Single shell taco fry mold
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Solution Overview
Problem
The process of deep-frying a single taco shell is challenging due to deformation and breaking issues, and existing methods require manual shaping or specialized equipment, limiting home preparation options.
Innovation Solution
A taco fry mold device with a connected and open end, featuring an outside and inside layer with vent holes and support rungs to retain the tortilla, allowing for easy sliding and cooking, and a handle for secure handling and resting during frying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If manual holding or baskets/pans are used to shape tortilla during frying, then taco shell shape can be maintained, but the process becomes tedious and difficult requiring specialized equipment
Solution Approach 1:
A mold acts as an intermediary device between the tortilla and the frying oil, providing the desired taco shell shape without requiring manual manipulation. The mold includes a cavity that receives the tortilla and maintains its shape during frying, eliminating the need for specialized baskets or pans while simplifying the operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If existing fry molds are used for single taco shell, then home preparation is enabled, but the shell breaks or over-expands within the form
Solution Approach 1:
The mold features localized structural elements including ribs that extend into the cavity to provide internal support to the tortilla during frying. These ribs prevent over-expansion and breaking by providing local reinforcement where the tortilla is most vulnerable, while still allowing the mold to be simple enough for home use.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If tortilla is deeply submerged in cooking oil for thorough cooking, then cooking completeness is improved, but handling becomes dangerous due to hot oil splatter
Solution Approach 1:
The mold includes a cover that fits over the cavity to enclose the tortilla during frying. This cover prevents hot oil splatter from escaping while still allowing heat to penetrate for thorough cooking. The cover can be removed safely after frying to reveal the cooked taco shell.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables quick and easy preparation of a single taco shell with minimal deformation, protecting against hot cooking surfaces and ensuring thorough cooking, while allowing for easy handling and reduced manual effort.
Implementation Method 1
an inside layer having a plurality of vent holes which permit a cooking medium to pass through the fry mold device to help thoroughly cook the enclosed food
Implementation Method 2
The handle grip may be made of rubberized plastic to retain the fry mold device in a secure and comfortable manner
Implementation Method 3
The enclosed food may be frictionally retained within the fry mold device
Data Source
AI summary
A single shell taco fry mold device to enable a user to deep fry a single taco shell. The single shell taco fry mold device includes an open end, a connected end, an outside layer, an inside layer, and a handle. A handle rest of the handle includes a twist or angled bend, thereby allowing the user to rest the handle on an edge of a pan or deep fryer within which it is placed. The outside layer includes at least one support rung to adjoin the outside layer to the inside layer to act as a stopping barrier on the connected end that prevents the tortilla from sliding through or out of the single shell taco fry mold device. The handle grip is made from rubberized plastics to retain the single shell taco fry mold device in a secure and comfortable manner.