Described herein are systems and methods for automatedly preparing food items for consumption. In one aspect, a food preparation system may comprise a refrigeration unit, a cooking unit, a control unit, and a transportation unit configured to transport food items from the refrigeration unit to the cooking unit. The refrigeration unit and the cooking unit may each comprise an aperture configured to receive a portion of the transportation unit such that food items located in the refrigeration unit can be collected by the transportation unit and placed into the cooking unit. In another aspect, a portion of the transportation unit may be placed adjacent the aperture of the cooking unit when a food item is delivered to the cooking unit such that the portion of the transportation unit can function as a lid to the cooking unit.
