The present application discloses an automated cooking system including: a cooking apparatus comprising a cooking container and a stirring motion mechanism configured to produce a motion in the cooking container as to stir, mix or distribute the food or food ingredients held in the cooking container; ingredient containers to store food ingredients; an dispensing apparatus to dispense the food ingredients from an ingredient container into the cooking container; food containers to hold a cooked food; an unloading motion mechanism to turn the cooking container to dispense cooked food from the cooking container to a food container; a transfer apparatus configured to grip and move a food container; a food container transport system; a liquid dispensing apparatus to dispense liquid ingredients into the cooking container; and a cleaning apparatus; and a computer system with algorithms to control these mechanisms and apparatuses.