Food tray and tray insert
First Claim
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1. A food tray for storing individual portions of food comprising:
- a tray body having a first end and a second end, a lower surface and a sidewall structure defining a tray height and a tray volume within said tray body;
a tray insert positionable in the tray volume and comprising an elongated supporting surface and insert supports defining a tray insert height, wherein said supporting surface is above said lower surface and below the top of the sidewall structure, and said lower surface defining a volume between said lower surface and said supporting surface, and the supporting surface defining a food holding volume in conjunction with said sidewall structure.
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Abstract
A food tray and tray insert are provided that are particularly adapted for use in a heated food holding compartment. Methods of storing cooked food are also provided using such devices. The devices and use thereof allows cooked food such as hamburger patties to be stored at elevated temperatures for extended periods of time without a significant deleterious effect on the organoleptic properties of the cooked food.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A food tray for storing individual portions of food comprising:
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a tray body having a first end and a second end, a lower surface and a sidewall structure defining a tray height and a tray volume within said tray body; a tray insert positionable in the tray volume and comprising an elongated supporting surface and insert supports defining a tray insert height, wherein said supporting surface is above said lower surface and below the top of the sidewall structure, and said lower surface defining a volume between said lower surface and said supporting surface, and the supporting surface defining a food holding volume in conjunction with said sidewall structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of storing individual portions of food comprising:
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providing a food tray comprising a tray body having a first end and a second end, a lower surface and a sidewall structure defining a tray height and a tray volume within said tray body and a tray insert positionable in the tray volume and comprising an elongated supporting surface and insert supports defining a tray insert height, wherein said supporting surface is above said lower surface and below the top of the sidewall structure, and said lower surface defining a lower volume between said lower surface and said supporting surface, and the supporting surface defining a food holding volume in conjunction with said sidewall structure; placing the individual portions of food on said supporting surface; placing and storing for a period of time the tray having the individual portions of food therein in a heated compartment having an upper compartment surface and a heated lower compartment surface to maintain the temperature of the cooked food products in a desired elevated storage temperature range, wherein said supporting surface is elevated above said heated lower compartment surface; and maintaining the tray during said storing so that the top edge of the tray is in close proximity to the upper compartment surface to achieve a gap between the top of the tray and the upper compartment surface of between about 0 and 0.25 inches. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of storing previously cooked hamburger patties after cooking and before incorporation into a hamburger sandwich comprising:
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providing a food tray comprising a tray body having a first end and a second end, a lower surface and a sidewall structure defining a tray height and a tray volume within said tray body and a tray insert positionable in the tray volume and comprising an elongated supporting surface and insert supports defining a tray insert height, wherein said supporting surface is above said lower surface and below the top of the sidewall structure, and said lower surface defining a lower volume between said lower surface and said supporting surface, and the supporting surface defining a food holding volume in conjunction with said sidewall structure; placing the previously cooked hamburger patties on said supporting surface; placing and storing for a desired period of time the tray having the cooked hamburger patties therein in a heated compartment having an upper surface and a heated lower compartment surface, to maintain a storage temperature of the cooked hamburger patties at about 145°
F. or more; andmaintaining the tray during said storing so that the top edge of the tray is in close proximity to the upper surface to achieve a gap between the top of the tray and the upper surface of between about 0 and 0.25 inches to restrict water vapor from evaporating from the cooked hamburger patties in the tray during storage in the compartment. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of making a hamburger sandwich comprising:
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cooking a plurality of hamburger patties; providing a food tray comprising a tray body having a first end and a second end, a lower surface and a sidewall structure defining a tray height and a tray volume within said tray body and a tray insert positionable in the tray volume and comprising an elongated supporting surface and insert supports defining a tray insert height, wherein said supporting surface is above said lower surface and below the top of the sidewall structure, and said lower surface defining a lower volume between said lower surface and said supporting surface, and the supporting surface defining a food holding volume in conjunction with said sidewall structure; placing the previously cooked hamburger patties on said supporting surface; placing and storing for a desired period of time the tray having the cooked hamburger patties therein in a heated compartment having an upper surface and a heated lower compartment surface, to maintain a storage temperature of the cooked hamburger patties at about 145°
F. or more;maintaining the tray during said storing so that the top edge of the tray is in close proximity to the upper surface to achieve a gap between the top of the tray and the upper surface of between about 0 and 0.25 inches to restrict water vapor from evaporating from the cooked hamburger patties in the tray during storage in the compartment; thereafter removing cooked hamburger patties from the tray when needed for assembly into hamburger sandwiches; and assembling the hamburger patties into hamburger sandwiches. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification