Method for use in baking articles of manufacture and mold for use in said method

1. A method comprising:

adding a mixture to a mold apparatus having a cavity; and

baking the mixture in the mold apparatus until the mixture is form stable;

wherein upon contact of the mixture with the surface of the cavity, a skin is formed on the outer surface of the mixture; and

wherein the mold apparatus comprises:

a cavity having a cavity inner surface; and

a gap in communication with the cavity and the exterior of the mold apparatus for venting vapor or steam, wherein: the gap comprises a first portion which extends in a substantially continuous manner along the cavity inner surface, wherein the first portion has a width that is in a range from about 0.001 inches to about 0.030 inches and a length that is substantially greater than said width; the gap further comprises a second portion in communication with the first portion wherein the second portion is wider than the first portion; and the gap is configured such that vapor or steam is vented from the cavity without escape of a significant amount of the mixture from the cavity and without substantial clogging of the gap with material from the vapor or steam.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of heating the mold apparatus prior to addition of the mixture.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein when the mixture is added to the mold apparatus the formation of vapor and steam causes the mixture to substantially fill the cavity.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the gap has a width that is in a range from about 0.001 inches to about 0.015 inches.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the gap has a length that is in a range from about 0.001 inches to about 2 inches.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first portion of the mold apparatus extends in a substantially continuous manner along at least 10 percent of a perimeter of the cavity inner surface.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first portion extends in a substantially continuous manner along at least 50 percent of a perimeter of the cavity inner surface.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first portion extends in a substantially continuous manner along a perimeter of the cavity inner surface.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the gap spans a distance extending from the cavity to the exterior of the mold apparatus.

10. A method comprising:

adding a mixture to a mold apparatus having a cavity; and

baking the mixture in the mold apparatus until the mixture is form stable;

wherein upon contact of the mixture with the surface of the cavity, a skin is formed on the outer surface of the mixture; and

wherein the mold apparatus comprises:

a male mold half;

a female mold half wherein contact of the male mold half and the female mold half forms a cavity having an inner cavity surface in a desired shape; and

a gap in communication with the cavity and the exterior of the mold apparatus for venting vapor or steam, wherein:

the gap comprises a first portion which extends in a substantially continuous manner along the cavity inner surface, wherein the first portion has a width that is in a range from about 0.001 inches to about 0.030 inches and a length that is substantially greater than said width;

the gap further comprises a second portion in communication with the first portion wherein the second portion is wider than the first portion; and the gap is configured such that vapor or steam is vented from the cavity without escape of a significant amount of the mixture from the cavity and without substantial clogging of the gap with material from the vapor or steam.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein when the mixture is added to the mold apparatus the formation of vapor and steam causes the mixture to substantially fill the cavity.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the female mold or the male mold further comprises a first half held together by a removable fastener, and the gap.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the first portion is in communication with the cavity and the second portion is in communication with the first portion and the exterior of the mold apparatus.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the gap is along the horizontal axis of the mold apparatus.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the first portion of the gap has a width in a range from about 0.001 inches to about 0.015 inches.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the first portion of the gap has a depth in a range from about 0.001 inches to about 2 inches.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the second portion of the gap is in communication with a channel which is in communication with the exterior of the mold apparatus.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the gap is formed by grooves in at least one of the first half or second half when the first half and the second half are in contact.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the gap is along the vertical axis of the mold apparatus.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the first portion of the gap has a width in a range from about 0.001 inches to about 0.015 inches.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the first portion of the gap has a depth in a range from about 0.001 inches to about 2 inches.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein the gap is formed by grooves in at least one of the first half or second half when the first half and the second half are in contact.

23. The method of claim 10 wherein the gap is formed only in the male mold half.

24. The method of claim 10 wherein the gap is formed only in the female mold half.

25. The method of claim 10 wherein the only communication between the cavity and exterior of the mold is through the gap.

26. The method of claim 10 wherein the gap is formed between said male and female mold halves upon contact of said halves and the first portion of the gap extends in a substantially continuous manner along the perimeter of the cavity inner surface.