Thermally Conductive Triangular Tray for Crispy Food Reheating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing containers for storing single slices of triangular foods like pie and pizza are difficult to transport, provide poor visibility, and fail to achieve a crispy crust during reheating due to poor thermal conductivity.
Innovation Solution
A stackable food container system with a thermally conductive tray and a transparent, flexible lid that allows for efficient energy transfer to the food's crust, enabling a Maillard reaction and preserving food by minimizing air volume and oxidation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If existing food storage containers are used for reheating, then the food can be reheated, but the bottom or crust of the food becomes soggy or soft due to poor thermal conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The container system is divided into separate functional components: a storage container for refrigeration and a separate thermally conductive tray for reheating. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
A thermally conductive tray acts as an intermediary between the heat source and the food crust. This tray is specifically designed with high thermal conductivity to efficiently transfer heat to the bottom of the food, enabling crispness during reheating.
2Illumination intensity
If traditional food containers are used, then storage is possible, but visibility to the contained food is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The lid incorporates a transparent window that allows visual observation of the food without opening the container. This maintains the simplicity of the container structure while significantly improving visibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed-height containers are used, then manufacturing is simple, but adaptability to different food types and sizes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The container system employs adjustable components including removable dividers and flexible lids that can be configured to accommodate different food sizes and shapes. This dynamic configuration allows a single container type to serve multiple purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The container system is designed to handle multiple food types and storage configurations using the same basic components. The adjustable dividers and flexible lids enable the container to adapt to various food sizes without requiring multiple specialized containers.
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
The system effectively reheats and crisps the bottom of food items, providing better preservation and visibility, while being suitable for microwave and oven use.
Implementation Method 1
The thermally conductive crisping tray can be configured to absorb large amounts of thermal energy during a pre-heating stage, and to then efficiently transfer much of that energy to a bottom or crust of the food item during a re-heating stage
Implementation Method 2
The lid can include a transparent viewing window made from a flexible film such as a flexible and elastic polymer film, that both allows better visibility into the container and enhances food preservation
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for stackable food storage and reheating. The stackable food container can be three-sided, and/or triangular, and can include a lid with a viewing window, a thermally conductive tray, and optionally one or more stacking inserts therebetween. The thermally conductive tray can be configured to absorb large amounts of thermal energy during a pre-heating stage, and to then efficiently transfer much of that energy to a bottom or crust of the food item during a re-heating stage thereby enabling a Maillard effect not possible with existing food containers.