Method for heating (frying) and subsequently supporting or displaying food

Abstract

<DEL-S DATE="20010424" ID="DEL-S-00001">An improved wire rack for supporting food such as chicken in a Henny Penny pressure fryer and subsequently displaying the fried food in either a single bunn pan or a double bunn pan. The improved rack is capable of being used in all three environments (fryer, single plan and double pan) largely because it has a lower rectangular peripheral edge with a shorter length and width relative to the length and width of the upper rectangular peripheral edge.<DEL-E ID="DEL-S-00001"> <INS-S DATE="20010424" ID="INS-S-00001">A method of heating and subsequently supporting or displaying food, according to the principles of the invention, includes the steps of: placing the food on a wire rack, (the wire rack including: a rectangular frame having a lower border rod and an upper border rod, the lower border rod defining a lower rectangular peripheral edge having a length and a width, and the upper border rod defining an upper rectangular peripheral edge having a length and a width, the upper rectangular peripheral edge having a larger circumference than the lower rectangular peripheral edge, thereby enabling the wire rack to be positioned respectively, in a stable, uncocked position, in a heating device and as a sole rack in a single rack bun pan and as one of a pair of the wire racks in a double rack bun pan, the rectangular frame further including tapered sides between the upper rectangular peripheral edge and the lower rectangular peripheral edge; and a number of support members in the form of a number of wires extending between and attached to opposed sides of the lower border rod so as to create a support surface for the food); positioning the wire rack in a heating device, heating the food in the heating device; removing the wire rack and heated food from the heating device; and placing the wire rack in one of a single rack bun pan and a double rack bun pan, thereby subsequently supporting the food and, if desired, displaying the food.<INS-E ID="INS-S-00001">

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to wire racks for supporting food, and more particularly to an improved wire rack for supporting food such as fried chicken in a pressure fryer and subsequently supporting .[.and.]. .Iadd.or .Iaddend.displaying that food in a single rack bun pan or a double rack .[.bunn.]. .Iadd.bun .Iaddend.pan.In the fried chicken industry, as in many other food service industries, the food is prepared in several stages including a frying stage and a display stage. In the frying stage, pieces of chicken are placed on wire racks which are subsequently placed in high pressure fryers. One of the most popular fryers used in the industry is the pressure fryer made by Henny Penny. In the display stage, the rack supporting the fried chicken is removed from the pressure fryer and taken to the display area, where customers are able to view the fried chicken. Ideally, the rack supporting the fried chicken is placed directly into a single rack .[.bunn.]. .Iad...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

Another advantage of the improved rack is that it is capable of holding essentially the same amount of food as the prior art racks despite the slightly reduced wi

Problems solved by technology

However, this is often not possible because the racks required for the popular Henny Penny pressure fryer do not fit in all .[.bunn.].

.Iadd.bun .Iaddend.pans, which results in increased inventory costs.

This added step of transferring chicken from one rack to another results in increased labor time, which may be significant when one considers the volume of chicken being prepared.

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