Vessel with improved food support surface

A vessel for use during processing a food product at a temperature other than ambient temperature, the vessel including a surface for supporting the food product, the vessel and the supporting surface comprising:

• a vessel for supporting the food product during processing of the food product at a temperature, wherein the temperature is not ambient temperature;
• a surface of the vessel, the surface supporting the food product during processing;
• and
• a pattern located on the surface of the vessel, the pattern providing an air pocket between the vessel and the food product when the surface supports the food product, the air pocket defined by a combination of a raised portion of the surface pattern and a lower portion of the surface pattern, whereby heat transfer between the food product and the vessel is enhanced during food processing and air circulation occurs in the air pocket through a channel formed between adjacent raised portions, the surfaces of the raised portions having an irregular shape and defining a substantially planar supporting surface, the raised portion extending generally vertically from the lower portion.