IP Library Granted Patent US 8,613,249
Granted Patent B2
US 8,613,249 · App. 11/890,297 · Granted Dec 24, 2013

Cooking apparatus and food product

Inventors: David W. France (Omaha, NE); Adam Pawlick (Omaha, NE)
Assignee: ConAgra Foods RDM, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,613,249
App. No.
11/890,297
Granted
Dec 24, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cooking apparatus facilitates cooking with a heated/boiling liquid of a food item by utilizing a cooking bag, a cooking tray, and/or a cooking film. A food product that utilizes the cooking apparatus and food items produces cooked food that may be plateable.

Claims (55)

1. A cooking apparatus, comprising:

a first cooking tray configured to be nested within a stove top cooking container having a side wall terminating at an upper rim, wherein the first cooking tray includes:

a side wall portion having an upper end and a lower end,

a bottom portion extending from the lower end, wherein the bottom portion includes a first compartment portion and a second compartment portion, wherein the first compartment portion and the second compartment portion are divided by a liquid permeable divider, wherein the bottom portion is inclined to cause fluid flow from the first compartment through the liquid permeable divider into the second compartment, and

a circumferential lip portion at the upper end, wherein the lip portion is configured to extend over, around and outwardly from an upper rim of the stovetop cooking container so that the circumferential lip portion creates a handle for removing the first cooking tray from the stove top cooking container; and

wherein the sidewall portion of the first cooking tray, between the upper end and the lower end, is configured to be oriented below the upper rim of the stove top cooking container when the first cooking tray is nested within the stove top cooking container.

2. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the side wall portion of the first cooking tray slants inwardly from the upper end to the lower end.

3. The cooking apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second cooking tray configured to be nested between the first cooking tray and the stovetop cooking container, wherein the second cooking tray includes:

a side wall portion having an upper end and a lower end,

a bottom portion extending from the lower end, and

a lip portion at the upper end, wherein the lip portion of the second cooking tray is configured to extend over and around the upper rim of the stovetop cooking container so that a portion of an inner side of the lip portion is adjacent the outer side of the side wall portion of the stovetop cooking container; and

wherein the sidewall portion of the second cooking tray, between the upper end and the lower end, is configured to be oriented below the upper rim of the stove top cooking container when the first cooking tray is nested within the stove top cooking container.

4. The cooking apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the bottom portion of the first cooking tray includes a plurality of perforations.

5. The cooking apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the bottom portion of the second cooking tray includes a plurality of perforations.

6. The cooking apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the side wall of the second cooking tray slants inwardly from the upper end of the second cooking tray to the bottom end of the second cooking tray at a first angular degree, wherein the side wall of the first cooking tray slants inwardly from the upper end of the first cooking tray to the bottom end of the first cooking tray at a second angular degree.

7. The cooking apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the second angular degree is greater than the first angular degree.

8. The cooking apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first cooking tray is insulated to have a thermo conductivity less than that the second cooking tray.

9. A cooking apparatus, comprising:

a second cooking container configured to be nested within a first cooking container having a side wall terminating at an upper rim, wherein the second cooking container is constructed of a material suitable for cooking with a secondary heat source, wherein the second cooking container includes:

a side wall portion having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the side wall portion includes a plurality of perforations,

a bottom portion extending from the lower end, wherein the bottom portion includes a plurality of perforations, and

a lip portion at the upper end, wherein the lip portion is configured to extend over the upper rim of the first cooking container; and

wherein the side wall of the second cooking container slants inwardly from the upper end of the second cooking container to the bottom end of the second cooking container at a first angular degree,

wherein the second cooking container has a thermo conductivity less than the first cooking container, wherein the second cooking container is formed from at least one member of a group: poly(1-butene) and polyethylene.

10. The cooking apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the secondary heat source is a steaming heat source.

11. The cooking apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising:

a third cooking container configured to be nested between the second cooking container and the first cooking container, wherein the third cooking container is constructed of a material suitable for cooking with the secondary heat source, wherein the third cooking container includes:

a side wall portion having an upper end and a lower end, wherein the side wall portion includes a plurality of perforations,

a bottom portion extending from the lower end, wherein the bottom portion includes a plurality of perforations, and

a lip portion at the upper end, wherein the lip portion of the third cooking container is configured to extend over the upper rim of the first cooking container; and

wherein the side wall of the third cooking container slants inwardly from the upper end of the third cooking container to the bottom end of the third cooking container at a second angular degree.

12. The cooking apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the second cooking container and the third cooking container are constructed of a plastic material.

13. The cooking apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the secondary heat source is a steaming heat source.

14. The cooking apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the second angular degree is greater than the first angular degree.

15. A cooking apparatus, comprising:

a second cooking container configured to be nested within a first cooking container having a side wall terminating at an upper rim, wherein the second cooking container is constructed of a material suitable for cooking with a secondary heat source, wherein the second cooking container includes:

a side wall portion having an upper end and a lower end,

a bottom portion extending from the lower end, wherein the bottom portion includes a first compartment portion and a second compartment portion, wherein the first compartment portion and the second compartment portion are divided by a liquid permeable divider, wherein the bottom portion is inclined to cause fluid flow from the first compartment through the liquid permeable divider into the second compartment, and

a lip portion at the upper end, wherein the lip portion is configured to extend over the upper rim of the first cooking container; and

wherein the side wall of the second cooking container slants inwardly from the upper end of the second cooking container to the bottom end of the second cooking container at a first angular degree.

16. The cooking apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the second cooking container is constructed of a plastic material.

17. The cooking apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the secondary heat source is a steaming heat source.

18. The cooking apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising:

a third cooking container configured to be nested between the second cooking container and the first cooking container, wherein the third cooking container is constructed of a material suitable for cooking with the secondary heat source, wherein the third cooking container includes:

a side wall portion having an upper end and a lower end,

a bottom portion extending from the lower end, and

a lip portion at the upper end, wherein the lip portion of the third cooking container is configured to extend over the upper rim of the first cooking container; and

wherein the side wall of the third cooking container slants inwardly from the upper end of the third cooking container to the bottom end of the third cooking container at a second angular degree.

19. The cooking apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the second cooking container and the third cooking container are constructed of a plastic material.

20. The cooking apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the secondary heat source is a steaming heat source.

21. The cooking apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the bottom portion of the second cooking container includes a plurality of perforations.

22. The cooking apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the bottom portion of the third cooking container includes a plurality of perforations.

23. The cooking apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the first angular degree is greater than the second angular degree.

24. The cooking apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the second cooking container is insulated to have a thermo conductivity less than that the third cooking container.

Assignments (3)
CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION Recorded Jul 31, 2025
From: CONAGRA FOODS RDM, INC.
To: CONAGRA FOODS RDM, LLC
Reel/Frame 072309/0471 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 4, 2009
From: CONAGRA FOODS, INC.
To: CONAGRA FOODS RDM, INC.
Reel/Frame 023195/0719 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2007
From: FRANCE, DAVID W.; PAWLICK, ADAM
To: CONAGRA FOODS, INC.
Reel/Frame 019959/0404 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090035433A1 · Feb 5, 2009