US Patent 11980321 Cooking appliance with cooked food holding apparatus

A heat transfer system for cooking a food product is provided. The heat transfer system includes an enclosure, heat sources within the enclosure operate to output heat for a cooking process, at least one conveyor positioned relative to the cooking heat elements, and a warming assembly. The warming assembly is configured to receive at least one pan configured to store cooked food product. The warming assembly defines an controlled environment about the at least one pan. A blocking element defines an opening through the enclosure into the controlled environment of the warming assembly.