises an oven-side connection that is configured to cooperate with the rotatable element of the at least one hinged connector, wherein the frame is configured to be positioned within the cooking cavity by sliding the frame into the cooking cavity such that the oven-side connection of the rotation actuator engages with the rotatable element of the at least one hinged connector, connecting the frame with the actuating arm, wherein the handle shaft of the actuating arm is mounted to the oven housing such that it extends outside the cooking cavity, wherein manual activation of the actuating arm from outside the oven cooking cavity causes rotation of the rotation actuator that allows movement to be transferred to the at least one hinged connector via the rotatable element, and movement of the second platen.