Food cooking and browning bag

Abstract

A cooking bag and a method for cooking food using a cooking bag, with the cooking bag having a variable opening vent formed from a thinning of the bag material, perforations through the bag, and/or slits through the bag, and a tear-off strip for browning and removal of the food product from the bag.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooking bag comprising:
 a bag portion for containing a food product, the bag portion manufactured from a bag material that can withstand at least a temperature at which the food product is to be cooked, the bag portion being sealable about the food product prior to cooking of the food product; and   an opening vent formed on, in, or through the bag material.   
     
     
         2 . The cooking bag as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the opening vent is a variable opening vent. 
     
     
         3 . The cooking bag as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the opening vent comprises at least one of a thinning of the bag material, perforations through the bag material, and slits through the bag. 
     
     
         4 . The cooking bag as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the opening vent is a series of perforations located proximal to each. 
     
     
         5 . The cooking bag as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the perforations are configured in a linear, circular, or X-shaped pattern. 
     
     
         6 . The cooking bag as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the opening vent is a series of slits located proximal to each. 
     
     
         7 . The cooking bag as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the slits are configured in a linear, circular, or X-shaped pattern. 
     
     
         8 . The cooking bag as claimed in one of the preceding claims, further comprising a tear-off strip. 
     
     
         9 . A method for cooking a food product, comprising:
 placing the food product in a cooking bag, the cooking bag comprising a bag portion for containing a food product, the bag portion manufactured from a bag material that can withstand at least a temperature at which the food product is to be cooked, the bag portion being sealable about the food product prior to cooking of the food product, and the bag portion having an opening vent formed on, in, or through the bag material;   cooking the food product within the cooking bag at a temperature sufficient to increase pressure within the cooking bag, thereby causing the cooking bag to expand until the bag material prevents further expansion,   wherein the increased pressure within the cooking bag and the expansion of the bag material causes the ripping, tearing, or splitting of the opening vent an amount that will not allow all of the pressure within the cooking bag to escape, thereby maintaining an increased pressure environment within the cooking bag, whereby a certain pressure remains in the cooking bag, contributing to further pressure cooking of the food product.   
     
     
         10 . The method for cooking a food product as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the cooking bag comprising a variable opening vent. 
     
     
         11 . The cooking bag as claimed in  claim 9  or  10 , wherein the opening vent comprises at least one of a thinning of the bag material, perforations through the bag material, and slits through the bag. 
     
     
         12 . The cooking bag as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the opening vent is a series of perforations located proximal to each. 
     
     
         13 . The cooking bag as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the perforations are configured in a linear, circular, or X-shaped pattern. 
     
     
         14 . The cooking bag as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the opening vent is a series of slits located proximal to each. 
     
     
         15 . The cooking bag as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the slits are configured in a linear, circular, or X-shaped pattern. 
     
     
         16 . The method for cooking a food product as claimed in one of the preceding claims, further comprising a tear-off strip, and further comprising removing the tear-off strip from the cooking bag for browning the food product and/or for removing the food product from the cooking bag. 
     
     
         17 . The method for cooking a food product as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the tear-off strip is removed from the cooking bag prior to cooking the food product. 
     
     
         18 . The method for cooking a food product as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the tear-off strip is removed from the cooking bag while cooking the food product.