Heat shield for preventing bottom surface burning of baked foods

Abstract

Baked goods are often burned by exposure to heat radiation (infrared rays) from heating coils in an electric baking oven. The infrared rays strike the bottom surface of bakeware and heat the surface to the point of burning. The present invention provides a heat shield that protects the bakeware from infrared rays and burning. The present invention comprises a metal sheet having corrugations or bumps. Bakeware is disposed on the bumps. The bumps make point contact with the bakeware, thereby limiting heat transfer to the bakeware. The bumps provide an insulating air gap between the heat shield and bakeware. Also included is a sheet disposed under a wire baking rack. The sheet blocks infrared rays. The sheet can be suspended by hooks or brackets, for example.

1 . A heat shield for preventing bottom surface burning of baked foods baked in bakeware supported by the heat shield, comprising: 
 a sheet having an array of exposed corrugations or bumps, wherein the corrugations or bumps create an insulating air gap under the bakeware supported by the corrugations or bumps.    
   
   
       2 . The heat shield of  claim 1  wherein the corrugations or bumps have similar heights such that the corrugations or bumps make line contact or point contact with a planar surface disposed on the corrugations or bumps.  
   
   
       3 . The heat shield of  claim 1  wherein the air gap is open in at least one lateral direction thereby allowing air flow into and out of the air gap.  
   
   
       4 . The heat shield of  claim 1  wherein the heat shield is flat, whereby the air gap is open in a lateral direction when bakeware having a flat bottom surface is disposed on the corrugations or bumps.  
   
   
       5 . The heat shield of  claim 1  wherein the heat shield has upturned edges, wherein the upturned edges are shorter than the corrugations or bumps, and wherein the upturned edges are not designed to fit or mate with any particular shape of bakeware.  
   
   
       6 . The heat shield of  claim 1  wherein the heat shield and bakeware have a surface area of contact less than 10% of a total bottom surface area of the bakeware.  
   
   
       7 . The heat shield of  claim 1  wherein tips of the corrugations or bumps are coplanar.  
   
   
       8 . The heat shield of  claim 1  wherein the corrugations or bumps comprise flat top portions that provide 2 dimensional contact with bakeware, and wherein the flat top portions comprise less than 20% of an area of the heat shield having corrugations or bumps.  
   
   
       9 . The heat shield of  claim 1  wherein the bakeware has a nonplanar bottom surface, and the corrugations or bumps have tips with heights that conform to the nonplanar bottom surface.  
   
   
       10 . A method for preventing bottom surface burning of foods baked in bakeware, comprising the steps of: 
 a) disposing the bakeware containing food on a heat shield having an array of exposed corrugations or bumps, wherein the corrugations or bumps support the bakeware and create an insulating air gap under the bakeware;    b) baking the food by applying heat below the heat shield.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the corrugations of bumps make line or point contact with the bakeware.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein tips of the corrugations or bumps are coplanar.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the air gap is open in at least one lateral direction.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein step (b) is performed by heating with an electrically powered resistance heater.  
   
   
       15 . A baking oven shelf for supporting bakeware, comprising: 
 a) a wire baking rack comprising a plurality of wires arranged in a grid;    b) a metallic heat shield below the wire baking rack, and suspended from the wire baking rack.    
   
   
       16 . The oven shelf of  claim 15  wherein the heat shield is suspended less than 2 inches below the wire baking rack.  
   
   
       17 . The oven shelf of  claim 15  wherein the heat shield is suspended by hooks.  
   
   
       18 . The oven shelf of  claim 15  wherein the heat shield is suspended by L-brackets.  
   
   
       19 . The oven shelf of  claim 15  wherein less than 25% of the heat shield comprises holes.