Paper-based cooking container providing improved product browning
A paper-based cooking container providing improved product browning is disclosed, wherein the container includes a base, a sidewall and, optionally, a rim, and wherein a portion of the base has been modified through densification of the paper-based material. The container preferably includes both densified and undensified paper-based material.
1. A cooking container comprising a paper-based material that includes a base and a sidewall, at least a portion of the base being densified to a point density range of about 12.5 lbs/r.c.p. to about 14 lbs/r.c.p., and at least a portion of the sidewall having a point density range of about 9 lbs/r.c.p. to about 11 lbs/r.c.p.
2. The container of claim 1 further comprising a rim.
3. The container of claim 1 wherein the container acts as both cookware and a serving container.
4. The container of claim 3 wherein the serving container also acts as a closeable carryout container.
5. The container of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the base being densified to a point density range of about 13 lbs/r.c.p. to about 14 lbs/r.c.p.
6. The cooking container of claim 1 , wherein the paper-based material is paperboard.
7. A method of manufacturing a cooking container including a base component and a sidewall component, the method comprising steps of:
(a) providing a paper-based blank;
(b) densifying at least a portion of the paper-based blank that is corresponded to the base component such that the densified portion of the base component has a point density range of about 12.5 lbs/r.c.p. to about 14 lbs/r.c.p. while leaving at least a portion of the paper-based blank at a point density range of about 9 lbs/r.c.p to about 11 lbs/r.c.p.; and
(c) forming the blank obtained from step b into the container.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the densifying step (b) is performed such that the densified portion of the base component has a point density range of about 13 lbs/r.c.p. to about 14 lbs/r.c.p.
9. The method of claim 7 wherein the densifying step (b) is performed such that the densified portion of the blank has a point density about 20% to 30% higher than a point density of a portion not being densified.
10. A method of manufacturing a cooking container including steps of:
(a) providing a paper-based blank;
(b) forming the paper-based blank into a container shape that comprises a base component and a sidewall component; and after said forming step
(c) densifying at least a portion of the base component such that the densified portion has a point density range of about 12.5 lbs/r.c.p. to about 14 lbs/r.c.p.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the densifying step (c) is performed such that the densified portion of the base component has a point density range of about 13 lbs/r.c.p. to about 14 lbs/r.c.p.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the densifying step (c) is performed such that the densified portion of the base component has a point density about 20% to 30% higher than a point density of a portion not being densified.