Adjustable cooking divider system for food-heating appliances
The present invention relates to a divider insert system for a food-heating appliance, designed to create compartmentalized cooking sections within the appliance. The system includes a plurality of containers, each having a curvilinear wall configured to match the curvilinear interior surface of the appliance, sidewalls forming enclosed compartments, and a bottom for holding food. The containers interlock or abut without gaps, ensuring structural rigidity and preventing fluid leakage between compartments. A sealing edge may include a heat-resistant gasket to enhance fit and minimize spills. The system further incorporates tapered edges for easy positioning and removal. During use, counteracting sidewall forces stabilize the structure, maintaining compartment integrity. The system allows for simultaneous cooking of multiple foods, preserving separate flavors and textures while ensuring efficient heat distribution. The containers are reusable, made from food-grade materials, and can be easily cleaned and stored for future use.
1 . A divider insert system configured for positioning within an interior space of a food-heating appliance, the food-heating appliance having a curvilinear interior surface, one or more heating surfaces, and a rim defining an upper boundary of the interior space, the divider insert system comprising:
a food-heating appliance having a curvilinear interior surface, one or more heating surfaces, and a rim defining an upper boundary of an interior space; and
a plurality of containers configured to be received together within the interior space of the food-heating appliance, each of the plurality of containers comprising:
a curvilinear side wall configured to conform to a portion of a curvilinear interior surface of the food-heating appliance, forming a perimeter along the curvilinear interior surface;
at least one side wall connected to the curvilinear side wall;
an open top; and
a closed bottom;
wherein the plurality of containers are dimensioned to fit entirely within the interior space of the food-heating appliance such that, when positioned for cooking during intended use, no portion of any of the plurality of containers extends above the rim of the food-heating appliance, and each container remains securely positioned within the interior space while maintaining full contact between container walls and the one or more heating surfaces of the food-heating appliance;
wherein, when the plurality of containers are positioned within the interior space of the food-heating appliance:
the curvilinear side wall of each of the plurality of containers is positioned to abut the curvilinear interior surface of the food-heating appliance;
the at least one side wall of each of the plurality of containers abuts the at least one side wall of an adjoining one of the plurality of containers; and
wherein abutment of the curvilinear side wall of each of the plurality of containers with the curvilinear interior surface of the food-heating appliance and abutment of the at least one side wall of each of the plurality of containers with the at least one side wall of an adjoining one of the plurality of containers eliminates gaps along a perimeter defined by the plurality of containers within the interior space of the food-heating appliance, such that the plurality of containers necessarily remain securely positioned within the interior space while maintaining full contact with the one or more heating surfaces of the food-heating appliance to promote heat transfer efficiency.
2 . The divider insert system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of containers each include the curvilinear side wall and the at least one side wall, and wherein for each of the plurality of containers that includes two or more of the at least one side wall the at least one side walls are joined at angles between 15 degrees and 165 degrees.
3 . The divider insert system of claim 1 , wherein the curvilinear side wall and the at least one side wall are made of a flexible molded material selected from the group consisting of food-grade silicone, thermoplastic elastomers, heat-resistant polymer composites, and a combination thereof.
4 . The divider insert system of claim 1 , wherein the curvilinear side wall or the at least one side wall is tapered to allow insertion into and removal from the food-heating appliance without interference with the interior surface of the food-heating appliance.
5 . The divider insert system of claim 1 , further comprising reinforced edges or ridges on the at least one side wall or the curvilinear side wall to provide additional structural strength.
6 . The divider insert system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one handle, the at least one handle configured as an extension of the at least one side wall, and folds down to prevent interference with the lid of the food-heating appliance.
7 . The divider insert system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one side wall includes venting perforations to regulate moisture and steam flow during cooking.
8 . The divider insert system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one venting perforation configured to promote heat circulation between compartments, ensuring that all sections of the divider insert system receive even cooking conditions,
wherein the divider insert system is configured for use within the food-heating appliance selected from the group consisting of a slow cooker, a crock-pot, a pressure cooker, an air fryer, a convection oven, and a microwave oven.
9 . A method of using the divider insert system of claim 1 , the method comprising the steps of:
arranging the plurality of containers inside the food-heating appliance to form a compartmentalized structure;
placing food items into each of the plurality of containers selected;
operating the food-heating appliance to cook the food items;
removing the plurality of containers after cooking; and
cleaning and reusing the plurality of containers.
10 . A divider insert system configured for positioning within an interior space of a food-heating appliance, the food-heating appliance having a curvilinear interior surface, one or more heating surfaces, and a rim defining an upper boundary of the interior space, the divider insert system comprising:
a food-heating appliance having a curvilinear interior surface, one or more heating surfaces, and a rim defining an upper boundary of an interior space; and
a plurality of containers configured to be received together within the interior space of the food-heating appliance, each of the plurality of containers being fabricated from a flexible molded material and each of the plurality of containers comprising:
a curvilinear side wall configured to conform to a portion of the curvilinear interior surface of the food-heating appliance, forming a perimeter along the curvilinear interior surface;
at least one side wall connected to the curvilinear side wall;
an open top; and
a closed bottom;
wherein, when the plurality of containers are positioned for cooking during intended use, with a lid or a cover of the food-heating appliance closed, no portion of any of the plurality of containers is positioned above the rim of the food-heating appliance, thereby permitting the lid or the cover to fully close;
wherein, when the plurality of containers are positioned within the interior space of the food-heating appliance:
the at least one side wall of each of the plurality of containers abuts the at least one side wall of an adjoining one of the plurality of containers to provide rigidity to the at least one side wall that abut when the plurality of containers are filled with food; and
the plurality of containers maintains full contact with the one or more heating surfaces of the food-heating appliance;
wherein abutment of the curvilinear side wall with the curvilinear interior surface of the food-heating appliance, and abutment of the at least one side wall that are adjoined eliminates gaps at the locations of abutment between the plurality of containers, maximizing utilization of the food-heating appliance volume, preventing slippage of the plurality of containers within the food-heating appliance, and providing collective structural rigidity to the plurality of containers.
11 . The divider insert system of claim 10 , wherein the curvilinear side wall or one or more of the at least one side wall includes at least one handle to assist with insertion and removal.
12 . The divider insert system of claim 10 , wherein at least one container of the plurality of containers includes a removable divider positioned within an interior of at least one of the plurality of containers to subdivide the interior into two or more sub-compartments.
13 . The divider insert system of claim 10 , further comprising thermally insulating layers integrated into the surface of the closed bottom.
14 . The divider insert system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of containers are configured to interlock or nest side-by-side within the food-heating appliance to form a customizable compartmentalized arrangement.
15 . The divider insert system of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the plurality of containers includes temperature-sensitive indicators to visually indicate when food reaches a predetermined cooking temperature.
16 . A method of using the divider insert system of claim 10 , the method comprising the steps of:
positioning at least one of the plurality of containers into the food-heating appliance;
cooking the food at a predetermined temperature;
removing the plurality of containers after cooking; and
storing the plurality of containers for future use.
17 . A divider insert system configured for positioning within an interior space of a food-heating appliance, the food-heating appliance having a curvilinear interior surface, one or more heating surfaces, and a rim defining an upper boundary of the interior space, the divider insert system comprising:
a food-heating appliance having a curvilinear interior surface, one or more heating surfaces, and a rim defining an upper boundary of an interior space; and
a plurality of containers configured to be received together within the interior space of the food-heating appliance, each of the plurality of containers comprising:
a curvilinear side wall configured to conform to a portion of the curvilinear interior surface of the food-heating appliance, forming a perimeter along the curvilinear interior surface;
at least one side wall connected to the curvilinear side wall;
an open top; and
a closed bottom;
wherein, when the plurality of containers are positioned for cooking during intended use, with a lid or a cover of the food-heating appliance closed, no portion of any of the plurality of containers is positioned above the rim of the food-heating appliance, thereby permitting the lid or the cover to fully close;
wherein, when the plurality of containers are positioned within the interior space of the food-heating appliance:
the curvilinear side wall of each of the plurality of containers is positioned to abut the curvilinear interior surface of the food-heating appliance;
the at least one side wall of each of the plurality of containers abuts the at least one side wall of an adjoining one of the plurality of containers; and
the plurality of containers maintains full contact with the one or more heating surfaces of the food-heating appliance;
wherein the plurality of containers are interconnected to one another such that, when the plurality of containers are positioned within the interior space of the food-heating appliance, the plurality of containers remain in a fixed arrangement during cooking; and
wherein the interconnection of the plurality of containers together with abutment of the curvilinear side wall with the curvilinear interior surface of the food-heating appliance, and abutment of the at least one side wall that are adjoined eliminates gaps at the locations of abutment, maximizing utilization of the food-heating appliance volume, preventing slippage of the plurality of containers within the food-heating appliance, and providing collective structural rigidity to the plurality of containers.
18 . The divider insert system of claim 17 , further comprising at least one handle, the at least one handle is an extension of the at least one side wall, and folds down to prevent interference with the lid of the food-heating appliance.
19 . The divider insert system of claim 17 , wherein the one or more containers are insertable into and removable from the food-heating appliance without interfering with the interior surface of the food-heating appliance.
20 . A method of using the divider insert system of claim 17 , the method comprising the steps of:
selecting one or more containers from the plurality of containers;
inserting each of the one or more containers selected into the food-heating appliance;
placing a plurality of uncooked food items into each of the one or more containers selected;
operating the food-heating appliance to cook the food items; and
removing the one or more containers from the food-heating appliance after cooking is complete.