Cooking apparatus and method of use

Abstract

A cooking apparatus combines an open top container, a lid adapted to attach to the container and an opening in the lid for placement of a venting film over the opening. The venting film and lid maintain the seal of the container, with the venting film allowing for pressure relief. The venting film can be retained over the opening using a second lid or other attachment device, or be part of the first lid. The apparatus can include additional lids to seal the container, or seal the opening in the first lid.

1 . A cooking apparatus comprising: 
 a container having an open top;    a first lid adapted to attach to the container, the first lid having a first opening therein; and    a second lid, adapted to attach to the first lid, the second lid having a second opening therein, the first and/or second lid adapted to retain a venting film over the first opening.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first lid attaches to a periphery of the container.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second lid attaches to a periphery of the first opening in the first lid.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the second lid attaches to a periphery of the first opening in the first lid.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the venting film is a type wherein the venting film becomes air and vapor permeable when a differential pressure exists across a thickness of the film.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second lids and container periphery have lips for engagement with each other.  
   
   
       7 . A method of preparing for microwave cooking comprising the steps of: 
 a) filling an open top container with food to be microwaved;    b) covering a portion of the open top of the container with a lid so as to leave a remaining opening;    c) covering the remaining opening with a venting film; and    d) retaining the venting film over the remaining opening while still exposing at least a portion of the venting film to atmosphere so that pressure build up in the container can be released through the venting film.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the covering step of (b) further comprises attaching a lid with an opening therein to the container.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the retaining step of (c) further comprises attaching to the first lid, a second lid with an opening that exposes the venting film to atmosphere for pressure build up relief.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the attachment of the second lid to the first lid retains the venting film in place.  
   
   
       11 . A cooking apparatus comprising: 
 a container having an open top;    a first lid adapted to attach to the first container, the first lid having an opening therein; and    a venting film covering the first opening, the venting film functioning to vent the container as a result of an increase in pressure within the container.    
   
   
       12 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the venting film is either integral with the first lid or removably attached thereto.  
   
   
       13 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a second lid adapted to attach to the first lid to seal the opening.  
   
   
       14 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a container lid adapted to attach to the container to seal an inside of the container.  
   
   
       15 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a container lid adapted to attach to the container to seal an inside of the container.  
   
   
       16 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the venting film is removably attached to the first lid by a second lid that has an opening therein to vent the container as a result of an increase in pressure within the container.  
   
   
       17 . The cooking apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the venting film is removably attached to the first lid by a third lid that has an opening therein to vent the container as a result of an increase in pressure within the container.