Meal Component System

Abstract

A food preparation method and system comprising: a tray ( 100 ) having at least two distinctly shaped cavities ( 10,20 ) for storing and reheating meal components, wherein the cavities contain meal components and define a space such that the meal components are reheated at an approximately even rate.

1 . A food preparation system comprising: a tray having at least two distinctly shaped cavities for storing and reheating meal components, the cavities containing meal components and defining a space so constructed and arranged that the meal components are reheated at an approximately even rate. 
     
     
         2 . The food preparation system of  claim 1 , comprising a frozen meal component within a cavity of the tray that can be removed from the tray while substantially frozen. 
     
     
         3 . The food preparation system of  claim 1 , wherein the tray is scored allowing a cavity containing a meal component be torn from the tray. 
     
     
         4 . The food preparation system of  claim 1 , wherein the meal tray comprises at least three cavities. 
     
     
         5 . The food preparation system of  claim 1 , wherein the meal tray comprises at least three cavities and at least two of the cavities have distinct shapes. 
     
     
         6 . The food preparation system of  claim 1 , wherein the meal tray is made of a material that has properties selected from the group consisting of it can be frozen, cooked in an oven and microwaved with food in place. 
     
     
         7 . The food preparation system of  claim 1 , wherein the meal tray is made of a material selected from the group of materials consisting of crystallized polyethylene terephthalate, amorphous polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene. 
     
     
         8 . The food preparation system of  claim 1 , wherein the meal tray is made of a food grade material that can be frozen and remain flexible and can receive hot cooked foods. 
     
     
         9 . The food preparation system of  claim 1 , wherein the tray is made of a food grade material that can be frozen and can receive hot cooked foods selected from the group of food grade materials consisting of crystallized polyethylene terephthalate, amorphous polyethylene terephthalate, and polypropylene and their blends. 
     
     
         10 . The food preparation system of  claim 1 , wherein the meal tray cavities have a fixed, regular spaced relationship. 
     
     
         11 . The food preparation system of  claim 1 , wherein the meal tray cavities are circular and semicircular cylinders and have a fixed, regular spaced relationship. 
     
     
         12 . The food preparation system of  claim 1 , wherein the meal tray cavities are cylindrical and semicircular cylinders and have a fixed, regular spaced relationship and the volume ratio between the cylindrical and semicircular cylinders is about 0.75 to 1. 
     
     
         13 . A method for preparing a meal comprising:
 preparing a meal tray having at least two cavities for reheating at least two meal components;   preparing a batch of food and selecting a portion of the batch as a meal component,   placing a meal component in a cavity of the tray such that the meal components heat at an approximately even rate; and   reconstituting the meal component.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the meal components are frozen. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a meal component is removed from the meal tray by removing the component from the cavity and placing the meal component on a plate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein a meal component is removed from the meal tray by separating a cavity containing a meal component from the flexible meal tray, placing the separated cavity containing the meal component on a plate. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method of reconstituting the meal component is selected from the group of methods consisting of microwaving, heating in an oven or their combinations. 
     
     
         18 . A food preparation system comprising: a meal tray having at least two cavities for reheating at least two meal components for storing meal components, the cavities contain meal components and define a space so constructed and arranged that the meal components can be reheated at an approximately even rate. 
     
     
         19 . The method for preparing a meal of  claim 13 , wherein the meal is prepared by inverting a cavity of the tray on a plate and microwaving the plate, inverted cavity and meal component. 
     
     
         20 . The method for preparing a meal of  claim 13 , wherein the meal is prepared by inverting a cavity of the tray on a plate and heating the plate, inverted cavity and meal component in an oven. 
     
     
         21 . The method for preparing a meal of  claim 13 , further comprising freezing the meal component. 
     
     
         22 . A method for providing a variety of meals comprising:
 preparing a variety of foods,   directly dosing the foods into separate cavities of a meal tray as meal components, the meal tray, containing at least two cavities, the cavities of the trays have a suitable shape and volume for providing a suitable portion of a meal to a consumer,   removing two or more meal components from the tray and placing them on a plate, and   reconstituting the meal components to provide a meal.   
     
     
         23 . The method for providing a variety of meals of  claim 22 , wherein the foods are selected from the group consisting of a protein, vegetables, fruits, starches and their mixtures. 
     
     
         24 . The method for providing a variety of meals of  claim 22 , wherein separate foods are directly dosed into wells of separate flexible meal trays. 
     
     
         25 . A food tray comprising: a tray having at least two cavities, the cavities contain two separate meal components and define a space that is so constructed and arranged that the meal components when reheated, are reheated at an approximately even rate.