Method for supporting and uniformly heat processing a layered array of steam table trays

A method of supporting and processing a layered array of four cornered steam table trays containing foodstuffs on a plurality of interlayer spacer grids having a plurality of tray corner support pads attached thereto within a tray carrying car having a bottom support floor and being configured for placement within a cooking retort, the trays having laterally extending support flanges with seals located at the edges thereof, said flanges having a predetermined allowable compression dimension without damage being imparted to the seals, said method comprising the steps of supporting a lower layer of trays with a support pad at each corner of each tray in a predetermined pattern so that the trays are spaced from adjacent trays and from the bottom support floor of the carrying car, spacing a plurality of steam table trays with the spacer grids and the tray corner support pads in successive overlying layers in the carrying car in substantially the same pattern as the lower layer, limiting the vertical force and therefore the compression imposed on said support flanges in underlying layers of trays by the weight of trays in overlying layers by allowing overlying support pads to contact underlying support pads so that the predetermined allowable compression dimension is not exceeded and seal security of the trays maintained, and the foodstuffs are substantially uniformly heat processed by passing heated fluid through the spaces between horizontally and vertically adjacent trays.