Patent ID: 8850969

Claim:
A device suitable for melting an exposed cheese component of a food item in a container on a work surface, the container having an open position in which the container having an open container compartment for transporting the food item and the cheese component into the open container compartment, and a closed position in which the container provides a closed package for containing the food item with the melted cheese component for delivery therein to a consumer, the device comprising: a housing configured to rest directly on a counter, a cheese melting chamber within the housing and having an interior volume, a top wall, and an entrance opening extending to the work surface for allowing the container containing the food item and the cheese component to be readily inserted into and withdrawn from the cheese melting chamber by sliding the container along the work surface; a steam generator for generating steam from liquid water; one or more steam passageways providing fluid communication between the steam generator and the cheese melting chamber; a plurality of steam exit openings positioned above the interior volume for directing steam from the steam generator and into the interior volume; and a control for causing steam to be rapidly generated on demand by the steam generator by rapidly converting water supplied to the steam generator into steam, wherein the generated steam is directed through the one or more steam passageways and through the plurality of steam exit openings and into the cheese melting chamber for melting the cheese component contained in the container when in the steam chamber.