Methods of preparing food and a multi-compartment container and lid assembly for practicing the methods

Abstract

Methods of preparing food and a divided container system used in the preparation. The container system has a master tray having an interior portion and a peripheral top edge, at least one insertable sub-tray positionable within the interior portion of the master tray, in which each sub-tray includes a peripheral top edge and an interior portion, and a lid for sealing both the master tray and the at least one insertable sub-tray. There are means securing a sub-tray in place within in the master tray.

1 . A method of providing a portion of a meal from plural food ingredients, comprising the steps of,
 providing a master tray having sides forming a rim,   providing a plurality of separate sub-trays fitting within the master tray and having sides forming rims, the sides of the sub-trays having dimensions,   providing a lid that seals the master tray and the sub-trays, the lid having means that seal to the rim of the master tray and means that seal to rims of the sub-trays, the means sealing to the rims of the sub-trays being arranged in a rectangular grid having sides, the sides of the grid having dimensions,   the dimensions of the sides of the sub-trays being multiples of the dimensions of the sides of the grid of the means sealing to the sub-trays,   the master tray and at least some of the sub-trays having means securing the at least some sub-trays in place in the master tray,   providing food ingredients,   placing the food ingredients in the sub-trays,   placing the sub-trays within the master tray,   placing the lid on the master tray and the sub-trays within the master tray thereby sealing the master tray and the sub-trays,   placing the master tray within a refrigerator,   removing the master tray from the refrigerator,   removing the lid from the master tray and sub-trays,   selecting ingredients from the sub-trays and   providing a meal portion from at least some of the ingredients.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein,
 at least one sub-tray having an individual lid for sealing the at least one sub-tray.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein,
 at least one of the plurality of sub-trays has a different shape from at least one other of the plurality of sub-trays.   
   
   
       4 . A divided container system comprising:
 a master tray having an interior portion and a peripheral top edge;   at least one sub-tray positionable within the interior portion of the master tray, in which each sub-tray includes a peripheral top edge and an interior portion; and   a lid having means for sealing both the master tray and the at least one sub-tray, the lid comprising
 an upper surface; 
 a lower surface; 
 a plurality of sealing surfaces extending from the lower surface of the lid, in which the sealing surfaces are arranged to abut with the peripheral top edge of the at least one sub-tray to thereby seal the interior portion of the at least one sub-tray from the interior portion of the master tray; and 
 a peripheral sealing surface for sealably contacting with the peripheral top edge of the master tray; 
   in which at least one sub-tray is held in place relative to at least one other sub-tray or the interior portion of the master tray.   
   
   
       5 . The container system of  claim 4 , in which the sealing surfaces are arranged in a grid-like pattern. 
   
   
       6 . The container system of  claim 5 , in which the grid-like pattern of the sealing surfaces corresponds with the top peripheral edges of at least one sub-tray. 
   
   
       7 . The container system of  claim 4 , in which the sealing surfaces comprise a compliant material for conforming to the top peripheral edge of the at least one sub-tray. 
   
   
       8 . The container system of  claim 4 , in which the at least one sub tray comprises a plurality of sub-trays, in which the sealing surfaces of the lid are arranged to abut with and seal the peripheral edge of each of the plurality of sub trays. 
   
   
       9 . The container system of  claim 8 , in which each of the plurality of sub-trays is identical to each of the other sub-trays. 
   
   
       10 . The container system of  claim 8 , in which at least one of the plurality of sub-trays has a different shape from at least one other of the plurality of sub-trays. 
   
   
       11 . The container system of  claim 4 , in which at least one of the upper and lower surfaces of the lid comprises a surface selected from the group comprising a magnetic surface, a resealable surface, a cushioned surface, a fabric surface and a structured connector surface. 
   
   
       12 . The container system of  claim 4 , in which at least one of the sub trays further comprises a sub-tray lid. 
   
   
       13 . The container system of  claim 4 , in which at least one of the sub-trays is detachably connected to the interior portion of the master tray. 
   
   
       14 . The container system of  claim 4 , in which at least one of the sub-trays is insertable into the interior portion of the master tray. 
   
   
       15 . The container system of  claim 4 , in which at least one of the sub-trays is permanently attached to the interior portion of the master tray. 
   
   
       16 . The container system of  claim 4 , in which at least one of the sub-trays has a bottom surface including a recessed area to hold the at least one sub-tray in place. 
   
   
       17 . The container system of  claim 4 , in which at least one sub-tray further comprises an interlocking side wall. 
   
   
       18 . The container system of  claim 17 , in which the sub-trays interlock with each other.