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AssigneePizza Hut, Inc.
InventorsSteven J. Woodward, David Z. Ovadia, Larry B. Johnson, Malcolm F. Dyer, Dana R. Reynolds
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Pizza pan shielding systems and methods generally include one or more of the following: a pan, a bottom shield, a top shield, and a ring shield. Each of these elements preferably incorporates a plurality of perforations. The size, location and density of these perforations, and/or the material make-up of the element(s), determine whether certain types of baking energy from various heat sources will reach a food item located within the system. Substantial evenness of cooking results, in a short time period and at reasonably baking temperatures. Embodiments of the invention address the problems of underbaking in central areas of the food item and overbaking, dryness, microwave-induced toughness or burning of outer areas of the food item, such as a crust area. Embodiments of the invention have particular, though not exclusive, application to the pizza-baking devices and methods.
A method of shielding a food product in a baking environment, the method comprising:
In combination, apparatus for creating a baking environment, a shield for a food product in the baking environment, and a cooking utensil for supporting the food product, the combination comprising:
A shield for a food product in a baking environment, the shield being constructed for close association with a food product and having a shape generally corresponding to the food product, the shield comprising a first region defining a plurality of apertures extending at least partially through the shield, the shield being constructed to substantially block transmission of a first type of baking energy to the food product through the first region of the shield, the shield further being constructed to substantially allow transmission of a second type of baking energy through the first region of the shield, the first type of energy being different than the second type of energy, wherein the shield is constructed to be disposed between the food product and a source of the first type of baking energy while the first type of baking energy is being directed toward the food product, further wherein the shield is constructed to be disposed between the food product and a source of the second type of baking energy while the second type of baking energy is being directed toward the food product;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.