COOKING METHOD AND APPARATUS

• US 20170121096A1
• Filed: 11/15/2016
• Published: 05/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ConAgra Foods (Conagra Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ConAgra Foods (Conagra Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Pawlick, Adam, Goerl, Keith, Opat, Michael R., Zielke, Julia A., Baker, Steven R., France, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 11,634,262 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0209 stackable or joined together one-upon-the-other in the upright or upside-down position B65D21/0234, B65D21/0235 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/04 Partitions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/24 for spacing bases of containers from supporting surfaces, e.g. legs for pallets B65D19/40
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3433 to add moisture to the product, e.g. steaming B65D81/3438 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2581/3456 Means for holding the contents at a distance from the base of the package, e.g. raised islands or protrusions B65D2581/3459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/003 Articles enclosed in rigid or semi-rigid containers, the whole being wrapped
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/04 Articles or materials enclosed in two or more containers disposed one within another
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3216 Rigid containers disposed one within the other
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/343 specially adapted to be heated in a conventional oven, e.g. a gas or electric resistance oven
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3438 specially adapted to be heated by steaming
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3453 Rigid containers, e.g. trays, bottles, boxes, cups

Abstract

An ovenable cooking apparatus for facilitating the cooking of food components while maintaining the separateness thereof may include a first container for holding a first food component, and a second container for holding a second food component. The separation of the first food component from the second food component maintains the surface area for the first and second food components to facilitate heating of the first and second food components. The first food component may have a liquid based content for producing steam when heated, and one or both of the first container and the second container may define a passage for providing airflow and steam flow for contacting the second container and/or the second foodstuff and heating or steaming the second food component. Additionally, the second container may be steam impermeable for cooking bread and the like.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A cooking apparatus comprising:

a container having a base, sidewalls tapering outwardly and extending vertically from the base of the container to a rim, and a shelf formed in the sidewalls of the container between the base of the container and the rim of the container; and

a basket removably received by the container, the basket including a base of the basket and sidewalls of the basket extending from the base of the basket to a rim that is disposed entirely below a top point of the rim of the container when the basket is received by the container to define a first volume, wherein the bottom surface of the base of the basket rests on the shelf formed in the sidewalls of the container when the basket is received by the container to define a second volume between the base of the container and the base of the basket.

18. The cooking apparatus of claim 17, wherein the sidewall of the basket includes openings.

19. The cooking apparatus of claim 17, wherein the base of the basket includes openings.

20. The cooking apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one of the container and the basket are formed from at least one member of a group consisting of:

aluminum, CPET, polypropylene, nylon, pressed paperboard, and molded pulp.

21. The cooking apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is heatable in an oven selected from the group consisting of:

a conventional, convection, and microwave oven

22. The cooking apparatus of claim 17, wherein the basket further comprises an inwardly-oriented arc in the sidewalls of the basket perpendicular to the base of the basket.

23. The cooking apparatus of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the inwardly-oriented arc is unsupported by the shelf formed in the container.

24. The cooking apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus is suitable for refrigerated storage, freezer storage, and subsequent heating.

25. A pre-packaged food product comprising:

a food comprising a first food component and a second food component, the first food component and the second food component being at least substantially separate during cooking;

a container including a base and a sidewall having an at least substantially continuous shelf formed therein, the shelf projecting inwardly into the container, the shelf spaced away from the base to form a cavity at least substantially holding the first food component for cooking of the first food component; and

a basket holding the second food component, the basket being removably receivable by the container and having a base, the base of the basket resting on the shelf of the container when the basket is received in the container so that the first food component is at least substantially contained in the cavity between the base of the container and the base of the basket.

26. The pre-packaged food product of claim 25, wherein the sidewall of the basket includes openings.

27. The pre-packaged food product of claim 25, wherein the base of the basket includes openings.

28. The pre-packaged food product of claim 25, wherein the at least one of the container and the basket are formed from at least one member of a group consisting of:

aluminum, CPET, polypropylene, nylon, pressed paperboard, and molded pulp.

29. The prepackage food product of claim 25, further comprising a sheet of barrier material sealed to a rim of the container, the sheet of barrier material enclosing the basket within the container.

30. The prepackage food product of claim 25, wherein the sheet of barrier material is not sealed to a rim of the basket.

31. A pre-packaged food product comprising:

a container having a base, a rim, and a sidewall extending from the base to the rim, the sidewall including a shelf portion formed therein at an intermediate distance between the base and the rim;

a basket configured to be removably received by the container, the basket having a base, wherein at least a portion of the base of the basket rests on the shelf portion when the basket is received by the container to define a volume between the base of the container and the base of the basket, the basket further including a sidewall extending from the base of the basket to a rim of the basket, the sidewall of the basket and the rim of the basket further including at least one arc projecting inwardly into a volume formed by the basket;

a first food component disposed in the container at least substantially within the volume between the base of the container and the base of the basket; and

at least one second food component disposed in the basket.

32. The pre-packaged food product of claim 31, wherein the sidewall of the basket includes openings.

33. The pre-packaged food product of claim 31, wherein the base of the basket includes openings.

34. The pre-packaged food product of claim 31, wherein the at least one of the container and the basket are formed from at least one member of a group consisting of:

aluminum, CPET, polypropylene, nylon, pressed paperboard, and molded pulp.

35. The prepackage food product of claim 31, further comprising a sheet of barrier material sealed to a rim of the container, the sheet of barrier material enclosing the basket within the container.

36. The prepackage food product of claim 35, wherein the sheet of barrier material is not sealed to a rim of the basket.