GB2393109A

GB2393109A - Cooking Tray

Info

Publication number: GB2393109A
Application number: GB0222024A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Edward Paul Criscuolo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-09-23
Filing date: 2002-09-23
Publication date: 2004-03-24
Anticipated expiration: 2022-09-23
Also published as: GB0222024D0; GB2393109B

Abstract

Cooking apparatus for grilling, baking and roasting includes a receptacle 1 with projections 2 forming a food support rack. The channels between these projections serve to collect fat or other fluids given off by the food during cooking.

Description

1 2393109

IMPROVEMENTS TO APPARATUS FOR COOKING

The invention is in the field of cooking apparatus in grilling, baking and roasting for

example. It is often desirable to separate food being cooked from fluids from the said food, and any oils or fats which may have been applied during cooking.

Present methods of cooking as described above may include a vessel placed to catch the said fluids which are then drained off, generally down a kitchen sink or a drain.

The said fluids are pollutant and if passed to an effluent treatment plant are disadvantageous thereto having a high biological oxygen demand (B.O.D.).

The said fluids may adhere to sewers and the like and would act as a nutrient for rodents and pathogenic organisms.

The present invention overcomes these difficulties by providing a means of separating the said fluids from food being cooked and a method of disposing of the said means and fluids thus separated, as one unit.

The means is a cooking apparatus being a Receptacle substantially planar with projections from its surface characterized to allow fluids from food being cooked above the projections to be collected within the Receptacle, and allow the said fluids and Receptacle to be disposed of readily and economically as one item with other solid kitchen waste.

The projections are further characterized to support food which may be relatively light in weight, including, for example only, bacon, sliced vegetable products, hamburgers and the like. It is preferred that the edges of the receptacle are substantially orthogonal to the plane of the Receptacle to increase the volume of fluids that may be retained therein.

Indentations may be made between the said projections to increase further the volumetric capacity of the Receptacle and to provide additional stability thereto if desired.

Preferably the Receptacle is at least one of being thin, lightweight, heat resisting and/or microwave resisting, hygienic, non-toxic, non foodcontaminant, economically disposable material, acceptable for disposal as solid waste, and preferably all of the above. Suitable materials may include metals for example aluminium, polymers having the desired properties. Advantageously the Receptacle is made from a material with at least some characteristics of being manually deformable to enable the Receptacle to be partly folded or crushed to render disposal easier, while retaining at least temporarily the contents within the Receptacle.

The form of the said projections, and indentations if any, may be adapted to suit a particular material for conferring desired physical characteristics such as stability, crushability or for commercial requirements.

Projections may be, for example only, pyramids, domes, ridges, serpentines, cruciforms, stars and the like, a word name or picture.

The Receptacle may be of any convenient shape to suit the food being cooked or the heating means, for example only oval, circular, rectangular.

The preferred raised edges of the Receptacle may be formed by crimping if convenient.

The angle of the said raised edges to the plane of the Receptacle may be selected so that receptacles may conveniently be stacked one within another to provide a compact assembly for distribution, storage and presentation.

To illustrate the invention more clearly a first embodiment is now described.

Figure 1 refers.

Item (1) represents the Receptacle (2) projections (3) indentations (4) the raised edge of the Receptacle Receptacle ( I) is here shown as a moulded heat resisting polymer such as a selected grade of polystyrene resin.

Projections (2) are here shown as square pyramids with rounded apexes.

Indentations (3) are here shown as inverted pyramids between or adjacent to projections (2).

Edge (4) is shown crimped or fluted.

A further embodiment (2) is now described.

Figure 2 refers and shows a cross section through Receptacle (1), here shown without indentations and with a portion of food (5) resting on the projections (2). The spaces (6) between projections (2) collect fluid from food (5).

A further embodiment (3) is now described.

Figure 3 refers. Serpentine forms of projection (2a) are shown in this embodiment.

Indentations (3a) are here shown indicating part spheroidal depressions, edges (4) are indicated as being crimped. Fig 4 shows a cross-section through the Receptacle (1) in Figure 3. Figure 5 shows a stack of Receptacles indicated in Figure 2 with edges (4a), (4b), (4c) resting one within another.

The method according to the invention consists of placing the food to be cooked above the projections described herein.

When the food is relatively light in weight it may be placed directly onto the said projections and the Receptacle and food placed to co- operate with the heating means, for example a grill, oven and the like.

Fluids from the food being cooked fall between the said projections and are retained in the Receptacle. After cooking the food is removed and the said fluids allowed to cool, generally forming a gel or semi-solid.

The Receptacle and its then contents are then disposed of as a single item, preferably with other solid kitchen waste, avoiding pouring the said fluids down a drain.

When the food to be cooked is relatively heavy, it may be placed on a support, pervious to the said fluids, to raise the food above the said projections. Conveniently the support is a metal stand, with feet resting within the Receptacle. The method continues as described above. In most cases the said support may be re-used.

The embodiments and method described are not limiting and the invention may be readily adapted to suit particular requirements

Claims

1. Cooking apparatus comprising a substantially planar receptacle with projections from the surface thereof characterised to allow fluids from food above the said projections to be collected therein and disposable with the said fluids.

2. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim where the projections are

further characterised to support lightweight food.

3. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim where the receptacle is at least partly manually deformable.

4. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim where the sides of the Receptacle are substantially orthogonal to the plane of the Receptacle.

5. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim where surface of the Receptacle is at least partly indented between the said projections.

6. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim where the projections are at least one of pyramids, domes, ridges, serpentines, cruciforms, stars, word, name, picture.

7. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim where the shape of the Receptacle includes at least part of rectangular, oval, circular.

8. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim where the sides of the Receptacle are characterised as stackable one within another.

9. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim where the material of construction is characterised as being at least one of being thin, lightweight, heat resisting, microwave resisting, hygienic, nontoxic, non-food contaminant, economically disposable as solid waste.

10. A cooking apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 where the material is one of aluminium,.

heat resisting polymer.

11. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim in use with a separate support for heavier foods in place over the receptacle.

12. A cooking apparatus as claimed in Claim 11 where the separate support is characterised as capable of standing within the receptacle.

13. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim as more particularly described herein.

13. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim in use according to the method described herein.

14. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim as more particularly described herein.

Amendments to the cI,ims have been ''le1 as follows CLAIMS

1. A cooking apparatus being a Receptacle at least partly manually deformable substantially planar with projections and indentations characterised to allow fluids from food above the said projections to be collected within the Receptacle and disposable with the said fluids.

2. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim where the projections are further characterised to support lightweight food.

3. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim where the Receptacle has raised edges 4. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim where raised edges are substantially orthogonal to the plane of a Receptacle.

5. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim where projections are at least one of pyramids domes ridges serpentines cruciforms stars word name picture.

6. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim where indentations are at least one of inverted pyramids, spheroidal depressions.

7. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim where the shape of a Receptacle includes at least part of rectangular, oval, circular.

8. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim where Receptacles are characterized as stackable one within another.

9. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim where the material of construction is characterized as being at least one of being thin, lightweight, heat resisting, microwave resisting, hygienic, nontoxic, non-food contaminant, economically disposable as solid waste.

10. A cooking apparatus as claimed in Claim 8 where the material is one of aluminium, heat resisting polymer.

11. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim in use with a separate support in place over the Receptacle.

12. A cooking apparatus as claimed in any previous Claim in use according to the method described herein.